| Provider | NextGen Gaming |
|---|---|
| RTP | 95.37% - Compare RTPs |
| Reels | 5 |
| Paylines | 20 |
| Bet Range | £0.01 - £100.00 |
| Features | Wilds, Scatters |
Cherry Blossoms Slot Review
Cherry Blossoms is a Japanese-themed video slot from NextGen Gaming built on 5 reels, 3 rows, and 20 fixed paylines. The RTP sits at 95.37%, which is reasonable for a game of this era, and the theme is one of the more attractive oriental efforts NextGen produced during their mid-catalogue years. Stakes run from £0.20 to £100 per spin, covering a wide range of play levels from casual to more committed sessions. Paylines are adjustable from 1 to 20, though playing all 20 gives you full coverage.
The backdrop is a peaceful Japanese garden scene with cherry blossom trees framing either side of the reels and a vivid blue sky behind them. The soundtrack matches the aesthetic - delicate and ambient, with subtle oriental instrumentation that sits in the background without becoming repetitive. It is a polished presentation for the era, and the overall visual quality holds up better than some of NextGen's simpler releases.
Symbols and Theme
The main symbols on the reels are all built around the oriental setting. A Chinese lantern, a temple, a decorative fan, and a bell make up the higher-value positions. These are well-drawn with clean lines and bright colours that pop against the garden background.
The lower-value positions are filled by the standard playing card ranks from 9 through to Ace, which is a common shortcut NextGen used across many of their games. It is a slight visual downgrade from the thematic symbols, but it does not significantly detract from the overall feel of the game since the higher symbols appear regularly enough to keep things interesting.
The Wild symbol is the Geisha Girl. She substitutes for all other symbols on the reels apart from the scatter, and importantly she also carries a 2x multiplier - any win involving the Geisha symbol is doubled. That multiplier also carries through into the free spins feature, which adds real weight to any landing she makes during the bonus round.
The Scatter is the Cherry Blossom symbol. Three or more anywhere on the reels trigger the free spins feature and pay a multiplied prize based on the number of scatters that appear.
Free Spins Feature
Landing three Cherry Blossom scatter symbols triggers the bonus round. The number of free spins awarded depends on how many scatters appear:
- 3 scatters - 15 free spins
- 4 scatters - 20 free spins
- 5 scatters - 25 free spins
During the free spins, all wins are tripled. Combined with the Geisha Wild's built-in 2x multiplier, a win involving the Wild during the bonus round effectively pays at 6x - three from the base multiplier and two from the Wild. That stacking effect is where the game's biggest hits tend to come from, and it gives Cherry Blossoms more punch than its relaxed theme might initially suggest.
The free spins can also be retriggered by landing another three or more Cherry Blossom scatters during the bonus round, resetting or adding to the spin count depending on how many appear. There is no hard cap on how many times the feature can retrigger, so in a good run the free spins can run for considerably longer than the initial award.
Gamble Feature
After any base game win you have the option to gamble it. The mechanic is the standard card-reveal setup that NextGen included across most of their catalogue: guess the colour of the next card correctly to double your win, or guess the suit to quadruple it. You can gamble repeatedly, stacking multipliers, until you either collect or guess wrong and lose the win.
The gamble feature has no thematic connection to the cherry blossom setting - it is a generic mechanic bolted on rather than something built into the game's identity. Whether to use it is entirely a personal call. The maths are fair (roughly 50/50 on colour, 25% on suit), but variance can be brutal if you run a long gamble sequence and miss. Banking moderate wins and only gambling smaller amounts is a sensible approach if you do choose to use it.
Mobile and Gameplay Controls
The control layout is clean and straightforward. All the main buttons sit at the base of the screen - spin, bet adjustment, and autoplay. The autoplay function can be set for up to 15 automated spins, which is limited by modern standards but functional for shorter play sessions. An info screen accessible via the paytable button covers all the rules, pays, and feature mechanics in detail.
