Anubis Wild Megaways Review

Enter the Tomb: Inspired Gaming’s Anubis Wild Megaways

The jackal-headed god of the afterlife stands guard over the riches of the pharaohs in Anubis Wild Megaways, Inspired Gaming’s atmospheric trip down the well-worn path to Ancient Egypt. Released in July 2020, this six-reel Megaways title wraps the licensed Megaways™ engine in golden sarcophagi, towering pyramids and hieroglyph-lined tomb walls, offering up to 117,649 ways to win on every spin. The theme may be familiar, but the way Anubis Wild Megaways handles its wilds gives it a personality all its own.

The presentation is exactly what you would expect from a premium Egyptian slot. The reels sit deep inside a burial chamber, flanked by carved stone columns and the watchful eyes of Anubis himself. Symbols parade scarab beetles, the Eye of Horus, golden ankhs and the imposing Anubis statue, with the lower-value royals styled in chiselled stone to fit the setting. A brooding, percussive soundtrack threads through the action, evoking the hush of a sealed tomb waiting to be plundered.

What lifts Anubis Wild Megaways above a generic Egyptian clone is its distinctive wild handling. A separate 4x1 horizontal reel runs along the top of the grid, feeding wilds into base-game play, while the free spins round transforms wilds into locking, merging symbols that build an escalating multiplier. Add the cascading reactions of the Megaways™ engine and the optional Bonus Top Up gamble, and you have a game with more strategic texture than its theme might suggest.

With an RTP of 95.9%, medium volatility (rated 3 out of 5), a maximum win of 12,500x your stake, and a betting range running from £0.20 to £20.00, Anubis Wild Megaways positions itself as an accessible, feature-driven Megaways slot rather than a punishing high-variance monster. It is built for players who enjoy regular feature activity and a free spins round with genuine escalation rather than waiting an age for a single colossal hit.

Whether you are drawn by the lure of Egyptian gold, the promise of 117,649 ways, or the satisfying snowball of merging multiplier wilds, this tomb has plenty to offer. Light your torch, step past the threshold, and let’s explore every mechanic Anubis Wild Megaways has to offer.

Key Stats & Specifications

Key Features at a Glance

Before we descend into each feature in detail, here is a quick survey of everything that makes Anubis Wild Megaways worth exploring:

• Megaways™ Engine: Up to 117,649 ways to win across six reels with 2-7 symbols each
• Cascading Reactions: Winning symbols are removed and replaced, allowing chain wins from a single spin
• Top Horizontal Wild Reel: A dedicated 4x1 reel above the grid adds wilds during the base game
• Mystery Symbols: The ”?” symbol transforms into any regular paying symbol to boost wins
• Free Spins: Triggered by three or more pyramid scatters, starting with 12 spins
• Locking Merging Wilds: In free spins, wilds drop and lock, merging into escalating multipliers
• Covered-Reel Bonus Spins: Fully covering a reel with wilds awards additional free spins
• Bonus Top Up Gamble: Risk your awarded spins for more, or bank a mystery multiplier
• Egyptian Theme: Atmospheric tomb setting headlined by the god Anubis

The Megaways™ Engine: 117,649 Ways to Plunder

Understanding Megaways™ in Anubis Wild

At the heart of Anubis Wild Megaways beats the licensed Megaways™ engine, the variable-ways system that reshaped slot mathematics. Instead of fixed paylines, every reel can display a different number of symbols on each spin, and the total ways to win are recalculated dynamically. This is what gives the game its constantly shifting rhythm and its headline figure of 117,649 ways.

