Aeterna - Review, Demo Play, Payout, Free Spins & Bonuses

Introduction

Black Pudding slots are on a mission to radically shake up the world of online gaming with Aeterna, the world’s first Orbital Reactor slot.

With its unique reel array and arresting audio-visuals, this game has a name that means endless or everlasting and the developer declares that the max payout is theoretically infinite, although the highest base game win is 1,000x your stake.

Instead of five reels arranged vertically adjacent, this slot deconstructs its three reels into something very different as they overlap inside the orb. Seven symbols will appear after a spin, of which only six count - this really is a slot you need to play in demo spins mode to appreciate.

Any three or more consecutive symbols reading around the orbital pathway at the edge of the reels counts as a win, and these symbols will then disappear and be replaced by new ones - it’s a mechanic that will be familiar to anyone who enjoys cascading reel slots.

In addition, there’s an increasing multiplier mechanic at work that escalates with every win up to 20x in the base game and 40x in the free spins.

There are a couple of effective bonus features, including a free spins bonus, and we’ll look at them in more detail later.

The stripped-back interface and game design is fully optimised for mobile play, and Aeterna spins seamlessly on mobile and tablet.

Theme, Graphics & Soundtrack

Aeterna as a concept is all about the infinity of time and space, and Black Pudding Games have done an incredible job in capturing the concept in this unique slots game.

The orbital reactor concept radically changes the way we look at the reels, which are set against the vastness of space. The orbital pathway is set against a backdrop of Saturn and the Milky Way, with stars and space rocks drifting through the void.

The electronica soundtrack loops away into infinity, creating a calming and atmospheric backdrop to this breathtaking slot.

RTP & Volatility

The theoretical RTP of 96.19% is above the industry average, which will suit most players. Black Pudding Games haven’t given this slot a volatility rating because of the radically different gameplay.

How to play Aeterna

With any new game, you should set a session budget that will let you enjoy your spins responsibly.

Aeterna is optimised for mobile, so the stripped-back interface can be set up in just a few taps:

1. Tap the Settings menu to the top left to access game rules, help and paytable.

2. Tap the Speaker icon on the top right to mute and unmute game sounds.

3. Tap the Menu icon above the Spin button to access the Quick Settings menu:
- Set your Bet using the slider bar
- Play between 5 and 100 Autospins
- Activate/deactivate Turbo Spins

4. When you’re ready to play, activate Autospins or hit the Spin button to launch.

Min & Max Bets + Top Wins

There’s a simple slider menu that lets you set a total bet between 0.10 and 50.00 credits per spin, which should suit most styles of play.

Black Pudding Games say that the maximum payout is theoretically unlimited thanks to the endlessly retriggerable free spins with doubled wins but ‘theoretically’ is doing a lot of heavy lifting as it’s tricky to keep the retriggers and cascades going.

Once you get the hang of the orbital pathway, it's easy to pick up on your wins, which are multiplied by your stake. These are the maximum 6-of-a-kind payouts:

- Green cube pays 1000x
- Orange cylinder pays 250x
- Purple pentagon pays 120x
- Red orb pays 60x
- Yellow star pays 30x
- Turquoise prism pays 10x

Bonus Features

Aeterna won’t be like anything you’ve played before, so we’ve taken a deep dive into the features on offer, including the unique Orbital Pathway.

Orbital Pathway

After every spin, the 6 outer symbols will land on the Orbital pathway. 3 or more symbols landing consecutively earn a payout and trigger the Orbital Reactor Mechanism.

Orbital Reactor Mechanism

When a winning combination is formed, the symbols are removed and new symbols appear in their place, creating the potential for new wins.

For each new chain reaction win, the multiplier also advances one place up to 40x in the free spins.

Twin Win Booster Bonus

Land two simultaneous 3-of-a-kind wins to trigger this feature. The symbols on the pathway will be lit one by one.

Choose a symbol using the spin button, or the game will choose automatically. This symbol is then cloned in every position for a 6-of-a-kind win.

Free Spins Feature

The bonus symbol is the blue A, which pays 2x, 6x, 12x or 60x your stake for three, four, five or six of a kind.

Any win containing four or more bonus symbols triggers the free spins. You’ll spin for 5, 10, 15 or 30 free games, which can be retriggered without limit. All wins are doubled with a 2x multiplier.

Overall Review: Our Verdict

Aeterna takes space-themed slots far beyond the classic Starburst slot and into the stratosphere. Packed with features, this hugely compelling slot succeeds brilliantly in shaking up the genre. It’s slots gameplay but not as we know it and well worth exploring.

Disclaimer: Aeterna trademark / license is owned by Black Pudding Games. This site is not endorsed by Black Pudding Games.