The Hand of Midas (Pragmatic Play) Slot Review

The Hand of Midas: Slot Overview

The Hand of Midas is a mythology-themed slot developed by Pragmatic Play, released on February 11, 2021. Drawing from the ancient Greek legend of King Midas, whose magical touch turns everything to gold, the game immerses players in a lavish, gold-adorned environment ravaged by the king’s mythical hand. It features a classic setup with 5 reels, 3 rows, and 20 fixed paylines, where wins form by landing matching symbols from left to right on adjacent reels starting from the first reel. The slot caters primarily to fans of high-volatility games who enjoy chasing substantial payouts through bonus features, particularly free spins with escalating multipliers. With a hit frequency of 29.41% and a bonus round frequency of 1 in 214.17 spins, it appeals to players seeking thrilling, less frequent but potentially rewarding sessions. The maximum win potential stands at an impressive 5,000x the bet, achievable in both the base game and free spins, with a max win probability of 1 in 998,191 spins.

Design and Graphics

The Hand of Midas boasts a visually striking aesthetic centered around opulent gold motifs, evoking a sense of ancient treasure and mythical wealth. The background depicts a golden palace or ruined hall where everything appears touched by Midas’ power, with intricate detailing on columns, artifacts, and shimmering surfaces that catch the light dynamically. Symbols are richly decorated in gold tones, enhancing the theme’s luxurious feel. Low-paying symbols include the standard card royals 10, J, Q, K, and A, stylized with metallic engravings. Medium-paying icons feature a golden chalice, a bowl overflowing with fruits, and a treasure chest brimming with gold coins, each rendered with reflective highlights and subtle animations upon winning. High-paying symbols portray thematic characters: the golden girl Marigold, the god of wine Dionysus, and King Midas himself, depicted in regal attire with flowing robes and crowns that gleam under ambient lighting.

The Hand of Midas slot – base game

The wild symbol is a large, ornate golden W framed in elaborate filigree, landing exclusively on reels 2, 3, and 4. The scatter, representing the iconic golden Hand of Midas emblazoned with “scatter” text, stands out with its glowing palm and fingers poised to transform. Animations are smooth and thematic—winning symbols pulse with golden sparks, wilds expand slightly with a multiplier reveal, and scatters trigger a cascading gold effect. The user interface is clean, with intuitive controls for bet adjustment, autoplay, and feature toggles positioned below the reels. Sound design complements the visuals with majestic orchestral swells during wins and a mystical chime for scatters, creating an engaging, high-end production quality suitable for an international audience.

Gameplay Mechanics

The Hand of Midas employs a straightforward 5-reel, 3-row grid with 20 fixed paylines, where players win by matching three or more symbols across a payline. Bets range from a minimum of €0.20 to a maximum of €100 per spin, accommodating casual players and high rollers alike. The base game flows rhythmically: spins initiate with a standard reel roll, and winning combinations trigger payouts based on the paytable, which favors higher symbols like Midas for up to substantial multipliers.

The wild symbol, exclusive to reels 2, 3, and 4, substitutes for all symbols except scatters to form or enhance wins. Its standout mechanic applies a random multiplier of 1x, 2x, or 3x to the win it contributes to; multiple wilds in a single combination sum their multipliers before applying the total. This adds strategic depth, as wild appearances boost payouts immediately without altering reel structure. No additional base game modifiers like tumbling reels or expanding grids are present, keeping the focus on accumulating scatters for the main excitement. The game’s high volatility ensures infrequent but sizable base wins, punctuated by the wild’s multiplier potential.

Bonus Features

The slot’s excitement peaks in its Free Spins feature, triggered by landing 3 or more scatter symbols (the golden Hand of Midas) anywhere on the reels. Upon activation, each reel with a scatter gains 3 mini reels that independently spin to display 1, 2, or 3. The totals from these mini reels across all qualifying reels determine the number of free spins awarded—up to a theoretical maximum of 45 with 5 scatters (3 mini reels per each of 5 reels). Scatters do not retrigger directly during free spins, but a unique guarantee mechanic ensures minimum payouts based on trigger scatters:

If the guaranteed win isn’t met by the feature’s end, a retrigger activates: mini reels (1, 2, or 3 free spins each) appear on the original scatter reels, awarding additional spins equal to their total.

The Hand of Midas slot – free spins

During free spins, wilds become sticky and contribute to a global win multiplier that starts at 1x. Each wild landing randomly increases this multiplier by 1x, 2x, or 3x, persisting for the remainder of the feature and applying to all subsequent wins. This creates escalating potential, synergizing with the slot’s high volatility for chases toward the 5,000x max win.

Two buy-in options expedite access:

Additionally, the Ante Bet feature increases the stake by 25% to double the chance of scatter appearances, heightening base game tension without direct purchase.

Betting Options and Payouts

Betting flexibility spans €0.20 to €100 per spin, supporting a broad player base while aligning with high-stakes pursuits. The RTP of 96.54% is competitive, theoretically returning €96.54 for every €100 wagered over extended play. Classified as high volatility, it delivers infrequent hits (29.41% frequency) but emphasizes big-win potential, with the 5,000x max win realistic via multiplier accumulation in free spins. Payouts behave erratically—base game wins rely on wild multipliers for boosts, while bonuses offer the bulk of value through sticky wilds and global multipliers that can snowball dramatically. The max win probability of 1 in 998,191 spins underscores its rarity, rewarding patience and bankroll management. Key stats are summarized below:

The Hand of Midas slot – bonus buy

Conclusion

The Hand of Midas excels in its free spins feature, where sticky wilds, random multiplier increments, and guaranteed win retriggers create high-stakes volatility with genuine 5,000x potential, complemented by Ante Bet and buy options for faster access. The gold-drenched design and smooth mechanics enhance immersion, while the 96.54% RTP and precise stats appeal to strategic players. Drawbacks include wilds’ limitation to central reels in the base game and reliance on bonuses for peak excitement, potentially frustrating short sessions. Strengths outweigh for bonus hunters, though conservative players may find the high volatility punishing. Players can test the slot risk-free using the built-in demo available on this page. Overall, it delivers a polished, rewarding experience for those embracing its mythical riches.