Hand of Anubis

Hand of Anubis is one of those slots that makes its intentions clear within seconds. It does not try to be a soft Egyptian adventure wrapped in gold and treasure clichés. It arrives with a darker tone, a harsher personality, and the kind of volatility profile that immediately tells the player this is not a casual grinding game. Hacksaw Gaming built it as a pressure slot, not a comfort slot, and that distinction matters more here than in many reviews.

That is one reason the game still deserves attention. The Egyptian theme has been exhausted by years of pharaoh wallpaper and predictable pyramid design, yet Hand of Anubis manages to stand apart because it does not behave like another bright museum-piece reskin. It leans into the underworld, the judgment theme, the macabre atmosphere, and the mechanical sharpness that suits Hacksaw’s more aggressive design instincts. It is recognisably Egyptian, but it is not trying to charm the player with familiarity. It is trying to unsettle the player and then punish weak bankroll discipline.

That might sound theatrical, but it is also the most honest way to introduce the game. Hand of Anubis is a high-volatility cluster slot with a 5×6 layout, two different bonus rounds, multiplier wild mechanics, and a 10,000x ceiling. On paper, that gives it enough to compete in the premium modern slot category. In practice, whether it feels like a top-tier game depends on what the player actually wants from a session. A slot can have a strong mechanic list and still fail if the base game feels thin, if the bonus structure feels repetitive, or if the volatility turns the entire experience into a long wait for rare moments of relevance.

Released on: April 21, 2022

This review looks at Hand of Anubis as a real playing experience rather than as a spec sheet. It covers the structure, the atmosphere, the RTP question, the volatility reality, the Soul Orb system, the two bonus rounds, the buy feature, the max win context, and the type of player who is most likely to get value from it. The short version is that Hand of Anubis is a serious slot for serious volatility players, but it is not a slot that flatters everyone equally.

What Hand of Anubis Actually Is

Hand of Anubis is a 5×6 cluster-pays video slot from Hacksaw Gaming. Wins are formed by landing clusters of matching symbols connected horizontally or vertically, and winning clusters are removed so new symbols can fall into place through cascades. That basic structure already says quite a lot about the game. This is not a line slot trying to manufacture tension through old-school reel logic. It is a modern grid-based design built to keep the screen active and to let mechanics layer on top of each other.

That matters because cluster slots live or die on flow. Some feel alive and expressive. Others simply use a cluster layout as a skin over a thin rhythm. Hand of Anubis sits in the stronger category because its cluster engine is tied to multiplier-building behaviour rather than just to tumble frequency. The cascades are not there to create movement for movement’s sake. They are there to keep the Soul Orb mechanic relevant and to create the kind of compounding moments that suit a high-volatility slot.

The game also has two separate free-spin style bonus features, which gives it more mechanical range than a single-mode slot. Instead of offering one obvious destination, Hand of Anubis lets the feature design split in two directions. One bonus is more traditionally spin-based and multiplier-driven. The other is more like a hold-and-win pressure feature. That difference is not cosmetic. It helps the game avoid feeling like a one-note slot with one real dream outcome and a lot of filler in between.

At the same time, the game belongs clearly to the harsher side of the market. This is not a flexible all-audience product. It is built for players who can tolerate dry base-game stretches, imperfect feature frequency, and the psychological friction that comes with a slot where the main excitement often sits in the potential of the mechanics rather than in frequent satisfying wins.

Theme, Presentation and Atmosphere

The theme is one of Hand of Anubis’s biggest strengths because it does something most Egyptian slots fail to do. It uses the setting as atmosphere rather than as decoration. Instead of another polished tomb full of gold symbols and warm desert light, the game is set in a darker afterlife space. Anubis is not treated as a generic visual cue. He feels central to the tone of the game, and that makes the theme more coherent than average.

The screen design reflects that choice well. The grid feels like a stone wall or ritual panel rather than a bright temple toy. The color palette stays colder and heavier. The symbols do their job without turning the game into an over-ornamented mythology parody. This matters because the slot is already mechanically busy enough in the right moments. A louder visual layer would have made it feel overcrowded.

The audio also supports the game rather than distracting from it. Hand of Anubis does not rely on empty dramatic noise. The sound design is tense enough to reinforce the underworld tone without becoming exhausting across a longer session. That is important in a high-volatility slot because players spend enough time in anticipation already. If the soundtrack also becomes intrusive, the session starts to feel stressful for the wrong reasons.

This is one of the subtler reasons the game works. Hand of Anubis looks serious. It does not behave like a mass-market Egyptian slot chasing every possible audience. It knows its lane and stays in it.

