Tomb Raider Secret of the Sword Slot Review

Provider	Microgaming

Tomb Raider: Secret of the Sword Slot Review

Released in 2008 as the direct sequel to Microgaming's landmark 2004 Tomb Raider slot, Secret of the Sword takes everything the original established and builds substantially on it. Where the first game offered 15 paylines and two bonus features, this one runs across 30 paylines and packs in four distinct bonus modes - including the Rolling Reels mechanic and a multi-stage Global Adventure Bonus. The RTP sits at 95.22%, and the game is rated low volatility (2 out of 5 on Microgaming's own scale), which means frequent smaller wins rather than long stretches of nothing punctuated by large hits.

The Lara Croft licence originally came from Eidos. The game now appears in the Games Global catalogue following Microgaming's exit from direct software publishing. Real-money availability varies by casino - not every operator has carried it forward - but it remains in active rotation at a number of UK-facing sites.

Game Specs at a Glance

Developer: Microgaming (now via Games Global)
Reels / Rows: 5 reels, 3 rows
Paylines: 30 (adjustable)
RTP: 95.22%
Volatility: Low (2/5)
Min Bet: £0.30 per spin
Max Bet: £60 per spin
Release Year: 2008
Max Jackpot: 7,500 coins (five wild symbols)

Symbols and Paytable

The wild is Lara Croft's portrait - a close-up shot distinct from the full-body action symbols used elsewhere on the reels. Five wilds on an active payline pays the game's top prize of 7,500 coins. The wild substitutes for all standard symbols but not for the two special symbols: the fragment scatter and the passport.

The fragment (a glowing relic piece) is the scatter. It pays anywhere on the reels without needing to land on a payline, and three or more of them triggers the Free Spins feature. The passport symbol has a different role - land it on the centre row of a reel and that reel becomes "activated". Get all five reels activated and the Global Adventure Bonus starts.

Higher-value symbols include various shots of Lara in action across the five world locations the story covers. Lower-value symbols are the standard playing card ranks (10 through Ace) dressed in a consistent visual style. The game pulls in character voiceovers from Lara Croft and her companion Alister Fletcher during play, which is a detail that still holds up.

Free Spins with Rolling Reels

Three or more fragment scatters anywhere on the reels awards 10 free spins. The key mechanic here is Rolling Reels: when a winning combination lands, the symbols in that combination explode and disappear. The symbols positioned above them drop down to fill the gaps, and the reels are re-evaluated for new wins. If another win forms, the process repeats.

Each consecutive Rolling Reels win during free spins increases the multiplier by one step: the first win applies 2x, the second 3x, third 4x, and a fourth consecutive win locks in 5x. Any spin that produces no win resets the multiplier back to 2x for the next winning sequence. The multiplier does not persist between spins - it restarts each time. The free spins feature cannot be retriggered.

In practical terms, the free spins feature is where the notable payouts come from. A chain of four or five consecutive Rolling Reels wins during the 5x multiplier phase can produce returns well above what the base game delivers. Whether that chain happens is the variance involved despite the low overall volatility rating.

Super Mode

Super Mode is a randomly triggered feature that can activate at any point during the base game, without any particular symbol combination. When it fires, you receive 5 free spins. Before those spins begin, several reel positions are randomly assigned sticky wilds - they are placed and held fixed for the entire duration of the 5 spins, regardless of what else lands. The number of sticky positions varies each time the feature triggers.

Because the wilds do not move, sessions where Super Mode hits with favourable placements (particularly covering multiple paylines simultaneously) can produce a run of solid base-game wins. Sessions where the sticky wilds land on isolated positions are less productive. This is the most unpredictable feature in the game, and the one that produces the most noticeable swings even within a low-volatility title.

Global Adventure Bonus

The passport symbol activates whichever reel it lands on when it appears in the centre row position. Get all five reels activated - each showing a passport in the middle row - and the Global Adventure Bonus triggers. Five world locations appear: London, Bolivia, Ghana, Nepal, and Tokyo. Each location contains six hidden artefacts to choose from.

Each pick reveals one of the following: a cash prize (awarded immediately), a 2x multiplier applied to current location winnings, a sword fragment (which allows you to progress to the next location), a trap, or access to the Shootout Bonus. Finding a sword fragment is the objective - it lets you move on to the next location and continue accumulating prizes. One trap can be absorbed and play continues. Two traps in a single location end the round.

