John Hunter & the Scarab Queen is Pragmatic Play's Egyptian archaeology-themed slot released in 2018, featuring the globe-trotting Professor John Hunter in one of his earlier adventures. Built on a standard 5x3 grid with 25 fixed paylines, it uses a classic slot format elevated by a distinctive Free Spins expanding symbol mechanic that drives the game's biggest wins.
The base game plays on conventional 5x3 reels with matching symbols paying on consecutive reels from left to right along any of the 25 paylines. John Hunter himself functions as a wild, substituting for all regular symbols to complete partial wins. The Book of Destiny scatter symbol is the key to unlocking the game's most powerful feature.
Landing 3 or more scatter books anywhere on the reels triggers the free spins bonus and simultaneously selects one random symbol as the expanding symbol for the entire bonus session. This selected symbol has the ability to expand and fill its entire reel vertically whenever it appears during free spins. A fully expanded symbol pays on every payline passing through that reel — potentially all 25 simultaneously.
The number of free spins awarded scales with scatter count at trigger: 3 scatters gives 5 spins, 4 gives 8, and 5 gives 15. All free spins can be retriggered by landing additional scatters during the bonus, maintaining the same expanding symbol throughout.
Operating at medium volatility with a 96.50% RTP, John Hunter & Scarab Queen delivers more consistent bonus triggers than high-volatility alternatives, making it suitable for players who prefer regular engagement with the expanding symbol mechanic over prolonged dry spells.