How Megaways™ Works in Anubis Wild:

• 6 vertical reels, each capable of showing between 2 and 7 symbols per spin
• Ways to win are calculated by multiplying the number of symbols on each reel together
• Maximum ways: 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 = 117,649 ways to win
• Minimum ways: 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 = 64 ways to win
• Wins pay for matching symbols on adjacent reels from left to right, regardless of their position on the reel

Win Formation Principles:

• Symbol size and exact row position are irrelevant — only the reel sequence matters
• A winning combination must start on the leftmost reel and run across consecutive reels
• Multiple separate winning combinations can land and pay on a single spin
• Every payout is expressed as a multiple of your total stake, not a per-line bet
• The number of ways changes every spin, so no two spins feel mathematically identical

Cascading Reactions

Like most Megaways™ slots, Anubis Wild Megaways uses cascading reactions (also called tumbles or avalanches). When you land a winning combination:

1. The symbols that formed the win are removed from the grid
2. The symbols above them drop down to fill the empty spaces
3. New symbols fall in from above to complete the reels
4. If the new arrangement creates another win, it pays and the process repeats
5. Cascades continue until no further wins land

This mechanic means a single paid spin can produce a chain of consecutive wins. It is especially valuable when the top wild reel is feeding wilds into the grid, or when mystery symbols reveal a matching high-value icon across multiple reels.

The Top Wild Reel: Anubis Watches From Above

A Dedicated Reel of Wilds in the Base Game

The first thing that sets Anubis Wild Megaways apart is its 4x1 horizontal reel that runs along the top of the main grid. During base-game play, this is where the wild symbols live. As the top reel spins, it can drop wilds down onto the six main reels, helping to complete winning combinations that the standard symbols alone might not.

How the Top Wild Reel Works:

• A separate horizontal reel sits above the six Megaways™ reels
• Wild symbols appear on this top reel during the base game
• When wilds land, they substitute for paying symbols to complete combinations
• This gives the base game an additional, reliable source of wilds that many Megaways slots lack

Why the Top Wild Reel Matters:

• It keeps the base game engaged by regularly introducing wilds
• Wilds feeding into a high-ways board can complete substantial multi-way wins
• Combined with cascades, a well-placed wild can trigger a chain of follow-on wins
• It establishes the wild as the game’s signature symbol before the free spins amplify it dramatically

The top wild reel is a clever piece of design. It prevents the base game from feeling flat between feature triggers and lays the groundwork for the far more powerful wild mechanic that defines the free spins round.

Mystery Symbols: One Symbol, Many Possibilities

The ”?” That Transforms the Board

Anubis Wild Megaways also employs mystery symbols, represented by a question-mark icon. When mystery symbols land, they all reveal the same regular paying symbol — never a wild or bonus scatter. Because they transform in unison, a cluster of mystery symbols can suddenly populate the reels with a single high-value icon, completing multi-way wins that ordinary spins would miss.

How Mystery Symbols Work:

• One or more ”?” symbols can appear on the reels
• When they reveal, they all transform into the same standard paying symbol
• They cannot become wilds or bonus scatters
• The transformation can convert a scattered, unconnected board into a winning one

Why Mystery Symbols Matter:

• They add an extra layer of variance and surprise to base-game spins
• A swarm of mystery symbols revealing a premium icon can produce a strong multi-way payout
• They synergise with cascades, since the transformed symbols may trigger chain wins
• They keep the base game lively alongside the top wild reel

Mystery symbols are a familiar Megaways embellishment, but they pair well with this game’s other mechanics and give the base game a second route to bigger wins.

Free Spins: Where the Wilds Come Alive

Triggering the Bonus Round

The headline feature of Anubis Wild Megaways is its free spins round, triggered by landing three or more pyramid scatter symbols anywhere on the reels. Three scatters award an initial 12 free spins. During the round, every additional pyramid scatter that lands grants 2 extra spins, and the total can build all the way up to a generous maximum of 82 free spins.

Triggering and Extending:

• 3+ pyramid scatters anywhere trigger the round with 12 free spins
• Each additional scatter during the round adds 2 more spins
• The free spins can extend to a maximum of 82 spins in total

The free spins are not simply more of the same — they fundamentally change how wilds behave, transforming Anubis Wild Megaways from a solid base game into a feature with real escalation potential.