Layout, Grid and Cluster Pays Structure

The game runs on a 5×6 grid with cluster pays. That means at least five matching symbols need to connect horizontally or vertically to form a win. Once a winning cluster disappears, new symbols fall in to create a cascade. This is familiar territory for players who know modern grid slots, but the way Hand of Anubis uses it is worth discussing.

Cluster pays can sometimes make a slot feel shapeless because the player is waiting for loose groups to connect without much visual emphasis. Hand of Anubis avoids that problem reasonably well because the cluster engine is linked to the Soul Orb Wild system and to the bonus structure. The grid does not feel like a random choice. It feels like the correct foundation for a game where symbol interaction and multiplier development need room.

The cascades are useful, but they are not the main event on their own. That is important. This is not a slot where base-game cascades constantly deliver satisfying chain reactions. There will be some active moments, but most of the meaningful excitement comes when the Soul Orb system or bonus features start turning those cascades into multiplier moments. Without that layer, the grid would feel much flatter.

That is also why the base game can feel harsher than some players expect. A 5×6 cluster slot looks modern and potentially lively, but Hand of Anubis is not built to be generous simply because symbols fall. The grid is an engine for tension, not a promise of constant entertainment.

RTP and Why the Number Needs Context

Hand of Anubis is usually listed at a top RTP of 96.24%, but that number needs to be treated carefully because the game also exists in lower RTP configurations depending on the operator. That is one of the most important practical facts about the slot, and it should never be hidden behind a single neat number.

The 96.24% figure is respectable for a high-volatility video slot and fits the game’s market position well. It is high enough to keep the title competitive and to stop it from feeling mathematically skimpy before the session even starts. The problem is that many players will not actually be playing that version unless they check the game info at the casino they are using. Lower RTP variants have been documented for the game, and that can materially change the long-run value.

This matters more than usual because Hand of Anubis is already a difficult slot to manage emotionally. A harsh high-volatility game becomes significantly less attractive when the RTP is trimmed below its headline setting. The base game is not soft enough to absorb that downgrade gracefully.

There is another wrinkle here. The bonus buy versions commonly linked to the two feature purchases are often associated with slightly different RTP figures from the base game. That does not mean the game suddenly becomes a bargain through the buy feature. It means the feature pricing and expected return are being shaped differently. Players who use buy features should understand that the math presentation around those entries is not always identical to the standard spin experience.

The key takeaway is simple. Hand of Anubis can be a respectable high-volatility slot at its top setting. It becomes much less interesting if the operator is running a noticeably lower RTP version. This is one of those games where the RTP check is absolutely worth doing.

Volatility and Real Session Feel

Hacksaw rates Hand of Anubis at the top of its volatility scale, and that is exactly how the slot feels. This is not a fake high-volatility game that still sprinkles enough mid-tier wins around to flatter the player every few spins. It behaves like a genuinely sharp slot.

That means long quiet periods are normal. The base game can feel thin. The exciting parts of the mechanic set do not appear often enough to create a steady rhythm of satisfaction. When the game does engage properly, it can create very strong moments, but it is not trying to keep morale high across the average session. In that sense, Hand of Anubis is much closer to a real volatility-chaser slot than to a broad-audience feature game.

This is both a strength and a weakness. It is a strength because the slot commits to its identity. It is a weakness because some players will read the theme and mechanics list, assume a busy cluster-pays session, and then discover a much more severe flow than expected.

The best way to think about Hand of Anubis is as a slot that stores most of its promise in its multipliers and features rather than in base-game comfort. That makes bankroll discipline essential. A player expecting smooth entertainment will probably dislike it. A player comfortable with hard swings and low-frequency impact moments is much more likely to see why the slot has a following.

Symbol Set and Soul Orb Wilds

The central mechanic in Hand of Anubis is the Soul Orb Wild system. This is what gives the game its real identity beyond the dark theme. Soul Orbs act as wilds, but they do more than simply substitute. They carry multipliers and build value in different ways depending on the orb type involved.

That distinction matters because it changes how winning moments feel. A regular wild system would have made the slot much less memorable. The Soul Orbs create the sense that the game is not only looking for clusters but also looking to turn those clusters into multiplier events with real bite. When multiple orb interactions line up inside a meaningful cascade sequence, the game suddenly feels much more dangerous in the right way.

This is also where Hand of Anubis separates itself from a lot of Egyptian slots that still rely too heavily on generic expanding symbols, classic free-spin triggers, or stacked icon drama. The Soul Orb system feels more contemporary and more suited to a Hacksaw title.

The key point is that this mechanic is better than it sounds in a short bullet list. On paper, multiplier wilds are common enough. In practice, the way Hand of Anubis lets these orbs build and combine gives the slot its strongest identity. The game is not simply dark Egyptian cluster pays. It is dark Egyptian cluster pays with a multiplier engine that can turn otherwise ordinary-looking wins into much more meaningful outcomes.

