John Hunter and the Book of Tut Megaways Slot Review & Free Play Demo - By Pragmatic Play

First Impressions 

Ancient Egyptian theme in slots was forever popular – well, treasure or mystical powers certainly attract their attraction. So in this section is one of the most renowned Egyptian-themed icons with more than few names attached. Such an individual would be adventurer and archaeologist – John Hunter. With John Hunter and the Book of Tut Megaways, Pragmatic Play is once again reaching into that classic theme, but with a promise to bring a fresh spin on the classic Book of Tut series. Upon first inspection, John Hunter and the Book of Tut Megaways does not stray far from the formula that has worked so well for Pragmatic Play in the past.

The game puts one into the magical world of Ancient Egypt, in the famous pyramids, palms, and sands of gold. While the overall theme remains a similar familiar backdrop for many games, the introduction of the Megaways mechanic elevates this game from traditional pay lines and instead into winning possibilities from up to 117,649 ways to win through a dynamic reel arrangement. The visuals are not exactly mind-blowing, but they are certainly very captivating. Attention to detail is a major aspect in the backdrop: the bright sky, the shifting sands, and the great pyramids of Egypt all make for an atmospheric setting.

The symbols are just as fitting for the theme: scarabs, pharaohs, and, of course, the intrepid John Hunter himself. While the theme may seem very familiar to players who have already played through other Book of Tut titles, the Megaways system really adds a level of dynamism and unpredictability to the game. Mechanically, John Hunter and the Book of Tut Megaways follows the formula set up by Book of, where expanding symbols are the real core of the game. It shall be well known by fans of Book of Ra and alike, great potential for high wins since the symbols spread across the whole reel for a very large win possibility.

And of course, it should work nicely together with the Megaways mechanism as every win comes after a great number of possible ways in one spin. 

Symbols and Payable: 

In the game John Hunter and the Book of Tut Megaways, symbols are segregated into low- and high-paying varieties. The symbols for the lesser paying are a series of traditional 10 through A card values, while high-paying symbols represent several Egyptian-themed objects that fit within the game atmosphere. Knowing the values of these symbols is the way to maximize the chances of winning a significant payout.

The lesser-paying symbols consist of the 10, Jack (J), Queen (Q), King (K), and Ace (A) card ranks.

Though these symbols do not pay much, it is sure to bring in decent amounts of small wins when they appear on several positions of the reels.

For instance, if six of these symbols appear on a single payline, the payout will be 0.4 to 0.5 times your bet depending on the specific card rank. Moving on to the higher-paying symbols, the game offers a variety of Egyptian-themed icons that are sure to please fans of the genre. These include scarab jewelry, a cat statue, a pharaoh, and, of course, the iconic John Hunter himself. The payout values for these symbols range from 0.6x to 2x your bet for a six-of-a-kind win, with the John Hunter symbol providing the highest payout. The wild symbol is one of the most important symbols in John Hunter and the Book of Tut Megaways. This symbol appears on the three middle reels and replaces any of the regular pay symbols to form winning combinations. It should be noted that the wild symbol is not the scatter symbol, which is a trigger for the free spins feature.

Speaking of scatter symbols, these are represented by the Book of Tut itself, which also acts as the special expanding symbol. Landing three or more scatter symbols on the reels triggers the free spins feature, which can lead to significant payouts if you’re lucky enough to land the right expanding symbol during the free spins.

Special Mechanism: 

One of the special features of John Hunter and the Book of Tut Megaways is its special expanding symbol mechanic, a characteristic of the Book of series. This feature allows one randomly selected pay symbol to expand to cover the entire reel on any given base game spin. The expanded symbol will then pay out from any position on the reels, making it possible to land multiple winning combinations in a single spin.

This expands the symbol mechanic and increases the chances of forming a win with more value to it. However, it expands only when the expansion of the symbol results in forming a win because the feature is exciting but not extremely overpowering.

The other critical features of this game include the free spins round.

