Few global events match the spectacle of the Rio Carnival, and Pragmatic Play brings that atmosphere to life with Heart of Rio. This online slot taps into the carnival’s energy, blending it with the classic mechanics the provider is known for. While there’s no replacing the real-world grandeur of Brazil’s iconic festival, Heart of Rio does a decent job of capturing its spirit, right down to the samba beats and colourful visuals.
Set on a 5x3 grid with 25 fixed paylines, the game combines straightforward gameplay with features that keep things lively. Winning combinations start from the leftmost reel, requiring three or more matching symbols on a payline. The minimum bet of 0.25 allows players to take part in the carnival without stretching their bankroll too far, making it accessible to a wide audience.
Pragmatic Play is no stranger to festival-inspired slots. If you’ve played El Dorado City of Gold, you might notice some similarities. The game uses a similar engine, but with a carnival twist that introduces new features like money collect symbols. Fans of the provider’s portfolio might also recall releases like Big Bass Bonanza or The Dog House, which similarly keep the focus on simple mechanics enhanced by well-designed bonuses.
Here’s how you can get started and play Heart of Rio for yourself:
If you aren't already registered, click on the green 'Sign Up' button in the top right corner and fill in the required fields. You can then verify your account and make a successful deposit if you want to play Heart of Rio with real funds.
The reels of Heart of Rio are filled with symbols that reflect the carnival theme. The low-paying symbols include J, Q, K, and A card royals, while the high-paying symbols are colourful items like drinks, masks, and dancers.
Here’s a breakdown of the payouts for landing three, four, or five matching symbols on a payline:
Symbol | Payout for 3, 4, and 5 of a kind |
J | 0.40x, 0.80x, 8x |
Q | 0.40x, 0.80x, 8x |
K | 0.40x, 0.80x, 8x |
A | 0.40x, 1.60x, 8x |
Coconut Cocktail | 0.40x, 2x, 10x |
Festival Mask | 0.40x, 2x, 12x |
Green Festival Dancer | 0.40x, 2.40x, 14x |
Purple Festival Dancer | 0.80x, 4x, 64x |
The wild symbol, represented by a red gazing dancer, substitutes for all other symbols except scatters and collect symbols, but it only appears on reels 2, 3, 4, and 5. The Bonus symbol, a pair of drums, appears on reels 2, 3, and 4. A three-way match will pay out 3x the bet and will activate the Bonus Free Spins.
Disco ball symbols serve as the money symbols, appearing on reels 1 to 4 with random values. These values become relevant when paired with a collect symbol, which lands on reel 5. There are five types of collect symbols, each with a unique effect:
Landing three scatter symbols on reels 2, 3, and 4 triggers eight free spins, along with a payout worth 1x your bet. During this feature, the money collect mechanic remains active, with one important addition: every money symbol collected is also added to a prize pot.
At the end of the free spins round, the total value of the prize pot is brought back to the grid as a giant money symbol. A final respin determines whether this value will be collected, adding a dramatic conclusion to the bonus round. Scatters can retrigger additional spins, with no upper limit.
If you enjoyed Heart of Rio’s carnival vibe and straightforward features, you might also like Big Bass Bonanza and El Dorado Infinity Reels. These games are available at Heart Bingo and feature similarly dynamic bonus rounds with rewarding mechanics.