Hand of Anubis

Hand of Anubis, released by Hacksaw Gaming in April 2022, isn't your typical sun-drenched, treasure-laden Egyptian-themed slot. Instead, it plunges players into a chilling, shadowy interpretation of the afterlife, where the benevolent Anubis is replaced by a far more formidable, even menacing presence. This 5×6 cluster pays slot, with its high volatility and potential for monstrous wins (up to 10,000x your stake), offers a unique and thrilling gaming experience that sets it apart from the crowded Egyptian-themed slot market. Its RTP varies depending on the operator, ranging from 94.32% to a potentially more favorable 96.24%.

A Grim and Gripping Atmosphere: Theme and Aesthetics

Forget the shimmering gold and benevolent gods of other Egyptian slots. Hand of Anubis presents a stark, almost gothic interpretation. The color palette is predominantly dark, emphasizing blues, reds, and blacks, creating a palpable sense of mystery and dread. Two imposing Anubis statues, one with steely blue eyes and the other with equally piercing red, flank the game's grid, acting as silent sentinels guarding the path to the underworld. The background depicts a shadowy pyramid, adding to the overall feeling of foreboding. The soundtrack enhances this atmosphere, contributing to a truly immersive and unsettling experience. The overall aesthetic feels more akin to a dark fantasy RPG than a typical lighthearted Egyptian-themed slot. This deliberate departure from the usual tropes elevates Hand of Anubis beyond the typical clichés of the genre. The higher-paying symbols are depicted as ornate, jewel-encrusted hieroglyphs, while the lower-paying symbols are stylized playing card ranks (A-10). This contrast further enhances the game's unique visual identity.

Unraveling the Mechanics: Gameplay and Cluster Pays

Hand of Anubis utilizes a cluster pays mechanic, rewarding players for landing clusters of at least five matching symbols adjacent to each other horizontally or vertically. This system, rather than relying on fixed paylines, significantly increases the potential for winning combinations. The game’s 5×6 grid provides ample opportunities for these clusters to form, leading to frequent, albeit smaller, wins interspersed with the potential for massive payouts during the bonus rounds. The cascading reels mechanic further enhances this, as winning symbols are removed, allowing new symbols to fall into place and potentially create additional winning clusters from a single spin. This can lead to chain reactions of wins, multiplying the initial payout significantly. The absence of traditional paylines contributes to a more dynamic and less predictable gameplay experience than many other slots.

The Power of the Orbs: Soul Orb Wilds and Progressive Multipliers

The Soul Orb Wilds, represented by red and blue orbs, are a key element of Hand of Anubis's innovative gameplay. These wilds don't just substitute for regular symbols; they also carry progressive multipliers. The red orb's multiplier increases by +1 for each symbol within a winning cluster it's part of, while the blue orb's multiplier increases by +1 for each winning cluster it contributes to. This means that the longer your winning streaks, and the larger your clusters, the higher the multipliers become. This mechanic is where the game's high volatility truly shines, as it's entirely possible to trigger a massive multiplier through a series of cascading wins. The interaction between the red and blue orbs further amplifies this effect, as multiple orbs in a single win will multiply each other's values, creating potentially explosive payout potential.

Delving into the Underworld: Bonus Features and Their Multipliers

Hand of Anubis features two primary bonus features, both revolving around multipliers and offering significantly different gameplay styles:

The Underworld Bonus: A Multiplier Accumulator

Triggered by landing three bonus symbols, the Underworld bonus takes players to a visually distinct area, even darker and more atmospheric than the base game. This feature focuses on accumulating multipliers across five separate reel-based counters. Each winning cluster adds to these counters, with the number of winning symbols determining the amount added to each corresponding reel. Adding another layer of complexity, Anubis Skull symbols can land, multiplying the values of these counters. These multipliers are initially inactive, requiring a green Soul Orb to land above them on the corresponding reel to activate. Each multiplier activation awards +3 spins, extending the bonus round's potential. Finally, the sum of all active multipliers is applied to any subsequent winning clusters, creating immense potential for truly massive payouts. The maximum value for each individual multiplier is capped at x9,999, a testament to the potential for colossal wins within this feature.

The Judgement Bonus: Hold and Win with Multiplier Modifiers

Triggered by landing four bonus symbols, the Judgement bonus takes on a hold-and-win structure. Regular symbols are removed, leaving only blank blocks and special multiplier blocks. The round begins with three spins, and the goal is to land Multiplier Modifier Blocks to increase the multipliers above each reel. These blocks come in four varieties:

• Skulls: Add +1 to +100 to the multiplier above them.
• Epic Skulls: Add +1 to +100 to all multipliers.
• Anubis Skulls: Multiply the value above them by x2 to x10.
• Epic Anubis Skulls: Multiply all multipliers by x2 to x10.

Ice Blocks act as a wildcard, disappearing and being replaced by a Multiplier Block that adopts the value of the multiplier above it. Crusher blocks add another layer to the gameplay, smashing any Multiplier Blocks beneath them, combining their values into a single, larger block, and resetting the spin count to 3. The bonus ends after three consecutive spins without landing any Multiplier Block, Multiplier Modifier Block, or Crusher. This feature offers a strategic element, requiring players to weigh the risk of chasing higher multipliers against the possibility of the round ending prematurely.

Buy Your Way to the Afterlife: Bonus Buy Feature

For players eager to dive straight into the bonus action, Hand of Anubis offers a bonus buy feature. This allows players to purchase either the Underworld bonus (for 129x the bet, with an advertised RTP of 96.29%) or the Judgement bonus (for 200x the bet, with an advertised RTP of 96.18%). This option caters to players who prefer to skip the base game and focus on the higher-win potential of the bonus rounds. However, it’s crucial to remember that bonus buys represent a significant investment and do not guarantee a win.

A Verdict on the Hand of Anubis: A Unique and Rewarding Experience

Hacksaw Gaming has crafted a truly unique and captivating slot experience with Hand of Anubis. While the Egyptian theme may seem familiar, the game's dark atmosphere, innovative mechanics, and high-volatility gameplay set it apart from the competition. The interplay between the Soul Orb Wilds, the progressive multipliers, and the dual bonus features creates a dynamic and engaging experience capable of delivering both thrilling wins and nail-biting tension. The high volatility makes it crucial to manage your bankroll appropriately and to expect both significant dry spells and moments of explosive winning potential. It’s a slot which is more likely to appeal to seasoned players who enjoy the high-risk, high-reward nature of such a game. The depth and strategic elements offered by the bonus rounds contribute to a game that offers more than simple luck-based spins. Hand of Anubis is a strong contender for those seeking a truly unique and challenging high-volatility slot.