Planet Of The Apes Pros & Cons
Planet Of The Apes delivers classic Aristocrat action with a proven track record. The choice-based free spins and stacked symbols create a good variety, but the RTP and max win won't impress everyone.
- Genuinely unique dual reel structure — two full grids evaluated simultaneously on one bet
- Two distinct free spins modes that play differently — Rise for wild density, Dawn for multiplier build
- Transferring Wilds create cross-grid interactions no single-grid slot can replicate
- Dawn Free Spins progress meter gives the feature a building momentum that keeps each spin meaningful
- 96.33% RTP is competitive for a licensed NetEnt title
- Film footage and character accuracy — NetEnt used licensed material from both Rise and Dawn films
- Dual grid interface is visually crowded — harder to follow than a standard single-reel slot
- No bonus buy — both free spins modes must trigger organically
- Rise Free Spins wild collection mechanic feels anticlimactic if the final spin does not align
- Max win ceiling not publicly published as a clean x-multiplier — transparency is lower than most NetEnt titles
- Licensed titles occasionally removed from casino catalogs due to licensing expiry
Planet of the Apes Slot Review
NetEnt built a lot of licensed branded slots between 2015 and 2019. Most of them put a familiar IP on top of a standard 5x3 reel set and called it done. Planet of the Apes, released in October 2017 in partnership with 20th Century Fox, is the exception. The entire slot is built around a genuinely unusual structural decision: two completely independent 5x3 reel sets running side by side on a single screen, evaluated simultaneously on every spin without doubling your bet.
The left reel set is named Rise, themed around the first film. The right is Dawn, themed around the second. Each has its own 20 paylines, its own symbol set, its own bonus features, and its own free spins mode. Wilds transfer between the two grids under specific conditions. A Dual Feature creates sticky symbols that interact across both reel sets. Rise Free Spins collect wilds and release them on the final spin. Dawn Free Spins run 15 rounds with a progress meter that builds toward extra spins, additional wilds and a 5x multiplier. 96.33% RTP, medium volatility, €0.20 to €200 bets. This is not a standard slot with a movie poster slapped on it.
| PROVIDER NetEnt / 20th Century Fox | RELEASE DATE October 23, 2017 |
|---|---|
| GRID Two independent 5x3 reel sets (Rise + Dawn) | PAYLINES 20 per reel set - 40 total |
| RTP 96.33% | VOLATILITY Medium |
| MIN / MAX BET €0.20 - €200 | RISE FREE SPINS 10 spins - wilds collected, all released on final spin |
| DAWN FREE SPINS 15 spins - progress meter, up to 5x multiplier | DUAL FEATURE Sticky symbols across both grids simultaneously |
| TRANSFERRING WILDS Wilds sync between Rise and Dawn reel sets | BONUS BUY Not available |
Key Features & Mechanics
🎪 Dual Reel System — Rise and Dawn Side by Side Two Independent 5x3 Grids — One Bet, Double Evaluation
The foundational decision in Planet of the Apes is the dual reel system. The screen is divided horizontally — Rise on the left, Dawn on the right. Both reel sets spin simultaneously on every spin. Both evaluate wins independently across their own 20 paylines. Your bet covers both reel sets — you are not paying double. Wins from Rise and Dawn are both added to the same payout total. The two grids use overlapping but not identical symbol sets: both have their own premium symbols drawn from the relevant films, their own wild positions, and their own scatter symbols that trigger their respective free spins modes. Wilds on Rise can transfer to corresponding positions on Dawn under specific Dual Feature and Transferring Wild conditions. The practical effect is that a high-paying spin involves evaluating wins across 40 paylines from two grids simultaneously — which changes the pace and feel of a winning spin compared to a standard single-grid slot.
🆕 Two Free Spins Modes — Rise and Dawn Play Differently 10 Spins (Rise) or 15 Spins (Dawn) — Separate Triggers
Rise Free Spins trigger when three or more Rise Scatter symbols land on the Rise reel set. You receive 10 free spins. During the feature, wild symbols that land on the Rise grid are collected and stored rather than evaluated for wins in that spin. On the final (10th) spin, all collected wilds are released simultaneously onto the Rise grid before wins are calculated. A feature that collects 8 to 10 wilds across 9 spins and releases them all on spin 10 creates a reel state with a very high wild density for that final evaluation. Dawn Free Spins trigger when three or more Dawn Scatter symbols land on the Dawn reel set. You receive 15 spins. A progress meter at the top of the Dawn grid advances with each win. Reaching meter milestones unlocks additional free spins, extra wilds on the Dawn grid, and eventually a 5x win multiplier that applies to all Dawn wins for the remainder of the feature. Both modes can trigger independently — it is possible (though uncommon) to trigger both simultaneously and play them concurrently.
🔗 Dual Feature & Transferring Wilds Wilds Sync Across Both Grids
The Dual Feature activates when specific conditions align across both reel sets simultaneously — matching symbol types appearing on corresponding positions of Rise and Dawn in the same spin. When it triggers, symbols that contributed to the condition become sticky across both grids and remain locked for evaluation. The Transferring Wilds mechanic runs continuously: when a wild symbol lands on the Rise reel set, a corresponding wild appears at the same position on the Dawn reel set, and vice versa. This means a single wild landing on one grid effectively doubles its coverage by also appearing on the other. During Dawn Free Spins with the 5x multiplier active, a Transferring Wild from the Rise side adds an extra wild to the Dawn grid where it gets multiplied. These cross-grid interactions are where the dual reel system pays off beyond just doubling the evaluation space — they create compound effects that a single-grid slot cannot replicate.
