Ascension: Rise to Riches Slot Review
Old Skool Studios have established themselves as a capable partner within the Microgaming portfolio, bringing accessible gaming experiences to casual audiences. Ascension: Rise to Riches, released in September 2021, epitomises this approach–a low volatility offering built for players seeking relaxation and steady returns rather than high-octane action.
With an Ancient Egypt theme and a solid suite of bonus features, this slot positions itself squarely in the casual-player territory. The gameplay delivers frequent smaller wins paired with a respectable maximum potential of 2000x your stake. If you’re familiar with the scatter-win slot formula and appreciate its predictability, this release will deliver what you expect. For those chasing cutting-edge innovation or high-volatility thrills, this may feel like well-trodden ground.
Base Game & Features
Ascension: Rise to Riches operates on a standard 5×3 grid with 20 fixed paylines. The game sits comfortably in the accessible betting range, from a minimum of £0.20 to a maximum of £120 per spin, making it flexible for both conservative players and those willing to stake higher.
The symbol set draws from Ancient Egypt iconography, featuring pharaohs, hieroglyphic patterns, and thematic lower-value playing card symbols. Wild symbols substitute for regular symbols to complete winning combinations across the paylines. During base gameplay, the focus is on building wins steadily rather than triggering explosive multipliers–a characteristic reflection of the low volatility design.
Special Symbols and the Epic Strike Feature
The standout mechanic here is the Epic Strike Feature, triggered by landing between 3 and 9 Osiris scatter symbols anywhere on the reels. This scatter mechanism bypasses traditional payline mechanics, delivering instant prizes that scale with the number of scatters landed. With the maximum of 9 scatters, you can land the full 2000x stake payout directly–the game’s ceiling win.
The Osiris symbol serves as both the scatter trigger and the key to unlocking significant payouts, making it the most valuable symbol in your hunt for big wins. Outside of triggering the Epic Strike, these symbols also initiate the Free Spins feature, which we’ll detail below.
Ascension: Rise to Riches Free Spins
Free spins form the core of Ascension: Rise to Riches’ bonus experience. Trigger them by landing 3 or more Free Spins Scatters on the three middle reels (reels 2, 3, and 4). When you do, you’ll enter a Bonus Wheel, which determines your free spins allocation.
The wheel awards between 10 and 30 free spins, paired with a multiplier of either x2 or x3. This multiplier applies to all wins during the bonus round, effectively doubling or tripling your payouts when you land winning combinations. The multiplier significantly boosts the potential of the free spins round without requiring additional mechanics–a straightforward and effective approach.
Retriggering and Extended Play
Free spins can be retriggered during the bonus round by landing 3 or more additional Osiris scatters. This keeps the feature alive longer and provides genuine opportunities to accumulate extended play sessions. Retriggering isn’t guaranteed–the low volatility design ensures it happens with predictable frequency rather than rare fortune–but it’s achievable enough to feel rewarding when it occurs.
Our Honest Verdict
Ascension: Rise to Riches is a competently executed low-volatility slot that knows exactly what it is–and doesn’t pretend to be otherwise. The 96.24% RTP sits above industry average, offering genuine value for players prioritising steady returns over occasional monster wins. The combination of Epic Strike scatter payouts and Free Spins with multipliers creates meaningful gameplay moments without requiring you to understand complex bonus mechanics.
Where this game excels is positioning: casual players and those who prefer a relaxing, low-risk gaming experience will find genuine appeal here. The frequent smaller wins keep you engaged during base play, whilst the 2000x maximum achievable through Epic Strike or multiplied free spins provides a tangible aspiration. The ancient Egypt theme, though well-trodden territory in slot design, executes competently with immersive graphics and thematic sound design.
The honest limitation is originality. The scatter-win mechanic isn’t new, nor is the Ancient Egypt setting. Some players may find the low volatility a touch too tame for their preferences, particularly those chasing high-volatility action or seeking innovative features that push genre boundaries. Similarly, high-win chasers might look to titles offering greater maximum potential or more volatile payout patterns.
Ascension: Rise to Riches manages to hit several must-haves for casual video slot players–a fun theme, a healthy mix of bonus features, and volatility tuning that suits relaxed gameplay. It’s not revolutionary, but it’s solidly reliable. For the target audience (casual punters seeking decent top jackpot without high-risk swings), this is an okay alternative in the scatter-win genre that delivers exactly what its design promises. Overall Rating: 3.5/5
Ascension: Rise to Riches FAQs
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What is the RTP of Ascension: Rise to Riches?
The RTP of Ascension: Rise to Riches is 96.24%, which sits above the industry average and reflects a player-friendly return rate. This means that over the long term, players can expect to receive 96.24p back for every pound wagered. -
What is the maximum win on Ascension: Rise to Riches?
The maximum win on Ascension: Rise to Riches is 2,000x your stake. This can be achieved through the Epic Strike scatter feature (landing 9 Osiris symbols for an instant 2000x payout) or by combining large wins during the free spins round with the x2 or x3 multiplier awarded by the Bonus Wheel. -
Does Ascension: Rise to Riches have free spins?
Yes, Ascension: Rise to Riches has free spins. Free spins are triggered by landing three Free Spins Scatters on the three middle reels (reels 2, 3, and 4). The Bonus Wheel then awards between 10 and 30 free spins with a multiplier of either x2 or x3. Free spins can be retriggered during the bonus round. -
What is the volatility of Ascension: Rise to Riches?
Ascension: Rise to Riches has low volatility, making it suitable for casual players. This is a consistent characteristic across all sources. The low volatility design means the game pays back 96.24% of wagers through frequent smaller wins rather than occasional huge payouts. This provides a relaxing, predictable gaming experience. -
Can I play Ascension: Rise to Riches on mobile?
Yes, Ascension: Rise to Riches works perfectly on iOS, Android, and Windows mobile platforms. The game uses HTML5 technology and is fully compatible with mobile play, with all gameplay mechanics and graphics remaining consistent across all screen sizes. -
Does Ascension: Rise to Riches have a bonus buy feature?
No, Ascension: Rise to Riches does not have a bonus buy feature. The bonuses are triggered only through scatter symbols in the base game, not through a pay-to-play mechanism. This means you must trigger features through natural gameplay rather than purchasing them. -
What are the main bonus features in Ascension: Rise to Riches?
The main bonus features are the Epic Strike scatter feature (landing 3-9 Osiris scatters for instant prizes up to 2000x stake) and the Free Spins feature (triggered by 3+ scatters on middle reels, awarding 10-30 spins with x2 or x3 multiplier). Free spins can be retriggered during the bonus round by landing additional scatters. -
Who is the developer of Ascension: Rise to Riches?
Ascension: Rise to Riches is developed by Old Skool Studios in partnership with Microgaming. It was released on September 20, 2021, and is part of the Microgaming gaming portfolio.
