Play Mayan Stackways | RTP: 96.23% & Max Win: 10,000x

Much of the information about the Mayan civilization is lost to us. But whatever little we know about this Mesoamerican tribe is more than enough to exemplify how developed they were in their times. Whether it is astronomy, calendar systems, or even language script, Mayans were far more advanced than most civilizations that came after them. And yet, at the same time, these people were highly superstitious and believed in magic and spirit.

Hacksaw Gaming has pushed this idea of supernatural and magic a step further! The game provider’s 2023 release, Mayan Stackways, has opened a portal to the past that has let Mayan zombies invade our world in the footsteps of their chieftain. While we haven’t counted how many online Mayan slots are released each year, we know the number is quite large. So, seeing how well Mayan Stackways fares as a slot remains interesting.

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Slot Description

Mayan Stackways is a 5-reel slot that starts with 4 rows. Since a unique Stackways mechanic is part of the game, the number of paylines is not fixed or predetermined. The bet lines vary with each spin and can go up to 100,000 ways. Wagering begins from 0.10 coins and can be scaled up to 100 coins per spin. While payouts increase in correspondence to the size of your bet, the slot’s max pay potential is an agreeable 10,000x the stake.

Hacksaw has rated Mayan Stackways 4 out of 5, indicating high but not extreme volatility. This implies winnings will take a while to land, but when they do, high payouts have better chances to occur. Mayan Stackways RTP is a decent 96.23%. Looking at other Hacksaw slots, such as RIP City or Temple of Torment, shows that the game provider loves to keep the RTP in this range. However, a few exceptions, like Wanted Dead or a Wild, come with a slightly higher RTP score (96.38%).

Since numerous slots already use the Mayan tropes, putting zombies into the mix surely adds a breath of fresh air. However, playing the game on a mobile device doesn’t show the Zombie chieftain standing next to the reel, taking the entire zombie weightage out of the game. Missing out on the leading game character in the portrait mode didn't go along with our taste. But for players solely focused on netting big wins, the slot does have a few tricks up its sleeves.

Theme, Design, and Sound

Mayan Stackways opens with a jungle setting in the background. Since it is a Mayan-themed slot, the grid has also been designed accordingly. The slot is shaped as a frame made of stones with typical Mayan design and architecture. But the most highlighting part of the game is the Zombie Chieftain standing next to the reels.

The Chief’s portrayal is almost impeccable, and his occasional zombie-like teeth-grinding adds more effect to the undead ruler. While the Chief's appearance is on point with a tribal crown on his head, his red glowing eyes give him a bit of a futuristic look, somewhat like a science fiction robot. Also, the background score is a naturalistic tribal music that perfectly renders the atmosphere of an ancient setting.

Symbols and Payouts

Mayan Stackways comprises 10 pay symbols divided into low and high-paying symbols. You need at least 3 matching symbols across a payline to land a winning combination. The winning amount depends on the symbol credit value and your bet size.

10 to A card royals are the low pay symbols offering between 0.1x to 0.7x the bet. Sitting on the higher end of the paytable is a mix of animal and statue symbols, paying 0.5x to 4x the stake. A host of other important symbols are also part of the game, but the most important one is the Stackaways symbol, which we’ll discuss in the following section.

Features and Bonuses

Mayan Stackways comes equipped with a few extras, including the most highlighted Stackways symbols.

Stackways Symbol

When a Stackways symbol hits a reel, it creates a stack of 2 to 10 symbols. As a result, the number of winning lines also increases in correspondence to the number of stacked symbols on the reels. Only that symbol gets stacked, which is meant to create the longest winning line on the screen. If multiple symbols are in contention for the longest winning way, the Stackways mechanic picks a random symbol from them. Also, symbols are only stacked if stacking would result in at least one winning combination.

Stack Spins

3 Skull scatters in the base game trigger the Stack Spins feature with 10 free spins. Players have a better chance of landing Stackways symbols in this feature than in the base game. In the event you land a Reel Activator symbol on any reel, it guarantees a Stackways symbol on that reel for the remainder of free spins. Furthermore, hitting 3 Skull scatter symbols while Stack Spins are active gives you 4 additional free spins.

