There may be plenty of new releases in the online casino megaverse, but there are relatively few among them that could really be called “new.”
There are untold thousands of playable Blackjack titles, for example, with very few among them standing out from the pack. Some might add a win multiplier here or there, some have more appealing design than others, but most are almost indistinguishable when it comes to gaming substance.
Jumanji: The Bonus Level provides a welcome exception to this rule!
With gameplay based on the results of two separate wheels and a whopping six bonus rounds, this offering delivers players a truly unique gambling experience. RTP maxes out at 97.63%, bets can range from $0.01-1,000.00, and the top payout is a handsome 1,570x!
Oh, and there’s one more small detail…
…aside from that excellently original gambling content, it just so happens that this title is set within one of the most beloved themes of all time: Disney’s Jumanji.
Rumble in the Jungle
When it comes to the basics of this game, here’s quite a bit to cover.
At the beginning of the game, players choose one of four characters. Some bonuses will be distributed based on whether the chosen character matches the one that appears in a given round, but from a statistical perspective, all four are all the same.
Base play consists of the spinning of two wheels – these have been turned sideways, so that they look a lot like slot reels. The first determines gaming outcomes, while the second determines possible multipliers. Both are divided into 43 segments.
Gamblers can choose from 8 total betting options: 1, 2, and the bonus bets covered below.
(The only way to trigger the bonus rounds is by placing a winning bonus bet, with the notable exception of the Jaguar’s Head Bonus. )
RTP can vary widely depending on the wagers selected, but the straightforward Number 2 bet is by far the best from a mathematical perspective – it comes with a downright extraordinary RTP of 97.63%.
The Bonus Rounds
Very few titles can match this one when it comes to a base play wagers offer that offers such excellent odds…
…but no other titles can match it when it comes to the quantity of bonus rounds!
There are no fewer than 6 bonuses
Jungle Royale
Players throw randomly selected items at the franchise villain Van Pelt, with each successful hit adding to the size of the payout’s multiplier. The round pays 4x-27x, but multipliers can boost the win size far beyond those figures.
Monkey Valley
With a dangerous cliff to traverse and three bridges to choose from – low-risk, medium-risk, and high-risk – players try to collect the biggest payouts possible… which falls to zero if marauding monkeys destroy their chosen bridge entirely. Our advice? Avoid the high-risk bridge entirely. Opting for an 80% failure rate is just silly, especially in a bonus feature!
Snake Bite
Gamblers can choose three cards from a special deck containing basket cards, antidote cards, and snake cards. In this feature as in life, it’s best to avoid getting bit by poisonous snakes.
Wild Spin
A wheel game within a wheel game, this animal-themed feature can increase in value several times if re-spins and character segments break favorably.
Path of Jumanji
True to the source material, this feature strongly resembles a board game. The minimum payout is 40x, but it’s possible to amass serious win multipliers during the feature.
Rhino Run
This ultra-volatile feature is like Monkey Valley… on steroids. There are chests, there are jewels, there are charging rhinos, and multipliers galore. Wins range from 5x to 630x!
Saving Jumanji
There are several ways to trigger this bonus, as well as two remarkably different variants.
The first of these occurs when Jaguar Heads appear on both reels, and it can be enjoyed by any player with an active bet. One of the four characters is chosen at random to “save Jumanji;” all gamblers who selected that character receive a payout of 11x. Players who chose the other characters get a 5x payout instead.
There is a different version, though, called Saving Jumanji: the Next Level. This can be triggered during the Path of Jumanji and in the Rhino Run bonuses. When this version is activated, only players who took part in the bonus round and who picked the winning option get to take part. This variant is as lucrative as it is simple: a random payout between 100x and 1,570x is awarded.
The Designer
Playtech has distinguished itself massively since its founding in 1999. The Estonian company went public on the London Stock Exchange in 2006, and used the capital raised by their IPO to push the boundaries of their capabilities even further. They’ve made a total of 14 corporate acquisitions, both of other development companies and of those specializing in B2B services. Most recently, their Board of Directors voted against accepting a takeover bid of 2.7b GBP, approximately equal to $3.4b USD. (That’s billion, with a “b.”)
Clearly, their Board thinks the future is even brighter than those billions. That sends quite a signal to the rest of us!
In a way, it’s completely unsurprising that Playtech should be the firm to bring Jumanji to the casino. After all, they have long been champions of brand partnership deals, including some of the biggest names in the world of entertainment! We’re talking the likes of Marvel Comics, Warner Bros., and more!
Furthermore, this company has fresh experience bringing titles like this to life.
For another example of a one-of-a-kind game based on ultra-famous thematic material, look no further than their recent Big Bag Wolf.
The Franchise
This game provides the latest chapter in a long, long line of stories in one of the world’s most beloved franchises. It all began with the 1981 children’s book “Jumanji” by Chris Van Allsburg. The franchise has gone through various iterations and adaptations over the years. Here is a brief history:
- Original Book (1981): “Jumanji” was first introduced as a picture book written and illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg. It tells the story of a magical board game that brings the dangers and creatures of the jungle into the real world when played.
- Jumanji Film (1995): The first major adaptation of the book was the 1995 film “Jumanji,” directed by Joe Johnston and starring Robin Williams, Bonnie Hunt, and Kirsten Dunst. In this version, the story revolves around two children who start playing the board game and unwittingly unleash its jungle-themed chaos into their town. The film was a commercial success and is fondly remembered by many.
- Jumanji: Animated Series (1996-1999): Following the success of the movie, an animated TV series titled “Jumanji: The Animated Series” was produced. It ran for three seasons and continued the adventures of the characters from the film as they encountered various challenges arising from the game.
- Zathura: A Space Adventure (2005): Although not a direct Jumanji adaptation, “Zathura: A Space Adventure” is often considered a spiritual successor. It is also based on a book by Chris Van Allsburg and involves a magical board game that transports its players into outer space. Like Jumanji, it was turned into a movie directed by Jon Favreau.
- Jumanji Reboot/Sequel (2017): In 2017, a new installment in the Jumanji franchise was released, titled “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle.” This film, directed by Jake Kasdan, stars Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, and Karen Gillan. It modernized the concept, with four teenagers getting sucked into a video game version of Jumanji and taking on the avatars of the characters played by the mentioned actors. The film was a significant success and received positive reviews.
- Jumanji: The Next Level (2019): This sequel to “Welcome to the Jungle” continued the story and introduced new characters and challenges within the video game world. The cast reprised their roles, and the film expanded on the lore of the Jumanji game.
- Future of the Franchise: As of my last knowledge update in September 2021, plans for further Jumanji films or spin-offs were in discussion. Given the success of the recent entries, it’s possible that the franchise has continued to evolve and expand in the years following my last update.
The Jumanji franchise has successfully adapted and expanded upon the original concept, blending adventure, comedy, and fantasy elements to appeal to a wide audience. It has left a lasting impact on popular culture and continues to entertain new generations of viewers.
For those following along at home, it’s worth noting that there has already been at least one Jumanji-themed foray into the world of gambling, in the form of a slot by NetEnt.
While we respect that designer tremendously in the larger sense, that slot cannot begin to compare to this Live Dealer game – not in terms of design, payouts, or scale.
This one is in a class by itself, and we hope to see more join it soon!
