Ancient Paws: Slot Overview
Spend enough time collaborating with a heavyweight like Hacksaw Gaming, and some of that creative magic is bound to rub off. That seems to be the case with Bullshark Games, whose new release, Ancient Paws, takes clear inspiration from its more seasoned partner—most notably by adopting the ever-popular spreading wilds with multipliers mechanic that Hacksaw is known for.
But Ancient Paws isn’t just a carbon copy. Wrapped in a quirky, dog-led, archaeology-themed adventure, the game adds its own flavor with a free spins round that includes both sticky and roaming wilds, spicing up the action even further.
Thematically, the slot ventures into familiar terrain. Thanks to classics like Gonzo’s Quest, players are no strangers to digging for treasure among the ruins of Central and South American civilizations like the Mayans or Aztecs. What’s new here is the expedition leader—a charming little pup decked out in full Indiana Jones gear. It’s not your typical intrepid explorer, but it adds a unique, lighthearted twist to the genre.
Visually, Ancient Paws delivers a polished experience, with clean UI, bold, chunky artwork, and an overall aesthetic that’s both inviting and playful—perfectly suited to the furry adventurer at its center.
Gameplay & Symbols
Ancient Paws is all about the stonework—literally. The action unfolds on a 5×4 stone-framed grid, where 14 fixed paylines determine winning combinations. Bullshark Games rates the volatility at 4 out of 5, placing it in the medium-high range. Players can spin from $0.10 to $/€100 per spin, with a solid 96.16% RTP at default settings.
There are 10 pay symbols in total. The lower-paying half consists of classic 10 to A playing card royals, while the premium symbols include an explorer’s hat, oil lamp, compass, binoculars, and map. Hitting five of a kind with royal symbols awards 0.3x to 0.5x your stake, while the high-paying symbols return 0.8x to 2x the bet for a five-symbol combo.
Helping to connect wins are wild symbols, which substitute for any regular pay symbol when they appear on the reels—bringing that extra dose of adventure (and potential!) to every spin.
Features in Ancient Paws
One of Ancient Paws’ standout mechanics is its Expanding Wilds with multipliers, a powerful feature that appears both in the base game and in the Trail of Treats bonus round, where these wilds also become roaming.
Expanding Wild Symbols
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Silver Expanding Wilds expand to cover 1×2 (half a reel).
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Golden Expanding Wilds expand to cover the full 1×4 reel.
When they expand, both types can receive a random multiplier ranging from x2 to x100. If two or more Expanding Wilds land on the same reel and overlap, they merge into a single stacked wild, with their multipliers combined for even bigger win potential.
Multiplier Adder Symbol
When this symbol lands alongside any Expanding Wilds, it adds 1 to 3 additional multipliers to the wilds already in view. These bonus multipliers also range from x2 to x100. Once it does its job, the Multiplier Adder transforms into a wild symbol, increasing your chances of landing a payout.
Trail of Treats (Free Spins Feature)
Landing 3, 4, or 5 scatter symbols in the base game activates the Trail of Treats, awarding 8, 10, or 12 free spins respectively. If the feature is triggered with 5 scatters, you’re guaranteed at least one Expanding Wild on the first spin.
During the feature:
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All Expanding Wilds become persistent—they stay active throughout the bonus.
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On each spin, they roam to a new random reel position.
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When Expanding Wilds overlap, they merge and stack multipliers, just like in the base game.
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Every additional scatter that lands during free spins adds +1 extra spin.
Feature Buys
For those who prefer to skip the wait, Ancient Paws offers three bonus buy options:
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BonusHunt FeatureSpins (3x the bet): Increases the chance of triggering free spins by 5x.
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Paw-tential Riches FeatureSpins (50x the bet): Guarantees at least 2 Expanding Wilds on every spin.
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Trail of Treats Buy (150x the bet): Instantly triggers the free spins round with 8, 10, or 12 spins.
Ancient Paws: Slot Verdict
There’s something amusing—and a bit philosophical—about dressing up an animal in human attire and sending it on a grand adventure. If a dog really embarked on an archaeological expedition, it’d likely be hunting for bones, chasing new scents, or finding the perfect chin-scratch spot, not ancient treasure. Meanwhile, we humans crave gold, artifacts, and the thrill of discovery. What that says about us is anyone’s guess—but it certainly makes for a charming theme.
And the charm isn’t just skin-deep. Ancient Paws packs a punch where it matters most—gameplay. Its core appeal lies in the Expanding Wild multipliers, which can turn a dull spin into something exciting in a flash. They shine in the base game as they grow, multiply, and sometimes merge, but the real magic happens during free spins, where wilds stick around and roam the grid, building momentum as the feature unfolds.
That said, there’s a trade-off. When two or more wilds merge into a single stacked wild, you gain a higher multiplier—but lose some reel coverage. While this can make it a little tougher to connect wins compared to having multiple wild reels, the upside is a more concentrated multiplier and the potential to land even more wilds in the freed-up space. It’s a balancing act, and to Bullshark’s credit, it adds a layer of strategy and unpredictability that keeps things fresh.
And if you’re chasing big wins, there’s more good news: Ancient Paws boasts a 15,000x max win, achievable in any mode. It proves that under the right conditions, this furry expedition can go absolutely wild.
At first glance, you might expect Ancient Paws to echo the likes of The Cursed King from Backseat Gaming—both lean heavily on expanding wilds with multipliers—but Bullshark Games has managed to carve out its own identity. The result? A fun, feature-rich slot that blends familiar mechanics with a unique, playful twist.
