Hand Of Anubis Pros & Cons
Hand of Anubis delivers classic Aristocrat action with a proven track record. The choice-based free spins and stacked symbols create a good variety, but the RTP and max win won't impress everyone.
- Dark Egyptian theme is genuinely distinctive — not another gold pyramid game
- Two bonus modes with different multiplier systems — real strategic choice
- 5×6 cluster grid creates more cascade chain potential than 5×3
- 36% hit frequency keeps base game sessions active
- Bonus buy available for both bonus modes
- 96.24% RTP at the highest operator setting is competitive
- Extreme 5/5 volatility — long dry spells between significant wins
- Multiple RTP tiers (down to 88.41%) — always check your casino's setting
- 10,000x max win feels conservative given the volatility level
- Complex mechanic — takes time to understand both bonus modes fully
Hand of Anubis Slot Review
Hand of Anubis is one of Hacksaw Gaming's most recognisable releases — a dark Egyptian slot released in April 2022 that takes a very different path from the usual golden-tomb aesthetic. Where most Egyptian slots go for sunlit pyramids and blue skies, this one is brooding, atmospheric, and almost cinematic. Anubis himself flanks the reels with glowing red and blue eyes, the soundtrack is heavy and intense, and the whole presentation feels deliberately threatening rather than adventurous.
The mechanic sits on a 5×6 grid with cluster pays — wins form when five or more matching symbols connect horizontally or vertically. This means 30 grid positions and far more ways for clusters to build than a standard 5×3 layout. What makes Hand of Anubis genuinely distinctive is the Soul Orb system: three types of orb symbols (red, blue, green) that interact with different bonus modes and multiplier mechanics, creating a layered bonus experience with two separate free spins modes to choose from. 96.24% RTP, extreme 5/5 volatility, 10,000x maximum win.
| PROVIDER Hacksaw Gaming | RELEASE DATE April 21, 2022 |
|---|---|
| GRID 5 Reels X 6 Rows (30 positions) | WIN MECHANIC Cluster Pays - 5+ connected symbols |
| RTP 96.24% (also 94.32%, 92.28%, 88.41%) | MAX WIN 10,000x bet |
| VOLATILITY Extreme - 5/5 | MIN / MAX BET $0.10 - $100 |
| HIT FREQUENCY ~36% (approx. 1 win per 3 spins) | FREE SPINS > Two modes - Underworld & Judgement |
| BONUS BUY > Available (both bonus modes) | MOBILE > HTML5, all platforms |
Key Features & Mechanics
🔴 Red Soul Orbs Symbol Count Multiplier
Red orbs track how many symbols appear in a winning cluster. When a red orb is on the grid during a winning cluster formation, it adds to the total win based on the cluster's symbol count. Larger clusters produce larger red orb bonuses. In the Judgement Free Spins mode, red orbs accumulate and the reward from each cascade adds +1 to the multiplier regardless of cluster size. This creates a snowball effect: the more cascades, the higher the multiplier climbs across the entire bonus session.
🔵 Blue Soul Orbs Multiplier Block System
Blue orbs appear as multiplier blocks on the grid. When a crusher block destroys multiplier blocks, the total value of all destroyed blocks is summed and applied to the win. In the Underworld Free Spins mode, blue orbs are the primary multiplier driver — the more blocks built up before a crusher event, the larger the combined multiplier applied to the resulting cluster win. Building up a large collection of blue orb multiplier blocks before triggering the crusher is where this mode's biggest wins originate.
🎰 Underworld Free Spins 3+ Scatters = 10 Spins
Landing three scatter symbols triggers Underworld Free Spins with 10 base spins. During this mode, the blue orb multiplier block system is fully active — blocks accumulate with each cascade and the crusher mechanic applies the combined multiplier to wins. This mode rewards players who build up the multiplier grid before a big cluster hits. The potential for large concentrated multiplier events during Underworld is the reason many players prefer this mode for chasing the game's maximum win.
⚖️ Judgement Free Spins +1 Multiplier Per Cascade
The alternative bonus mode uses a progressive multiplier approach. Every cascade during Judgement Free Spins adds +1 to a running multiplier regardless of cluster size. Sessions with many cascades build large multipliers organically. This mode tends to produce more consistent multiplier growth compared to Underworld's concentrated event approach. Players who prefer watching multipliers climb steadily through active cascades generally favour Judgement; players who want to gamble on a single high-multiplier event tend toward Underworld.
What Is Hand of Anubis?
