Fortunes of Ali Baba Slot Review & Free Play Demo - By Play 'n Go

Theme and Design

Setting

The game is set at the entrance of the mythical cave where the 40 Thieves have hidden their treasures. While the cave door is wide open, most of the background remains shrouded in darkness, leaving the focus on the reels.

Visuals

The graphics are functional rather than groundbreaking, with a minimalistic design featuring:

• Transparent reels over a dim cave background.
• Simple yet thematic symbols like daggers, amulets, and bowls of spices.

Soundtrack

The sound design leans heavily on an Arabian-style score, though it’s more atmospheric than engaging. It complements the theme but doesn’t add much excitement.

Slot Layout and Mechanics

• Reels and Rows: 5 reels, 3 rows.
• Paylines: 20 fixed paylines.
• Betting Range: Players can wager between $0.20 and $100 per spin.
• Winning Rules: Form combinations of three or more matching symbols from left to right on active paylines.

Symbols and Paytable

Low-Paying Symbols

The low-paying symbols are represented by 10-A royals, styled as wisps of genie-like smoke. These symbols are basic and offer modest payouts.

High-Paying Symbols

The high-paying symbols include:

1. Bowls of Spices

2. Precious Stones

3. Golden Amulets

4. Curved Arabian Daggers (Highest-paying symbol: 14x the stake for five of a kind).

Wild Symbols

1.  Ali Baba Wild

• Appears in the base game.
• Substitutes for all symbols except the scatter.
• Pays 250x for five of a kind.

2. Thieves Wild

• Exclusive to the free spins round.
• Substitutes for other symbols and aids in creating wild trails.

RTP , Volatility, Winning Potential

Volatility

The slot is rated 8/10 for volatility, making it a high-volatility game. Players can expect fewer frequent wins, but the payouts have higher potential when they do hit.

RTP (Return to Player)

Fortunes of Ali Baba has multiple RTP configurations:

• 96.89% (default and most favorable for players).
• 94.63% (or lower on some platforms).

Maximum Win

The maximum payout is 9,948x your stake, a tantalizing figure for high-risk players. However, the probability of hitting the top prize is slim, as is common with Play’n GO’s slots.

Base Game Mechanics

The base game is relatively straightforward:

• Wins are achieved by landing three or more matching symbols on the 20 paylines.
• The gameplay lacks additional features, making the base game reliant on triggering the Den of Thieves Bonus for excitement.

Special Features

Fortunes of Ali Baba shines in its bonus features, which bring the theme to life and offer significant win potential.

1. Den of Thieves Bonus

Triggered by landing 2 Morgiana Scatters on reels 1 and 5, this feature introduces a pick-and-click game. Players open pots to reveal rewards, including:

• Instant prizes (multipliers of up to 10x or 100x the bet).
• Free spins (triggers the next feature).
• Thieves (ends the bonus round).

Levels of Den of Thieves Bonus

The bonus round has 5 levels, with increasing rewards:

1. Level 1: Prizes up to 10x the total bet.

2. Levels 2 and 3: Prizes, free spins, or thieves.

3. Level 4: Prizes up to 100x the total bet, free spins, or thieves.

4. Level 5: Free spins or thieves.

Picking thieves ends the feature, while selecting prizes or free spins moves you further.

2. Free Spins with Wild Trails

If free spins are triggered during the Den of Thieves Bonus, players start with 8 free spins. The feature includes:

1. Ali Baba Wilds: Present on each spin, substituting for symbols.

2. Thieves Wilds: Create wild trails as they move toward the Ali Baba Wild during a re-spin.

3. Re-spin Feature: Triggered whenever Thieves Wilds appear.

4. Retriggers: Landing 2 scatters adds 2 extra free spins to the round.

This feature is key to achieving larger wins, especially with the wild trails covering significant parts of the reels.

200 Spins Test: Gameplay Experience

• Base Game:
  The base game offered minimal excitement, with small, infrequent wins. Most of the value lies in triggering the bonus features.
• Bonus Feature:
  The Den of Thieves Bonus triggered 3 times during 200 spins, with varied results. The free spins feature provided the best payouts, especially when multiple Thieves Wilds appeared.
• Overall Payout:
  While wins weren’t massive, the bonus rounds added excitement and occasional spikes in winnings.

Demo Version

The demo version of Fortunes of Ali Baba offers a risk-free way to experience the game’s full features, including its 5-reel, 20-payline setup, and exciting bonuses like the Den of Thieves Bonus and Free Spins with Wild Trails. It’s an excellent option for beginners or casual players to practice and familiarize themselves with the gameplay without financial commitment. Accessible on Play’n GO’s official site or partner casinos, the demo provides the same features as the real-money version, allowing players to strategize and enjoy at their own pace. Use this opportunity to master the mechanics before placing real bets. 

Pros and Cons

Pros

1. Decent Winning Potential: Up to 9,948x the stake.

2. Engaging Bonus Features: The Den of Thieves Bonus and Wild Trails are highlights.

3. High RTP (if playing the 96.89% version).

4. Solid Volatility: Appeals to risk-takers.

Cons

1. Lack of Innovation: Gameplay mechanics are solid but not groundbreaking.

2. Repetitive Base Game: Limited action until the bonus features are triggered.

3. Variable RTP: Lower RTP settings can be less rewarding.

4. Rare Big Wins: Achieving the maximum payout is highly unlikely.

Who Should Play Fortunes of Ali Baba?

This slot is ideal for:

• Players who enjoy storytelling themes with Arabian Nights-inspired visuals.
• High-risk players seeking significant payouts despite high volatility.
• Bonus round enthusiasts who appreciate engaging and layered features.

Final Verdict

Fortunes of Ali Baba is a good slot machine with a lot of promise, but it isn’t visually striking enough to be a game that is revolutionary. For experienced players, it presents an intriguing challenge because of its high volatility and the ingeniously designed Den of Thieves Bonus. The wild trail free spins more than compensate for the normal game’s sporadic lag with their decent reward chances.