Candy Pop

Candy Pop (Pragmatic Play) Review

Candy Pop is an exclusive online slot released by Pragmatic Play on the 12th of June. It is crafted especially for the fans of colorful games with plenty of sweets and candies. The title continues a long series of themed games but offers a new type of experience, thanks to the Multiway mechanic with 4,096 ways to win.

Pragmatic Play already has more than 900 games in its constantly increasing portfolio, but the Sweets-themed slots hold a special place there. The provider has more than 50 titles in that category, including legends like Sweet Bonanza and Sugar Rush. It is a known territory for the provider, and despite the heavy competition, it still tops that ranking. Now, Pragmatic Play has something else in mind and I’ll reveal it in detail in the following article!

Candy Pop shares a name with several other online slots, but doesn’t share mechanics. The grid is wide - 6x4, and ways to win stretch from the leftmost side of the board to the right. Symbols pay for 2 or 3 up to 6 of a kind on adjacent reels. As usual, the provider has added lots of technical features, including Turbo Spin, Autoplay, and Bonus Buy.

Candy Pop is linked to 4 progressive jackpots, and all players betting real money have the chance to win one. The base gameplay is loaded with multiple juicy payouts and a Cash Collect feature, which we are used to seeing in many PP slots. In addition, there are a pair of bonus minigames to choose from when scatters appear in enough numbers. Check out the Candy Pop demo above, but also the rest of my review!

Candy Pop Slot - Reels Screen

Candy Pop comes with several differences when compared to other similar games, and one of them, although minor, is the regular symbol payouts. The paytable consists of 5 sweets and candies as High Pays, and all of them deliver prizes for 2 to 6 of a kind. That’s not usual despite some providers adding 2OAK prizes to their 1 or 2 highest-valued figures. The Low Pays are A to 9, and each pays for 3 to 6 on a winway.

The heart-shaped delicacy tops the paytable with 1x to 5x, followed by a couple of jelly temptations - 0.50x to 2.50x, while ice cream and gummy coca-colas pay 0.20x to 2x. The low A, K, Q, J, 10, and 9 award from 0.30x to 1.50x the bet. What looks like a lollipop is the wild symbol, and it can land on reels 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 to substitute for all the regulars and complete winning combinations.

The Candy Pop RTP is lower than expected - 94.51% and unlike other Pragmatic Play slots, there are no alternative rates. At the same time, the game comes with high levels of volatility, but at least the Hit Frequency rate is fair - 24.93% or 1 in 4.01 spins on average. The Candy Pop max win is 5,000x the bet and stakes range from €0.20 to €240 per spin, up to €480 via the Ante Bet.

Candy Pop Features

Candy Pop is packed with a simple Money Collect feature and 2 selectable bonus games. Each one has its pros and cons and can deliver the max win, so I guess it all goes down to personal preferences. I tested both bonuses several times, and with minor exceptions, they delivered comparable total payouts. Find out all the details below:

Money Collect

Purple bonbons are Money Symbols, and they can land anywhere on the grid. Each one carries a cash prize of 0.50x to 20x the bet, or one of the displayed fixed jackpots below. Gummy Bear is a Collector, and it can appear in the base game on reels 1 and 6 only. Each one in view will collect and award all the Money Symbol values, including the jackpots on the screen.

• Large Jackpot – 2,500x the bet
• Medium Jackpot – 250x the bet
• Small Jackpot – 25x the bet

Free Spins Bonuses

If you land 3, 4, 5, or 6 scatter symbols at the same time, you’ll get paid a cash prize of 1x, 2x, 3x, or 5x the bet. In addition, you’ll trigger the Free Spins bonus and will be able to choose from 2 minigames. The first one starts with 8, 12, 20, or 30 free spins, depending on the number of triggering scatters. During the bonus, the wild symbols that appear will have multipliers of x2, x3, or x5. Scatters can retrigger the minigame!

The second bonus in Candy Pop is Money Spins, and if you choose it, you’ll receive 2, 3, 5, or 7 rounds for 3, 4, 5, or 6 triggering scatters. The 6x4 grid will display only Money and Collector symbols, along with blanks. It is guaranteed that at least one Collector will land on every free spin. Money Spins can not be retriggered!

Candy Pop Slot – Free Spins Win Screen

Jackpot Bonus

Jackpot Bonus is random and may activate on every real money spin with a minimum qualifying wager of €0.20. It activates a minigame where players have to pick items until they reveal 3 of the same kind. Jackpot Bonus is guaranteed to award one of the progressive jackpots displayed on top of the reels - Grand, Mega, Major, and Minor.

Each real money bet contributes to all pots by adding a predetermined percentage to each one. Check for more detailed information in the Candy Pop's menu! Although any jackpot can be won with any bet, naturally, high rollers are more likely to trigger the bonus. You can see the current values in real-time when you trigger a real-money version of the game.

Ante Bet Buy Bonus

Ante Bet is a bonus bet, and it doubles the wager if turned on without affecting the paytable. It also triples the chance of activating the Free Spins choosing mode by adding more scatter symbols on the screen. Buy Bonus offers 4 options at fixed prices and activates the bonus immediately:

• Buy 3 Scatters – 80x the bet
• Buy 4 Scatters – 120x the bet
• Buy 5 Scatters – 200x the bet
• Buy 6 Scatters – 240x the bet

Theme & Graphics

Candy Pop is a colorful and bright game that features a recognizable Sweets theme and plenty of elements in pink, blue, and purple. The grid is not surrounded by candies and chocolds, but taken out on a stage in front of what seems to be an establishment. A screen on the right displays essential information about the slot, and on the left, you can see the featured fixed jackpots, ante bets, and bonus buys.

As expected, Candy Pop has first-class graphics and artwork, although animation effects remain generic. The audio set is nice and relaxing, very similar to other “Sweet” slots crafted by various providers. The game is, of course, compatible with Android and iOS, and in short, it offers a seamless and smooth experience on the go.

Candy Pop Free Play

Find a Candy Pop free play link at the beginning of my review and test the title for free. The game will be directly translated in your language and will offer all the bonus and technical features. The only element that remains out of reach, for obvious reasons, is the progressive jackpot bonus. Use the demo to polish your skills and test progressive betting strategies. There are plenty of stake levels and tools to develop more than one technique and prepare yourself for the future real-money adventure!

Pros And Cons Of Candy Pop Slot

Our Verdict

At first glance, Candy Pop does not differ much from about a hundred others of the same category. Furthermore, it even falls behind many of these titles, technically due to the high volatility combined with a low RTP rate. But, the reason for that is perhaps the linked progressive jackpots, which is a feature that isn’t standard either. So, I guess, from a high-roller point of view, scales are leveling.

Candy Pop’s max win of 5,000x is relatively modest as well, but compared to others, it can drop more easily. The odds are calculated at 1 in 621,427 spins, and seasoned gamblers will find that very generous. Moreover, although lower than others, the cap is comparable with thematic mega-hits like Yum Yum Powerways. In terms of base game and bonus features, Candy Pop offers a rather standard experience.

Indeed, having a choice between two bonuses is nice and adds some depth to the game, but not much and mechanics continue to feel recycled. Bonus Buy is for those with deeper pockets and the good news is that the cheaper options offer at least 3, 4, or 5 scatters. So, in total, Candy Pop is not for every slot enthusiast but for those who cherish sweets on the reels and progressive jackpots in reserve.