This Ugga Bugga review takes a detailed look at a classic online slot from Playtech that dates back as far as 2006. 

It became a firm favorite with fans, due to its incredible Return To Player rate and unique mechanics. But it’s fair to say you couldn’t make a game like this today. What do we mean? Keep reading this Ugga Bugga slot review to find out.

Ugga Bugga Details, RTP and Volatility

Released way back in 2006, Ugga Bugga is like a beloved grandparent. It’s showing all the signs of its age, including some slightly racist behavior, but you can’t help but love it anyway. Unlike my grandfather, though, this is a low-volatility experience, so you’ll rarely have to wait long to secure a prize. 

However, the maximum Ugga Bugga slot payout is just 1,000x per spin. That might have been decent back in the day, but compared to some modern Relax Gaming or Nolimit City titles, it pales into insignificance. 

On the other hand, Ugga Bugga’s RTP is incredible. There aren’t many slots which can boast a theoretical Return To Player rate of 99.07%. Finally, it’s possible to play for just $0.10 per spin, up to a maximum of $50.

Theme & Graphics in Ugga Bugga

This Playtech classic is set deep in the African jungle. Symbols on the reels include traditional huts found on the continent, tribal masks and drums. A rhythmic beat accompanies your gameplay, along with bird noises and other animal sounds, adding to the jungle vibe.

The graphics really aren’t bad, considering this game’s obvious age. However, we’d expect younger players to balk at the slot’s lowest paying symbol, a clumsy depiction of a zulu warrior. Along with the borderline-racist name, if this game were published today, you’d imagine it would be canceled. 

Ugga Bugga Slot Features

Now it’s time to get into the meat of our Ugga Bugga review, as we explore its unusual mechanics in detail. 

Hold Feature

Each play is split into two parts, beginning with a spin of the bottom-left 3x1 reel. After this initial spin, you’ll have the option to hold any of the symbols which land. 

You don’t have to hold any, of course. But you can choose one, two or three if you wish. If you elect to hold a symbol, it will appear in the same position on all ten reels for the second part. 

Regular Symbols

There are 13 regular symbols in all, starting with the lowest-paying warrior. He returns 1x, 2x and 5x whenever you find one, two or three on a 3x1 segment. 

Next up are the bowls of food, which pay from 5x to 15x for three matches. However, a mixture of any three bowls also pays 2x. Similarly, the three huts reward you with 10x, 20x and 30, or 5x for a mixture.

A pair of drums in light brown, red and black offer 20x, 35x and 50 for three, or 10x for three of any color. Finally, orange, red and black masks pay 75x, 100x and 125x, with 25x for a combination of any color. 

Wilds

The only special symbol found in Playtech’s Ugga Bugga slot is the wild. It’s also the most valuable symbol in the game, with three on a line paying a return of 1,000x your bet. 

You can’t miss it, as it’s some kind of tribal statue bearing the world “WILD” in bold red letters.

How to Play Ugga Bugga Online

We’ve not seen many slots like Ugga Bugga before. Instead of a single grid of reels, you’re faced with ten mini slots of 3x1. The aim is to match symbols along these individual paylines, but every play is split into two parts.

After choosing your bet size with the plus and minus icons beneath the reels, hit “Spin” to start playing. Only the bottom-left reels will spin and, once they’re finished, you can choose whether or not to retain the resulting symbols.

If you elect to hold any symbols, they'll be fixed in the same position on the other nine 3x1 reels. Then, when you hit “Spin” a second time, the remaining empty spaces on all ten reels spin independently.

The aim is to match symbols on each line in accordance with the paytable. This can be viewed by tapping the button in the bottom-left corner. 

Try the Ugga Bugga Demo for Free before playing for real money

It’s never a bad idea to play free slots before risking your money. That way, you can safely figure out a game’s rules first. Take advantage of the Ugga Bugga demo featured on this page and get to grips with this highly unusual slot.

Ugga Bugga Review – Our Final Verdict

This is obviously a classic of the online slots genre and, despite its age, it remains a cult favorite. That’s mostly down to the quite unbelievable RTP, which is always a key component of any good slot.

However, Ugga Bugga doesn’t really do it for me. The ten individual slots are certainly a fascinating concept, and I’m all for innovation. There are too many games around today which rip-off existing slots, or are out-and-out reskins. But, in my opinion, this format isn’t very exciting.

Because each reel is a distinct entity, there’s no room for combinations. It’s not possible to create chain reactions, so there’s no tension. Even the drama of two scatters landing and the resulting suspense while you hope for a third is missing.

The only way to win a big prize is to land three matching symbols on one of the lines. That’s it. This either happens or it doesn’t, and it’s usually the latter. For me, Ugga Bugga was a really interesting idea, but it just doesn’t quite work.

Similar Slot Games

If you enjoyed our Ugga Bugga review and demo, you’ll probably want to try some of the following games.

• African Quest: Enjoy a trip across the African Savannah in this 5x4 slot by Triple Edge Studios with an RTP of 96.02%.
• Africa X Up: Encounter wild animals and warriors alike in this highly volatile Alchemy Gaming slot with a top prize of 30,000x.
• Zulu Treasure: Accumulate maps to play the lucrative Treasure Hunt bonus in this 5x3 Ainsworth slot.