Sand And Ashes (Hacksaw Gaming) – Slot Review
Sand and Ashes is centred on a dark and atmospheric interpretation of Ancient Egypt, set within a harsh desert environment shaped by relentless sandstorms and decay. Unlike the traditional gold-heavy and opulent style often associated with Egyptian-themed slots, the game adopts a more serious and ominous tone, emphasising mystery, danger, and long-forgotten ruins.
The visual design reinforces this approach through a gritty, storm-driven setting, where swirling sands and shadowed landscapes create a constant sense of tension. Familiar elements such as ancient deities, scarabs, and relics are present, but are depicted in a worn and weathered style, suggesting a civilisation buried and eroded over time. Subtle darker details, including glowing figures emerging through the storms, further enhance the game’s unsettling and immersive atmosphere.
Overall, Sand and Ashes offers a more mature and intense take on the Egyptian theme, focusing on decay, power, and the unpredictability of the desert rather than traditional depictions of wealth and grandeur.
Sand and Ashes is played on a 5×5 grid and features a fixed pay line structure. The game offers medium volatility, with a return-to-player (RTP) of 96.27% and a maximum win potential of up to 10,000x the stake. Bets range from £0.10 to £100 per spin.
Sand And Ashes Symbols & Pay Table
There are 10 symbols in total. Four low-value symbols are represented by card ranks (J, Q, K, and A), while the premium symbols include Sobek, Anubis, Horus, and a Pharaoh. In addition to these, the game features a Scarab Wild and a Free Spins Scatter. The Pharaoh and Scarab symbols are the highest-paying, awarding up to 10x for five of a kind.
Sand And Ashes Features & Mechanics
Wild Scarab Multipliers and Respins
The Wild Scarab acts as both a Wild and a multiplier symbol, substituting for all regular paying symbols. Each Wild Scarab lands with a multiplier value, which is applied to any win it contributes to.
If multiple Wild Scarabs are included in the same winning combination, their multiplier values are added together before being applied. Possible multiplier values range from 2x up to 200x.
After all standard wins are resolved, any landed Wild Scarabs trigger a respin. During respins, existing Wild Scarabs remain locked in place while new symbols spin in. If additional Wild Scarabs land, further respins are awarded. This sequence continues until no new Wilds appear or the grid is full. Any wins are paid after each respin.
Firestorms
During respins, there is a chance for a Firestorm to activate before new symbols land. When triggered, no new symbols are added immediately. Instead, all Wild Scarab multipliers are increased by a random value ranging from 1x up to 100x. After the multipliers are enhanced, new symbols drop into place and any resulting wins are awarded. Wild Scarab multipliers can increase up to a maximum of 999x.
Sandstorms
Sandstorms may also occur during respins. When activated, no new symbols land initially. Instead, all Wild Scarabs are shifted one reel to the left, provided space is available.
After repositioning, new symbols drop in and the grid settles, with any resulting wins paid. Wild Scarabs cannot move if they are already on the leftmost reel or blocked by another symbol. Firestorms and Sandstorms cannot occur simultaneously within the same respin.
Bonus Game – Desert Fury
Landing 3 Scatter symbols triggers the Desert Fury bonus, awarding 8 Free Spins. This feature follows the base game mechanics but increases the likelihood of landing Wild Scarabs. Additional Scatters during the bonus award extra spins, with 2 Scatters granting +2 spins and 3 Scatters granting +4 spins.
Bonus Game – Storming Sphinx
Landing 4 Scatter symbols activates the Storming Sphinx bonus, awarding 10 Free Spins. In this mode, Wild Scarabs no longer trigger respins. Instead, Firestorms or Sandstorms can occur on every spin.
All Wild Scarabs that land become persistent, remaining on the grid for the duration of the bonus. Their positions can only change via Sandstorms, and their multiplier values remain until increased by Firestorms. Additional Scatters during this feature also award extra Free Spins, with the same values as in Desert Fury.
Conclusion
Sand and Ashes delivers a distinctive and atmospheric slot experience, combining a darker take on the Egyptian theme with engaging multiplier-driven mechanics. The Wild Scarab system, along with respins and storm features, creates strong momentum and keeps gameplay evolving throughout each spin.
The addition of Firestorms and Sandstorms introduces variety and unpredictability, while the bonus features enhance the overall depth with persistent elements and increased win potential. With medium volatility and a 10,000x max win, the game offers a well-balanced experience that appeals to a wide range of players. Be sure to try out this game on launch and check out our exclusive casino offers.