Play Bugs 'n Bees for Free

Anthropomorphised insects aside, the gameplay in this Novomatic offering is mercifully bug-free: you could play it for hours (and you probably will) without finding so much as a glitch that might spoil the experience. Novomatic have been in this game for a long time, and they’ve long since mastered the fundamentals of video slots. The graphics are clean, the animations are smooth and the sound effects add to the gaming experience rather than providing an unwelcome distraction. There’s more than a dash of Beetle Mania Deluxe to this title, Novomatic’s other bug-themed video slots offering, and by “more than a dash“ read „the two look almost identical“. We’re not here to review BMD, though: we’re here to talk about the bugs and the bees, and there’s a lot to talk about…

This 5-reel fruit machine is nothing if not cute. There’s no getting away from it: those bugs and bees are of the friendly, rather than the fiendish variety. They just wanna make you smile as you pound the start button a bunch of times in your tireless quest for the jackpot. When you’re ready to commence, set your starting stake, which can be anything from 0.02 up to a maximum of 5. The maximum bet is lower than that offered by many of the most popular video slots so is perfect for those who prefer low stakes slots. Nevertheless, it’s still possible to win big on Bugs ‘N Bees, thanks largely to the bonus features that can take your winnings to the next level.

Aside from the bugs and bees that provide the game’s theme, other symbols are formed out of the useful complement of jacks, kings, queens and aces – plus a handful of musical notes, because why not? The musical symbols are important actually: notch up three of them on any of the reels to glide into the bonus round, where free spins are the order of the day. If that’s not music to your ears, then this will be: look out for the symbol of the piano bug; this little fella has the power to double your last win during the bonus round.

Entomologists should know that the complete list of insects featured in the game incorporates two varieties of bee, a caterpillar, a mosquito and the aforementioned piano bug. Is there a more fun way to learn about the bugs and the bees? Of course not.

Novomatic’s favourite gamble feature surfaces predictably on this five-reel slot, the one that gives you a chance to double your winnings. The odds of doubling up are 50/50, so it’s a straight up gamble, but one that can pay dividends. All in, the game offers 20 pay-lines, set across all five reels. The maximum pay-out of 1,000 coins will grant a sum of 5,000, sum, then if you’re playing with the highest possible stake. To grab the grand prize, look out for the bee bearing a jar of honey; five of the critters will be enough to bag you the jackpot.

There are plenty of reasons to take a closer look at Bugs ‘N Bees, not least the fact that this game is a whole lotta fun. If you’re purely in it for profit, it should be pointed out that there are plenty of slots out there offering higher jackpots. The game truly comes into its own with the bonus features – that’s where the most mischief can be wrought and where a sizeable portion of coins can be claimed. Coupled with Novomatic’s obligatory multiplier feature and there’s a lot of reasons to play Bugs ‘N Bees. Sure, the game’s not gonna win any awards for originality – Novomatic appear to have resorted to plagiarising themselves – but in truth, it’s no biggie. There’s only so many ways you can model a 5 reel slot machine anyway, and as a standalone video slot, Bugs ‘N Bees is as fun as anything out there.