The Shootout Bonus is a side game accessible from within the Global Adventure round. Fifteen discs are presented; the task is picking the higher-value disc. It can pay up to 450x the player's average stake, making it the highest single payout potential in the entire game outside of the main jackpot combination.

RTP and Volatility in Practice

The 95.22% RTP is below the 96%+ figure on the original Tomb Raider slot (96.56%), which is worth noting if you are choosing between the two. The low volatility rating reflects the frequency of base-game wins - 30 adjustable paylines across a 5x3 grid with a wild that covers all standard symbols means wins land regularly. The session is designed to be sustained rather than explosive.

The Rolling Reels multiplier during free spins is what gives the game its ceiling. Base-game returns from wilds and standard paylines keep you in the session; the free spins feature is where the bigger returns are concentrated. The Global Adventure Bonus and Super Mode both contribute but are less predictable in terms of payout size - the Global Adventure in particular depends heavily on how your picks land within each location.

How It Compares to the Original

The original Tomb Raider slot runs on 15 paylines with a 96.56% RTP and medium volatility. Its two bonus features - a 3x multiplier free spins round and a picking Tomb Bonus - are simpler but the higher RTP means more of the wager returns to the player over time. Secret of the Sword is the more feature-heavy game with more going on between spins, but the lower RTP (95.22% versus 96.56%) is a material difference if you are playing for extended sessions.

Players who want mechanical depth, multiple bonus paths, and the Rolling Reels cascade mechanic will find the sequel more engaging. Players who prioritise RTP and prefer a cleaner playing experience with fewer moving parts will lean toward the original.

Where to Play

Secret of the Sword is a Microgaming title now distributed via Games Global. Check the game library before committing to a casino specifically to play it - availability varies. Casinos carrying a broad selection of legacy Microgaming titles are the best starting point. Our casino reviews cover which operators stock Games Global content.

For players who enjoy feature-rich Microgaming slots from this era, it is also worth looking at Thunderstruck II, which uses a similar multi-feature structure, and Immortal Romance, another Microgaming slot with multiple unlockable bonus modes. Both remain widely available and share the same cascading mechanic approach.

Verdict

Secret of the Sword is a technically accomplished sequel that gives players more to engage with than the original. The Rolling Reels multiplier, sticky-wild Super Mode, and multi-stage Global Adventure Bonus each function distinctly rather than feeling like variations on the same idea. The Shootout Bonus within the Global Adventure adds a second-screen pick element that can pay up to 450x. The trade-off is a lower RTP (95.22%) compared to the first game and an availability situation that depends on which casinos stock it. If the game is accessible at a casino you are already using, it is a solid choice for players who want a feature-driven slot with low volatility and a genuine sense of progression through the bonus rounds.

What is the RTP of Tomb Raider: Secret of the Sword?

The RTP is 95.22%. This is lower than the original Tomb Raider slot (96.56%), which is worth considering if you are comparing the two games. The lower RTP reflects the more feature-heavy design of the sequel.

How many paylines does Secret of the Sword have?

The game has 30 paylines, double the 15 found in the original Tomb Raider slot. The paylines are adjustable rather than fixed, so you can choose how many to activate per spin.

How does the Rolling Reels feature work in the free spins round?

When a winning combination lands during free spins, the winning symbols explode and disappear. Symbols above drop down to fill the gaps, and the reels are re-evaluated for further wins. Each consecutive winning cascade increases the multiplier by one step: 2x, 3x, 4x, up to a maximum of 5x. The multiplier resets to 2x if a spin produces no win.

What triggers the Global Adventure Bonus?

The passport symbol must land in the centre row position on a reel to activate that reel. When all five reels are activated with passport symbols in the centre row, the Global Adventure Bonus begins. It takes you through five world locations - London, Bolivia, Ghana, Nepal, and Tokyo - where you pick artefacts to find sword fragments and cash prizes.

What is Super Mode in Secret of the Sword?

Super Mode is a randomly triggered feature that can activate at any point during base play. It awards 5 free spins and randomly places sticky wild symbols on certain reel positions before the spins begin. Those wilds remain fixed for all 5 spins, regardless of what else lands.

Is Tomb Raider: Secret of the Sword still available to play?

The game is distributed via Games Global (formerly Microgaming) and remains available at a number of online casinos, though not universally. Availability varies by operator, so check the game library at any casino before signing up specifically to play it.