Back to Venus slot

Back to Venus by Betsoft Gaming is a 5-reel, 3-row, 20-payline sequel to the popular It Came from Venus slot. The game follows farmer Joe and his alien Venus flytrap companion as they embark on a journey from the farm to the planet Venus. Set against a colorful cartoon farm backdrop overrun by carnivorous alien plants, this cheerful nature-meets-space adventure features Sticky Asteroid Wilds that remain for 2 spins, randomly triggered Prickly Sticky and Respin features, the Flowering Wild Burst mechanic, and Rocketship Free Spins with multiplier Wilds. With an RTP of 97.07%, medium volatility, a hit rate of 45.28%, and a maximum win of 4,338x the total stake, this charming slot is available at Cherry Gold Casino.

Mission overview

Betsoft Gaming released Back to Venus on April 23, 2020 as a sequel to their 2012 hit It Came from Venus. The original game told the story of farmer Skeeter who discovered an alien flytrap on his farm, and this follow-up continues that narrative with improved graphics, expanded features, and a journey to the plant's home planet. The game operates on a standard 5x3 grid with 20 paylines, maintaining Betsoft's signature 3D cinematic visual style in a playful cartoon format.

The RTP is an impressive 97.07% — well above the industry average — with medium volatility and a high hit rate of 45.28%, meaning nearly half of all spins produce a winning combination. The maximum win reaches 4,338x the total stake (up to 300x in the base game alone), with betting from 0.20 to 21 credits per spin. The game features multiple randomly triggered bonus mechanics plus a dedicated Free Spins round activated by Rocketship scatter symbols.

Theme and visual design

Back to Venus takes place on a colorful cartoon farm that has been overrun by carnivorous alien plants, maintaining the cheerful and playful aesthetic from the original It Came from Venus. The backdrop features a vivid countryside scene with green fields, blue skies, yellow robots, and alien vegetation growing over everything including the farmer's barn. This is not a dark sci-fi space station — it's a lighthearted, humorous adventure with cartoon-style 3D graphics and smooth animations that are characteristic of Betsoft's visual approach.

The main character is farmer Joe in his space suit and helmet, ready for the journey to Venus. The alien Venus flytrap plant serves as both a central character and a gameplay mechanic, using its powers to trigger bonus features. The visual tone is bright, whimsical, and approachable — fans of the original game will immediately feel at home with the familiar cartoon art style, now enhanced with updated rendering and animations.

Symbols

The six premium symbols reflect the game's farm-meets-alien theme: the farmer (highest paying at up to 15x the bet for 5 of a kind), the Venus flytrap alien plant, the UFO craft, the barn surrounded by wild plants, mushrooms, and a crop circle. Standard lower-paying symbols are the playing card royals — Ace (paying up to 1.5x for 5 of a kind), King, Queen, and Jack, all rendered in the game's colorful cartoon style.

The Asteroid serves as the Wild symbol, appearing on reels 2, 3, 4, and 5, substituting for all symbols except scatters. The Rocketship functions as the scatter/Free Spins trigger, also appearing on reels 2 through 5. There is no separate bonus symbol or pick-and-click game — the game's bonus value comes from its multiple randomly triggered mechanics and the Rocketship Free Spins feature.

Sticky Asteroid Wilds

The Asteroid Wild is the game's core special symbol and works differently from standard wilds. When an Asteroid Wild lands on reels 2, 3, 4, or 5, it substitutes for all regular symbols and then becomes sticky — remaining locked in its position for 2 additional spins before disappearing. This means each Asteroid Wild contributes to potential wins across three total spins (the landing spin plus two more), significantly increasing the probability of completing winning combinations.

The sticky mechanic interacts powerfully with the game's other features. Multiple Asteroid Wilds can accumulate on the reels simultaneously, each on its own 2-spin timer. When combined with the Flowering Wild Burst feature (described below), the reels can become loaded with persistent Wilds that create sustained winning opportunities across multiple consecutive spins.

Randomly triggered features

Back to Venus includes two Second Chance features that can activate randomly, adding excitement to non-winning spins and increasing Wild frequency. These features are triggered by the alien Venus flytrap plant using its powers, which fits naturally into the game's narrative.

Prickly Sticky and Respin

This feature can trigger randomly after any non-winning base game spin. When activated, one symbol type is randomly selected and becomes sticky. The reels then respin continuously until a winning combination with that symbol appears. This guarantees at least one win from the feature, turning an otherwise dead spin into a productive one. The mechanic adds a safety net element that contributes to the game's generous 45.28% hit rate.

