Arcanum Slot Review
Arcanum draws its name from the primordial force used to shape ancient magic. In this world, a lone wizard travels across forgotten lands in pursuit of that power, eventually uncovering a hidden valley where a radiant portal pulses with arcane power. Beyond its realm is the final resting place of Arcanum’s essence.
Created by ELK Studios, Arcanum is a 6-reel, 7-row matrix, built around layered mechanics rather than traditional gameplay spins. Each session offers an evolved grid, supported by persistent Multipliers, Wild interactions, symbol expansion, special features, and 3 distinct Bonus Modes. All this power feeds into the 10,000x max win potential and high (7/10) volatility score.
Long-time followers of ELK Studios will notice the similarities through this game’s design and how it reveals a familiar setting to the ongoing Cygnus series. The studio’s wider portfolio has consistently favoured distinctive themes & mechanics, none more so than the Cygnus series. That lineage shows not only in the layout, but also in the presentation.
The visuals in Arcanum are crisp & atmospheric, while the animations are smooth and purposeful, each coming together to create a cohesive, high-quality experience that feels very much ELK Studios…
Base Game & Features
Arcanum is a highly volatile 6-reel, 7-row video slot with a Cluster Pays mechanic. Winning payouts require at least 5 matching symbols to land horizontally or vertically adjacent on the grid.
The Red Crystal is the highest-paying symbol, followed by the Purple, Green, & Blue Crystals. The remaining low-paying symbols include several smaller Crystals of the same colour. After a spin is complete, each winning cluster awards a fixed payout between 0.1x and 1,000x your bet.
The Avalanche Feature enables the removal of all winning clusters from the grid, creating space for new symbols to drop in from above. This cycle continues when no further winning clusters occur in the same spin. Lastly, the Wild symbol substitutes for all other winning symbols on the grid.
Wizard & Mirror Wizards
At the start of each spin, a Wizard symbol is positioned on a random cell position, which moves to an empty position during each avalanche event. All winning clusters in the current spin are paid out and removed from the grid.
Each revealed Magical Spells & Multiplier symbols are collected from the grid, allowing the Wizard symbol to once again move to a new position. The Wizard symbol acts as a Persistent Wild that moves to empty positions before the grid is refilled.
Alternatively, the Mirror Wizard symbol may appear during any avalanche event, acting as a Persistent Wild that moves to a new cell position before every grid refill. Please note that the Mirror Wizard does trigger Magical Spells & is not affected by gravity.
Magical Spells & Orbs
Throughout gameplay, Magical Spells can be buried beneath paytable symbols, which are collected if revealed by a winning cluster. Once received, they are collected into a special Spell Inventory. There are 5 types of Magical Spells available:
- Expanding: Replaces all paytable symbols within a 2×2, 3×3, 4×4, 5×5, or 6×6 size, depending on the selected payout symbol type. Please note that Scatters, Wizard, & Mirror Wizard symbols are not replaced during this time.
- Add Wild: Introduces +1 additional Wild symbol to the grid for each collected Add Wild spell.
- Wild Column: Replaces all paytable symbols with Wilds in the Wizard’s column. Please note that Scatters & Mirror Wizards are not affected by this event.
- Wild Cross: Replaces all paytable symbols with Wilds in the pattern of an ‘X’, originating from the Wizard symbol.
- Wild Transform: Selects 1, 2, or 3 paytable symbols of a random type in the grid and transforms them into Wilds.
Additionally, there are 2 Orb Features available, awarding the following functions:
- Explosive: Removes paytable symbols in an area of 3×3, 5×5, or 6×7. All Magical Spells & Multiplier symbols revealed from paytable symbols are collected.
- Transform: Selects a random paytable symbol and transforms it into an equal or higher-paying symbol after all wins are paid.
The Wizard Win Tracker makes note of all cluster wins that occur using the Wizard symbol. After 3 consecutive cluster wins with the Wizard symbol, the Win Tracker is complete. When no further wins are in view, all stored Magical Spells in the Spell Inventory are activated before they are reset in the next spin.
