Bullshark Games brings players a fresh and exciting experience with Ancient Paws, a 5-reel, 4-row slot game featuring an adventurous dog exploring ancient ruins in search of hidden treasure. Set against a backdrop of lush jungles and mystical temples, this slot is packed with fun features such as expanding wilds, multipliers, and a rewarding free spins bonus round.
Gameplay overview: a canine explorer’s journey:
Ancient Paws offers 14 paylines for players to land winning combinations. The game is designed with a medium-to-high volatility rating (4 out of 5), making it an ideal choice for players who enjoy a balance between risk and reward. The game’s default RTP is 96.16%, although operators can opt for a lower RTP of 94.25%.
Players can place bets ranging from €0.10 to €100 per spin. The objective is to match symbols from left to right across the paylines. The slot’s symbol set features both low-paying card symbols (10 to A) and higher-paying adventure-themed icons such as hats, lanterns, maps, compasses, and binoculars. The wild symbol, represented by the letter “W,” substitutes for all other symbols, except the scatter and multiplier adder symbols.
One of the standout features of Ancient Paws is its Expanding Wilds, which can significantly boost your chances of landing big wins. There are two types of expanding wilds in the game: silver and golden. The Silver Expanding Wild covers 1×2 of the reel, while the Golden Expanding Wild stretches to cover a full reel (1×4). Both of these wilds can randomly receive multipliers ranging from 2x to 100x, further enhancing the potential for bigger payouts.
If two or more expanding wilds land on the same reel, they merge into a full-reel wild, combining their multipliers. This mechanic can lead to huge payouts, especially when multiple expanding wilds overlap.
The multiplier adder symbol:
In addition to the expanding wilds, Ancient Paws features a Multiplier Adder Symbol. When this golden coin symbol lands on the reels, it adds random multipliers to any visible Expanding Wilds. These multipliers range from 2x to 100x and can significantly increase the payout potential. Once the multiplier adder symbol has completed its task, it transforms into a regular wild symbol, assisting with further wins.
The Trail of Treats is the main free spins bonus round in Ancient Paws. This feature is triggered by landing 3, 4, or 5 scatter symbols (the golden pyramid symbol) anywhere on the reels, awarding 8, 10, or 12 free spins, respectively. If you’re lucky enough to land 5 scatter symbols, you’re guaranteed to get at least one Expanding Wild on your first spin.
During the free spins feature, the Expanding Wild symbols remain persistent, shifting to new random positions with each spin. If two wilds overlap, they merge into a full-reel wild, combining their multipliers. Every additional scatter symbol you land during the free spins adds one more free spin to your total, allowing for even more opportunities to win.
As stated in the company’s press release, for those who prefer to skip the wait and jump straight into the action, Ancient Paws offers several Feature Buy options. These allow players to purchase their way directly into the bonus features, such as:
- BonusHunt FeatureSpins (costing 3x the bet): This increases the chances of triggering the free spins feature by five times.
- Paw-tential Riches FeatureSpins (costing 50x the bet): Guarantees at least two Expanding Wild symbols on the next spin.
- Trail of Treats Bonus Buy (costing 150x the bet): Immediately activates the free spins feature with 8, 10, or 12 free spins, depending on the number of scatter symbols.
Immersive design and theme:
The theme of Ancient Paws draws inspiration from ancient Mesoamerican civilizations, with a vibrant jungle setting and an ancient temple at the heart of the action. The reels are framed by stone carvings and vines, creating a visually striking backdrop for the gameplay. The game’s protagonist, an intrepid dog wearing a fedora and equipped with adventure gear, adds a whimsical touch to the experience.
The symbols align with the explorer theme, featuring various tools and artifacts like lanterns, compasses, and treasure maps, all designed with bold, cartoonish artwork. The soundtrack complements the theme with energetic, jungle-inspired tunes.
With a maximum win potential of 15,000x your bet, Ancient Paws offers a thrilling pursuit of treasure. The slot’s unique combination of expanding wilds, multipliers, and free spins can lead to substantial payouts, especially when several wilds merge with their multipliers.