3 African Drums

3 African Drums Review

Hey, are you here for some Hold n’ WIn action? Then you're in the right place! Today we have another addition to the 3 Oaks portfolio for review: 3 African Drums. Yeah, as you could guess, the main feature of this slot game is… *dramatic pause* Hold n’ Win bonus game! Players familiar with this provider's content won't be surprised because 3 Oaks has some kind of a fixation on this mechanic. Time after time, title after title, we get games with bloody Hold n’ Win. It feels like it's either a social experiment or 3 Oaks is trying to summon the Dark Lord through a ritual where they have to release 1000 games with this feature. On the other hand, I can’t blame them for this approach - why risk when things work perfectly fine? At least, I think so, as if there is no demand, there is no offer - the basic law of the market. Or they really are summoning the Dark Lord and that conspiracy is more to my liking. Anyway, 3 African Drums is a classic 3 Oaks game, and we all know what to expect from it. But maybe, just maybe there's something new in its game formula? Who knows. Let's find out in this review.

If 3 Oaks’ name doesn’t ring a bell, let me sum them up for you: they’re like that reliable food place you go to when you don’t feel like experimenting - consistent, reliable, but not exactly pushing the boundaries. Their games look good, play smoothly, and stick to what works, but innovation? Yeah, that’s not really their strong suit. 3 African Drums is yet another addition to their lineup that’s fine for a quick spin, but don’t hold your breath for any groundbreaking features. Here’s what 3 Oaks themselves have to say about it:

3 African Drums offers an exciting blend of captivating features and visually immersive gameplay. With its Hold & Win mechanic, jackpot potential, and engaging features, we believe this game will quickly resonate with players.

This title marks another step forward in our commitment to delivering content that provide strong performance for our partners worldwide.

Krasimir Pankovski
Head of Sales, 3 Oaks Gaming

I’d rephrase it to ‘This title marks another step forward in our Lord’s arrival’. Sorry, I need to quit the habit of making stupid jokes at inappropriate times. Still, in the end, I can agree that this game may resonate with players. As I mentioned earlier it seems that things work just fine for 3 Oaks, as they are still in business and continue to make games according to their time-proven pattern.

The ‘exciting blend of captivating features’ part is still debatable to me. 3 African Drums is a part of the 3 *insert thing* line, which features 3 Hot Chillies, 3 China Pots, 3 Egypt Chests. And the problem here is that the entire lineup of slots is mechanically identical. Almost as if you have tried one of them, you can consider that you have already played all of them. If you look out of context, the games are undeniably cool, not brilliant, but enjoyable to play. But holy moly, I recently wrote a review for 3 Pots of Egypt and I'm catching deja vu in a bad way. It's like buying Skittles and there are only red ones in there.

Okay, time to end my rant. What's with 3 African Drums? This slot sticks to the classic 5x3 layout with 25 betways. Not much, but it compensates with features. The game’s mechanics revolve around the tried-and-true Hold ‘n’ Win bonus game, a feature that’s practically a trademark for 3 Oaks at this point. But the main course comes with a sauce, right? Yeah, and we've got the familiar Wilds, and there are 3 modifiers as cherry on top. The symbols include a mix of animals: Lion, Giraffe, Leopard, Zebra, and Antelope as well as diamonds.

Let’s talk numbers. The RTP for 3 African Drums sits at 95.68%, which is slightly below the industry average. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it’s not going to blow anyone’s socks off either. The variance is medium, which means you’re looking at a balance between frequent smaller wins and the occasional bigger catch—a steady rhythm, much like those drums.

Boasting a 20.35% hit frequency means you will approximate one in five spins for at least a winning time - not quite an attack of jackpots but keeps the activity running. Now talking of jackpots: it weighs about x4280 of your bets. Bets vary from as low as €0.10 up to €60, thus fitting both the casual spinners and the high rollers who like to go all in.