Locking, Merging Multiplier Wilds

The defining mechanic of the free spins round is the way wilds now behave. During free spins, wilds appear on reels 2 to 5 rather than the top reel. When a wild lands, it drops to the bottom of its reel and locks in place for the remainder of the round. Crucially, when wilds merge together, the merged wild takes on a multiplier equal to the number of wilds that have merged.

How the Free Spins Wilds Work:

1. Wilds land on reels 2-5 during the free spins
2. Each wild drops to the bottom of its reel and locks there permanently for the round
3. As more wilds stack on the same reel, they merge into a single wild
4. The merged wild carries a multiplier equal to the number of merged wilds (two wilds = 2x, three wilds = 3x, and so on)
5. These locked, multiplied wilds remain in play for every remaining spin

Covered Reels Award Extra Spins:

• If wilds completely cover an entire reel, you are awarded additional free spins
• This rewards long, productive rounds and extends them further

Why This Matters:

• Locked wilds accumulate, so the board grows steadily more wild-rich as the round progresses
• Merged multipliers compound the value of every win that uses those wilds
• The combination of permanent wilds and escalating multipliers is where the 12,500x ceiling becomes reachable
• Covered-reel bonus spins can keep a hot round alive far longer than the initial 12 spins

This is the beating heart of the game. A free spins round that starts modestly can snowball as wilds lock, merge and multiply across reels 2-5, turning the later spins into genuinely explosive opportunities.

Example:

• £1.00 stake, free spins underway
• Wilds lock on reels 3 and 4; two merge on reel 3 for a 2x multiplier
• A high-value symbol completes a multi-way win using those wilds
• The merged-wild multiplier doubles the contribution, and a cascade adds a follow-on win

The Bonus Top Up: Gamble for More Spins

Risk Your Spins for a Bigger Round

When the free spins are triggered, Anubis Wild Megaways offers an optional Bonus Top Up gamble. Rather than simply accepting your awarded spins, you can choose to gamble them for the chance to win more. It is a decision point that adds player agency to the bonus, much like the gamble mechanics found in other Inspired Megaways titles.

How the Bonus Top Up Works:

1. You are awarded an initial set of free spins (12 for three scatters)
2. You can choose to keep those spins safely, or gamble them
3. A successful gamble awards you additional free spins
4. If the gamble loses, you instead receive a mystery multiplier prize rather than the extra spins

Strategic Considerations:

• Risk vs. Reward: More spins mean more chances for wilds to lock and merge, so the upside is real
• Consolation Built In: Because a losing gamble still pays a mystery multiplier, the downside is softened compared to all-or-nothing gambles
• Practice in Demo: The Anubis Wild Megaways free-play demo is the ideal place to learn the gamble’s rhythm before risking real money

The Bonus Top Up turns the start of the free spins into a meaningful choice. With the consolation mystery multiplier reducing the sting of a loss, many players will find it a tempting button to press.

Symbols & Paytable

Anubis Wild Megaways uses a classic two-tier symbol hierarchy dressed in full Egyptian regalia, with special symbols layered on top to drive the features. There are 10 regular paying symbols in total.

High-Value Symbols:

• Anubis — the game’s namesake and top-paying symbol, the jackal-headed god of the afterlife
• Egyptian premiums — the Eye of Horus, golden scarab, ankh and other tomb treasures

The premium symbols deliver the largest base-game payouts when they land across multiple reels, and they are the symbols you most want a mystery-symbol cluster to reveal.

