Cursed Crypt

Cursed Crypt Slot Review

Slot Provider: Hacksaw Gaming

RTP: 96.22% | Variance: High | Maximum Win: 10,000x

Our Score: 7.4

Play at Barz Casino
QUICK LINKS: Game Information | Where To Play | Full Review | Testing Notes | Tips For Players | About The Developer

WHY YOU CAN TRUST THIS REVIEW: The information and opinions on this page are the result of an comprehensive process of information gathering and live game testing by the gambling experts who work at allslotsites.com. Find out more here.

About Cursed Crypt

Reviewed by:

Published Date: 13th May 2024

How We Review Slot Games

We test and rate all slot games across 5 criteria, assigning a score out of 10 for each and an overall score that is an average of the 5. To build an accurate assessment of each game we gather information from the supplier and play in real play or demo mode. Find out more.

Cursed Crypt is a high variance horror slot from Hacksaw Gaming with 1,024 win ways per spin. It’s a simple game where cursed symbols spread up the reels when they land, transforming into random pay symbols as they do. There are Wrath of Sobek free spins with increased odds of landing curses, and Tomb of Tutankhamun free spins where cursed symbols always transform into premium pay symbols or wilds as they spread. Top win is 10,000x and spins start at 10p.

Cursed Crypt Game Information

  • Release Date: 06.06.24
  • RTP: 96.22% | 94.29% | 92.3% | 88.38%
  • Variance: High
  • Maximum Win: 10,000x
  • Progressive Jackpot: No
  • Reels: 5
  • Rows: 4
  • Paylines: 1,024
  • Minimum Stake: £0.10
  • Theme: FantasyHorror
  • Features: Expanding SymbolsFree SpinsWilds
  • Format: 5-ReelWin Ways

Testing Notes: Here’s What Happened When We Played Cursed Crypt

IMPORTANT: To give you an accurate assessment of the games we review our writers play 200 spins. Whilst this is a useful tool to help us review games and to give an example of what might happen when you play, keep in mind that 200 spins is only a very small sample and cannot be used to accurately predict what might happen over another 200 spins. The outcome of all slots play is always random.

Boom Or Bust? Our Session By The Numbers

I played 250 spins on Cursed Crypt on Hacksaw Gaming’s test server prior to release to test the game. This is what happened.

  • Stake Size: 1
  • Start balance: 5,000
  • End balance: 5,092.30
  • Hit Rate: 19.2% (48 winning spins in 250)
  • Biggest Win: 217x
  • Free Spins Round: 1

Typically for a high variance slot the wins came in streaks and it was possible to go 15 or more spins with no payouts at all before hitting 4 or 5 in a row. But overall the win rate came in at a decent 19.2%. Cursed reels triggered more regularly than I expected – about once in every 10 spins in fact, and although most wins were small, they did produce a 20x and a 16x too.

120x win in Cursed Crypt
A 120x win during free spins in testing

The highlight of this session was the 1 free spins round – the Wrath of Sobek feature. This is the same as the base game except Cursed Reels trigger more frequently. In this case on 6/10 spins produced Cursed Reels, including a 120x win. That’s a good return, and its easy to see how this game could pop in a big way on another day.

Overall, the combination of quality production and simple but powerful features make this a slot I would come back to.

What We Liked

  • Simple gameplay is very easy to follow
  • Play from just 10p
  • Classic dark, horror style from Hacksaw
  • Cursed reels are always premiums or wilds in free spins

What We Didn't like

  • Very volatile gameplay can burn you fast!

Cursed Crypt Review Scores

  • Theme and Design 8
  • RTP and Variance 7
  • Maximum Win 7
  • Symbols and Paytable 8
  • Features and Gameplay 7

What Our Reviewer Says ...

"Tons of atmosphere and top quality production in this simple slot where curses work to trigger big wins!"

Overall Score: 7.4

Theme & Design

Our Score 8

Hacksaw Tap Into The Dark Side Of Ancient Egyptian Mythology

This is the kind of game that Hacksaw does really well. It’s a very dark take on Ancient Egyptian mythology and the story of supernatural beings occupying dark tombs beneath the deserts. Stylistically it’s not far off Hand of Anubis, with a giant monstrous character standing to the right of the reels, emitting green smoke from his outstretched palm. Behind the grid steps lead up to a ghostly tomb from which a bright light shines. And overhead the skies are dark and portentous. Production is excellent, creating the kind of atmosphere that sits well with highly volatile slots like this.

Cursed Crypt by Hacksaw Gaming
Cursed Crypt – Hacksaw do Horror slots as well as any developer

RTP and Variance

Our Score 7

What is RTP?

RTP (Return to Player) refers to the amount a game will pay out in cash prizes expressed as a percentage of all the money wagered on that game. For example, a 96% RTP means a game will pay out £96 for every £100 wagered. This is an average number and will vary from one session to the next.  Read more here.

What is Variance?

