With Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves, the well-known software studio Leander Games replicates the wildly popular folk tale of the same name from the Arabian Nights collection of stories. The two central characters in the game are crafted to resemble Aladdin and Princess Jasmine from Disney’s take on the eponymous story from the same collection.
Leander’s rendition of Ali Baba utilizes 5 reels and 20 rather than 40 win lines (as would have been more appropriate in our opinion), with players having the option to adjust their number. Wagers start at as little as $0.01 per active line and can reach $100 at the highest betting level. Despite its cartoonish graphics, the release attracts attention with its great special features, including a bonus game, extended wilds, and a free spins round with variable volatility.
| Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves Slot Summary | |
|---|---|
| Software Provider | Leander Games |
| Payline Number | 20 adjustable win lines |
| RTP | 96.59% |
| Minimum Bet | $0.20* |
| Maximum Bet | $100* |
| Wild Symbol | Yes, the princess |
| Scatter Symbol | Yes, the bag of gold coins |
| Bonus Features | Gold or Bandit Bonus, Free Spins with adjustable variance |
| Jackpot | 3,195x the total bet |
*The above-specified minimum and maximum amounts apply when all 20 paylines are active
Symbols and Winning Combinations in Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves
With its quirky graphics and oriental music playing in the background, Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves perfectly captures the essence of the popular Arabian Nights tale. All icons incorporated in the paytable match the slot’s theme and storyline, starting with the scattered sack of gold which pays in both directions in any reel position. You need three, four, or five scattered sacks for payouts of 5x, 25x, and 100x the total bet per spin.
All other symbols incorporated into the game return prizes when aligning on one or more paylines from left to right. Respectively, wins resulting from them are multiplied by the stake per line. The software developers have suitably picked Ali Baba himself to represent the top payer in the slot. Two to five Ali Babas can yield payouts of 5x to 2,500x the line bet. The thief with the red turban produces prizes of 4x, 40x, 200x, and 800x the line stake for two to five matches.
Two to five macaques can enrich you with 3x to 300x your wager per line. All other symbols require at least three matches to pay out. The camel and the cobra can boost your session bankroll with up to 250x and 150x the line bet. The maximum payouts for five scarabs and five rings are 120x and 100x. A five-of-a-kind with the dagger, the flute, and the drum pays 75x, 60x, and 50x the line stake, respectively.
Bonus Features of Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves
The princess symbol is the extended wild in Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves and replaces everything except for the scatter and the bonus icons. Speaking of bonus symbols, these are represented by a red pot that appears on the second, third, and fourth reels to trigger the Gold or Bandit side game.
Your goal here is to pick and uncover six out of twelve vases, some of which contain instant cash prizes while others have macaques hidden inside. When it starts, the side game will randomly award you one to three protections from Ali Baba. Without Ali protecting you, the thief with the red turban will snatch the instant prizes if you make wrong guesses and pick vases with hidden monkeys. The software will multiply your bonus winnings by the triggering stake.
The round of Open Sesame Free Spins triggers when you align three free spins symbols on the first, third, and fifth reels. We particularly liked the fact players get to choose their volatility level during the feature. They can pick from the following three options:
- Low volatility – up to 15 free spins, 4x maximum multipliers, and 4 picks
- Medium volatility – up to 20 free spins, 5x maximum multipliers, and 6 picks
- High volatility – up to 25 free spins, 6x maximum multipliers, and 8 picks
Once you select one of the three alternatives, you must pick four to eight treasure chests to collect their free spins and multipliers. The round of free spins then starts at the same stake you used when you triggered it. The game also offers several standard functionalities such as the Autoplay, which enables you to play up to a hundred spins without interruption.
Verdict
Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves may not look visually impressive with its cartoonish visuals, but it is still a great game that is fun to play. The two special features are highly engaging and will certainly keep you invested in the gameplay. With a hit frequency of 27.11% and maximum payouts of up to 3,195x the overall stake, this Leander release definitely deserves the attention of slotheads looking to win big.