9 Masks Of Fire

RTP	96.24% - Compare RTPs
Reels	5
Paylines	20
Bet Range	£0.20 - £240.00
Features	Wilds, Scatters, Bonus Rounds

9 Masks of Fire Slot Review

9 Masks of Fire is a slot developed by Gameburger Studios and published by Microgaming, released in October 2019. It runs on 5 reels, 3 rows, and 20 fixed paylines, drawing its theme from African tribal masks and ceremonial imagery. The game earned a following quickly on the back of one distinctive mechanic - a scatter prize ladder built around the nine golden mask symbols - which works independently of the standard payline structure and gives the game its characteristic bursts of big wins.

The visual design is well-executed for the setting. Gold-framed reels sit against a deep burgundy background with flame and ember effects running through the animation. The nine mask symbols are the most prominent icons on the grid - each with a distinct ceremonial design - and they dominate the paytable above the card-value lower symbols. Traditional African percussion runs through the soundtrack, adding a sense of ceremony that fits the theme without becoming intrusive.

Stake range runs from 20p to £60 per spin. All 20 lines are fixed and active on every spin, so the minimum bet covers the full grid. The ceiling is generous compared to many Microgaming titles at the same volatility level, giving players with larger bankrolls room to push the potential returns from the mask scatter ladder up to meaningful amounts.

Wild Symbol

The wild is a diamond symbol. It substitutes for all regular paying symbols on the reels but does not substitute for the golden mask scatters or the free spins trigger. Five wilds on a payline pay up to 125x stake, making the wild a genuine top-end payline symbol in its own right, not just a gap-filler. It appears across all five reels and contributes to wins across the 20 active paylines in the standard way.

Mask Scatter Prize Ladder

The nine golden masks are scatter symbols - they pay based on the total count appearing anywhere on the grid in a single spin, regardless of paylines. This is the core mechanic that sets the game apart. When three or more masks land simultaneously, the payout scales sharply:

• 3 masks - 1x stake
• 4 masks - 5x stake
• 5 masks - 15x stake
• 6 masks - 40x stake
• 7 masks - 100x stake
• 8 masks - 500x stake
• 9 masks - 2,000x stake

Only the highest qualifying tier pays - if seven masks land, you receive 100x, not a combination of the lower tiers. The jump from 8 masks to 9 masks is the most dramatic in the paytable, representing a 4x increase from 500x to 2,000x stake for a single additional symbol. This top prize is the game's maximum win in the base game and explains why the slot attracts players comfortable with high-variance sessions - the vast majority of spins produce nothing from the mask ladder, but the occasional multi-mask landing can return significant multiples of the bet.

Free Spins

Free spins are triggered by landing the shield and spears symbol simultaneously on reels 2, 3, and 4. Once triggered, a wheel spin determines both the number of free spins and the win multiplier applied during the bonus. The wheel can award 10, 15, 20, or 30 free spins, paired with either a 2x or 3x multiplier on all payline wins.

The multiplier does not apply to mask scatter prizes during free spins - the ladder pays at face value regardless of the active multiplier. Payline wins, however, benefit from the 2x or 3x uplift on every spin throughout the bonus. Free spins can retrigger without limit - landing the shield and spears scatter again during the bonus adds further spins to the remaining count, and the existing multiplier carries through the extended round.

The wheel mechanic adds an element of variance within the bonus itself. Getting 30 free spins with a 3x multiplier represents a significantly different session outcome compared to 10 spins at 2x, which pushes the volatility of the feature further. The maximum theoretical win during free spins, with the multiplier active and masks contributing, reaches 6,000x stake.

RTP and Volatility

9 Masks of Fire has a published RTP of 96.24% at the standard configuration. Operators can select lower RTP variants (94.06%, 92.01%, or 86.77%), which means the theoretical return you experience depends on where you play. The 96.24% headline figure applies when the game is running at full return - it is worth checking which configuration a casino uses if this is a concern.

Volatility is medium with a hit frequency of around 39.7%. That is higher than many players expect given the mask scatter ladder's tendency to deliver long quiet stretches - the frequent small payline wins keep the base game active while the bigger events from mask clusters arrive less predictably. Sessions can swing significantly over a short period, which is characteristic of games structured around a prize ladder rather than a consistent payout engine.

How It Plays

9 Masks of Fire is straightforward to follow. The payline wins provide a steady rhythm in the base game, while the mask scatter ladder creates a separate layer of anticipation on every spin - any spin can produce a mask cluster, and the count of masks visible on the grid after a spin resolves is always the focal point. The structure is clean enough that new players can understand the core mechanic within a few spins.

The game runs well across desktop and mobile with no feature differences between platforms. The controls are minimal - bet selector, spin button, and autoplay - which keeps the interface clear. There is no additional bonus selection or pick-me feature outside of the wheel spin at free spins activation.

For players interested in other titles using similar scatter-prize mechanics, Gameburger Studios built several games in the same format across different themes. Microgaming's wider catalogue spans a range of volatility profiles and feature types. Both developers have pages on the site - Microgaming and Gameburger Studios - with more titles reviewed across the catalogue.

Summary

9 Masks of Fire is a Microgaming and Gameburger Studios slot with a 96.24% RTP, 5 reels, 20 fixed paylines, and an African tribal mask theme. The game's defining mechanic is the mask scatter prize ladder - nine golden masks pay anywhere on the grid, scaling from 1x stake for three masks up to 2,000x for all nine. Free spins trigger from reels 2, 3, and 4 via the shield scatter, with a wheel spin awarding 10 to 30 spins at a 2x or 3x multiplier. The maximum win reaches 6,000x stake during the bonus round. Volatility is medium with a ~39.7% hit frequency. It is a well-constructed game with one clear central mechanic, suited to players who want a focused slot without multiple bonus layers.

Where to Play 9 Masks Of Fire

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9 Masks Of Fire RTP and Variance

9 Masks Of Fire has an RTP of 96.24%, which is above average. See our highest RTP slots for the best returning games.

At the minimum bet of £0.20 per spin, a £10 deposit gives you 50 spins with a statistical expected return of £9.62. Read our slot betting strategy guide for tips on managing your bankroll.