Planet of the Apes is a unique dual-screen video slot developed by NetEnt in collaboration with 20th Century Fox. Released in late 2017, this innovative slot machine features two parallel play areas based on Rise of the Planet of the Apes and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes films.
Planet of the Apes represents one of NetEnt's most ambitious slot releases, combining cinematic storytelling with innovative dual-screen gameplay mechanics. Developed in partnership with 20th Century Fox, this slot machine brings the rebooted Planet of the Apes film franchise to the casino floor with authentic footage, character symbols, and a unique split-screen design that sets it apart from traditional video slots.
The game's most distinctive feature is its dual play area configuration, where players engage with two separate 5-reel slots simultaneously. This design choice isn't merely cosmetic—it fundamentally changes how bonus features trigger and how winning combinations form. Each spin activates both the Rise and Dawn areas, effectively giving players two chances to hit winning combinations with every bet placed.
Planet of the Apes operates on a 10-reel configuration split into two 5-reel areas. The total payline count reaches 40, with 20 paylines allocated to each play area. The game accepts bets ranging from low stakes suitable for casual players to higher limits that accommodate more aggressive betting strategies.
The Return to Player percentage stands at 96%, which positions this slot in the industry-standard range for fair payout expectations. The volatility level falls into the medium category, meaning players can expect a balanced mix of smaller frequent wins and occasional larger payouts. This volatility profile makes the game accessible to various player types, from those seeking extended play sessions to those chasing bigger win potential.
Each of the two play areas contains five reels with three visible symbol positions per reel. The 20 paylines in each area follow standard left-to-right patterns, requiring matching symbols on adjacent reels starting from the leftmost position. With both areas active simultaneously, the effective payline count doubles to 40, though each area calculates wins independently before combining them for the total payout.
The betting structure accommodates various bankroll sizes. Players can adjust coin values and bet levels to customize their total stake per spin. The minimum bet allows for extended gameplay sessions on smaller budgets, while the maximum bet caters to high rollers seeking maximum win potential. The dual-screen nature means that a single bet amount applies to both play areas simultaneously, effectively doubling the action without requiring double the stake.
The symbol set draws directly from the Planet of the Apes film franchise, featuring key characters from both movies. High-value symbols include Caesar, Koba, Cornelius, and other prominent apes, alongside human characters. Lower-value symbols consist of standard playing card ranks from 10 through Ace, styled to match the game's thematic design.
Wild symbols appear in both play areas, substituting for all regular symbols except scatters and bonus symbols. These wilds can appear stacked, covering entire reels and significantly increasing win potential. The stacked wild mechanic becomes particularly powerful when it appears on multiple reels simultaneously, creating opportunities for multiple payline wins from a single spin.
Caesar serves as one of the highest-paying character symbols, delivering substantial payouts for five-of-a-kind combinations. Koba and other prominent ape characters occupy the next tier of value, while human characters generally pay slightly less. The exact payout values scale based on the bet level, with higher stakes producing proportionally larger wins.
Beyond standard wilds, the game includes scatter symbols specific to each play area. The Rise scatter triggers the Rise Bonus feature, while the Dawn scatter activates the Dawn Bonus. These symbols don't need to appear on paylines to function—they trigger their respective features based on the number visible anywhere on their designated play area.
The Rise Bonus activates when bonus symbols appear on the Rise play area. Once triggered, this feature awards instant cash prizes based on the number and type of human and ape symbols visible on the reels. Every human and ape character symbol present when the bonus triggers pays out a predetermined cash value, which gets added to the player's balance immediately.
This bonus type provides guaranteed wins without requiring specific payline combinations. The total award depends on how many character symbols are visible at the moment of trigger, making it possible to achieve substantial payouts if the reels are populated with multiple character symbols when the bonus activates.
The Planet of the Apes slot operates on a revolutionary dual-screen system where players spin two independent 5-reel slot areas simultaneously. The left side features the Rise play area with brighter, hopeful visuals, while the right displays the Dawn area with darker, apocalyptic imagery. Each area has 20 paylines, totaling 40 paylines per spin.
Both play areas function independently but share the same bet amount. Wins are calculated separately for each area and combined for total payout. This dual mechanism doubles the chances for triggering bonus features, as each side has its own scatter symbols and bonus rounds that activate independently.
The Dawn Bonus operates differently from its Rise counterpart. When triggered on the Dawn play area, this feature transforms all human and ape symbols currently visible into a single matching symbol type. The game selects one character symbol randomly, then converts all other character symbols to match it, creating opportunities for multiple winning combinations across the paylines.
This transformation mechanic can produce dramatic results, especially when numerous character symbols occupy the reels at trigger time. By converting all characters to a single type, the feature essentially guarantees multiple payline wins, with the total payout depending on which symbol gets selected for the transformation and how many instances appear after conversion.
Landing three or more Rise scatter symbols triggers the Rise Free Spins feature, awarding 10 free spins on the Rise play area. During this mode, a special collection mechanic activates for Caesar wild symbols. Every Caesar wild that appears during the free spins gets collected and held.
On the final free spin, all collected Caesar wilds return to the reels simultaneously, potentially covering multiple reel positions. This accumulation mechanic builds anticipation throughout the free spins round, with the final spin offering the greatest win potential as multiple wilds land at once. The feature cannot be retriggered during the free spins themselves.
The Caesar wild collection system means that early spins in the feature build value for the final spin. Even spins that produce modest wins contribute to the collection meter, ensuring that the final spin carries enhanced potential. Players can track collected wilds through an on-screen display that shows the accumulation progress.