Flowering Wild Burst

On any non-winning spin, the alien plant may randomly exercise its flowering power, triggering a free respin with significantly increased probability of Asteroid Wilds appearing on the reels. This feature effectively acts as a Wild booster — the respin plays out with enhanced Wild frequency, and any Asteroid Wilds that land follow their standard sticky behavior (remaining for 2 additional spins). The combination of the free respin and increased Wild chance can turn a losing spin into a sequence of wins.

Rocketship Free Spins

Landing 3 or more Rocketship scatter symbols on reels 2 through 5 triggers the Free Spins round. The feature awards 10 Free Spins regardless of whether 3 or 4 Rocketships triggered it, but the number of triggering symbols determines the feature enhancement: 3 Rocketships award 10 Free Spins with additional Asteroid Wilds (higher Wild frequency throughout), while 4 Rocketships award 10 Free Spins with multiplier Wilds — a significantly more powerful variant where Wild symbols carry win multipliers.

During Free Spins, the game transitions to a second screen set on Venus itself, completing the narrative journey from the farm to the alien planet. All Asteroid Wilds during the feature remain sticky, and the multiplier Wild variant (from the 4-Rocketship trigger) represents the game's primary path to maximum payouts — the 4,338x top win is achievable through multiplier Wild combinations during this enhanced Free Spins mode.

RTP and volatility

Back to Venus carries an RTP of 97.07%, which is excellent and significantly above the typical 95-96% range for online slots. This generous return rate, combined with medium volatility and a 45.28% hit rate, makes the game notably player-friendly in terms of long-term mathematical expectations. Nearly half of all spins produce a winning combination, creating a smoother, more consistent playing experience than high-volatility alternatives.

The maximum win of 4,338x the total stake is substantial for a medium-volatility game, and the base game alone can deliver wins up to 300x. The medium volatility profile means wins arrive regularly (nearly 1 in 2 spins), though individual wins tend to be smaller. The largest payouts concentrate in the Rocketship Free Spins feature, particularly the 4-Rocketship multiplier Wild variant. The overall mathematical profile positions Back to Venus as an above-average slot for players who prefer consistent returns with occasional big feature wins.

Strategy and bankroll

With a 45.28% hit rate and medium volatility, Back to Venus is one of the more bankroll-friendly slots available. Nearly every other spin produces a win, which extends playing sessions naturally and reduces the need for massive bankroll reserves. The 0.20 credit minimum bet makes the game accessible for conservative players, while the 21 credit maximum accommodates higher-stakes play.

The game's two random features (Prickly Sticky and Flowering Wild Burst) activate on non-winning spins, effectively providing built-in second chances that further stabilize the session experience. The demo mode is useful for observing how frequently these random mechanics trigger and for developing an intuitive feel for the Asteroid Wild sticky behavior. Since the biggest wins come from the 4-Rocketship Free Spins variant with multiplier Wilds, patience for this specific trigger pays the highest dividends.

Mobile and desktop access

Back to Venus runs on Betsoft's HTML5 platform, providing instant browser-based play across desktop, iOS, and Android devices without downloads. The responsive layout adapts to different screen sizes from smartphones to tablets to desktop monitors, with all features, animations, and controls fully accessible regardless of device. The game's colorful 3D cartoon graphics maintain their visual quality across platforms.

Strengths and weaknesses

Strengths: Exceptional 97.07% RTP — well above the industry average. High hit rate of 45.28% provides frequent wins and extends session time. Maximum win of 4,338x is impressive for a medium-volatility game. Two randomly triggered Second Chance features (Prickly Sticky, Flowering Wild Burst) rescue non-winning spins. Sticky Asteroid Wilds persist for 2 extra spins, creating sustained winning opportunities. Charming cartoon art style with Betsoft's signature 3D quality. Sequel to beloved It Came from Venus with familiar characters. Medium volatility suits players preferring steady returns over extreme variance. Differentiated Free Spins tiers (3 vs 4 Rocketships) add strategic interest. Demo mode available for risk-free practice.

Weaknesses: Maximum bet of 21 credits may feel limiting for high-stakes players. The cartoon farm/alien plant theme may not appeal to players seeking realistic sci-fi aesthetics. Free Spins always award 10 spins regardless of trigger count — no escalating spin awards. The most valuable feature (4-Rocketship multiplier Wilds) requires 4 scatters, which is relatively rare. Base game maximum of 300x is modest — truly large wins depend on triggering the Free Spins feature. Slot has been available since 2020, so some players may find it dated compared to newer releases. Ready to launch? Start gameplay at Cherry Gold Casino and join farmer Joe on his interplanetary adventure to Venus today!