Ariana (Microgaming) – Review & Demo Play

Introducing Ariana Online Slot

Ariana, from Microgaming, runs on a 5x3 grid with 25 paylines and a clear ocean theme. You get stacked symbols, expanding mechanics, and a Free Spins round with 15 spins and retriggers. Wilds stand in for all except Scatters, and Scatters pay anywhere. It plays like a medium variance slot with steady, smaller outcomes and the odd better burst when the features line up. I’ve played plenty of sessions on it, and while the gameplay is simple, the numbers hold it back.

Theme & Design in Ariana: Underwater Adventure

Ariana’s reels sit over calm blue water with coral reefs, seaweed, a treasure chest, fish, and the mermaid as the star. Premiums look tidy, and the palette keeps things relaxed. There’s no background music during idle play, only basic reel sounds and win cues, so the audio sits in the background rather than driving momentum. Visually it has that 2015 look: clean enough, not flashy. If you like a quiet ocean slot vibe, it does the job without fuss.

Symbols & Payouts in Ariana

Starfish Scatters pay anywhere: 2, 3, 4, 5 award 1x, 2x, 10x, 100x your bet and trigger the bonus at three or more. The Ariana logo is Wild, substituting for all except Scatters and paying 2x, 3x, 10x for 3, 4, 5 on a line. Premium symbols are stacked in different ways, which matters for the expansion mechanic. In regular wins you still need left‑to‑right lines, but Scatter pays ignore paylines. Wilds can also stack during the bonus on reel 1, which changes payout flow.

Mermaid symbols (stacked on all reels) pay 1.2x, 2.4x, 8x for 3, 4, 5. Stacked on reel 1 only: Seaweed 1x, 2x, 7x; Treasure Chest 0.8x, 1.6x, 6x; Coral 0.6x, 1.2x, 5x. Low pays A, K, Q, J, 10 return roughly 0.12x to 0.28x for 3, 0.32x to 0.80x for 4, and 1x to 2.4x for 5. The stack layout ties straight into the feature, so hitting a full stack on reel 1 is the setup you want.

Ariana Symbols and Paytable

Symbol	Quantity	Payout
	5	x100
	4	x10
	3	x2
	2	x1
	5	x10
	4	x3
	3	x2
	5	x8
	4	x2.4
	3	x1.2
	5	x7
	4	x2
	3	x1
	5	x6
	4	x1.6
	3	x0.8
	5	x5
	4	x1.2
	3	x0.6
	5	x2.4
	4	x0.8
	3	x0.28
	5	x2
	4	x0.6
	3	x0.24
	5	x1.6
	4	x0.48
	3	x0.2
	5	x1.2
	4	x0.4
	3	x0.16
	5	x1
	4	x0.32
	3	x0.12

How to Play Ariana Video Slot

Set your stake between 0.25 and 250 per spin. Use Autoplay for 10, 25, 50, or 100 spins if you want hands‑off sessions, and toggle quick spins via the lightning button for faster rounds. Open the i icon to check the paytable, rules, and feature notes. I always skim the symbol values here first so I know what a five‑of‑a‑kind looks like across premiums, Wilds, and Scatters.

The main spin button is the curved arrow; balance and total bet sit alongside for a clear view. There’s a Max Bet option if you want to jump stakes, but I prefer steady steps on a medium variance slot like this. Sound can be muted in the menu if the reel clicks grate. The game’s simple layout on mobile works well in portrait, with controls tucked neatly to the right of the reels.

Bonus Features in Ariana

Expanding Symbols run in the base game. Land a full stack of any premium on reel 1, and matching high symbols on reels 2–5 expand where they can complete a win. It’s a neat way to turn near‑misses into lines across the 25 paylines, and it’s the core moment you wait for outside of Free Spins. Without that stack on reel 1, the game feels very line‑driven and modest.

Three or more Starfish kick off 15 Free Spins, and you can retrigger with another three‑plus. During the feature, Wilds appear stacked on reel 1, which is a genuine shift. A full stack on reel 1 then expands all matching highs and any Wilds in view on the other reels if a win can be made. That small rule tweak is the difference maker between a flat bonus and a round that strings lines together.

In practice, Free Spins can swing a session, but it’s still capped by the slot’s modest ceiling. The best results I’ve had came from stacked Wilds on reel 1 linking with Mermaid or Seaweed expansions for multiple lines in one go. When that doesn’t show, the round can feel like base game plus. It’s consistent with the slot’s medium pace: steady, with the odd lift rather than fireworks.

Max Win, RTP, & Variance in Ariana

Ariana comes with 95.48% RTP, medium variance, and a maximum win of 240x your bet. That cap is low for the volatility label, so sessions rely on regular line hits and the occasional expansion chain rather than giant spikes. Stakes suit most budgets, but expectations need to match the maths. If you’re chasing oversized payouts, this won’t satisfy; if you prefer measured play with feature nudges, it fits.

Ariana: A Slot Worth Spinning?

Ariana has decent Expanding Symbols, 15 Free Spins with retriggers, and stacked Wilds on reel 1 during the bonus. The ocean look is easy on the eye, and the controls are slick. The flip side is obvious: below‑average RTP, a very low 240x top prize, and familiar bonuses that feel dated now. It’s an old slot, and while the maths keeps things calm, it rarely surprises.

As a seasoned player, I treat it as a low‑key session filler rather than a target game. If you want a quiet ocean spin with simple mechanics, fair enough. If you’re after modern features or serious payout potential, I’d pass. In my book, the numbers and ceiling make it hard to justify long play, so I don’t recommend it beyond a short try for the expansion gimmick.