Will you manage to unlock the stone wall that crumbles with every spin in Aztec Bonanza? This slot machine from Pragmatic Play was released in 2020 and offers unconventional mechanics. 5 reels, a diamond-shaped grid with 2 to 6 symbols per row, and from 384 to 7776 ways to win. The setup depends on how far you’ve progressed in the game.
The symbols don’t spin, but tumble from above, thanks to the Tumble mechanic. The RTP is 96.53%, and the maximum win reaches an impressive 19,440x your bet. The volatility is medium, so don’t expect wins too often in an online casino, but they can be big. Especially when the corners of the grid open up and bonuses are triggered – free spins, Mystery symbols, transformations, and giant 2×2 blocks.
What makes Aztec Bonanza special?
Aztec Bonanza is built on the Tumble mechanic, where winning symbols disappear, and new ones fall into their place. With every second tumble, the closed corners of the grid open up. This gradually expands the field and increases the number of ways to win - from the initial 384 to the maximum 7,776.
Unlock the grid and activate the bonuses
One of the interesting features in Aztec Bonanza is the gradual unveiling of the game field. At the start of each spin, the four corners of the grid are covered by stone tiles. Every two consecutive cascades open one of the corners and trigger a bonus feature: mega symbols, replacement of low-paying symbols with high-paying ones, and Mystery symbols.
| Open corner | What happens when it's unlocked? |
|---|---|
| Top left | Mystery symbols appear and transform into matching pay symbols |
| Top right | Up to 3 low-paying symbols are replaced with higher-paying ones |
| Bottom left | Large 2x2 symbols appear on reels 1 and 2 |
| Bottom right | Large 2x2 symbols appear on reels 4 and 5 |
As soon as you unlock all 4 corners at once, the free spins round is automatically triggered.
Free spins with guaranteed modifiers
In the bonus round, you will play on a full 5x6 grid with a maximum of 7,776 ways to win. At the start, you are given 5 free spins.
Each one activates one of the random features:
Mystery Symbols - adds to the screen totem masks, which then reveal a matching pay symbol.
Symbol Transform - transforms up to three low-paying symbols into higher-paying ones.
Giant Symbols - places 2x2 symbols on reels 1–2 and 4–5, which remain until the end of the bonus.
The free spins are not extended, there will be exactly 5, and that's it. But thanks to the additional effects, each one can significantly boost the final payout.
How to play Aztec Bonanza
It doesn’t matter whether you’re playing for fun in demo mode or in the best online casino for real money, here’s a step-by-step guide for Aztec Bonanza.
Adjust the bet
Click the + and - buttons to open the menu. Here, you can either choose the total bet immediately or adjust the bet level and coin value separately - whichever is more convenient for you.
Customize the game to your preference
Click the gear icon in the bottom left corner. Here, you can turn the sound on or off, as well as activate the power-saving mode if you’re playing for a long time or on mobile.
Study the paytable
Once you’ve set your bet, check how much you can win for each symbol. To do this, click the "i" button, as shown in the image. The paytable will open with detailed rules.
Start the game
Once everything is ready, click the large round button on the right — it will start the reel spins. The symbols will begin to tumble from above and form winning combinations.
Watch your wins
To receive a payout, you need to collect at least three identical symbols in adjacent columns from left to right. If you hit a win, the amount will immediately appear below the reels, and the money will be automatically added to your balance.
My Opinion
I tested Aztec Bonanza in demo mode, no registration and no download. From the first spins, the slot seemed not only colorful but also quite dynamic, thanks to the gradual unlocking of the grid.
The base game can also surprise
During the test, I noticed that the main game allows you to win every 4–5 spins. My biggest wins came when the corners started to open up. Each time after the second or fourth cascade, I saw how the field changed significantly. The number of symbols increased, and so did the possible combinations.
Visually, everything is done clearly. The symbols, although quite simple, are smooth in animation, and nothing annoyed me. Compared to Aztec Magic Deluxe, which is built on just 15 simple lines, here I got much more interactivity, mainly due to the mechanics, even though the design looks a bit more modest.
What I think about free spins?
Free spins create a completely different atmosphere. Here, I really felt like I was leveling up. Personally, I was hooked by the moments with mega symbols and the transformation of low-value symbols into high-value ones. This immediately reflected in the increase of my wins, especially when cascades were triggered, and the reels didn’t stop for several seconds in a row.
In terms of feel, this slot game is closest to Bonanza Megaways. That one also features cascades and a dynamic grid. But honestly, in Aztec Bonanza, I more often formed winning combinations, even if with slightly lower potential.
