Desert Hawk - Review, Demo Play, Payout, Free Spins & Bonuses

Introduction

Desert Hawk is a scorching slot by Ainsworth with 5 reels, 3 rows and 20 paylines, a top payout of x250 and an RTP of 95.88%. So far, so normal, but it’s Desert Hawk’s bonus features that really heat the gameplay up. With sticky wild substitutions, scatter symbols and a rolling free games feature, Desert Hawk will drive you wild with excitement. 

Desert Hawk’s 20 lines pay out when 5 winning symbols appear in sequence from left to right, and the highest win on each line pays out and all wins are added. The symbols themselves are a unique and interesting mix of desert animals. 

The oasis scatter symbol is the highest paying, with the cougar and raccoon next, followed by the sly desert fox and dangerous scorpion. The letters A, K, Q, J, and the numbers 9 and 10 constitute the basic symbols.

The wild hawk symbol substitutes for all other symbols except the oasis scatter. The scatter symbols in Desert Hawk pay in any position. This means that they do not need to appear on the same payline to win, a relatively rare game mechanic. If 3 or more oasis scatter symbols appear on the reels, either the Desert Hawk Feature or Desert Hawk Extra Feature is triggered randomly. 

Try the Big Thunder slot for a similar style of gameplay in an evocative jungle setting. 

Theme, Graphics & Soundtrack

Desert Hawk’s theme is super evocative, its graphics are stunning, and its soundtrack soars above the competition. 

In the backdrop, the sun sets between two sand dunes. Bathed in a rich and dangerous red glow, a few dried leaves from the scrub blow, caught in the dusty wind. The eye is drawn unavoidably to the reels, which take up nearly the whole screen. The large, impressive symbols focus the attention on the spin results, unencumbered by fancy features and unnecessary distractions. 

Underneath the reels, the dashboard is simple and effective. The green spin button sits in the middle, functional without getting in the way. To the left is the variable bet amount, and to the right are the win and cash counters. 

In the soundtrack, a guitar strums across light percussion and minimalist orchestral strings. Wins are highlighted in the music by a country-and-western banjo riff as the eponymous desert hawk flies diagonally across the screen. 

The oasis symbol glints temptingly, and the desert hawk and scorpion symbols animate when won. 

Visit Slots Temple to try other immersive free slots

Desert Hawk RTP and Variance

The RTP of Desert Hawk is 95.88, which is slightly below average for a game of this type. The volatility is medium, which is fairly standard, and the bet size ranges from 1.00 to 50.00. That minimum bet might be a bit high for some people, but it is compensated by the low bet ceiling. 

How to play Desert Hawk

1. The game will load automatically. There’s no need to pass through a start screen.
2. Check out the guide and rules by clicking the hamburger in the bottom left, then on “i.”
3. Adjust your bet amount using the arrows to either side of Total Bet, or click Max to play with the highest bet. 
4. The lines, cash and win counters are displayed to the right of the Spin button.
5. Tap the central spin button or the autospin button to play. Once play is initiated, the spin button becomes a stop button and stops the reels when clicked.
6. Keep an eye on the reels for any wins. They’ll be highlighted for you.

Play Desert Hawk responsibly. Set yourself a sensible budget for each play session and never chase losses. When the fun stops, stop.

Min & Max Bets

Desert Hawk has a minimum bet of 1.00, and the maximum bet is 50.00.

Max-win 250x

Volatility Medium

Top RTP 95.88%

Desert Hawk Bonus Features

The eponymous Desert Hawk Feature and Desert Hawk Extra Feature are triggered when three or more oasis scatter symbols appear in any position on the reels.

Desert Hawk Feature

This bonus feature awards 8 free spins and grants the opportunity for a wild symbol to appear on reels 2, 3 and 4 only. Wherever a wild symbol does appear, it is stickered until the end of the feature round. 5 additional free games are triggered by any 3 or more scatters. 

Desert Hawk Extra Feature

This awards 8 free spins but opens up reel 5 for sticky wild symbols as well. Bet and lines are played the same as the game that triggered the feature. During the Desert Hawk Extra Feature, 6 or more scatter symbols will pay the same as 5 scatter symbols. 

Game producer Ainsworth slot demos are well worth a try if you like the sound of this game. 

Desert Hawk Review

If you like country-and-western films and music, you’ll love this slot. The theme and graphics are by far the biggest draw that this slot offers, and we love that the game’s focus is on the reels, not the extras. The soundtrack is amongst the best in class and we could listen to it all day.

However, the game mechanics are a bit clunky. The 5x3 grid is standard fare, but it takes a while to load and occasionally spins can seem to take a long time to stop. The RTP is below average, which can get a bit hard on your balance, but the free spins help to make up for this. 

Overall, this is a strong effort from Ainsworth. 

Disclaimer: Desert Hawk trademark / license is owned by Ainsworth. This site is not endorsed by Ainsworth.