Variance refers to how far a game will deviate from its RTP over time. High variance games deviate a lot and produce uneven win distributions and unexpected windfalls. Low variance games provide a more stable and even distribution of wins. Read more here.

Cursed Crypt has 4 RTP rates – 96.22%, 94.29%, 92.3% and 88.38%. It is at your casino operator’s discretion which setting to run the game at.

You should look for sites where the RTP is at 96.2%. I recommend MrQ from Lindar Media which always has Hacksaw slots at maximum RTPs. But wherever you play you can check the RTP for yourself by hitting the hamburger button under the reels, then the ‘info’ button to bring up the game rules. Scroll down until you see Return to Player.

This is also a high variance game. Expect a lot of volatility in the payouts. Hacksaw do NOT shy away from really volatile maths models, particularly when they have horror themes.

Maximum Win

Our Score 7

What Is Maximum Win?

Maximum win refers to the maximum amount a player can win from one spin. It is expressed as a multiple of the stake. For example, where the maximum win is 100,000x, from a £1 stake, the maximum win would be £100,000.  

The maximum amount you can win on one spin on Cursed Crypt is 10,000x. That’s £10,000 with a £1 stake. That’s not huge, but Hacksaw don’t really go in for those massive max wins. The highest potential you will find in any of their games is 15,000x in 2023’s 2 Wild 2 Die.

Symbols and Paytable

Our Score 8

Cursed Crypt has 5 reels and 4 rows and a win ways payout model. That means you wins are triggered by landing 3 or more identical symbols on adjacent reels, regardless of the row they land on. That creates 1,024 win ways per spin (4x4x4x4x4).

Cursed Crypt Paytable
The paytable with 30x for 5 top paying premiums

There are 10 pay symbols to win with. They are the 5 line-drawn hieroglyphs which ALL come in at 0.2x up to 2x, and the 5 premium characters, including some fierce-looking animals and a hunter, valued at from 1x for 3 wild cats up to 30x for 5 of the hunters.

There is also a wild that substitutes for all pay symbols to complete win ways, and also pays out 40x for 5 on a win way.

Features and Gameplay

Our Score 7

This is one of Hacksaw’s most simple slots to date with just 2 extra features – spreading mystery symbols and 2 free spins rounds.

Cursed Reels Spread Mystery Symbols

The main feature is Cursed Reels. The curse symbol is represented by a green ghoulish zombie type character. When he lands, he spreads upwards to the top of the reels, and each position he passes through is transformed into ONE randomly chosen pay symbol.

Wrath of Sobek Free Spins 

Landing 3 FS symbols at the same time will unlock Wrath of Sobek. That gets you 10 spins where there is an increased chance of triggering the Cursed Reels.

You will also extend the round by 2 spins if you land 2 FS symbols and 4 spins if you land 3 FS symbols.

Tomb of Tutankhamun Free Spins

By landing 4 FS symbols at the same time you unlock the Tomb of Tutankhamun. Once again you get 10 spins but this time Cursed Reel positions will only transform into premium symbols OR Wilds.

And of course, as with all Hacksaw slots, you can extend free spins by landing 2 or 3 FS symbols during the round to get yourself 2 or 4 more plays.

The Final Verdict

On the face of it Cursed Crypt didn’t look like a particularly interesting game. The main feature is just mystery symbols combined with expanding symbols. However, the visual production and the frequency with which the expanders (cursed symbols) drop carries the game and makes it a really compelling release from Hacksaw. I never got bored during those 250 spins, and if you like this studios darker output then you won’t either. It might not quite hit the standards of Hand of Anubis, but Cursed Crypt is still a top quality game.

Useful Tips When Playing Cursed Crypt

Remember, online slots are games of chance, there is NO strategy that can improve your odds of winning. However, reading our review and following these tips will help you get the most out of your time playing this slot game.

1. Look Out For Cursed Symbols

This is a very simple slot. You should keep your eyes out for those cursed symbols that expand upwards. They are a powerful way to score more wins from a spin, particularly when they transform into wilds are premium symbols.

2. Play At The Top RTP  

It’s worth checking the RTP wherever you play to make sure you are spinning at a fair rate. Some UK slot sites now choose lower RTPs to increase their house edge. Check the game info screen to find out which rate your casino has the game on.

3. Use Bankroll Management And Play At A Sensible Stake

Hacksaw slots can be very volatile and they can burn your cash fast. Use bankroll management and choose a low stake – this game has a 10p minimum – to be sure you last the distance whilst chasing down those wins.

4. Play At Our Recommended Slot Sites

We have chosen the sites on this page because they scored high in our reviews and they are licensed by the UK Gambling Commission. That makes them fair and safe to play at.

Who Made Cursed Crypt?

  • Name: Hacksaw Gaming
  • Established: 2018
  • UK License: 54059
  • Total Games: 50 +
  • Known For: Dark, high variance output and bonus rounds driven by combining multipliers
  • Popular Slots: Hand of Anubis, Itero, Gladiator Legends, Break Bones
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