3 African Drums Game - Game Screen

3 African Drums Features

Alright, so we’ve got another slot leaning heavily on the good ol’ Hold ‘n’ Win mechanic. But let’s cut to the chase - do 3 African Drums actually deliver something new, or are we just banging the same drum again? Let’s break it down and see if it’s got the rhythm to keep us playing.

Wilds

Ah, Wilds - the unsung heroes of slot gameplay. They’re like bread and butter; simple, essential, and always appreciated. In 3 African Drums, they stick to the classic formula, subbing for all symbols except Collect, Double, and Multi symbols. It’s nothing fresh, but let’s be honest - sometimes, you just need something basic to hold things together.

Hold ‘n’ Win Bonus Game

Here’s where things start to drum up some interest (pun intended). The Hold ‘n’ Win Bonus Game spices things up with three modifiers: Collect, Double, and Multi. Players familiar with games from 3 Oaks won't be surprised that the bonus game triggers randomly when bonus symbols are landed. At the same time, the type and number of modifiers are also random. Once you’re in, it’s time for the modifiers to shine:

• Collect: A greedy fella, which collects values from all other symbols. This time I can say that greed is good.
• Double: What did you expect? Double values of symbols? Nope, this feature *the most epic drum beat* doubles layout! But that doesn't apply to the grid itself, you get 2 fields at once! It’s like a buy-one-get-one deal, and honestly, I love to see it Moreover, symbols from the original field are duplicated on the second field when this modifier is triggered.
• Multi: Randomly give a 2x multiplier to a random tile. When Multi is applied to a tile that already has a multiplier, it is increased by +1. For example, a tile with x3 multiplier will become x4

3 African Drums Game - Game Screen

There’s also the Jackpot element. Land Mini, Minor, or Major Jackpot symbols, and you’ll pocket 15x, 30x, or 100x your bet, respectively. And if you manage to fill the entire grid with symbols, congrats—you’ve hit the Grand Jackpot, worth 2000x your bet. It’s not life-changing, but hey, it’s something.

Bonus Buy

For those of us who can’t be bothered with the grind and just want to jump straight into the action, 3 African Drums has you covered with its Bonus Buy feature. No waiting, no hassle - just instant access to the Bonus game. You’ve got two options to choose from:

• x100 of the bet triggers Bonus game with 1 guaranteed Bonus symbol.
• x250 of the bet triggers Bonus game with 3 guaranteed Bonus symbols.

Theme & Graphics

3 African Drums tries to bring the African savanna to life… And fails not miserably, but I've seen better. The backdrop is a dull orange smear. The animal symbols - Lion, Giraffe, Leopard, Zebra, and Antelope are too basic, not even stylized. I’m not impressed with this slot’s visuals at all. Yeah, it is crafted on an adequate level but there is no flair. I have a feeling that the creatives at 3 Oaks decided to bet whether they could make the most generic African-themed slot with outdated graphics. And they did it - hats off to them. The slot doesn't look bad, but 3 Oaks can do better, I know it. On the other hand, I really like the OST. There's nothing complicated about it, but the simple melody and pleasant ambient create just awesome atmosphere.

Pros And Cons of 3 African Drums

Verdict

If we’re looking at 3 African Drums in isolation, it’s a decent slot. The gameplay delivers that satisfying simplicity. Yeah, the visuals could have been better, and Max Win is a bit disappointing, but overall the game can provide a fan experience - it ticks the right boxes for what it is. But zoom out a little, and the déjà vu kicks in hard. It’s yet another entry in the Hold and Win catalog - a formula that’s been done to death at this point, just with a fresh coat of African-themed paint. To sum it up, 3 African Drums is a solidly made slot that plays it safe. It’s enjoyable for what it is, but don’t expect anything groundbreaking or particularly memorable. It does the job, no more, no less.

P.S. All hail the Dark Lord of Hold n' Win! If my theory is correct, you better be on good terms with him.