Sanctuary (Big Time Gaming) Slot Review

Sanctuary (Big Time Gaming): Slot Overview 

Big Time Gaming’s Sanctuary is the fourth entry in its celebrated collaboration with the legendary British rock band The Cult, following Lil’ Devil, Outlaw, and Wild Flower. With its release on October 10, 2023, Sanctuary emerges as a slot that fuses cosmic mystery, ancient Egyptian aesthetics, and thundering rock influences into a high-volatility spectacle. It’s a visually striking, musically energized game that spins on 6 reels, 4 rows, and offers 4,096 ways to win. 

This installment isn’t just about paying tribute to The Cult’s “She Sells Sanctuary”—it’s a full-blown audio-visual journey that juxtaposes pyramids and planets, mystical symbols and sticky wilds, all while giving players a crack at one of BTG’s biggest potential win caps: a staggering 44,070x your stake.

Design and Graphics 

The visual design in Sanctuary is both eclectic and ambitious. The base game is rooted in Egypt, with glowing pyramids and an ethereal desert twilight sky. This mystical motif is paired with a celestial overlay—particularly apparent during bonus rounds—where reels hover above a view of Earth from space, suggesting something far more transcendental than your average pharaoh-themed slot.Symbols range from the standard 9 to A card values, adorned with vibrant color schemes, to highly stylized higher-value icons, such as scarabs, an Anubis-like deity, and a golden skull pharaoh—the most valuable of the bunch. The titular Sanctuary logo acts as the scatter symbol, and there are two prominent full-reel wilds: Purple Wilds and Gold Wilds, which bring stunning animations to life when triggered. 

The cosmic overlays, shifting backdrops, and sleek reel interface make Sanctuary one of BTG’s most visually layered and polished games to date.

Gameplay Mechanics 

Sanctuary operates on a 6×4 grid with 4,096 ways to win, paying out from left to right with a minimum of three matching symbols. The standout exception is the skull pharaoh symbol, which only requires two adjacent icons for a payout. 

Wins are determined based on symbol combinations from leftmost reels and follow classic Megaways logic without actually using the Megaways engine. The base game includes low-paying card symbols (9-A), and premium symbols that pay between 1.5x to 15x for six-of-a-kind, while low-tier wins pay 0.5x to 1.2x. 

The addition of full reel wilds that appear only on the four middle reels provides game-changing mechanics. These can substitute for any regular pay symbol and play a central role in achieving significant wins, particularly in the base game.

Sound and Music 

Given the slot’s connection with The Cult, it’s no surprise that the music plays a prominent role. Sanctuary is driven by the hypnotic rhythms and iconic vocals of the band’s hit “She Sells Sanctuary.” The song is seamlessly looped into various segments of the gameplay and intensifies during feature triggers, particularly in bonus modes. 

The sound design strikes a balance between atmospheric and adrenaline-pumping. Spinning reels carry subtle chimes and cosmic whooshes, while win animations are accompanied by pulsing sound effects that enhance the sense of interstellar excitement. 

BTG’s blend of licensed music with well-integrated sound cues has become a calling card for their games, and Sanctuary delivers on that front in spades.

Bonus Features 

Full Reel Wilds (Base Game Only) 

There are two types of full reel wilds—Purple and Gold—that appear during the base game: Purple Wilds: Land only on the middle four reels. Any win involving a Purple Wild is subject to a massive x8 multiplier, significantly boosting the payout. 

Gold Wilds: Also full-reel wilds, but without the multiplier. 

These wilds do not appear during the free spins feature, keeping their explosive potential exclusive to the base game. 

Free Spins Feature 

Triggered by landing 3 to 6 scatter symbols, players are awarded 7 free spins. Depending on the number of scatters, the bonus round starts with 1 to 4 game grids: 

3 scatters = 1 grid 

4 scatters = 2 grids 

5 scatters = 3 grids 

6 scatters = 4 grids 

Before the free spins begin, players may gamble for additional game grids via a segmented wheel. This gamble mechanic is reminiscent of Extra Chilli, offering high risk/high reward choices. Losing a gamble can revert the number of active grids to zero, effectively forfeiting the feature. 

Sticky Wilds and Ankhs 

During free spins, Ankh symbols may land on reels 2 to 5. These add sticky wilds in corresponding positions across all active game grids. If four sticky wilds land on the same reel, it transforms into a full x4 wild reel, and players are rewarded with +3 free spins. This mechanic creates growing anticipation throughout the free spins, especially as additional spins and sticky wild setups compound. 

Win Exchange 

If players win 80x the stake or more, they can exchange the win for 7 free spins. If the win lands between 25x and 80x, they can gamble the full amount on a wheel for a shot at the same reward. This feature brings a strategic layer to larger wins, offering players a choice between guaranteed payouts and potential feature access.

Betting Options and Payouts 

Sanctuary accepts bets from 10p/c to €/£/$20 per spin, making it suitable for a wide range of players. Its high volatility math model means payouts can be sporadic but significant, especially with the potential of multipliers and multiple reel sets in play during bonus features. 

The RTP sits at 96.38% in the base game, which can increase to 96.39% when buying free spins (where available). While these figures are typical for modern high-volatility slots, the game’s true allure lies in its ceiling-breaking maximum win potential of 44,070x your stake. 

The skull pharaoh symbol pays even on 2-symbol combinations, a rarity among premium symbols, and helps bridge dry spells between bigger wins. Combined with sticky wild multipliers and the potential for multiple grids, the ceiling is well justified.

Conclusion 

Sanctuary is another stellar release in Big Time Gaming’s ongoing series of music-themed slots. It may not boast the immediate explosiveness of Wild Flower or the absurd volatility of Outlaw, but it holds its own with a deeper, more strategic structure. The gamble mechanics, sticky wild potential, and cosmic visuals give the game an identity all its own. 

Its connection to The Cult’s iconic track is more than just surface-level branding—it infuses the entire game with an atmospheric groove that makes each session feel immersive and energetic. For players who enjoy a thoughtful blend of music, mysticism, and high-octane features, Sanctuary is a must-play. 

With a max win of 44,070x, a balanced RTP, and enough gameplay depth to satisfy both thrill-seekers and strategy-minded players, Sanctuary proves itself to be more than just a tribute slot. It’s a cosmic adventure wrapped in ancient symbolism, rock energy, and BTG innovation.