Three or more Dawn scatter symbols activate the Dawn Free Spins feature, granting 15 free spins. This mode introduces an enhanced reel set with three additional wild symbol positions marked by flames. These extra wild positions increase the frequency of wild symbols appearing during the feature.
Additionally, the Dawn Free Spins include progressive multiplier values that can increase as the feature continues. Certain symbol combinations or wild appearances may boost the active multiplier, applying it to subsequent wins within the same feature. This creates escalating win potential as the free spins progress, with later spins potentially delivering multiplied payouts.
The multiplier system in Dawn Free Spins doesn't follow a fixed pattern. Instead, specific symbol combinations or wild appearances trigger multiplier increases. This variable progression means each free spins session plays out differently, with some sessions achieving higher multipliers than others based on the symbols that land.
One of the most exciting aspects of Planet of the Apes involves the possibility of triggering features on both play areas simultaneously. Since each area operates independently, it's possible to activate the Rise Bonus while Dawn Free Spins are running, or to trigger both free spins modes at the same time.
When dual features activate, the gameplay becomes particularly dynamic, with wins accumulating from both areas simultaneously. This dual-trigger potential represents one of the game's unique advantages over traditional single-screen slots, effectively doubling the feature frequency compared to standard slot machines.
NetEnt incorporated authentic footage from both Planet of the Apes films directly into the slot machine. During certain wins and feature triggers, video clips play showing key scenes from the movies. Character symbols use actual film imagery rather than artistic interpretations, maintaining visual consistency with the source material.
The audio design includes the films' musical scores and sound effects. The Rise area features more uplifting musical themes matching the first film's tone, while the Dawn area employs darker, more intense audio to reflect the second film's atmosphere. This audio differentiation reinforces the thematic split between the two play areas.
Planet of the Apes is available at online casinos that feature NetEnt's game portfolio. Major casino operators including those licensed in the UK, Malta, and other regulated jurisdictions typically include this title in their slot libraries. Players should verify that their chosen casino holds proper licensing and offers responsible gambling tools.
The game functions across desktop and mobile platforms, with NetEnt's mobile optimization ensuring smooth performance on smartphones and tablets. The dual-screen layout adapts to smaller screens by stacking the two play areas vertically rather than side-by-side, maintaining full functionality while accommodating mobile display dimensions.
Few slots employ the dual-screen mechanic that defines Planet of the Apes. NetEnt's own Guns N' Roses slot uses a similar approach with multiple reel sets, though it implements the concept differently. The dual-screen design remains relatively rare in the slot industry, making Planet of the Apes distinctive in this regard.
In terms of film-licensed slots, Planet of the Apes competes with other major franchise adaptations. Its 96% RTP matches industry standards for licensed content, while the dual-feature system provides more frequent bonus triggers than many single-screen alternatives. The medium volatility positions it between low-variance slots that pay frequently but modestly and high-variance games that offer bigger but less frequent wins.
Planet of the Apes delivers a genuinely innovative slot experience through its dual-screen gameplay system. The combination of two independent play areas, each with distinct bonus features and free spins modes, creates a dynamic gaming environment that stands apart from standard video slots. The 96% RTP and medium volatility provide fair mathematical expectations, while the authentic film content appeals to franchise fans.
The game's strength lies in its feature frequency—with two play areas triggering bonuses independently, players encounter bonus rounds more often than in comparable single-screen slots. The Rise and Dawn features offer different mechanics, adding variety to the bonus gameplay. The free spins modes each bring unique elements, from wild collection to multiplier progression, ensuring that feature triggers don't become repetitive.
For players seeking something beyond traditional slot formats, Planet of the Apes represents a worthwhile option. The dual-screen concept requires some initial familiarization, but once understood, it provides an engaging gameplay loop with doubled action on every spin.
The Return to Player percentage for Planet of the Apes is 96%, which represents the industry standard for video slots. This percentage indicates the theoretical long-term payout rate across millions of spins.
Yes, since the Rise and Dawn areas operate independently, it's possible to trigger free spins on both areas at the same time. Each area has its own scatter symbols that trigger features separately, allowing for simultaneous bonus rounds.
Planet of the Apes features 40 paylines total—20 paylines on the Rise play area and 20 on the Dawn area. Both areas are active simultaneously with each spin, effectively doubling the payline coverage.
The Rise Bonus awards instant cash prizes for all human and ape symbols visible when triggered. The Dawn Bonus transforms all human and ape symbols into a single matching symbol type, creating multiple payline wins through symbol conversion.
Yes, Planet of the Apes is fully optimized for mobile play on smartphones and tablets. The dual-screen layout adapts to vertical orientation on mobile devices, stacking the two play areas while maintaining all features and functionality.
Planet of the Apes has medium volatility, providing a balanced mix of win frequency and payout sizes. This volatility level suits players who want regular wins without the extreme variance of high-volatility slots.
Wild symbols can appear stacked, covering entire reels with wild positions. When stacked wilds land, they substitute for regular symbols across all paylines that cross that reel, significantly increasing the potential for multiple simultaneous winning combinations.
No, Planet of the Apes does not feature progressive jackpots. The game's maximum win potential comes from the combination of bonus features, free spins, multipliers, and stacked wilds rather than a progressive prize pool.
Play Planet of the Apes at these licensed and regulated online casinos offering NetEnt's complete game portfolio.
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