| Provider | NetEnt |
|---|---|
| RTP | 96.84% - Compare RTPs |
| Volatility | Medium |
| Reels | 5 |
| Paylines | 25 |
| Bet Range | £0.01 - £125.00 |
| Hit Frequency | 25.00% |
| Max Win | 500x |
| Features | Wilds, Scatters, Bonus Rounds |
Secret of the Stones is a 5 reel, 25 payline slot from NetEnt. Set against a backdrop of ancient Celtic standing stones, it blends druid mythology with a pick-and-reveal bonus round that gives players real control over their free spins setup. Bets run from £0.25 to £125 per spin.
Theme and Symbols
The game takes its cues from Stonehenge-era Britain. Stone monoliths, carved animal symbols, and a robed druid figure dominate the reels, giving it a distinct atmosphere compared to the usual fantasy or Egyptian slots you find elsewhere.
The premium symbols are five Celtic animals: the red deer sits at the top of the pay table, followed by the owl, the wolf, the bull, and the snake. Land five deer on a payline and you get the best standard symbol payout in the game. Below them are the standard card royals - A, K, Q, J and 10 - which fill out winning combinations at lower pay rates.
The druid acts as the wild symbol and substitutes for all regular symbols. He can also appear stacked, covering a full reel and significantly improving your chances of multiple wins in a single spin. The golden tree is the scatter and is what you need to trigger the bonus round.
RTP and Volatility
The RTP is 96.72%, which sits above the industry average of around 96% and means this is a fair game by normal standards. The hit frequency is 38.87%, so winning combinations come along fairly often even before factoring in the feature.
Volatility is medium to high. You will get regular smaller wins keeping your balance ticking over, but the game is designed so that the bigger payouts cluster in the free spins bonus rather than the base game. If you are patient, the bonus round is where the real potential lies.
NetEnt later released Secret of the Stones MAX, a higher-variance version with a theoretical max win of 2,250,000x stake. The classic version caps out at a more modest 356,250x, with typical bonus round wins landing in the range of 50-200x your bet.
The Stone Pick Bonus Feature
This is what sets Secret of the Stones apart from a basic free spins game. Landing 3 or more tree scatter symbols anywhere on the reels triggers the bonus and awards 10 free spins. Before those spins start, you get to pick from 20 stones on screen.
The number of picks you receive depends on how many scatters triggered the feature:
- 3 scatters - 3 picks from the 20 stones
- 4 scatters - 4 picks
- 5 scatters - 5 picks
Each stone you turn over reveals one of the following modifiers for your upcoming free spins:
- Extra free spins - adds up to 10 additional spins on top of the base 10
- Multiplier - increases your win multiplier, up to 7x across all picks
- Wild reel - turns reel 2 or reel 4 completely wild for the duration of your free spins
- Extra wild symbols - adds the deer or owl symbols as additional wilds during the feature
With 5 scatters and the right picks, you can build a free spins bonus with a wild reel, extra wild symbols, a multiplier, and additional spins - a combination that can produce substantial payouts. Even with 3 picks you can get into a feature with meaningful enhancements.
The pick mechanic adds a layer of engagement that pure free-spin-and-go slots lack. You feel involved in setting up the bonus rather than just watching it play out.
Base Game and Stacked Wilds
Outside of the bonus, the druid wild appears stacked on the reels. When a full stack lands on a reel it covers all three rows, which opens up the possibility of multiple payline wins from a single wild reel. This happens regularly enough to break up the base game and keep it interesting between bonus triggers.
The 25 paylines pay left to right from reel 1. There is no Megaways mechanic or cluster pays system here - just fixed lines, which keeps the paytable easy to read and the game mechanics clean.
Betting Range and Stakes
The minimum bet is £0.25 and the maximum is £125 per spin. This covers both casual players spinning at low stakes and higher-budget players looking to make the most of bigger bonus wins. The bet controls are simple to adjust within NetEnt's standard interface.
Mobile Play
Secret of the Stones runs in your mobile browser without requiring an app. NetEnt's HTML5 build means the game adapts cleanly to smaller screens - the stone pick interface works well on touch devices, and the reels remain clear at mobile resolution. Load times are typical for NetEnt titles.
Pros and Cons
- Above-average RTP at 96.72%
- Stone pick mechanic gives genuine variety to each bonus round
- Stacked wilds in the base game keep it active between features
- Flexible stakes from £0.25 to £125
- Max win is capped compared to more volatile modern slots
- Older visual style - released in 2013, so graphics show their age
Who Should Play It
Secret of the Stones suits players who want a structured feature rather than pure chance. The stone pick system means you actively shape what bonuses you walk into, which makes it a better fit for players who like some involvement in their session. The medium-high volatility and 96.72% RTP put it in a solid middle ground - not a low-variance grind, not an ultra-high-volatility punt.
If you enjoy NetEnt slots with Celtic or mythological themes, it sits alongside Jack and the Beanstalk and Hall of Gods as a slot that still holds up despite its age. For players chasing bigger wins, the MAX variant is the better choice.
Related
What is the RTP of Secret of the Stones?
Secret of the Stones has an RTP of 96.72%, which is above the industry average. The MAX version of the game shares the same RTP.
How do you trigger the free spins bonus?
Land 3 or more golden tree scatter symbols anywhere on the reels to trigger the free spins bonus. You start with 10 free spins, plus a stone pick round where you select from 20 stones to add modifiers to your spins.
What can you win in the stone pick feature?
Each stone you pick reveals one of four modifiers: extra free spins (up to 10 additional), a multiplier (up to 7x), a wild reel on reel 2 or 4, or extra wild symbols added to the reels. The number of picks you get depends on how many scatters triggered the feature - 3 picks for 3 scatters, up to 5 picks for 5 scatters.
What is the volatility of Secret of the Stones?
The classic version has medium to high volatility. The NetEnt MAX version is higher variance, designed for players who want bigger potential payouts at the cost of less frequent wins.
What are the betting limits?
You can bet between £0.25 and £125 per spin on Secret of the Stones.
Is there a Secret of the Stones MAX version?
Yes. NetEnt released Secret of the Stones MAX as a higher-volatility variant with a maximum win of 2,250,000x stake compared to 356,250x on the classic version. Both share the same 96.72% RTP and stone pick bonus mechanic.
Where to Play Secret of the Stones
These online casinos carry NetEnt games including Secret of the Stones. Read our Donbet review or browse all casino reviews.
Secret of the Stones RTP and Variance
Secret of the Stones has an RTP of 96.84%, which is above average. See our highest RTP slots for the best returning games. Medium volatility offers a balanced mix of win frequency and payout size.
At the minimum bet of £0.01 per spin, a £10 deposit gives you 1,000 spins with a statistical expected return of £9.68. Read our slot betting strategy guide for tips on managing your bankroll.
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If you enjoy Secret of the Stones, try these other NetEnt games available at the same casinos.
