John Hunter and the Mayan Gods

John Hunter and the Mayan Gods Review

Pragmatic Play’s «John Hunter and the Mayan Gods» is an exhilarating addition to the popular John Hunter series. This high-volatility slot takes players on a thrilling adventure through ancient Mayan ruins, offering a blend of stunning visuals and potentially lucrative gameplay features.

Game Overview

Set against a backdrop of lush jungle and crumbling Mayan temples, this 5-reel, 3-row slot boasts 10 fixed paylines. The game’s high volatility and impressive 96.46% RTP make it an attractive option for players seeking substantial wins, with a maximum payout potential of 2,500x the stake.

Visual Design and Soundtrack

Pragmatic Play has outdone itself with the visual presentation of this slot. The reels are adorned with intricately designed symbols, including lower-value playing card suits and higher-value Mayan artifacts. The titular John Hunter serves as the highest-paying regular symbol, while a golden Mayan mask acts as the wild.

The game’s audio complements the visual experience perfectly, with a dramatic, adventure-movie style soundtrack that heightens the sense of exploration and discovery.

Gameplay Features

Expanding Wilds

The golden Mayan mask wild appears only on reels 2, 3, and 4. When part of a winning combination, it expands to cover the entire reel, potentially leading to multiple wins on a single spin.

Free Spins with Symbol Upgrades

The free spins feature is where «John Hunter and the Mayan Gods» truly shines. Triggered by landing three or more pyramid scatter symbols, this bonus round starts with 12 free spins and incorporates a unique symbol upgrade mechanic:

• Each wild that lands during free spins adds an extra spin and upgrades the lowest-value premium symbol to the next highest.
• There are six upgrade levels in total, potentially culminating in all premium symbols being replaced by the high-paying John Hunter symbol.
• Landing two or three wilds simultaneously adds 3 or 5 extra spins respectively, along with corresponding symbol upgrades.

Betting Options and Payouts

The game caters to a wide range of players with its flexible betting options:

The paytable is quite generous, with even the lowest-paying royal symbols offering 10x the stake for a five-of-a-kind combination. John Hunter himself pays a hefty 50x the stake for five on a payline.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Engaging free spins feature with symbol upgrades
• High-quality graphics and immersive soundtrack
• Expanding wilds in both base game and free spins
• Generous paytable with high-value symbols

Cons:

• High volatility may not suit all players
• Limited bonus features in the base game
• Maximum win potential lower than some comparable slots

Final Thoughts

«John Hunter and the Mayan Gods» is a solid addition to Pragmatic Play’s portfolio. While it may not break new ground in terms of innovative features, it executes its chosen mechanics with polish and flair. The expanding wilds and symbol upgrade system during free spins provide ample excitement, and the potential for substantial wins will appeal to high-volatility enthusiasts.

Players who enjoy visually striking slots with a balance of risk and reward will find much to appreciate here. However, those seeking a more relaxed gaming experience or a wider variety of bonus features may want to look elsewhere. Overall, «John Hunter and the Mayan Gods» delivers an entertaining and potentially rewarding adventure that lives up to the high standards set by previous entries in the John Hunter series.