Aztec Artefacts - Review, Demo Play, Payout, Free Spins & Bonuses

Introduction

The Aztec environment is not just lush and beautiful: it is also packed with a range of bonuses and game features, including cascading wins, accompanied by increasing multipliers during a free spins bonus, wilds and transforming symbols. This slot machine offers plenty of adventure spread over a 7x7 grid with cluster pays wins to keep the action rolling along.

Aztec Artefacts Theme, Graphics & Soundtrack

Take a break from the fun and frolics of branded online slots such as The Goonies Return slot and head off into lush green forest for an Aztec adventure.

The grid is enclosed in what looks like an Aztec, and there is a range of stylised symbols. The colours on the grid are a little muted. You will have to decide if you think this complements the theme or if you would have preferred bolder options.

Aztec Artefacts RTP and Variance

The average RTP for free casino games is 96 per cent. The theoretical return to player of this Thunderspin slot is a little below this at 95.6 per cent.

It is a high-variance game. This means that it can feel like an exciting choice of free casino slots but may feel too risky for some.

How to Play the Aztec Artefacts Slot

At first glance, this choice of free slot games can seem more complicated, largely due to the number of symbols packed onto the grid. Don’t worry, however: this is no more complicated than other online slots, and with the help of the following handy hints, you can be spinning in seconds.

1. The central green tab is the spin button. Either side of this you will find the bet settings and the autoplay option. Also in this row of controls is the turbo play button and the three-bar main menu link.
2. Click the coin stack for the bet settings. Use the plus and minus button to set your stake. There is also a Max Bet button if you want to jump straight to the highest possible stake.
3. The main menu opens the paytable in this choice of free slot games. This is where you will find the information you need about the prizes that this slot machine can offer and the special symbols and features that you might encounter.

Bet Sizes & Paytable Wins

There is no doubt that the betting range in this game won’t satisfy higher rollers. The maximum bet is just 10.00 per spin. The minimum stake of 0.10 a game will appeal to more cautious spinners, however.

There are wins for matching five or more touching symbols, and once combinations are made, the symbols disappear to allow others to fall into place. This is what is known as the avalanche feature. Avalanches will continue until no more wins are formed.

Wins are split into number categories, rising to the maximum wins when 45 or more symbols form a cluster.

The symbols in this game are split into higher and lower payers. The higher-value icons are the golden mask and the purple, turquoise, blue and green symbols. The low-paid icons are playing card royals, stylised to fit the theme.

The top wins for 45x symbols are:

Mask 5,000

Purple and turquoise symbols 2,000

Blue and green symbols 300

Max-win 1,000x

Volatility High

Top RTP 95.61%

Aztec Artefacts Bonus Features

You can encounter a range of bonus features on this Aztec adventure. Here’s a look at what these might be:

Free Spins

Land three of the book scatters to launch the free spins. The scatters will only land during the base game.

How many free spins you get will depend on how many scatters land to trigger the bonus. The choices are:

3 scatters for 10 free spins

4 for 12 free spins

5 for 15 free spins

6 for 20 free spins

7 for 30 free spins

During the free spins bonus, the avalanche feature (otherwise known as cascading wins) is accompanied by an increasing multiplier. It starts at 2x and increases to 3x with the second avalanche, 5x with the third and 10x for the fourth or more.

Wilds

The W symbol is the wild of the game and can replace any other icon except for the scatters. It can appear at any time as you play.

Mystical Bonus

Fill the special Mystical Bonus counter to activate the feature. Winning symbols collect in the counter, including wilds, and you need 20 to fill it up.

Once it is filled, a regular symbols will be chosen at random. All of the symbols in the same pay group, either high or low payers, will then be transformed into the same symbol.

Aztec Artefacts Review

This is a reasonably attractive slot. We would have liked to see a little more colour on the grid, but this is more about personal taste than any failing on the part of the designer.

The jungle soundtrack with its squawking birds and subtle, drum-heavy tune is atmospheric and appropriate.

The gameplay is just as fitting for an Aztec adventure and is filled with popular bonus features, starting with the cluster pays mechanism and the cascading wins. 

Ever-popular wilds are also there, as are free spins, and these are accompanied by the potential of an increasing multiplier up to 10x. The transforming symbols are a nice added extra and the whole thing adds up to a really enjoyable playing experience.

Disclaimer: Aztec Artefacts trademark / license is owned by Thunderspin. This site is not endorsed by Thunderspin.