RTP: 96.5% | Max Win: 10,100x | Egyptian adventure slot with John Hunter. Features the Scarab Queen bonus that can award cash prizes or trigger free spins with special scarab wild symbols.
John Hunter returns in Tomb of the Scarab Queen, an Egyptian adventure slot from Pragmatic Play focused on scarab symbols and a lucrative bonus game. This 5×3 grid with 25 paylines offers an RTP of 96.5%, high volatility, and a max win of 10,100x. The theme is a deep dive into a tomb, with symbols depicting the explorer, the queen, and golden artifacts. The gameplay revolves around special scarab symbols that can award instant cash or trigger a free spins round with scarab wilds, offering a focused and rewarding excavation.
The base game features standard payline wins. The special Scarab Symbol is central to the action. It can land with cash values. If a special ‘Queen’ symbol lands on reel 5 simultaneously with one or more scarabs on reels 1-4, the values of all scarabs are collected for an instant cash prize. This collect mechanic adds exciting moments to the base game. The goal is to also land scatter symbols to trigger the free spins round, where the scarabs become even more valuable.
Landing 3 or more scatter symbols triggers the Free Spins bonus round. During free spins, the scarab collect mechanic remains active. Additionally, special Scarab Wild symbols are introduced. These wilds can appear with random multipliers (e.g., 2x, 3x, 5x). When they help form a winning combination, the multiplier is applied. The combination of collecting cash scarabs and benefiting from multiplier wilds during the free spins can lead to a rich haul from the queen’s tomb, especially if the round is retriggered.
This John Hunter entry is a strong contender for fans of collect mechanics and Egyptian adventures. The instant collect feature in the base game is satisfying, and the free spins round with multiplier wilds adds a powerful layer. It’s a well-designed slot that knows its strengths: a clear theme, a rewarding core mechanic, and a bonus that amplifies it effectively. If you enjoy the John Hunter series or slots where special symbols directly translate to cash with a collect trigger, this tomb holds worthwhile treasures.
| Developer | Pragmatic Play |
| RTP | 96.50% |
| Max Win | x10,000 |
| Volatility | High |
| Theme | Egypt |
| Features | Scarab Theme, Free Spins, Tomb Exploration |
| Bet Range | €0.40 – €200 |
| Lines/Ways | 25 Paylines |
Leo was an archivist for a prestigious exploration society, organizing the diaries and maps of famous adventurers like the fictional ‘John Hunter.’ He felt his own life was a footnote to others’ glory. Cataloging a newly donated crate, he found Hunter’s most personal journal, describing not a triumph, but a failure: he had sought the Tomb of the Scarab Queen for years, only to find an empty, beautiful chamber with a ceiling painted like the night sky. The only artifact was a living scarab beetle made of pure lapis lazuli, which he left in place. The journal’s last line read: ‘The greatest discovery is sometimes discovering there is nothing to take, only something to behold.’ Leo felt a strange kinship. He requested a transfer to the society’s public outreach department. Using Hunter’s journals, he created an interactive exhibit for children called ‘The Explorer’s Heart,’ focusing on the wonder of the search, not the loot. It was a sensation. Leo, the quiet archivist, became a storyteller who inspired a new generation. He learned that the real ‘tomb’ he had been in was his own desk, and the real ‘scarab queen’ was the jewel of purpose he found not in seeking glory, but in sharing the beautiful, empty chambers of wonder that true exploration leaves in the soul.
Land three Scatter symbols (the golden scarab) to trigger the Free Spins feature with a special expanding symbol.
John Hunter and the Scarab Queen are the highest paying symbols.
No, but the Free Spins round includes a ‘Symbol Choice’ feature that lets you pick the expanding symbol.
Before Free Spins begin, you select one regular symbol. Whenever 2 or more of this symbol land, they expand to cover their entire reels, creating more wins.
In Free Spins, choose a symbol that appears frequently (like a mid-paying symbol) for more consistent expansions and win opportunities, rather than the rarest top symbol.