What Makes the Rise of Maya Special?
In Rise of Maya, symbols on the slot machine can land stacked. In the base game, this happens randomly, while in the free spins feature, stacked symbols are guaranteed on every spin. If a spin doesn’t result in a win, the Scatter Nudge feature can randomly push the reels to add an extra Wild or Scatter, giving you another shot at a payout.
The game also offers a Bonus Bet option, which doubles your stake in exchange for a higher chance of triggering the free spins round. When Bonus Bet is active, landing just two Wild or Scatter symbols triggers a respin. During this respin, only the reels without these symbols spin again, giving you a valuable second chance to land the required number of icons.
How the Different Wild Symbols Work and How They Can Help You ?
Instead of just one, Rise of Maya features four types of Wild symbols, each with its own unique role. All of them substitute for any other symbol on the reels, except for the Scatter.
Type of Wild Symbol | Features |
|---|---|
Single Serpent Wild | Appears only on the first or third row and acts as a regular Wild. |
Expanding Serpent Wild №1 | Expands upward, potentially covering part or the entire reel. |
Expanding Serpent Wild №2 | Expands downward, functioning the same way as the upward version. |
Serpent Stacks | Appears only during free spins on hot reels and always covers the entire reel. |
Single and expanding Wilds can appear both in the base game and during the free spins feature.
Free Spins with Hot Reels
To play the bonus game, you need to land any combination of 3, 4, or 5 Wild and/or Scatter symbols. This awards 10, 15, or 20 free spins, respectively. During the round:
The reels that contain the triggering symbols become hot reels for the entire bonus feature.
Serpent Stacks appear only on hot reels and always expand to cover the entire reel.
Single and expanding Wilds can land on inactive reels.
If a Wild or Scatter lands on an inactive reel, you’ll receive +2 extra spins, and that reel will also turn into a hot reel for the remainder of the bonus. You can gain up to +4 free spins this way.
How to Play Rise of Maya ?
You can play Rise of Maya for fun in demo mode or for real money after registering at one of the online casinos. In the first case, the slot runs no download, no registration right in your online browser.
Choose Your Bet Format
Open the menu with the three horizontal lines in the bottom-left corner and go to settings. Here, you can choose how your bet is displayed: either in coins or in cash. Simply drag the slider to your preferred position.
Set Your Bet Amount
Tap the coin stack icon at the bottom of the screen and choose your preferred bet level. If you’re playing in coins, set the value of a single coin. The total bet amount will be displayed immediately beneath the reels.
Activate Bonus Bet if Needed
Use the Bonus Bet button in the bottom-left corner if you want to double your stake and increase your chances of landing bonus symbols. Keep in mind that payouts are calculated the same way as in the regular mode. To disable it, simply press the button again.
Set Up Autoplay
The Autoplay option (the small circular arrow icon) activates automatic spins. Choose the number of spins from 10 to 1,000 and, if you wish, set conditions for when it should stop. For example, you can have it stop after any win or upon reaching a specific limit.
Start the Game
Press the large round button beneath the reels to start spinning. If you win, the slot will highlight the matching symbols, and your winnings will be automatically credited to your balance.
My Opinion about Rise of Maya Slot
To be honest, the Maya civilization theme hasn’t impressed me in a long time. There are dozens of similar slots in any online casino. But in Rise of Maya, I noticed that NetEnt took a different approach. Instead of the usual bright and predictable visuals, the game has a dark, almost shamanic atmosphere.
The gameplay isn’t overloaded, yet it kept me engaged thanks to random bonuses like Scatter Nudge. More than once, it saved me when a spin seemed like a total loss. That said, in my experience, Bonus Bet doesn’t always justify the extra cost.
During free spins, the pace picked up, and that’s where I landed my best combinations with high multipliers. The hot reels and Serpent Stacks scored me wins across multiple paylines, something that happens far less often in the base game.
Also About Ancient Civilizations, but With a Different Vibe
In Rise of Maya, the visuals stand in sharp contrast to the cartoonish style of Book of Maya. Personally, I prefer NetEnt’s more mature aesthetic, but fans of classic adventure slots will likely enjoy Novomatic’s release. That said, I found its expanding symbols to be less rewarding.
A Different Pace and a Different Take on Mechanics
Comparing Rise of Maya to Mayan Temple Revenge, I noticed that in the latter, the medium volatility gave me payouts more often. At the same time, the slot itself felt simpler. What I enjoy in both games, though, is the element of strategy: whether it’s using Bonus Bet or choosing the number of active paylines.
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