Base Game Quality

The base game is the most divisive part of Hand of Anubis. It is mechanically competent and visually consistent, but it is not generous. Players who judge slots by how pleasant the base game feels across a medium-length session may find this one tougher than the theme and design initially suggest.

That does not mean the base game is bad. It means it is functional rather than charming. It exists to feed the Soul Orb mechanic, to set up bonus triggers, and to remind the player that real value is concentrated in the stronger parts of the design. That is a valid design choice, but it narrows the audience.

When the base game is active, it can be genuinely engaging because cascades, wild interactions, and multiplier build-up create the sense that a sequence might open up. When it is not active, it can feel stark. There are slots where the base game remains entertaining even when the feature flow is slow. Hand of Anubis is not especially interested in that kind of generosity.

This is why it is better suited to players who can tolerate unflattering stretches. If the player wants a slot where the base game carries the session for long periods, there are easier recommendations elsewhere. If the player is willing to treat the base game as tension-building rather than as entertainment in itself, Hand of Anubis looks much stronger.

Underworld Free Spins

The Underworld feature is one of the two bonus destinations and the one that feels closest to a traditional free-spins reward, although even here the game keeps its own personality. The feature begins with a set of free spins and introduces a row of multipliers beneath the reels. These multipliers become part of the emotional core of the round because the feature is really about activating and scaling them rather than simply spinning through standard free games.

This is where the green Soul Orb behaviour and related interactions start to matter more. The feature feels like a multiplier-driven pressure round rather than a cosmetic free-spin break from the base game. That is good design. Too many bonus rounds in modern slots are just louder versions of the base game with a few added extras. Underworld feels like a distinct mode.

It is also capable of creating the kind of session-defining moments the slot needs. If Hand of Anubis had only a mild free-spin feature and a darker theme, it would not be worth this much attention. Underworld gives the game a more serious upside route and helps justify the harshness of the standard flow.

That said, the feature still sits inside a high-volatility title. It is not automatically a rescue event. Players should not assume that triggering Underworld means the slot has finally switched into reward mode. It still needs the right interactions to pay well. The feature is better understood as a high-potential structure than as a guaranteed payday.

Judgement Bonus

The Judgement feature is the other major reason Hand of Anubis stands out. It gives the game a different kind of bonus personality and stops the overall design from feeling too one-directional. Where Underworld is more recognisably free-spin based, Judgement leans closer to a hold-and-win style pressure round.

This matters because the emotional rhythm changes. Judgement feels more concentrated, more mechanical, and in some ways more severe. It is about survival, buildup, and the right block interactions rather than simply letting a free-spin count play out. That gives the slot a second identity inside the same game.

This is a smart design choice. Two bonus rounds are not automatically better than one, but they are better when they genuinely feel different. Hand of Anubis passes that test. The two features are not just cosmetic variations of the same event. They create different expectations and different rhythms.

Judgement is also part of what makes the slot easier to respect from an editorial perspective. It would have been simple for Hacksaw to build one dark Egyptian cluster game with one polished bonus and call it enough. Instead, the slot gives the player two separate feature routes with different emotional textures. That helps the game feel fuller even when the base game is sparse.

Bonus Buy and Whether It Is Worth It

Where permitted, Hand of Anubis includes a bonus buy menu that lets the player purchase direct entry into either Underworld or Judgement. The commonly cited pricing is 129x the stake for Underworld and 200x the stake for Judgement, with slightly different RTP figures often attached to those entries.

The existence of these buys makes sense for the game because the slot is clearly aimed at players who do not mind concentrated risk. In fact, it is hard to imagine Hand of Anubis being marketed to the same audience without a buy option. The volatility profile almost invites it.

The real question is whether the buys are good value in practice. The answer is mixed. They are honest in the sense that they deliver what the player is actually there for: direct access to the game’s strongest content. They are less convincing if the player treats them as a shortcut to easy value. Buying into a high-volatility feature at 129x or 200x the base stake is still a highly aggressive move. It compresses risk rather than solving it.

Underworld looks like the more reasonable purchase of the two for players who want access without going all the way into the most expensive entry. Judgement is more extreme in price and feels like a sharper shot. Neither should be treated casually.

The smarter editorial view is that the buy feature belongs in the game, but only suits players whose bankroll and temperament already fit this kind of volatility. It does not make the slot easier. It simply gets the player to the difficult parts faster.

Max Win and Top-End Context

Hand of Anubis has a stated maximum win of 10,000x stake. That is strong enough to matter, but it is also important to place it properly in context. In the modern high-volatility slot market, 10,000x is still a serious ceiling, but it is no longer an absurd outlier. Some games go much higher. That means the top-end pitch of Hand of Anubis needs to be judged on more than the raw number.

