Babylon Riches Review: Grinding Out Wins Amid Spectacular Scenery
Review Setup
| Mobile Device | iPhone 15, Chrome 133.0.6943.33 |
| Desktop Browser | Chrome 133.0.6943.33 |
| Play Time on Mobile | 60 |
| Play Time on Desktop | 60 |
| Amount Bet | $3,040 |
| Result | Won $12.20 |
Babylon Riches is a stylish, innovative 5-reel slot from NetEnt, the Swedish studio famous for creating some of the most popular slots of all time.
On the surface, this looks like a basic 5-reel, 20-payline video slot. However, there are a couple of interesting features, which helps Babylon Riches stand out from the crowd. You can also win up to 7,250x your bet, which is attractive on a medium-volatility slot.
My Babylon Riches slot review explains everything you need to know about the game. I’ll break down the features, the volatility rate, the graphics, and the overall gameplay.
First Impressions with Babylon Riches
My first impressions of the Babylon Riches slot were positive. The game was a little slow to load, but I was impressed by the graphics.
The action unfolds in a magnificent courtyard, which resembles the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Lush greenery and ancient treasures abound, while the soundtrack is suitably atmospheric.
I’ve been playing NetEnt slots for more than a decade, and it’s interesting to see how much they have evolved. Babylon Riches offers far sharper graphics than classic NetEnt slots like Blood Suckers and Starburst. It was immediately clear that the gameplay is more intricate and innovative too, so I was excited to start spinning the reels.
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Visuals and Presentation: 5/5
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon have inspired artists for centuries. Paintings typically feature grand terraces, imposing pillars, rich foliage, and blossoming flowers.
NetEnt’s designers have faithfully recreated those esteemed artworks. It’s not easy to conjure up one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, but they’ve created a captivating backdrop for this online slot.
The grid is beautiful too. It’s held up by ornate pillars, which are lined with gold and draped with luscious plants. The symbols are well-designed too. They include a regal bronze serpent, a stone phoenix, a ram, an emerald, a golden lion, and a magnificent golden bull, which is adorned with jewels.
This online slot also features impressive animations. That’s especially evident during the bonus round, when the reels spin at a rapid pace and frames open to reveal special symbols. These features are pretty intricate, but they run smoothly.
The Role of Sound: 4/5
Bayblon Riches has a pretty generic Middle Eastern-themed soundtrack. It’s similar to the sounds you’ll encounter on slots like Genie’s Palace and Genie’s Secret.
There’s nothing particularly innovative about this soundtrack, but I found it soothing and enjoyable. The tunes are pretty subdued, and they complement the action well.
The music becomes more dramatic during the bonus round. I also liked the celebratory noises when I secured big wins, so I found the overall audio experience pretty strong.
Gameplay Journey: 3/5
I must admit that I initially found Babylon Riches frustrating. It’s a medium-volatility slot, but the format is unusual. The game is broken down into cycles of eight spins, and you’ll often lose the first seven of them. A special feature then kicks in, so the eighth spin gives you the chance to recoup your previous losses.
It took me a while to get used to this format, as it can be a little monotonous. I didn’t have much luck with the bonus buy feature either. However, I secured a couple of pretty big wins as the session unfolded. They wiped out my previous losses, and I ended my session with a modest profit, which was satisfying. This is how my journey unfolded:
- I set my bet size at $2 per spin. I immediately embarked on a seven-spin losing streak, which left me down $14. However, I then won $26.40 on my eighth spin. I quickly realized that you always receive a special boost on your eighth spin. That gives you the chance to recoup any losses from the previous seven spins.
- This pattern continued for a while. I would lose seven consecutive spins, and then win most of the money back on my eighth spin. While this is a medium-volatility game, I found wins during the base game to be infrequent. This is due to the cyclical format of the slot. Babylon Riches is played in cycles of eight spins, and the eighth spin is where you’ll rack up most of your wins.
- After playing for 20 minutes, I was down $58.20. I then secured two reasonably big wins, earning $29.40 and then $27 in quick succession. Another losing streak ensued, but I then won $91.60.
- I played for half an hour, but I still hadn’t triggered the free spins round, so I decided to activate the bonus buy feature. To do so, I had to pay 60x my bet size, which was $120. This earned me eight free spins. Unfortunately, I only won $47.20, which didn’t justify the cost of activating the feature.
- Undeterred, I tried again. This time, I earned $43.60, which represented a loss of $76.40. By this point, I was down by $123.20, but I decided to keep trying. I activated the bonus buy feature seven times in total, at a cost of $840. In return, I won $463.20. That amounted to a loss of $376.80.
- On my eighth attempt, I finally triggered an extra eight free spins, meaning I had 16 in total. This time, I won $353.80. It was the first time that I had earned more than the cost of activating the feature.
- By this point, I was down by around $100 overall, so I decided to activate the bonus buy feature again. I’m glad I did, as I earned $163, reducing my overall loss to $57.20. Emboldened, I activated the bonus buy feature one more time. This time I received $150.20. Now my overall losses stood at just $20.
- I decided to return to playing the base game again. The same pattern unfolded. I’d typically lose seven spins in a row, but then I’d win most of it back on the eighth spin, courtesy of the bonus symbols.
