Anksunamun Deluxe from Mascot Gaming operates within the Ancient Egyptian theme by concentrating on potent, focused mechanics. The game presents a polished, high-definition tomb setting, employing a realistic art style for its character symbols. It is structured on a classic 5×3 reel grid with 10 fixed paylines. Core gameplay in the base game is deliberately straightforward, serving as a build-up to the slot’s primary bonus feature. This design creates a gameplay rhythm characterized by the high-impact potential of its special round. The centerpiece of the experience is the Free Spins feature, where the dynamics shift significantly. During this round, special Gold Wild symbols land on the reels, multiply any win they are part of by 2x, and become sticky, remaining in place for all subsequent spins. This accumulation of multiplying wilds is the game’s core mechanical hook, designed for players who appreciate a feature that fundamentally alters the grid’s payout structure.
Mascot Gaming presents Anksunamun Deluxe, a title that operates within the well-established genre of Ancient Egyptian-themed slots. While the market is densely populated with similar concepts, this game distinguishes itself not through a radical thematic departure, but through a focused and potent set of mechanics concentrated within its bonus round. The gameplay is built around a dual wild system and a free spins feature that incorporates sticky, multiplying wilds. This design choice creates a clear separation between the base game's function and the high-potential activity of its primary bonus, a characteristic approach often seen in Mascot Gaming's portfolio. The game avoids complexity in its core loop, instead channeling its most compelling elements into a single, high-impact feature.
Core Bonus Mechanics and Special Features
The functional depth of Anksunamun Deluxe is almost entirely contained within its special symbols and the features they activate. The game employs two distinct wild symbols, a design decision that directly impacts both base game and bonus round dynamics. The primary wild is represented by a Scarab Beetle. It performs the standard function of substituting for all regular paying symbols to assist in forming winning combinations along the 10 fixed paylines. This Scarab Wild carries its own payout value, making it the highest-value symbol in the game if five land on a payline, but it possesses no additional properties.
The second wild, the Gold Ankh Wild, is the centerpiece of the bonus structure. This symbol also substitutes for all paying symbols but carries a crucial enhancement: any winning combination it participates in is multiplied by two. However, this Gold Wild is exclusively available during the Free Spins feature, meaning its multiplying power is reserved for the bonus round. This creates a clear escalation in gameplay potential upon triggering the feature. The base game is about sustaining play and seeking entry to the bonus, while the Free Spins round is where the more intricate mechanics are deployed.
The Free Spins feature is initiated by landing three Scatter symbols, depicted as the Eye of Horus, anywhere on the reels. This combination awards an initial set of 10 free spins. Upon commencement of the round, the gameplay transforms due to one specific rule: every Gold Wild symbol that appears on the reels becomes sticky. It locks in place and remains in that position for the entire duration of the free spins series. This mechanic makes the sequence and position of landing Gold Wilds highly significant. A Gold Wild appearing on an early spin in a strategic position, such as on the first or second reel, can substantially alter the outcome of all subsequent spins.
Finally, the game includes Mascot Gaming’s signature Risk’n’Buy feature. This presents two options after any base game spin. The “Buy” component is straightforward: it allows for the direct purchase of the Free Spins feature for a set price, bypassing the need to land three scatters. The “Risk” component becomes available after any winning spin. Here, you are offered the choice to gamble the winnings from that spin for a chance to directly trigger the Free Spins round. This is not a simple high/low card gamble but rather a direct risk-versus-reward proposition centered on feature activation.
Visual Presentation and Thematic Execution
The visual construction of Anksunamun Deluxe is clean and competently executed. Mascot Gaming opted for a high-definition, semi-realistic art style rather than a cartoonish or stylized interpretation of the Egyptian theme. The high-value symbols, depicting Anksunamen, a Pharaoh, Horus, and Anubis, are rendered as detailed portraits with strong color saturation and clear lines. This gives the game a polished, modern appearance that stands apart from older, more pixelated titles in the same category. The lower-value symbols (A, K, Q, J, 10, 9) are designed to look as if they are carved into stone tablets, a common but effective technique that integrates them into the overall aesthetic.
Animation is used with restraint, serving to punctuate gameplay events rather than overwhelm the screen. Winning combinations are highlighted with a simple, bright glow and lines tracing the active payline. The most notable animation is the subtle, continuous flickering of the flames in the large stone braziers that flank the reels. This small detail, along with the lush green plants at the base of the screen, adds a sense of life to the static tomb setting. The spin animation is fluid, and the symbols land with a satisfying weight, contributing to a solid, grounded feel during play.
The user interface is minimalist and unobtrusive. Controls for bet adjustment, autoplay, and sound are positioned at the edges of the screen, leaving the central focus entirely on the reel area. The “Buy Feature” button is prominently displayed but does not interfere with the primary game window. The overall atmosphere is that of a quiet, torch-lit burial chamber, and while the sound design typically complements such visuals with ambient, thematic music and more dramatic sounds for wins, the primary strength here lies in the clarity and quality of the graphical assets.
Anksunamun Deluxe is built on a 5-reel, 3-row grid with 10 fixed paylines. This is a classic configuration that is easy for any player to understand. Payouts are awarded for combinations of three or more matching symbols on a payline, starting from the leftmost reel. The fixed nature of the paylines means that the strategic focus is on the value of the symbols and the activation of features, not on managing line counts.
The paytable establishes a clear hierarchy among the symbols, which is crucial for understanding the game's volatility.
The structure of the paytable shows a significant drop-off in value from the four character symbols to the five royal card symbols. This design places a heavy emphasis on forming combinations with the top-tier symbols. However, the true potential is unlocked through the interaction of these symbols with the wild mechanics. In the base game, the Scarab Wild is essential for bridging gaps and completing higher-value lines. In the Free Spins round, the sticky Gold Ankh Wilds not only serve the same purpose but also double the value of every win they contribute to, fundamentally changing the payout dynamics of the entire grid. The game's appeal is therefore heavily contingent on a player's appreciation for a gameplay model where the base game serves as a prelude to a much more volatile and potentially rewarding bonus feature.