Low-Value Symbols:

• The traditional royal card values (A, K, Q, J, 10, 9), styled in carved stone to fit the Egyptian theme

Special Symbols:

• Wild Symbol — substitutes for paying symbols; appears on the top reel in the base game and locks/merges with multipliers on reels 2-5 during free spins
• Pyramid Scatter — three or more anywhere trigger the free spins; extra scatters add spins
• Mystery Symbol — the ”?” icon that reveals a matching regular paying symbol

Reading the Paytable:

Because this is a Megaways™ slot, all payouts are quoted as multiples of your total stake, and wins are awarded for matching symbols on consecutive reels from the left. With up to 117,649 ways active, even mid-value symbols can produce respectable returns when they appear on every reel.

How to Win: Strategy & Tips

Anubis Wild Megaways is a medium-volatility game, which means a sensible, patient approach pays dividends. Here is how to give yourself the best shot at the pharaoh’s gold.

Bankroll Management

• Match your bet to your bankroll: With a range of £0.20 to £20.00, divide your session budget so you can comfortably absorb at least 100-150 spins. Medium volatility means features arrive at a reasonable pace, so you do not need the enormous buffer that a very-high-volatility slot demands.
• Set win and loss limits: Decide in advance when you will walk away — both if you are ahead and if you are down. The 12,500x ceiling is a big target, but most sessions will revolve around the more frequent feature wins.
• Treat the Bonus Top Up as optional: A losing gamble still pays a mystery multiplier, so the risk is softer than an all-or-nothing gamble — but it can still cost you spins. Factor it into your plan.

Base Game Strategy

• Let the Megaways™ engine do the work: There is no skill in spin outcomes, so focus on bet sizing and session length rather than chasing patterns.
• Value the top wild reel: This is a reliable source of base-game wilds. Combined with cascades, a well-placed wild can chain into multiple wins.
• Watch for mystery symbols: A cluster revealing a premium symbol across several reels can produce a strong multi-way payout.

Free Spins Strategy

• The free spins are the prize: This is where locking, merging multiplier wilds make the difference. The longer the round runs, the more wilds accumulate and the bigger the multipliers grow.
• Weigh the Bonus Top Up carefully: More spins give wilds more chances to lock and merge, and the consolation mystery multiplier softens a loss — but only gamble what you are comfortable risking.
• Practice in the demo first: Use the free-play version to understand how the locking wilds, covered-reel spins and Bonus Top Up behave before committing real funds.

Gameplay Experience

Visual Presentation

Anubis Wild Megaways commits fully to its tomb-raiding theme. The reels sit deep within a burial chamber framed by carved stone columns, with the silhouette of Anubis presiding over the action. Symbols are rendered clearly and legibly — the Anubis statue, Eye of Horus, scarab and ankh are easy to read at a glance, which matters on a busy six-reel Megaways grid. The aesthetic is polished and atmospheric, leaning into the brooding mystery of an ancient tomb rather than flashy, cartoonish spectacle.

Feature moments get extra visual flourish. The top wild reel draws the eye as wilds drop onto the grid, and the free spins round is where the presentation shines: locked wilds stacking and merging at the bottom of the reels, multipliers ticking upward, and covered reels triggering extra spins all build a satisfying sense of momentum. The cascades are smooth and quick, keeping the pace of play brisk.

Audio Design

The soundtrack is built on a brooding, percussive foundation that captures the hush and tension of a sealed tomb. Win sounds are punchy and satisfying, and the audio swells during the free spins as wilds lock and multipliers climb. The reveal of a mystery symbol cluster and the trigger of the bonus round each carry their own audio cue, reinforcing the drama. It is an immersive, theme-appropriate soundscape that supports the gameplay without becoming repetitive.

Mobile Experience

Anubis Wild Megaways is fully optimised for mobile and tablet play, and the experience translates seamlessly to smaller screens. The six-reel Megaways grid and the top wild reel scale cleanly, and the symbols remain legible even on a phone in portrait orientation. Touch controls for spinning, adjusting your bet, and engaging with the Bonus Top Up gamble are responsive and intuitive.