Mayan Gold

Landing 4 Skull scatters anywhere in the base game activates the Mayan Gold feature. Your objective in the Mayan Gold feature is to collect as many coins from each reel as possible. Collected coins are displayed above their respective reels. Coins are divided into three types, with each one offering different values:

Bronze coins offer values between 1 to 5
Silver coins offer values between 10 to 20
Gold coins offer values between 25 to 1000

A multiplier symbol with a value of 2, 3, 4, or 5 might also land on a reel. If this happens, that multiplier gets multiplied by the currently accumulated value on the top of that reel.

If a Stackways symbol lands on any reel during the Mayan Gold feature, it creates a stack of coins, each taking on the value displayed on top of that reel. A reel stacked with coins gets locked and no longer spins. Hitting a Collect symbol collects values from the locked reels and accumulates their value in the Vault below the reels. Once collected, the stacked reel gets unlocked.

A Golden Opportunity

Getting 5 Skull scatters also activates the Mayan Gold feature. But the difference here is that the value above each reel starts with 50. The rest of the feature remains the same as Mayan Gold.

Bonus Buy

The Bonus Buy option allows you to directly trigger a special feature or modifier by paying its respective price. Note that the buy bonus feature is not available in some jurisdictions.

Feature Cost Volatility RTP BonusHunt FeatureSpins (5 times more likely to trigger a bonus feature) 3x High 96.33% Stackways FeatureSpins (at least 2 Stackways symbols guaranteed) 40x Very High 96.27% Stack Spins 110x High 96.32% Mayan Gold 200x Medium 96.32%

About the Game Provider

Hacksaw Gaming is a reputed igaming brand primarily involved in creating online slots and Scratchcards. The company was established in 2017 and, since then, has expanded exponentially with each passing year. The game provider has already released over +120 games in different categories. Primarily known for their stunning graphics and music, Hacksaw Gaming slots can be easily played on a desktop browser or a mobile device.

The company has over 300 global partners and is active in +20 regulated markets. Regarding brand trust, Hacksaw Gaming is duly licensed by the UK Gambling Commission and the Malta Gaming Authority.

Final Verdict

The specialty of Mayan Stackways rests with the experiment it has done with the Mayan theme. Other than that, it’s the Stackways symbol that caught our attention. The ability to stack symbols and increase the number of paylines seems like an upgraded version of the famous Megaways engine. Both from a design and math point of view, we loved how the stacked symbol turned up on the reels, giving players just the kind of anticipation they would want from a high volatility slot.

Moreover, as is generally the case with high variance slots, symbol payouts in Mayan Stackways are not that great. At best, you can land 4x the bet amount from regular symbols alone. If you have to go far above this payout margin, Stackways symbols become mandatory. And thankfully, this special symbol is available in the base game as it is in all the other segments.

As for features, Stack Spins was nothing exceptional apart from providing a relatively higher frequency of Stackways symbols compared to the base game. But it’s the Mayan Gold feature that gives you the opportunity to land massively profitable wins. With extras like multipliers, reel value accumulation, and Vault, plenty of action occurs during this bonus segment, keeping the gameplay fast-paced.

And if you opt for the Bonus Buy option, we’d recommend assessing your risk appetite first. Since Mayan Gold plays out in mid-variance during buy bonus, it will likely keep your winnings below the buy amount or will mostly fetch a moderate surplus. But with Stack Spins, the payout was either abysmal or terrific. In fact, in one of our Mayan Gold sessions, we managed to win over 550x the stake, whereas Stack Spins fetched up 385x the bet.

Overall, Mayan Stackways is a decent slot that reserves plenty of thrills for the players. Whether you are in the base game or bonus segments, the gameplay remains immersive, thanks to the Stackways symbol. A quick suggestion: Although Hacksaw slots work terrifically, try playing this one on your desktop. Otherwise, you will miss out on the slot’s center of attraction: the Zombie Chieftain!