Scarab Slot by IGT- Expert Review & Free Play Demo

Ancient Egypt has been a huge inspiration for slots providers and we can see that in the fact that there are so many slots based on this theme. Sometimes, we get something more exciting and different, but sometimes it seems that we get one and the same slot all over again. But is this the case with IGT’s Scarab slot machine released back in 2019? Well, let’s see if there is something more exciting than in other Egypt-themed slot machines.

Scarab is a five-reel slot with four rows and as much as 75 fixed pay lines. Our first impression when this slot came out was that we got yet another ordinary Ancient Egypt slot machine. But once we started playing the game, we realized that there is something more to it. Actually, Scarab comes with plenty of action in the base game thanks to its Synchronized Reels feature and Wild Stays Charges Then Pays feature. These two features combined can create quite great winning possibilities in the base game alone.

Furthermore, there is a Free Spins Bonus with random wilds which can bring quite decent wins as well. x200 per free spin is possible which may not be too big of potential for players who are used to playing high volatile risky slots, but with the medium volatility and 93-96% RTP this slot machine is actually pretty decent overall.

Scarab Slot – Theme and Design

You already know the theme of this IGT slot machine. Scarab will transport you directly to Ancient Egypt and its deserts. The reel board framed with sparkly lights is set on the background depicting Egyptian deserts with the glorious pyramids showing on the sides of the screen. The blue night sky punctuated with shiny stars only contributes to the beauty of nature.

The soundtrack of the Egyptian melody fits the theme perfectly. The whole design is nicely put together and even though it may not be of the quality you’d see in let’s say Big Time Gaming or NetEnt slots, it is still eye-pleasing. Actually, it has that IGT characteristic to it. The style you would recognize anywhere.

The Game

IGT has put a lot of thought and creativity into this slot machine. There are as many as 15 symbols in Scarab and three of those are special while the rest are regular. Every single symbol on the reels fits the theme even the set of lower-paying playing card icons (10, J, Q, K, and A).

The rest of the symbols are all linked with the culture of Ancient Egypt. Therefore, you’ll find Maahes, Anubis, Horus, female pharaoh, Eye of Ra, and ankh cross. The most valuable of them all is the High Priestess who appears four rows high.

The three special symbols are wilds, Scarab, and scatters. The wilds come with substitution role replacing all regular symbols on the reels while completing or enhancing the winning combos. The Scarab icon plays a special role as a part of the Wild Stays Charges Then Pays feature we’ll discuss in a second. Finally, the pyramids scatter is there to trigger the Free Spins Bonus round.

Synchronized Reels Features

Similar to the Super Stacks Feature in Golden Goddess slot, also by IGT, Scarab comes with the Synchronized Feature. Before each spin, one of the symbols will be randomly chosen to appear as stacked on the reels. The stacked symbols chosen can be any but the Pyramid scatters. This mini-feature can greatly increase your chances of hitting bigger wins.

If High Priestess as the most valuable symbol is chosen, for example, and you land it on more reels, then the wins you could scoop could get pretty high. But to add more excitement to all that IGT added another base game feature culminating on each 10^th spin.

Wild Stays Charges Then Pays Feature

Every 10 spins in the base game feature this special Scarab function. This feature makes the base game seem like a kind of a Bonus as with a bit of luck with landing more Scarab symbols you can end with the screen covered with wilds. Now, let’s see how this can happen.

Mainly, there is a counter in the upper right corner of the screen which counts the spins from 1 to 10. Now, each Scarab symbol that lands on the reels will turn into sparkly golden frames that stay sticky till the end of the tenth spin after which it will transform into wild symbols. This is why we say it can get pretty exciting. More Scarabs on the screen within the ten spins end up with more sticky wilds.

Combine this base game feature with Synchronized Reels and you get some great potential outside the Free Spins Bonus. And that’s a really exciting base game worth playing, don’t you think?

Scarab Free Spins Bonus Feature

Three or more Pyramid scatters anywhere on the reels trigger the Free Spins Bonus that comes with a certain number of random wilds guaranteed on each free spin. You get to choose between a couple of options. And the number of free spins and wilds depend on the number of scatters you land on the reels:

• 3 scatters
• 15 free spins and 5 random wilds
• 10 free spins and 7 random wilds
• 5 free spins and 10 random wilds
• 4 scatters
• 30 free spins and 5 random wilds
• 20 free spins and 7 random wilds
• 10 free spins and 10 random wilds
• 5 scatters
• 45 free spins and 5 random wilds
• 30 free spins and 7 random wilds
• 15 free spins and 10 random wilds

There are three choices for each number of scatters and you should try and choose wisely. Mainly, the best option, at least in our opinion, is to choose fewer free spins and more wilds. This is because with more wilds the chances are better for getting more and heftier wins. For example, 5 free spins with 10 random wilds can be a lot lucrative than let’s say 15 free spins and 5 random wilds. Of course, in the end, it is all up to you and your own style of play.

Scarab Slot – The Expert Verdict

IGT once again managed to bring us a quite decent Ancient Egypt-themed slot machine. With quite a familiar theme, the players can easily get emerged in the game. But most importantly, this slot comes with a quite exciting base game with great winning potential. And there is nothing worse than a boring base game. Luckily, the Scarab slot is not in that category.