Global Multiplier
In each session, the Global Multiplier begins at x1 and multiplies all winning clusters on the grid, which remains active until the end of each spin. Multiplier symbols can be hidden beneath paytable symbols, which are collected once revealed. Each Multiplier symbol adds +x1 to the Global Multiplier.
Arcanum: Free Spins
Landing 3 or more Scatters anywhere on the grid triggers the Free Spins mode, awarding the following number of spins & upgrades:
- 3 Scatters: Awards 7 Free Spins
- 4 Scatters: Triggers the Mirage Bonus with 7 Free Spins and an additional Mirror Wizard symbol
- 5 Scatters: Triggers the Arcanum Bonus with 7 Free Spins and an additional 2 Mirror Wizard symbols
During this mode, the Global Multiplier, Spell Inventory, Mirror Wizard, & Win Tracker remain persistent throughout spins. The Extra Drops symbol can be hidden behind paytable symbols. If collected, an additional +1 Free Spin is awarded.
X-iter
Players may purchase any of the following X-iter features:
- Bonus Hunt: Each spin is 4 times more likely to trigger the Free Spins mode for 2.5x your bet per spin
- Mega Hunt: Awards a single drop with more than 8 times the chance of triggering the Free Spins mode for 5x your bet per spin
- Spellstorm: One drop where potential Magical Spells & Multiplier symbols are collected before the avalanche event occurs for 10x your bet
- Bonus: Direct entry to the Free Spins mode for 100x your bet
- Mirage Bonus: Guaranteed entry into the Mirage Bonus, where persistent Mirror Wizards appear, for 250x your bet
Arcanum has a maximum win capacity of 10,000x your bet. If a single session exceeds this, the player returns to the base game with the qualifying amount.
Our Honest Verdict
So, it turns out our perception of Arcanum was not entirely accurate. While the game undeniably carries the familiar cadence & visual language of a Cygnus release, it quickly distinguishes itself as a unique variation.
Beneath its exterior, this game stands on its own, with features & mechanics that are purposely built for this particular title. As a result, the similarities lie in the feel & flow, not in the execution of gameplay.
Arcanum distinguishes itself by allowing its features to be triggered in the base game rather than being reserved for the Bonus Modes. Each spin carries an element of uncertainty, with mechanics capable of altering the grid state & reshaping outcomes in ways that are hard to predict, keeping engagement high even during standard play.
Central to that is the guaranteed presence of a Wizard symbol on every spin. This introduces a constant sense of anticipation, as it often acts as a catalyst for potential wins, transforming seemingly dead spins into viable opportunities.
In Free Spins, particularly the Mirage & Arcanum bonuses, multiple Wizard symbols are added to the grid, which persist between spins. These symbols remain active on the grid, allowing their influence to compound as each spin unfolds.
This style of gameplay draws clear parallels with Push Gaming’s Jammin’ Jars, where roaming Wilds shift position in pursuit of new winning connections. As with Jammin’ Jars, the real anticipation lies in seeing multiple Wilds converge, amplifying cluster potential & opening the door to the game’s defining moments, worth up to 10,000x your bet.
All in all, Arcanum combines familiar design cues with original mechanics to create a consistently engaging & well-balanced experience.
*The images found in this slot review are currently from Demo Play. On average, our reviews are written prior to the initial release date and before real play is available.
Arcanum FAQs
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How many Free Spins modes does Arcanum have?
Acranum features 3 distinct Free Spins modes. One follows a more traditional format, while the remaining 2 introduce an increased number of Wizard symbols that persist across spins, adding greater potential for evolving win combinations. -
What is the max win potential available in Arcanum?
This game offers a maximum win potential of up to 10,000x your bet, reflecting its high volatility profile and fixed RTP of 94%. -
What payout mechanic does Aracanum use?
Acranum uses a Cluster Pays mechanic, meaning wins are formed by landing groups of 5+ matching symbols either horizontally or vertically on the grid. -
How does each Wizard symbol enhance the base game potential?
Wizard symbols act as Wilds on the grid, which influence surrounding symbols & aid in the creation of winning clusters that may otherwise not connect. With a single Wizard symbol guaranteed on every spin, this feature adds opportunities for enhanced outcomes.
