Red Rake’s latest slot release, Ways of the Samurai, takes spinners to feudal Japan where they can explore ancient temples and uncover the treasures hidden inside. The software developers have not strayed from the beaten path by opting for the standard 5×3 reel grid with 50 fixed paylines. The samurai-themed game comes with medium -to-high volatility and a theoretical player return of 95.40%.
Although not as feature-rich as some other Red Rake releases, the game has plenty to recommend it, including free spins, wilds, multipliers, and symbols with random win values. Are you ready for some katana action? If so, stick with us as we unravel all exciting features you can benefit from in Ways of the Samurai.
| Ways of the Samurai Slot Summary | |
|---|---|
| Provider | Red Rake Gaming |
| Payline Number | 50 fixed paylines |
| RTP | 95.40% |
| Minimum Bet | $0.10 |
| Maximum Bet | $15 |
| Wild Symbols | Yes, samurai symbols |
| Scatter Symbols | N/A |
| Bonus Features | Way of the Samurai feature, 15 free spins with 2x or 3x multipliers |
| Jackpot | 6,338x the total bet |
Symbols and Winning Combinations in Ways of the Samurai
Ways of the Samurai is set against a beautiful autumn backdrop, with fiery red foliage encircling the reel grid on each side. Below the reels, there are stone steps with torii gates leading to a samurai shrine in the distance. The slot awards payouts whenever three to five identical symbols align on one or more paylines. The number of win lines is fixed at fifty, with wagers per spin ranging from $0.10 to $15.
The female samurai with the bow is the top-paying symbol in this Red Rake release. She can reward you with up to 100x your bet for five matches. Next comes the icon with Mount Fuji basking in the last rays of the setting sun. Five of those can earn you 5x your wager. Five kabuto helmets and five samurai swords yield payouts of 2.5x the line bet.
The same number of arrow quivers offers a maximum prize of 2x the stake. The game designers have chosen various hieroglyphs for the low-paying symbols in line with the game’s overall Japanese theme. All hieroglyphs produce the same payouts for three, four, and five matches – 0.1x, 0.2x, or 1x your stake per line. Let’s have a look at the special symbols in Ways of the Samurai and what they trigger.
Bonus Features of Ways of the Samurai
The male samurai warrior is wild and can land only on the first and second reels. It can stand in place for all regular symbols in Ways of the Samurai but is powerless when it comes to replacing the female warrior and the special icon with the lucky castle. Whenever two wild male warriors appear concurrently on the first and second reels, they trigger the Ways of the Samurai feature.
The lucky castles we mentioned previously will appear for the duration of the special feature, awarding instant prizes with random values. Keep in mind these special symbols can only appear on the third, fourth, and fifth reels, however. The castles can accumulate and produce the following wins, depending on their specific reel:
- Castles landing on the third reel can award prizes of 100, 150, and 250.
- Castles accumulating on the fourth reel produce wins of 250, 500, 1,000, or 5,000.
- Castles appearing on the fifth reel yield wins of 1,000, 2,500, 5,000, and 10,000.
The female samurai warrior serves a two-fold purpose. On one hand, she awards the highest regular payout in the base game. On the other hand, she helps you unlock the free spins feature. You get 15 free rounds when three or more female warriors show up on the reels during the same spin. The male samurai appears during free spins as a wild multiplier, boosting your wins by 2x or 3x whenever he is part of a combination. Players can retrigger 15 free spins if three or more female warriors hit again during the feature.
Verdict
Ways of the Samurai does not impress with overly complex gameplay, but this only works to its advantage. There are no complicated features to leave you wondering what’s going on, which renders it a great release for less experienced reel spinners. The wilds, special symbols, and free spins suffice to hold one’s attention, while the top prize of 6,338x the stake during free spins further adds to the slot’s appeal.