9 Masks of Fire

Book of Dead Overview

With an interesting and novel African theme, 9 Masks of Fire combines an old-school slot game's classic symbols and dynamics with the colourful and exciting world of tribal African aesthetics. However, the most exciting aspect of this game is the top prize of 7,500x the stake. Furthermore, there are two very good features to get excited about in this game. Although created officially by Microgaming, this game was really developed by a smaller studio that sits within the Microgaming umbrella called Gameburger Studios. The credit should, in fact, go to this smaller and more boutique studio.

There are two features in this game. The first is called the Mask Scatter feature. It is triggered when players land three or more of the mask scatters on the same spin. This will reward you with an instant cash bonus. The more scatters you land on the reels simultaneously, the bigger this cash prize will be. The other feature in this game is the free spins game. This game is triggered by landing shield scatters on the reels at the same time. This will provide you with several free spins proportionate to the number of scatters you land. This free spins round also comes with a multiplier bonus which boosts the size of the wins earned in this game.

Theme and Symbols

As briefly mentioned in the introduction, this game has a combination theme, in which the classic slot game symbols meet an exciting tribal African theme. The classic slot elements are immediately apparent in the selection of symbols for this game which include classics such as the golden bell, the red 7s and the BAR icons. These icons create nostalgic connotations for the player, taking them back to the days of physical machines and real coins. However, the African aspect is seen in the masks, shields, and patterns used to decorate the various elements of the playing board. Together, these aesthetic worlds create something unique and captivating.

The background for 9 Masks of Fire is much simpler than perhaps it could have been. When we heard that this game would have an African hybrid theme, we thought we might see an African vista of giraffes and acacia trees. However, Microgaming has gone with a different choice, making the background a simple red design with a patterned lower strip of the screen. Although not as engrossing as it could have been, this design makes things nice and clear for players and makes the symbols pop out dramatically in contrast to the simple background.

The playing board for this game is a simple design with hints of African influences used to create the game's border.
The symbols for 9 Masks of Fire are split into low-value, high-value and special symbols. The low-value symbols are the cherries, BARs, golden bells and dollar signs. On the other hand, the more valuable symbols are the 7s, double 7s and treble 7s. The latter is the most rewarding symbol in the game, paying out at 37.5x the stake for the top combination. The specials for this game are the diamond which represents the wild. The wild can replace any other symbol barring the scatters to help score more wins. Then there are the mask and shield scatters, which trigger a different free spins round.

Game Play

9 Masks of Fire is played on a five-reel, three-row machine with twenty fixed pay lines. To win combinations, players must land three or more matching symbols on pay lines moving from left to right, starting from the leftmost reel.
The betting range for 9 Masks of Fire is 20p to £60 per spin. To adjust their bet levels, players can toggle their stake up and down using the tool located at the bottom left-hand side of the screen.

Further information, including a short tutorial and a display of the paytable, can be found via the menu button in the right-hand corner of the screen. The spin and auto spin buttons are located in the centre of the screen.
Volatility for this slot is rated in the medium range. The return to player percentage for 9 Masks of Fire is 96.24%, which is above average. The biggest payout that players can win on one spin is 7,500x your stake.

Features

The first feature in this game is called the masks scatter feature. Players need to land three or more of the mask symbols on the same spin to trigger it. Doing this will reward you with an instant cash bonus. The more masks you land to trigger the bonus, the larger your cash prize will be. The most you can win is 2,000x your stake for 9 masks on the reels.

The other feature included in this game is the free spins game. Players need to land three or more of the shield scatters on the same spin to trigger this feature. This will first of all award you with a score of 1x your stake. You will then play out your free spins with a certain number of free spins and an attached multiplier. The number of free spins and the multiplier size depends on the number of scatters that you land to trigger the bonus. Landing additional scatters within the game will add more spins to your tally. There is no upper limit to the number of spins that you can earn.

Conclusion

The game may seem simple on the face of it, but with two really rewarding features and a decent top payout, this game promises a lot in terms of winning potential. This is also backed up by the RTP and the volatility rating, which sits mercifully in the medium range. The theme is also slightly more interesting than the standard classic slots theme.