Scarab (IGT) – Review & Demo Play

Scarab - Game Review

I’ve spun plenty of Egyptian-themed reels, and Scarab by IGT stands out with a 5x4 layout and 75 paylines. The setting is the Giza pyramids at sunset, which fits the scarab motif neatly. Stakes range from 75 pence up to £2,250 per spin, which is quite a spread for a low to medium variance slot. In play, the pacing feels steady rather than spiky, with features dropping often enough to keep me engaged without wild swings.

Which Symbols are in Scarab?

Symbol-wise, Scarab uses royals for the low end, then leans on Egyptian icons for the mid and highs. You’ll see Maahes, Anubis, Horus, and Hatshepsut in the middle band, with the Eye of Horus and the Ankh above them. The top symbol is the High Priestess, which can appear stacked and sets the best line hits. You need three to five of a kind to score, and the balance across symbols keeps the paytable tight.

The scarab beetle acts as the wild, substituting for regular symbols to complete wins, while the pyramid is the scatter. Wilds tend to land in stacks thanks to synced reels, so even base game spins can swing when a couple of reels line up. From a player’s seat, I prioritise the High Priestess and the premium icons, but consistent returns often come from runs of royals backed by a timely wild to bridge the gaps.

What are the Bonus Features in Scarab?

Scarab’s feature set hinges on the scarab wild and how it behaves. Beyond simple substitutions, the game uses a synced reels mechanic, so stacked wilds are common sights. This can set up chunky lines when two or more reels mirror. I’ve had base spins go from flat to lively when a synced pair dropped wild stacks. It’s a neat touch that keeps the grid feeling active even before the headline feature kicks in.

The standout is Wild Stays Charges Then Pays. Any spin that lands a scarab leaves a golden frame on that position, and a counter above the reels tracks a ten-spin cycle. On the tenth spin, every collected frame turns wild at once. When several frames line up across reels, the board lights up and you can catch tidy totals. Frames then clear and a fresh cycle starts, which shapes how I time my sessions.

I like how this mechanic rewards sticking with the game for complete cycles rather than dipping in and out. It gives the base game a rhythm, and I often chase one more spin when I’m close to the payoff. While the maths leans toward smaller hits, combining synced stacks with a charged board can still throw up strong lines, so the loop never feels throwaway. It also pairs well with free spins, where extra wilds can land into framed spots.

Free Spins in Scarab

Free spins land when three or more pyramid scatters hit on the same spin, and you then pick from three options. With 3 scatters it’s 15, 10, or 5 spins paired with 5, 7, or 10 wilds. With 4 scatters you get 30, 20, or 10 spins on the same wild counts. With 5 scatters it steps up to 45, 30, or 15 spins, again with 5, 7, or 10 wilds. The choice shapes volatility.

You can retrigger up to four times, so the totals can climb: up to 225 spins if you go with 5 wilds, 150 spins on 7 wilds, or 50 spins on 10 wilds. I tend to favour the 10 wilds pick when I’m chasing bigger swings, and the 15 or 30 spins routes when I want longer sessions. Either way, the extra wilds mesh nicely with frames from the charge feature and can set up great boards.

What is the Jackpot (Max Win) in Scarab?

Scarab caps out at 200x your stake, which is modest for a slot with this many features. The volatility sits in the low to medium band, so you’re looking at frequent small to mid hits rather than monster spikes. To reach the ceiling you need the High Priestess and wilds filling most of the screen, which is a tall order. The wide staking up to £2,250 doesn’t change that profile, so I treat it as a steady grinder.

Where can I play Scarab?

You can play Scarab on desktop and mobile thanks to its HTML5 build. It runs smoothly in instant play across browsers, and I’ve had no trouble spinning on Android and iPhone. The interface is clear, with stake controls upfront and autoplay for set runs if you like a quicker pace. There’s no download needed, so it’s easy to drop in for a cycle, test the free version, and then decide if you want to stake real money.

Scarab - Verdict

Scarab gives me a lower-risk take on the Egyptian genre, with enough mechanics to keep spins ticking over. The stacked symbols, synced reels, and the Wild Stays Charges Then Pays cycle combine well, and the free spins choices let me set the tone for a bonus. It’s a slot I’ll use when I want session flow rather than huge volatility, and the 10-spin countdown nudges me to complete arcs rather than hop around.

Tempered expectations help. The max win is capped, and the maths aims at consistency, so I bank on sustained play backed by features rather than life-changing hits. If you’re after a casual ride with some clever framing and a clear pick-your-poison bonus round, Scarab does the job. IGT’s presentation sits nicely, with the Giza backdrop and a soundtrack that livens up on wins, rounding out a package I’m happy to keep in rotation.