- I never managed to trigger the free spins during the base game, which was disappointing. After playing for a couple of hours, I was down $37.80. I decided to activate the bonus buy feature. It earned me a mere $65, leaving me down $92.80.
- In a bid to end the session on a positive note, I activated the bonus buy feature again. This time, I finally struck gold. I retriggered the free spins, leaving me with 16 in total. I earned $225 from those 16 free spins, which was $105 more than the cost of activating the feature.
- That left me up by the princely sum of $12.20, so I decided to end my session.
It was a bit of a grind. However, I can see why players would persist with Babylon Riches, as the maximum win is 7,250x your bet. I didn’t come close to earning that sort of payout, but I was pleased to rack up a few big wins.
Bonus Features Through My Eyes: 4/5
There are two key features on the Babylon Riches slot. One is known as “Cycle Rounds,” and it earns you a boost on every eighth spin. The other is a standard free spins bonus round.
| Feature | Description | Impact on Gameplay |
|---|---|---|
| Cycle Rounds | Non-paying symbols will appear on the reels during the base game. They leave frames in their place. On every eighth spin you play, the frame will open to reveal one of three special symbols: Regular wild – substitutes for all paying symbols Multiplier wild – substitutes for all paying symbols, and multiplies your winnings by 2x, 3x, or 8x. Symbol multiplier – multiplies a symbol’s value by 4x, 6x, or 16x in all win lines in which the symbol participates. | This slot has an unusual format, as it is played in cycles of eight rounds. The non-paying symbols are initially frustrating, as they lower your chances of winning during the first seven spins in each cycle. However, they can then prove valuable. They help you secure strong wins on your eighth spin, as you’ll typically benefit from several wilds and multipliers. |
| Free spins | You’ll earn eight free spins if the scatter symbols appear on reels 1 and 5. During this bonus round, you’ll receive between two and eight frames on each free spin. The frames open immediately, revealing wilds, multiplier wilds, symbol multipliers, or instant cash prizes. The cash prizes are worth up to 20x your bet. You can also re-trigger another eight free spins if the scatters appear during the bonus round. Ultimately, you can win up to 7,250x your bet. | The bonus round is exciting, as you’ll always benefit from at least two special symbols on each free spin. You can rack up large prizes if they turn into multipliers or instant cash prizes. I didn’t trigger the bonus round automatically, which was disappointing. I could only access it by paying to activate the bonus buy feature. I rarely earned enough money from the free spins to justify the price of activating the feature. However, I did secure a few big wins. They typically arose when I re-triggered an extra eight free spins. |
| Bonus buy | You can dive straight into the bonus round if you pay a fee of 60x your bet. | I’m ultimately glad I activated this feature, as it helped me end my session with a small profit. Most of the time, I earned less from the free spins than I paid to activate the feature. However, a few larger wins ultimately bailed me out. |
Balancing Risk and Reward: 4/5
Babylon Riches has a medium volatility rate, so it should offer a strong risk-reward balance. However, you just need to be aware of the game’s cyclical nature.
You should expect to regularly suffer seven straight losses before landing a decent win on your eighth spin. This is a pretty unusual format that may not appeal to all players.
When playing a medium volatility slot for a couple of hours, I’d hope to trigger the free spins bonus round a few times. That wasn’t the case when I played Babylon Riches, but perhaps I was just unlucky.
However, I was pleased to have the chance to activate the bonus buy feature whenever I liked. It’s certainly risky, as it costs 60x your bet, but I ultimately landed some large payouts, so I felt the risk-reward balance was pretty appealing.
The Good and Bad of Babylon Riches
Babylon Riches has several redeeming features. However, this online slot isn’t perfect. These are the main pros and cons I identified.
- I liked the graphics. Babylon Riches is an attractive slot, with excellent animations.
- Babylon Riches offers a soothing soundtrack that enhances the ambiance rather than distracts.
- The cyclical format is innovative, so Babylon Riches stands out from most 5-reel, 20-payline slots.
- I enjoyed the bonus round, as there are some potentially lucrative features on each free spin.
- A maximum win of 7,250x your bet is attractive for a medium-volatility slot. Some online casinos add progressive jackpots to Babylon Riches too.
- The game is slow to load. That can be a little frustrating, as some games with sharp graphics still manage to load quickly.
- Constantly losing seven times in a row and then winning on your eighth spin can grow monotonous. I prefer a bit more unpredictability on each spin when playing online slots.
- It seems quite difficult to trigger the bonus round naturally, which left me reliant on the bonus buy feature. However, I may have just been unlucky.
- Many of the symbols are low-paying, and you need multipliers to rack up decent wins when playing this online slot.
Final Thoughts on Babylon Riches
Babylon Riches is a solid effort from NetEnt. The graphics are impressive, the format is innovative, and the risk-reward ratio is nicely balanced.
However, this game is unlikely to join the pantheon of truly great NetEnt slots. Starburst, Gonzo’s Quest, Narcos, Divine Fortune, and Dead or Alive II are all superior games, in my opinion. They’re more exciting, unpredictable, and immersive.
I will play Babylon Riches again, but it’s not a slot I’ll return to on a regular basis. I find the cycle rounds a bit too repetitive, so I’ll probably just stick to playing with the bonus buy feature in the future.
Final Score: 4/5
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