Playing Ancient Warriors - First Impressions
I loaded up Ancient Warriors expecting another cookie-cutter Asian themed slot, but this one genuinely surprised me. Developed by Crazy Tooth Studio and released through Microgaming, it runs on a 4-reel, 6-row grid with 50 ways to win. The layout alone feels different from the usual five-reel setup you see everywhere.
The design leans dark and atmospheric. Your reels sit at the entrance of a traditional temple, backed by a shadowy green forest with faint mountains in the distance. Fireflies drift across the screen giving it an almost fairytale quality. The traditional soundtrack ties it all together nicely. After a couple of hours with this one, I can say it holds your attention better than most Asian themed slots I have tested.
Ancient Warriors Symbols and Paytable
Lower-paying symbols are your standard royals, nothing unusual there. The premium symbols are where things get more interesting, featuring cats, monkeys, snakes and bulls. The wild is a Yin Yang sign with the game logo on it and substitutes for everything except the scatter. The scatter symbol appears as Asian lettering and is your ticket to the free spins round.
Symbol Payouts
| Symbol | Payout |
|---|---|
 | 4 → x0.75 |
| 3 → x0.25 | |
 | 4 → x0.75 |
| 3 → x0.25 | |
 | 4 → x0.75 |
| 3 → x0.25 | |
 | 4 → x0.75 |
| 3 → x0.25 | |
 | 4 → x0.35 |
| 3 → x0.15 | |
 | 4 → x0.35 |
| 3 → x0.15 | |
 | 4 → x0.35 |
| 3 → x0.15 | |
 | 4 → x0.35 |
| 3 → x0.15 | |
 | Multiplier |
 | Scatter |
 | Scatter |
 | Wild |
How Ancient Warriors Bonus Rounds Work
There are two main features worth talking about. First is the modifier wild. When it lands at least three times on the reels, a warrior leaps out with a battle move and either turns the symbol into a regular wild or slaps a multiplier on it. The multipliers available are 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x or 10x, chosen at random. During my session I saw the 2x and 3x pop up most often, but the 10x did appear once and it made a real difference.
The free spins feature triggers when you land three or more scatter symbols anywhere on the grid. You get 5 free spins to start, which feels stingy on paper. However, any scatter landing during the round awards an extra spin. The real kicker is that every modifier symbol that hits during free spins gets locked in place for the remaining duration. That stacking effect can build into some properly strong combinations if the round runs long enough.
Triggering the bonus did take some patience in my testing. It is not one of those slots where you fall into free spins every twenty spins. But when the round does fire, the locked modifiers give it genuine potential to pay out well.
Ancient Warriors RTP, Volatility and Max Win
The RTP sits at 96%, which is bang on the industry average and perfectly acceptable. Volatility is high, so expect longer dry spells between meaningful hits. The maximum payout reaches 1,807 times your stake in a single spin. Betting ranges from 0.20 up to 115 coins per spin, which covers casual players and higher rollers alike.
Is Ancient Warriors Worth Playing
After spending a decent session with Ancient Warriors, I would say it stands out from the crowded field of Asian themed slots. The 4-reel layout, the warrior modifier mechanic and the locked wilds during free spins all give it a distinct feel. It is not going to be for everyone given the high volatility and modest free spin count, but when the features connect the results can be impressive. If you are after something a bit different in this genre, it is worth a go.
In-Game Screenshots
Ancient Warriors FAQ
Ancient Warriors — Comparison
| Game | RTP | Volatility | Max Win | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 96% | High | x1807 | 5 | |
| 96.10% | High | x6601 | 5.5 | |
| 96.70% | Average | x2597 | 5.5 | |
| 96.20% | High | x5000 | ||
| 96.33% | High | x5300 | ||
| 96.33% | Average | x10000 | 7 | |
| 96.44% | High | x10000 | ||
| 96.33% | Average | x5300 | ||
| 96.47% | Average | x5000 | ||
| 96.4% | Average | x5000 | 7.3 | |
| 95.22% | 94.04% | 92.04% | High | x2113 | 5.3 | |
| 96.47% | Average | 7 | ||
| 96.6% | Low | x300 | 5 | |
| 96.7% | Average | x6031 | 6.5 | |
| 96.45% | High | x16000 | 5.5 | |
| 96.80% | Average | x450 | 5 | |
| 96.53% | High | x13175 | 6 | |
| 96.6% | High | x25000 | 5 | |
| 96.75% | Average | x3082 | 4.5 | |
| 96.7% | Average | x2597 | 4 | |
| 96.7% | Average | x6031 | 4 | |
| 96.38% | Average | x500 | 4 | |
| 96.18% | High | x4000 | 6 | |
| 96.44% | High | x6000 | ||
| 96.08% | High | x12500 | 8 | |
| 92.23% | High | x18720 | ||
| 95.98% | Average | x18164 | ||
| 96.02% | Average | x1000 | ||
| 95.74% | High | x22500 | 8.5 | |
| 95.14% | High | x1346 |
