Sand And Ashes

Sand And Ashes is a slot developed by Hacksaw Gaming, released on 14th May 2026. The game draws from ancient Egyptian mythology, placing players among gods, pharaohs, and sacred creatures on a 5-reel grid. Hacksaw Gaming is known for producing slots with distinctive mechanics and strong visual identities, and Sand And Ashes fits that pattern well.

The standout element here is the Wild Scarab Multiplier system. Rather than relying on a single bonus round, the game layers multipliers, respins, Firestorms, and Sandstorms into both the base game and free spins. This creates a slot where the action builds progressively, with multiplier values that can climb as high as 999x on a single Wild Scarab. Combined with a 10,000x max win and medium volatility, Sand And Ashes targets players who want consistent engagement without extreme variance. The game also includes four purchasable bonus options — two FeatureSpins modes and two full bonus games — giving players direct access to the slot's most rewarding mechanics.

Sand And Ashes uses multiple RTP configurations. The default setting is 96.27%, which sits above the industry average. However, operators can select lower RTP versions, so players should verify the RTP at their chosen casino.

Sand And Ashes is set in an ancient Egyptian landscape, with the reels framed against a dark, atmospheric backdrop. The colour palette leans toward deep browns, golds, and bronzes, giving the game a rich, antiquated feel. Each symbol is hand-illustrated with fine detail — the Egyptian deities and creatures are rendered with ornate borders and gemstone accents in green, silver, orange, and blue tones.

High-value symbols include depictions of Sobek (the crocodile god), Anubis, Horus, and a Pharaoh, each set within decorative frames. The Wild Scarab symbol stands out with its red and blue design on a cream background. Low-value card royals (J, Q, K, A) are styled with gold metalwork and coloured accents that keep them consistent with the theme. Animations activate during respins and Firestorm/Sandstorm events, adding visual feedback to the multiplier mechanics. The overall audio complements the Egyptian setting with ambient tones that intensify during bonus sequences.

Playing Sand And Ashes follows a standard process. Set your bet using the controls at the bottom of the screen — the range spans from €0.10 to €100 per spin. Once your stake is selected, press the spin button to start the reels.

The game operates on a 5-reel layout with fixed paylines. Wins form by landing matching symbols on active paylines from left to right. The paytable, accessible from the game menu, displays all symbol values at your current bet level. Additional settings allow you to toggle sound, adjust spin speed, and enable autoplay if available. The interface also includes a Bonus Buy menu where you can purchase direct access to any of the four bonus options, and a quick-access button for game rules covering all feature mechanics, RTP information, and payout structures.

Wild Scarab Multipliers and Respins

The Wild Scarab Multiplier substitutes for all paying symbols. When it lands on the grid, it carries a multiplier value (2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, 10x, 25x, 50x, 100x, or 200x). If a winning payline includes more than one Wild Scarab, their multiplier values are added together before being applied to the win. After all regular wins are paid, any landed Wild Scarab Multipliers trigger a respin. During the respin, the Wilds stay in place while new symbols fill the remaining positions. If a new Wild Scarab lands during a respin, another respin is triggered. This continues until no new Wilds appear or the grid is full.

Firestorms

During a respin, a Firestorm may activate before new symbols land. When this happens, the Firestorm randomly increases the multiplier value of all Wild Scarab Multipliers on the grid. The added values can be 1x, 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, 10x, 25x, 50x, or 100x. Multiplier values on Wild Scarabs can continue growing until they reach 999x. Firestorms and Sandstorms cannot activate during the same respin.

Sandstorms

A Sandstorm can also activate during a respin before new symbols appear. When triggered, the Sandstorm nudges all Wild Scarab Multipliers one reel to the left. Wilds on the leftmost reel or those blocked by an adjacent Wild on the same row cannot be nudged. After the nudge, new symbols land and any resulting payline wins are awarded. Sandstorms and Firestorms cannot occur on the same respin.

BonusHunt FeatureSpins™

BonusHunt FeatureSpins™ is an enhanced base game mode where each spin is 5 times more likely to trigger a bonus game. The gameplay otherwise follows the same rules as regular spins, but the increased trigger rate means players reach Desert Fury or Storming Sphinx far more frequently.