The free spins round is motivated by landing three or more scatter symbols, where the number of scatters determines the payout. When three scatters are landed, 10 free spins are awarded and additional free spins can be retriggered with more scatters landing during the feature. The special expanding symbol is also introduced during the free spins round, and this applies to one randomly selected symbol for the length of the feature. This might trigger huge wins, especially when the chosen expanding symbol is one of the higher paying symbols such as the John Hunter or the pharaoh symbol. In addition, the free spins can be bought for the cost of 100 times the bet, meaning that a player can bypass the base game spins and directly proceed to the free spins round and maximize the potential for huge wins. The RTP for the buy feature is slightly higher than the base game, at 96.06%.

RTP and Volatility: 

The RTP (Return to Player) for John Hunter and the Book of Tut Megaways varies slightly from one version to another. While the highest RTP value is 96%, some versions offer a lower RTP of 95.06% or 94.05%. Although such figures are not among the best in the market, they are still pretty decent for a game of this kind, which has high volatility.

Regarding volatility, John Hunter and the Book of Tut Megaways is a high-volatility slot.

That means they can expect fewer winning opportunities on the whole given a higher chance of greater payouts when wins do materialize.

Those who prefer such slots usually enjoy the thrill of the chase with the really big wins, but they should be prepared to take interminable losing streaks. Managing the bankroll would be essential, especially in games like this. The game maximum win potential of 10,000x can be quite mouth-watering and sure to appeal to any gambler seeking huge payback. Of course, high win potential attracts low probability; in this game, it takes one win after every 2.6 million spins to maximize the win according to the game’s hit frequency. 

Specific Details: 

John Hunter and the Book of Tut Megaways is a game characterized by a 6-reel grid. Every spin will have rows falling between 2 and 7 on each reel.

One of the defining Megaways features is the dynamic nature of the reel setup. It can serve to have up to 117,649 ways to win with each spin.

The game is allowed to be played with a minimum bet of 0.20 and a maximum bet of 240, thus providing a wide range of betting for players with different budgets. Apart from the standard base game and free spins features, it also offers a feature known as the Ante Bet, wherein the bet amount is increased by 25% to get a bigger chance of reaping the rewards of the free spins round. This can be pretty handy for players who would like to maximize the chances of getting the free spin feature activated, such that one does not have to wait for a scatter symbol to land naturally. 

Strategies and Tips: 

Although slots are a game of chance, there are a few strategies and tips that would help you maximize the chances of winning John Hunter and the Book of Tut Megaways.

What counts most is the proper management of your bankroll. This game is very volatile, so you might take ages to win; hence, it is crucial that you have plenty of money that you can risk playing over a dry spell. So, you’ll need to have a budget in place for your session of choice and stick by it so as not to end up losing much more than you can afford.

The Ante Bet is another feature you can use if you are ready to get into the free spins round. This will definitely increase your bet, but it also increases the chance of getting scatter symbols, which may be a good strategy if you want to get into the free spins feature more often. Be careful though because this will raise your overall wager, so it’s a trade-off.

Lastly, keep an eye out for the special expanding symbol mechanic. Although random, it does sometimes lead to some pretty large payouts if the right symbol expands. Be patient and stay focused on the game because the expanding symbol can really jack up your chances of getting a winning combination.

Verdict: 

Another great addition to the John Hunter series is John Hunter and the Book of Tut Megaways. This game, of course, blends the theme of ancient Egypt with the Megaways mechanism. Not particularly innovative as a series, it still provides a general good experience with numerous opportunities for huge wins.

All this builds for some exhilarating gaming, which will naturally appeal to fans of Book of Tut and other Megaways slots. Of course, the additional 10,000x max win potential promises that final dimension of excitement, and players need to be prepared for inherent risks associated with high volatility slots.

Overall, John Hunter and the Book of Tut Megaways is a game that does what it sets out to do: deliver exciting gameplay, massive win potential, and an immersive Egyptian adventure. Whether you’re a fan of the Book of Tut series or a newcomer to the franchise, this game is worth a spin.