Performance is smooth on modern devices, with cascades, locking wilds and feature animations running without noticeable lag. Because the Bonus Top Up involves a simple tap decision, the touchscreen interface feels natural and well-suited to mobile play. Whether you are at home on a tablet or playing on the move, the descent into the tomb loses none of its atmosphere.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the RTP of Anubis Wild Megaways?

Anubis Wild Megaways has a Return to Player (RTP) of 95.9%. This sits slightly below the modern Megaways average of around 96%, so it is worth factoring into your expectations, though the game’s frequent feature activity and medium volatility keep play engaging. Some operators run a “Bonus Top Up” configuration with a marginally different RTP (95.81%-95.95%).

What is the maximum win in Anubis Wild Megaways?

The maximum win is 12,500x your stake, which Inspired Gaming caps at £250,000. While that is more modest than some ultra-volatile Megaways titles, it remains a substantial target, most realistically approached during the free spins when locking, merging multiplier wilds compound multi-way wins.

How volatile is Anubis Wild Megaways?

The game is rated medium volatility (3 out of 5). This means a balanced experience with reasonably frequent feature triggers and wins, making it a comfortable choice for players who dislike the long dry spells associated with very-high-volatility slots.

Does Anubis Wild Megaways have a bonus buy?

No. Anubis Wild Megaways does not offer a bonus buy feature, so you must trigger the free spins organically by landing three or more pyramid scatters.

How do the free spins work?

Land three or more pyramid scatters to trigger 12 free spins. Each additional scatter during the round adds 2 more spins, up to a maximum of 82. During free spins, wilds land on reels 2-5, lock to the bottom of their reel, and merge into multipliers equal to the number of merged wilds. Fully covering a reel with wilds awards extra spins.

What is the Bonus Top Up feature?

The Bonus Top Up is an optional gamble offered when you trigger the free spins. You can gamble your awarded spins for the chance to win more; if the gamble loses, you instead receive a mystery multiplier prize rather than the extra spins.

How are the wilds different in the base game versus free spins?

In the base game, wilds appear on a dedicated 4x1 horizontal reel above the grid and drop down to substitute for paying symbols. In the free spins, wilds appear on reels 2-5, lock to the bottom of their reel for the whole round, and merge together to carry an escalating multiplier.

Who makes Anubis Wild Megaways and when was it released?

Anubis Wild Megaways was developed by Inspired Gaming and released in July 2020. It is a six-reel, 117,649-way Megaways slot themed around Ancient Egypt and the god Anubis.

Verdict

Anubis Wild Megaways is a polished and genuinely interesting Megaways slot that does more with a familiar theme than you might expect. Inspired Gaming has taken the licensed 117,649-way Megaways™ engine, wrapped it in an atmospheric Egyptian tomb, and then built a wild system with real character: a dedicated top wild reel keeps the base game lively, and the free spins round’s locking, merging multiplier wilds give the feature genuine escalation and big-win potential.

Its medium volatility makes it far more approachable than the punishing high-variance Megaways titles that dominate the genre — features arrive often enough to sustain a session, and you do not need a colossal bankroll to enjoy it. The Bonus Top Up gamble, softened by its consolation mystery multiplier, adds a welcome layer of player agency without the brutal all-or-nothing sting of some gamble mechanics.

The reservations are honest ones. The 95.9% RTP is below the modern Megaways average, the 12,500x max win is comparatively modest, and the absence of a bonus buy means you must earn your way into the free spins the old-fashioned way. The Ancient Egypt theme, while well executed, is also some of the most heavily mined territory in all of slots.

Weighing it all up, Anubis Wild Megaways earns a solid 4.0 out of 5. It is a smartly designed, feature-rich Megaways slot that prioritises an escalating, rewarding free spins round over raw volatility. If you value regular base-game features, a bonus round with genuine snowball potential, and the timeless allure of Egyptian gold — and you are not chasing a five-figure-multiplier monster — this descent into the tomb of Anubis is well worth taking.