John Hunter Series: All Slots Ranked and Compared

Pragmatic Play's John Hunter series follows an adventure archaeologist across four distinct slot games, each using a different theme and core mechanic. The games share the character and visual style but differ significantly in volatility, max win potential, and mechanic structure.

John Hunter Scarab Queen free spins rules showing bonus pot mechanic and unlimited retrigger structure
SlotRTPVolatilityMax WinYear
Da Vinci's Treasure96.53%High48,000×2018
Aztec Treasure96.5%High10,804×2019
Scarab Queen96.5%Medium10,500×2019
Bermuda Riches96.39%High5,000×2021

All Four John Hunter Slots

The series launched in 2018 with Da Vinci's Treasure and expanded through 2021. Each game uses a different collect or multiplier mechanic. Da Vinci's Treasure (2018) runs high volatility with a 48,000x max win via a progressive multiplier pick-bonus. Aztec Treasure (2019) shares the Money Collect mechanic with Scarab Queen but hits higher volatility (4/5) and a 10,804x cap. Scarab Queen (September 2019) is the sole medium-volatility entry at 3/5, with 10,500x max and the Money Collect pot mechanic. Quest for Bermuda Riches (2021) returns to high volatility with a 5,000x cap and a different trigger structure.

Scarab Queen vs Da Vinci's Treasure: Direct Comparison

Da Vinci's Treasure carries a theoretical 48,000x max win — more than four times Scarab Queen's 10,500x ceiling. In practice, the documented Slot Tracker record for Da Vinci sits below Scarab Queen's €18,620, partly because high-volatility games consolidate returns into fewer, harder-to-reach peaks. Da Vinci runs RTP at 96.53% vs Scarab Queen's 96.5% — negligible difference. The mechanic distinction matters more: Da Vinci uses a progressive multiplier in a pick bonus, while Scarab Queen's Money Collect fires every time a scarab and collect symbol co-land, including in base game. Scarab Queen's base game is more active by design.

Which John Hunter Slot to Choose

Volatility preference is the primary decision factor. Scarab Queen (medium, 3/5) suits players who want regular smaller returns with an occasional significant bonus pot payout. Da Vinci's Treasure and Aztec Treasure (high, 4/5) suit players who accept longer dry streaks for higher ceiling potential. Quest for Bermuda Riches has the lowest max win in the series at 5,000x and is the weakest option by pure ceiling metrics. By RTP, all four games are within 0.14% of each other — casino operator version matters more than game selection for long-term return rate.

John Hunter Series: Stats Table

Da Vinci's Treasure: RTP 96.53%, volatility High, max win 48,000x, released 2018. Aztec Treasure: RTP 96.5%, volatility High (4/5), max win 10,804x, released 2019. Scarab Queen: RTP 96.5%, volatility Medium (3/5), max win 10,500x, released September 2019. Quest for Bermuda Riches: RTP 96.39%, volatility High, max win 5,000x, released 2021. Scarab Queen is the only medium-volatility title in the series and the only one using the bonus pot accumulation mechanic for free spins.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does the bonus pot always pay out at the end of free spins?

No. The bonus pot fills reels 1-4 after all free spins end, then reel 5 respins once. If reel 5 lands any non-Collect symbol, the pot is not paid. This outcome is possible and accounts for some lower-result bonus activations. There is no partial payout — it is full pot or nothing on that final respin.

What is the difference between Multiplier Collect and Expanding Collect?

Multiplier Collect takes all scarab values currently visible, sums them, then multiplies the total by 2x, 3x, 5x, 10x, or 25x. Expanding Collect fills every reel that already has at least one scarab with new random-value scarabs — increasing the number of scarabs before summing and paying. Expanding Collect can produce larger raw totals when multiple reels are already scarab-heavy; Multiplier Collect is higher value when fewer but well-valued scarabs are present.

Why does the casino show 95.5% RTP instead of 96.5%?

Pragmatic Play provides multiple RTP configurations for the same game. Casinos license the version they choose to run. The 95.5% version is a reduced math model — mathematically identical gameplay, statistically lower return over time. The difference is roughly $5 per 500 spins at $1 stake. Always check the game info panel at each casino before playing.

How often does the free spins feature trigger?

Three pyramid scatters must land simultaneously on reels 2, 3, and 4. Community data from Slot Tracker puts the average trigger at approximately one bonus per 100-350 spins, with 200 spins as a midpoint estimate. A 200-spin session has roughly 63% probability of at least one trigger. Individual sessions vary significantly due to variance.

Is John Hunter Scarab Queen available on mobile?

Yes. The game uses HTML5 and runs in any modern mobile browser — iOS Safari, Android Chrome — without requiring an app download. The 5x3 grid adjusts to portrait and landscape orientations. Turbo spin is available on mobile via the dedicated button.

Can the free spins retrigger, and is there a limit?

Free spins retrigger by landing 3 pyramid scatters on reels 2, 3, and 4 during the feature. Each retrigger awards 8 additional spins. There is no limit on the number of retriggers — the feature can extend indefinitely if scatters continue to land. Each additional spin also feeds scarab values into the accumulating bonus pot.

What is the maximum possible win on a single spin in base game?

In base game, the maximum single-trigger outcome requires multiple scarabs at high values combined with a 25x Multiplier Collect. The documented theoretical ceiling is 10,500x stake. At $0.25 minimum bet that is $2,625; at $1 it is $10,500. The Slot Tracker record of €18,620 was achieved in a real-money session.

John Hunter & the Tomb of the Scarab Queen

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Slot Terminology Glossary

RTP
RTP (Return to Player): The theoretical percentage of total wagered money a slot pays back over a statistically significant number of spins. Scarab Queen's full-odds RTP is 96.5%.
volatility
Volatility (Variance): A measure of win frequency vs win size distribution. Medium volatility (Scarab Queen: 3/5) means more frequent smaller wins alongside occasional larger ones, vs high volatility which has longer dry streaks and rarer large wins.
max win
Max Win: The highest theoretical single-session win multiplier. Scarab Queen's is 10,500x stake. At $1 stake, maximum theoretical payout is $10,500.
Money Collect
Money Collect: The core mechanic. Golden scarab symbols on reels 1-4 carry monetary values. When any Collect symbol lands on reel 5, those values are paid via one of five collect mechanisms.
free spins
Free Spins: 8 bonus spins awarded by 3 scatters on reels 2-4. Retriggers add 8 more with no cap. During free spins, scarab values feed the bonus pot.