In practice, the 10,000x cap suits the game. It gives the slot enough headline power to justify the volatility and the feature design without turning it into a pure fantasy product built around impossible ultra-top-end mythology. The issue is not whether 10,000x is enough. The issue is whether the path to that ceiling feels compelling enough.

On that front, Hand of Anubis does reasonably well because the multipliers and dual-feature structure make the chase feel legitimate. The slot has enough mechanical bite that the ceiling does not feel arbitrary. It feels connected to the game’s real identity.

At the same time, this is not a slot that should be sold as a max-win monster first and everything else second. Its appeal is broader than that. The atmosphere, the Soul Orb system, and the bonus split are just as important as the raw cap.

What the Game Actually Feels Like to Play

This is the part that matters most in a review. Hand of Anubis feels heavier than many slots with similar ingredients. The dark visuals are not just cosmetic. They match a session flow that can feel grim, patient, and unforgiving between meaningful moments. The slot does not rush to reward the player just because a few cascades land.

That means sessions often play in two very different modes. In one mode, the game feels dry, muted, and slightly intimidating. In the other, it suddenly becomes much more alive because the multipliers, the orbs, or the bonus structures engage properly. The quality of the experience depends on how comfortable the player is with the first mode while waiting for the second.

This is not a flaw. It is just a demanding design. Some of Hacksaw’s best games work like that. They ask the player to tolerate rougher stretches in exchange for a stronger identity and more forceful feature moments.

Hand of Anubis also benefits from not feeling fake. Some high-volatility slots claim brutality but secretly flatten their own personality with too much low-level base-game noise. This one commits. The game feels like it knows what kind of player it wants.

Is Hand of Anubis Good for Crypto Casinos?

Yes, but for the same reason many harder modern slots work well at crypto casinos. The slot suits players who already understand volatility, who are comfortable with rapid bankroll movement, and who want something more severe than a standard mainstream slot.

Crypto does not improve the RTP, reduce the variance, or make the feature buys smarter. What it does do is place the game in an environment where players are already more likely to accept high-risk, feature-heavy, and multiplier-led designs. In that sense, Hand of Anubis is a natural fit.

It is especially suitable for crypto casino players who like Hacksaw titles, prefer darker presentation, and are willing to use a slot as a serious high-volatility product rather than as a casual spin machine. It is less suitable for players who are new to the genre and assume every Egyptian-themed game will be approachable.

Who Hand of Anubis Suits Best

Hand of Anubis is best for players who actively want volatility rather than merely tolerate it. It suits those who enjoy cluster slots, appreciate multiplier-based feature design, and do not need the base game to flatter them every few spins.

It is also a good fit for players who like a slot to have a strong identity. This game knows what it is. It has a darker tone, a recognisable mechanic set, and a more serious presence than the average Egyptian title.

It is not especially good for casual players, low-risk bankroll users, or anyone who wants a smooth slot session built around constant medium wins. It is also not a great choice for players who blindly use buy features because the game’s buy menu is expensive enough to punish that habit quickly.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Strong dark-Egyptian theme that feels distinct rather than recycled
• Soul Orb Wild system gives the slot real mechanical identity
• Two genuinely different bonus rounds improve variety
• 5×6 cluster-pays layout works well with the multiplier design
• 10,000x max win is still meaningful in the high-volatility category
• Bonus buy options make sense for the type of audience the game targets
• Feels like a committed Hacksaw slot rather than a generic theme piece

Cons

• Base game can feel harsh and thin for long stretches
• Volatility is real and will not suit casual bankrolls
• RTP varies by operator, which matters a lot here
• Buy features are expensive and easy to misuse
• Theme and mechanics are strong, but the slot is not forgiving enough for broad-audience appeal
• Some players will find the entire experience more punishing than entertaining

Final Verdict

Hand of Anubis is a strong slot, but it is strong in a narrow and demanding way. It does not try to please everyone, and that is part of why it works. Hacksaw Gaming took a saturated theme, stripped out the usual tourist-friendly presentation, and built a darker, harsher, more mechanically focused game around it. The result is a slot with real character.

The Soul Orb system is the best part of the design because it gives the game a reason to exist beyond theme. The dual bonus structure is the second big strength because it keeps the feature layer from feeling one-dimensional. The volatility is both the attraction and the barrier. Players who enjoy serious variance will see that as honesty. Players who want smoother entertainment will experience it as punishment.

That is the right final judgment. Hand of Anubis is worth playing for volatility chasers, for Hacksaw fans, and for players who want a slot with actual mood and mechanical bite. It is much less suitable for anyone looking for a relaxed Egyptian game or a feature-rich session with a generous base rhythm.

In the right hands, it is a very good slot. In the wrong hands, it will feel cold, expensive, and unrewarding. Few games make that distinction as clearly as this one.