Layout, Betting & Multipliers
Mayan Stackways boasts impressive graphics, and a well-chosen color palette in both the regular game and the bonus game mode, due to which it is very easy to get immersed. The game has a standard layout of 5 reels and 3 rows, with up to 100,000 different paylines during mini-games. While there is nothing special about the grid, the potential paylines are what will attract a lot of players to try the game out.
You will find that the game offers a betting range of $0.10 to $100, suitable for beginners with a smaller budget and those who want to play big. This big of a range is always appreciated due to the flexibility it brings to the gameplay. In addition, players are given an opportunity to achieve a 10,000x multiplier, in addition to the already noteworthy highest wager. If you are lucky enough, this will result in a jackpot of $1,000,000.
RTP & Volatility
The return-to-player (RTP) is a very important piece of casino games, as it is the total estimated amount you will be getting after placing thousands of bets. In the iGaming industry, slot games must strive to achieve a 96% RTP, which is considered the gold standard. With that in mind, we certainly cannot recommend playing games that have lower RTP percentages for extended periods to avoid a decrease in overall earnings. To calculate the RTP of a game, jurisdictions and providers run through millions of simulated bets.
In this case, with Mayan Stackways, Hacksaw Gaming has decided that it is a better idea to cater to casino operators than it is to players, as the offer every casino to choose the RTP rate. There are a total of 4 different percentages available – 88.38%, 92.41%, 94.29%, and 96.23%, which is the only one that is worth it. In order to know what percentage RTP you will be experiencing during gameplay, you need to reach out to the casino you will be staying at, through any of their support channels
Theme & Symbols
The theme, or rather concept, of a game is what makes it interesting to the players and gives it character. And due to the number of options nowadays, players don’t even bother with games that look or feel boring. Because of this, providers are competing to offer novel experiences to the gaming community, although there is still a dedicated following in the community for simplistic games. With that in mind, let’s see if Mayan Stackways is any different.
While the layout of Mayan Stackways and the overall concept is commonly found in the industry, we were hoping to see something innovative, but it feels like the design and music should be good enough for most players. As for the symbols, there are the standard ones from 10-A, and then there are the special symbols, such as the Stackways symbol, Skull (Scatter) Symbol, Reel Activator symbol, and some others.
Bonus Features
The game has quite a lot of features, so let’s just get started. First, we have to cover the mechanic of the game – Stackways – which is also part of the name of the game. Basically, there’s a Stackways symbol, which, when it lands, summons up to 10 symbols of the same kind on the same reel as it. So if you get multiple Stackways Symbols, they will stack other symbols independently, potentially adding up to the max multiplier of the game.
To trigger the Free Spin game mode all you need to do is land 3 or more scatter symbols anywhere on the grid and you will get 10 free spins to begin with. When the free spins event begins (also called Stack Spins), you will have a greater chance of landing the Stackways symbol. If you manage to land 3 additional scatter symbols, you get 4 more free spins.
Now, one of the more interesting features – the Mayan Gold Bonus Feature. You trigger similarly to how you trigger the regular Free Spin game mode. This time, however, you need to land a total of 4 scatters. You will have the chance to get Coin symbols, which are going to be your main winner here. Each of these symbols has its own value and it adds it to the reel above. There are gold, silver, and bronze coins, each of which gives a different multiplier.
Also, the Stackways symbol, during the event, instead of giving 10 random symbols, this time gives Coin symbols only, and they don’t spin out during the next free spin. Instead, they stay until the end of the mini-game.
One more event here is the “A Golden Opportunity” mode. This requires you to land 5 scatter symbols, where all reels have a value of 50, meaning greater rewards at the end.
And finally, you can opt-in for the Bonus Buy feature, which will give you each of these mini-games for the prize of your bet, multiplied by a specific number. These values can be 3x, 40x, 110x, or 200x, depending on the event you want to trigger.
Mobile Support
It is widely known within the iGaming industry that a surge of mobile gamers has emerged in the past couple of years. For this reason, we see providers developing games while keeping their mobile users in mind. Mayan Stackways also has an excellent mobile version of its desktop variant that some argue is the superior one. Just one tip – don’t lose your internet connection, or you will also lose your bet.
Mayan Stackways VS 3 Aztec/Mayan Slots
Slot name | Released | Grid | RTP | Max Multiplier |
Mayan Stackways | May 2023 | 5×4 | Up to 96.23% | 10,000x |
Aztec Gold Mines | June 2022 | 5×5 | Up to 98.88% | 288x |
John Hunter and the Mayan Gods | December 2020 | 5×3 | Up to 96.46% | 500x |
Aztec Magic Megaways | January 2022 | 6×7 | 96.69% | 12,960x |
Closing Words
Mayan Stackways certainly has quite a lot to offer, when compared to some other Aztec and Mayan-based casino slots. There are some unique mini-games, and quite a lot of rewarding events overall. You will also find that the betting range is perfect for every type of player. The only thing that might trigger some players is the non-constant RTP, meaning the percentage is chosen by the casino operators. Aside from that, there is nothing bad we can say about the slot.