When it comes to Ancient Egypt, you've probably seen your fair share of pyramids, pharaohs, and golden treasures. Scarab Rising by Atomic City continues this theme but adds its own spin with gleaming scarabs, lavish gold, and a temple (allegedly) filled with riches. In Egyptian mythology, the scarab beetle was sacred, symbolising life, the sun, and rebirth, and in Scarab Rising, those little beetles might just be the key to your fortunes or, at least, a shot at some glistening jackpot prizes.
The action in Scarab Rising takes place on a 6x3 grid, set against a temple backdrop adorned with carved pillars and heaps of golden coins on the floor. The game keeps it straightforward with 5 fixed paylines that run across the reels from left to right. To score a potential win, you need at least three matching symbols, and there's no need to overcomplicate things, no wild symbols, no win multipliers, just some pure slot action in an ancient setting. The bet range is pretty flexible, starting at 0.25 and allowing players to tailor their wager as they spin through the history of Egypt, all accompanied by an appropriately Egyptian-themed soundtrack, of course.
As you'd expect, the symbols in Scarab Rising draw heavily from Egyptian culture, featuring some of the civilisation's most iconic imagery. The higher-value symbols include Anubis, the Golden Pharaoh, and the Eye of Horus, all rendered in gold. These symbols are not just pleasing to the eye; they're where the real value lies, with payouts ranging from 80x to 200x the bet when players land five of a kind on a payline.
On the other hand, the royal symbols — A, K, Q, and J — make up the lower end of the paytable. They’re more common but significantly less valuable, offering payouts of up to 40x the stake when you land six of a kind. Then there are the special symbols: the Pyramid Scatter and the Scarab. The Pyramid is the key to triggering the Free Spins feature, while the Scarab acts as a collector symbol that can lead you to the jackpot prizes.
While Scarab Rising may look like a straightforward slot, the bonus features still manage to add a bit of intrigue. The first thing to watch out for is the Free Spins round, which is triggered by landing three or more Pyramid Scatter symbols anywhere on the reels. Depending on how many Pyramids you land, you could receive anywhere from 10 to 25 free spins, with 3, 4, 5, or 6 Pyramids awarding 10, 15, 20, and 25 free spins, respectively.
During the Free Spins, a random giant symbol will take over reels 2, 3, and 4, potentially increasing your chances of landing a winning combination. All symbols, except for the Pyramid Scatter, can become giant symbols. However, the Free Spins cannot be retriggered, so you'll have to make the most of the initial round.
Beyond the Free Spins, there’s also a Jackpot Feature that’s closely linked to the Scarab symbols. These scarabs can randomly attach themselves to winning symbols, contributing to the Jackpot Meter. As you potentially accumulate scarabs, you move closer to one of the game’s three jackpot prizes.
Collect 14 to 15 scarabs for the Mini Jackpot, which is worth 10x your stake. Gather 16 to 17 scarabs for the Major Jackpot, worth 100x your stake. And if you manage to collect 18 scarabs, you’ll unlock the Grand Jackpot, which offers a whopping 5000x your stake. Scarabs can be collected in both the base game and during the Free Spins, so there’s always a sense of progression as you play.
Scarab Rising by Atomic City brings Ancient Egypt to the reels with a visually stunning backdrop, giant symbols, and an enticing jackpot feature. It’s a slot that doesn’t try too much to reinvent the genre but instead relies on classic, well-executed mechanics to deliver a solid gaming experience. Whether you're drawn in by the theme, the free spins, or the chance to fill up the scarab jackpot meter, there’s plenty to keep you spinning. Give it a spin on bwin slots.