Hand to Hand Combat Scratch Card Review - Microgaming

Provider	Microgaming

Hand to Hand Combat is a scratch card game from Microgaming that puts a digital spin on the classic playground game of Rock Paper Scissors. Released in 2013, it strips casino gaming back to something simple and direct - scratch five panels, beat your opponent, collect a multiplier prize. There are no spinning reels, no paylines, no scatter symbols. Just you versus an animated fighter, hand gesture versus hand gesture, five times per card.

If you have ever found yourself staring at a complex slot with cascading reels and a dozen different bonus modes thinking "I just want something straightforward", Hand to Hand Combat is worth a look. It does one thing and does it cleanly.

How Hand to Hand Combat Works

Each card gives you five rounds of Rock Paper Scissors against a randomly generated opponent. Scratch or click each panel to reveal your hand gesture and your opponent's. Rock beats Scissors. Scissors beats Paper. Paper beats Rock. Win a round and you collect a multiplier on your total bet. Lose or draw and that round pays nothing.

The game uses a virtual scratch mechanic - you can either click individual panels or use a "Scratch All" button to reveal everything at once. The outcome of each round is determined the moment you load the card, so the scratch animation is purely cosmetic. What matters is how many of the five rounds you win, and which multipliers you land when you do.

Maximum wins reach up to 100x your total stake, which comes from landing the highest multiplier on a winning round. Betting ranges from 0.50 to 10.00 per card, keeping it accessible for casual play without much upside for higher stakes players.

RTP and Volatility

Hand to Hand Combat carries an RTP of 96.75%, which is notably high for a scratch card game. Most instant win titles sit in the 90-95% range, so this figure puts it well above average and makes it one of the better-paying scratch cards in the Microgaming catalogue.

Volatility is medium. You will win some rounds on most cards - the game is structured around five separate chances rather than a single all-or-nothing reveal - but the multipliers vary, so card-to-card results can swing quite a bit. The format naturally smooths out variance compared to a single-outcome scratch card, since you have multiple independent results per play.

Theme and Presentation

The game has a martial arts aesthetic, with chunky character designs facing off across the screen. It is colourful and easy to follow without being particularly elaborate. The characters cycle through different fighters each time you load a new card, which adds a small amount of variety to the presentation without changing anything mechanically.

Audio is minimal and inoffensive. The overall feel is very much early-2010s browser gaming - functional, clean, and not trying to do too much. That fits the simplicity of the game design well enough.

Mobile Play

Hand to Hand Combat runs in the browser on both desktop and mobile. The click-to-scratch interface translates to touch without any issues - the panels are large enough to tap comfortably on a phone screen. Load times are negligible given the minimal assets involved.

Who It Suits

This is a game for players who want fast, low-friction play between longer sessions, or for anyone who finds standard slots overstimulating. The Rock Paper Scissors mechanic is immediately understood by almost everyone, which removes the usual learning curve entirely.

It is not going to replace a feature-heavy video slot for players who enjoy bonus rounds and escalating mechanics. There is genuinely nothing here beyond the base game. But for a quick five-round card with a solid RTP and zero complexity, it holds up.

Key Facts

Developer: Microgaming
Game type: Scratch card / instant win
RTP: 96.75%
Max win: 100x stake
Bet range: 0.50 - 10.00 per card
Rounds per card: 5
Mobile: Yes

Who makes Hand to Hand Combat?

Hand to Hand Combat is made by Microgaming, one of the longest-established game studios in online casino gaming. It was released in 2013 as part of their scratch card range.

What is the RTP of Hand to Hand Combat?

Hand to Hand Combat has an RTP (Return to Player) of 96.75%. This is high for a scratch card game and puts it among the better-paying instant win titles in Microgaming's catalogue.

How do you play Hand to Hand Combat?

Each card gives you five rounds of Rock Paper Scissors against a virtual opponent. Scratch or click the panels to reveal both hands. Win a round and you collect a multiplier on your bet. You get five chances per card, with the max win reaching 100x your stake.

Is Hand to Hand Combat a slot or a scratch card?

Hand to Hand Combat is a scratch card (instant win game), not a slot. There are no reels or paylines. The gameplay is based on the Rock Paper Scissors mechanic across five panels per card.

Can I play Hand to Hand Combat on mobile?

Yes. Hand to Hand Combat runs in the browser on mobile devices including phones and tablets. The click-to-scratch interface works well on touchscreens.

What is the maximum win on Hand to Hand Combat?

The maximum win is 100x your total stake per card. This comes from landing the highest available multiplier on a winning round within the five-round card.