Bonus Buy Option: Yes (Cost: 3x bet | Volatility: Very High)

Pharaoh Phrenzy FeatureSpins™

Pharaoh Phrenzy FeatureSpins™ guarantees that at least 2 Wild Scarab Multipliers land on every spin. This creates consistent respin activity and multiplier stacking from the first spin, making it the most direct route to high-multiplier combinations in the base game.

Bonus Buy Option: Yes (Cost: 50x bet | Volatility: Very High)

Bonus Game — Desert Fury

Land 3 FS scatter symbols at the same time during the base game to trigger Desert Fury, which awards 8 free spins. This mode retains the base game mechanics but with a higher chance of landing Wild Scarab Multipliers. Landing additional FS symbols during the bonus awards extra spins: 2 FS symbols grant +2 free spins, and 3 FS symbols grant +4 free spins.

Bonus Buy Option: Yes (Cost: 100x bet | Volatility: High)

Bonus Game — Storming Sphinx

Land 4 FS scatter symbols simultaneously during the base game to activate Storming Sphinx, which awards 10 free spins. In this mode, Wild Scarab Multipliers do not trigger respins. Instead, Firestorms or Sandstorms can activate during every free spin, applying the same effects as in the base game. All Wild Scarab Multipliers that land are persistent — they remain on the grid for the entire bonus duration, keeping their position until nudged by a Sandstorm and retaining their multiplier value until boosted by a Firestorm. Additional FS symbols during the bonus also award extra spins: 2 FS symbols give +2 spins, and 3 FS symbols give +4 spins.

Bonus Buy Option: Yes (Cost: 200x bet | Volatility: High)

Wins in Sand And Ashes are determined by landing matching symbols across active paylines from left to right. The paytable is split between high-value themed symbols and low-value card royals. The Wild Scarab is the most valuable and versatile symbol, acting as both a substitute and a multiplier carrier. All values below are based on the default bet level.

The Wild Scarab only pays for 5-of-a-kind combinations but compensates with its multiplier function. Pharaoh and Horus share the highest regular payout tier, while Anubis and Sobek sit in the mid-range. The four card royals all pay equally and serve as the lower-value symbols.

Winning in Sand And Ashes requires landing matching symbols on paylines from left to right, starting from the first reel. The game uses fixed paylines across its 5-reel grid.

The main path to larger wins runs through the Wild Scarab Multiplier system. When Wild Scarabs land, they trigger respins that keep them on the grid while new symbols fill the remaining positions. During these respins, Firestorms can increase all active multiplier values, and Sandstorms can shift Wilds to new positions — both creating fresh winning combinations. Since multiplier values are additive when multiple Wild Scarabs appear on the same payline, a single line can carry a combined multiplier well into the hundreds. The free spin modes push this further, with Storming Sphinx making all Wild Scarabs persistent for the entire bonus round. Players who prefer not to wait for organic triggers can use the Bonus Buy menu to access any of the four bonus options directly.

As of its May 2026 release, Sand And Ashes does not have alternative versions or direct sequels. Hacksaw Gaming has produced other Egyptian-themed slots in its catalogue, so players drawn to this setting may find similar titles within the provider's library. The Wild Scarab multiplier mechanic is relatively distinctive to this release, so players looking for comparable respin-and-multiplier gameplay may also explore other Hacksaw titles that use persistent Wilds and escalating multipliers.

Sand And Ashes delivers a well-constructed Egyptian slot with layered mechanics that go beyond standard free spins. The Wild Scarab Multiplier system, combined with Firestorms and Sandstorms, creates a progression-based experience where wins can build across multiple respins. Medium volatility and a 32.9% hit frequency keep the base game active, while the 10,000x max win provides a meaningful ceiling. Four Bonus Buy options — ranging from 3x to 200x the bet — cater to different budgets and risk appetites. Players who prefer slots with interconnected features and steady pacing over extreme high-variance designs will find Sand And Ashes well-suited to their style.