Symbol Values & Paytable
| SYMBOL | 3 OF A KIND | 4 OF A KIND | 5 OF A KIND |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Caesar (Rise Top Premium)
|
20x | 80x bet | |
|
Koba (Dawn Top Premium)
|
20x | 80x bet | |
|
Ape Soldier / Human Soldier (2 types per grid)
|
10-15x | 40-60x bet | |
|
Rise Card Ranks / Dawn Card Ranks
|
2-6x | 8-15x bet | |
|
Rise Wild / Dawn Wild
|
Each substitutes on | its own grid - Transferring | Wild copies to opposite grid |
|
Rise Scatter
|
Rise Free Spins (10 spins, wild | collection) | |
|
Dawn Scatter
|
Dawn Free Spins (15 spins, | progress meter, up to 5x) |
Play Responsibly - 18+ Only
Gambling should be entertaining and fun. Remember that slots are games of chance, and there's no guaranteed way to win. Never gamble more than you can afford to lose, and always set limits for yourself. If you feel gambling is becoming a problem, please seek help immediately.
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
How do two reel sets work on one bet?
Both reel sets — Rise on the left and Dawn on the right — spin simultaneously every time you press Play. Your single bet covers both grids. When the reels stop, wins are evaluated independently on each grid across their respective 20 paylines. A winning combination on Rise pays. A winning combination on Dawn also pays. Both wins are added to the same total. You are not doubling your bet for double the grids — the dual evaluation is included in your single stake. The bet range of €0.20 to €200 applies to both grids combined. This means the effective coverage per spin across 40 paylines from two grids is built into the single stake, not charged separately.
What is the difference between Rise Free Spins and Dawn Free Spins?
Rise Free Spins trigger from three or more Rise Scatter symbols on the Rise grid and award 10 spins. During the feature, any wild that lands on the Rise reel set is collected and stored rather than evaluated that spin. On the 10th and final spin, all stored wilds are released simultaneously onto the Rise grid before wins are calculated. The value of the feature depends on how many wilds accumulate across the first 9 spins. Dawn Free Spins trigger from three or more Dawn Scatter symbols on the Dawn grid and award 15 spins. A progress meter above the Dawn grid advances with each win during the feature. Filling meter segments unlocks additional free spins, extra overlay wilds on the Dawn grid, and ultimately a 5x win multiplier that applies to all Dawn wins for the rest of the feature once unlocked. Dawn Free Spins are generally considered the higher-value mode due to the 5x multiplier potential and the 15-spin count.
Can both free spins modes trigger at the same time?
Yes — it is possible to trigger both Rise Free Spins and Dawn Free Spins simultaneously if three or more Rise Scatter symbols land on the Rise grid and three or more Dawn Scatter symbols land on the Dawn grid in the same spin. When this happens, both features run concurrently — the Rise wild collection mechanic operates on the Rise grid while the Dawn progress meter advances on the Dawn grid, with both grids evaluating wins on every spin across both features simultaneously. This is an uncommon event and the combined feature session is among the highest-value outcomes the slot can produce. During a concurrent dual feature, Transferring Wilds crossing between the two active feature grids add further interaction.
Is Planet of the Apes available at Canadian casinos?
The game was widely available at NetEnt casinos since its 2017 launch. Availability may vary by operator depending on licensing agreements with 20th Century Fox — licensed branded slots occasionally rotate out of casino catalogs when film licensing terms expire or are not renewed. If you are looking for it specifically, check your casino’s NetEnt game library or search by title. Ontario-regulated casinos that carry the full NetEnt catalog are the most reliable source. Stakes run from €0.20 to €200 with CAD equivalent applied. The 96.33% RTP applies to both reel sets combined. No bonus buy is available — both free spins modes trigger organically.
How do Transferring Wilds work?
When a wild symbol lands on the Rise reel set, a corresponding wild symbol simultaneously appears at the same grid position on the Dawn reel set. The same works in reverse — a wild landing on Dawn transfers a copy to the matching position on Rise. This transfer happens automatically on every spin where a wild appears on either grid. The mechanic means that a single wild landing anywhere on either grid effectively places two wilds — one on each reel set — increasing the win potential from both grids on that spin. During Dawn Free Spins with the 5x multiplier active, a wild transferred from Rise to Dawn at a position that forms part of a winning combination on the Dawn grid has that win multiplied by 5x. The cross-grid wild transfer is the mechanic that creates the highest interaction complexity between the two reel sets.
Why does the Dawn Free Spins progress meter matter?
The progress meter is the engine that makes Dawn Free Spins valuable. It starts empty at the beginning of the feature and advances with each winning combination that lands on the Dawn grid during the 15-spin session. As the meter fills through defined segments, it unlocks rewards: additional free spins that extend the feature duration, extra overlay wild symbols added to the Dawn grid, and finally the 5x win multiplier that applies to all Dawn wins for the remainder of the feature once unlocked. If the meter progresses quickly in the early spins — through multiple wins per spin or high-value combinations — you can reach the 5x multiplier tier with several spins remaining. Those final spins at 5x multiplier with accumulated wilds active are where the largest Dawn Free Spins payouts originate. A feature that reaches the multiplier tier early and then produces a Transferring Wild from the Rise side on top of it is the optimal scenario.