Cherry Blossoms was built during the era of Flash-based desktop slots, but like most NextGen titles from this period it transitioned to HTML5 and plays without issues on mobile. The 5x3 grid scales down cleanly on smaller screens, and the touch controls work as expected.
How It Compares to Other NextGen Oriental Slots
NextGen produced a number of oriental-themed games across their catalogue. Cherry Blossoms sits at the more relaxed end of that range - lower volatility than some of their titles, a steady free spins feature, and a theme that prioritises atmosphere over mechanical complexity. If you enjoy Cherry Blossoms and want something with more feature depth, NextGen's Secret of the Stones and Foxin' Wins offer more layered mechanics, though neither shares the same aesthetic.
Within the oriental slot space, players familiar with titles like Koi Princess or Eastern Emeralds will notice Cherry Blossoms is simpler and less volatile. That is not necessarily a drawback - it depends entirely on whether you prefer sustained play with moderate swings or less frequent but larger hit potential.
Verdict
Cherry Blossoms is a well-made, mid-weight slot that delivers a pleasant play experience without overwhelming you with features. The 95.37% RTP is solid, the Geisha Wild multiplier adds genuine excitement, and the free spins feature has real potential when the 3x round multiplier stacks with the Wild's 2x. The retriggering mechanic means a single bonus round can develop into something considerably more rewarding than the initial trigger suggests.
It is not a groundbreaking slot by current standards, and the playing card low symbols and generic gamble feature are minor blemishes on an otherwise cohesive package. But the core loop is enjoyable, the theme is genuinely well-executed, and the game is considerably more interesting than a superficial look might suggest. Worth a spin if you appreciate a cleaner, atmosphere-focused slot over something loaded with complex side mechanics.
Who makes the Cherry Blossoms slot?
Cherry Blossoms was developed by NextGen Gaming, a studio that built an extensive catalogue of video slots before being acquired by NYX Gaming Group and later Scientific Games. NextGen titles are known for reliable maths, clean layouts, and accessible feature sets.
What is the RTP of Cherry Blossoms?
Cherry Blossoms has an RTP (return to player) of 95.37%. This is the theoretical long-run return rate and means for every £100 wagered over a very large number of spins, the game returns approximately £95.37 on average.
How do you trigger the free spins in Cherry Blossoms?
Land three or more Cherry Blossom scatter symbols anywhere on the reels to trigger the free spins bonus. Three scatters award 15 free spins, four award 20, and five award 25. All wins during the feature are tripled, and the round can be retriggered by landing three or more scatters again.
What does the Wild symbol do in Cherry Blossoms?
The Wild is the Geisha Girl symbol. She substitutes for all other symbols on the reels except the scatter and applies a 2x multiplier to any win she contributes to. During free spins, where all wins are already tripled, a win involving the Geisha pays at an effective 6x multiplier.
How many paylines does Cherry Blossoms have?
Cherry Blossoms is played across 5 reels, 3 rows, and 20 paylines (adjustable from 1 to 20). Stakes range from £0.20 to £100 per spin.
Can you play Cherry Blossoms on mobile?
Yes. Cherry Blossoms is available in HTML5 format and plays on mobile browsers without any additional software. The 5x3 grid scales cleanly on smaller screens and the touch controls work as expected on both iOS and Android devices.
Where to Play Cherry Blossoms
These online casinos carry NextGen Gaming games including Cherry Blossoms. Read our Lord Of The Spins review or browse all casino reviews.
Cherry Blossoms RTP and Variance
Cherry Blossoms has an RTP of 95.37%, which is around the industry average. See our highest RTP slots for the best returning games.
At the minimum bet of £0.01 per spin, a £10 deposit gives you 1,000 spins with a statistical expected return of £9.54. Read our slot betting strategy guide for tips on managing your bankroll.
More NextGen Gaming Slots
If you enjoy Cherry Blossoms, try these other NextGen Gaming games available at the same casinos.