- Hacksaw Gaming's Egyptian slot that actually commits to the dark mythology rather than using it as decoration. Anubis is the Egyptian god of death and the afterlife — judge of souls, guardian of the underworld. The two bonus modes are named Underworld and Judgement because of this. The game's visual design is consistent with that mythology: dark colours, glowing symbols, ominous ambient audio that intensifies during cluster cascades.
- The 5×6 grid gives more room than most cluster slots for chains to develop. Cascading reels mean winning clusters disappear and new symbols drop in — if those form another cluster, it cascades again. In the base game this creates natural chain-win sequences. In free spins with the orb systems active, a long cascade chain can produce genuinely significant multiplier events. The 36% hit frequency means the base game isn't entirely dry between features — cluster hits happen roughly every three spins on average — but the 5/5 volatility means those base game hits are mostly small. The real money is in the bonus modes.
Symbol Values & Paytable
| SYMBOL | 5 CONNECTED | 8 CONNECTED | 11+ CONNECTED |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Red Gem (Top Payer)
|
10x bet | 60x bet | |
|
Blue Gem
|
8x bet | 45x bet | |
|
Yellow Gem
|
6x bet | 35x bet | |
|
Green Gem
|
5x bet | 25x bet | |
|
Purple Gem
|
4x bet | 18x bet | |
|
A/K/Q/J/10 (Low pays)
|
1-3x | 5-8x |
Play Responsibly - 18+ Only
Gambling should be entertaining and fun. Remember that slots are games of chance, and there's no guaranteed way to win. Never gamble more than you can afford to lose, and always set limits for yourself. If you feel gambling is becoming a problem, please seek help immediately.
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Underworld and Judgement Free Spins?
The two modes use different multiplier systems. Underworld Free Spins is built around blue orb multiplier blocks — blocks accumulate on the grid and when a crusher event fires, the combined value of all destroyed blocks is applied to the resulting win as one large multiplier. This creates concentrated multiplier events that can be very large if blocks have built up. Judgement Free Spins uses a progressive approach: every cascade adds +1 to a running multiplier throughout the feature. This produces steadier multiplier growth that rewards active cascade chains. Underworld suits players who want to gamble on a single big event; Judgement suits players who prefer consistent progression.
Why does the RTP vary so much between casinos?
Hacksaw Gaming permits operators to configure their games at multiple RTP settings. For Hand of Anubis, the available tiers are 96.24%, 94.32%, 92.28%, and 88.41%. The 96.24% is the highest and most player-friendly version. The 88.41% setting represents a house edge of over 11%, which is dramatically worse than the top tier. The difference is meaningful — over thousands of spins the variance between these tiers compounds significantly. Always check the information screen inside the game at your specific casino before playing for real money to confirm which RTP version is active.
Is 36% hit frequency high for a 5/5 volatility slot?
It's actually relatively high for extreme volatility. Many 5/5 volatility slots have hit frequencies below 25%. Hand of Anubis achieving ~36% means you see a cluster win roughly every three spins in the base game. The trade-off is that these base game wins are mostly small — the cluster pays on their own without orb interaction don't produce big numbers. The game is calibrated so that you're not sitting through entirely empty spins, but the session-defining moments happen in the bonus modes. The 36% frequency provides enough base game activity to keep sessions feeling alive between feature triggers.
Can I choose which bonus mode to enter?
When triggering organically with scatter symbols, the mode you enter depends on which type of scatter lands. The Underworld scatter takes you to Underworld Free Spins; the Judgement scatter takes you to Judgement Free Spins. When using the bonus buy feature, you can choose which mode to purchase directly — both options are available separately in the bonus buy menu. Players with a preference for one mode can use the bonus buy to access their preferred feature without relying on random scatter type during organic play.
Is Hand of Anubis available at Canadian casinos?
Hacksaw Gaming has broad international distribution including Canadian markets. The game is available at offshore platforms that carry Hacksaw's catalogue and at regulated Canadian casinos that have licensed Hacksaw titles. Ontario-regulated casinos with Hacksaw Gaming in their provider list should have Hand of Anubis available. Because of the multiple RTP configurations, different casinos may run different versions — worth checking the in-game information panel to confirm the 96.24% setting is active before playing for real money.
How does the cluster pays mechanic work on the 5×6 grid?
Cluster pays means wins form when five or more matching symbols are connected horizontally or vertically anywhere on the grid — there are no paylines. On a 5×6 grid with 30 positions, clusters can form across a much larger area than a standard 5×3 slot. A cluster of 15 matching symbols across multiple rows and columns pays significantly more than a cluster of 5. When winning clusters disappear in a cascade, new symbols fall from above and can form additional clusters. This cascading sequence continues until no new winning clusters form, and each cascade in a bonus mode interacts with the orb systems to apply multipliers to the wins.