The Ultimate 5

The Ultimate 5 slot poster
Rating
- /10
RTP
95.50%
Volatility
HIGH
Max win
5,000×
Hit freq
-
Grid
-
Bet
-
Released
2022-01-28
AfricaAnimalBlueBrownDiamondElephant

A playable demo is not available in your region.

Our take

5-reel, 20-payline high-volatility African safari slot from Pragmatic Play with 95.50% RTP and up to 5,000× max win.

The Ultimate 5 transports players to a fantasy African savannah where majestic lions, rhinos, buffalo, elephants, and leopards roam across a golden grassland. The 5×3 grid sits beneath a deep blue sky, framed by lush rolling terrain that evokes the Big Five aesthetic without descending into cliché. Pragmatic Play's drum-driven soundtrack punctuates each spin with dramatic notes that heighten anticipation without overwhelming the scene. The cartoonish, hand-drawn animal symbols give the game warmth and personality often lacking in generic wildlife slots.

The headline feature is the Hold & Spin Super Boost round: during free spins, the game removes low-value symbols level by level, guaranteeing a wild lands on each level-up to replace removed symbols. This creates a snowball effect where each level-cleared unlocks fresh wilds and simpler symbol combinations, ramping potential geometrically. A secondary money-respins bonus offers a different path: adjacent money symbols link together in groups, with each link boosting all symbols in the cluster. Landing multiple clusters during respins stacks multipliers and feeds the 5,000× ceiling.

With 95.50% RTP and high volatility, The Ultimate 5 rewards patience. Base-game hit frequency hovers around moderate ranges, but bonus rounds—especially the symbol-removal cascade in free spins—convert to significant payouts when symbols compress and wilds proliferate. The money-respins mode is the true draw for risk-tolerant players, as it chases max-win scenarios where multiple clusters interlock at high values.

Pros

  • Symbol-removal mechanic in free spins guarantees wild placement on each level, snowballing win potential
  • Money-respins bonus creates dramatic, linked-cluster multiplier stacking for explosive payouts
  • Stunning African safari aesthetic with memorable drum-driven soundtrack enhances immersion

Cons

  • 95.50% RTP sits below industry average for high-volatility slots of this design complexity
  • Base-game hit frequency is modest; extended dry spells between features are normal
  • Feature complexity (two bonus modes) can overwhelm casual players unfamiliar with Pragmatic's math models

Math & maxes

Math breakdown

Volatility score
3 / 5
Max win
5,000x the stake

Gameplay video

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FAQ
How does the symbol-removal level-up system work?

During free spins, the lowest-value symbols are removed progressively. Each removal guarantees a wild replaces that symbol tier, simplifying the grid and boosting winning-combination frequency.

Can money-respins retrigger if you land another money symbol during the bonus?

Yes. Landing additional money symbols during the money-respins round will extend the feature, adding more respins and clusters to the interacting symbol pool.

Which free-spins mode is more lucrative: symbol-removal or money-respins?

Money-respins typically offers higher ceiling potential due to multiplier stacking, but symbol-removal is more consistent. Both chase the 5,000× max.