Sand and Ashes: Secrets of Ancient Egypt

Pre-Release Disclaimer: This is a Specifications Review based on early-access data. We have not yet had hands-on time with a playable demo. This article will be updated with a full score and gameplay analysis when the game officially launches on May 14, 2026.

Uncover the Secrets of the Sand

Hacksaw Gaming invites players to sift through the dunes in Sand and Ashes. This Ancient Egypt-themed slot takes a step away from the developer's typical dark, gritty atmosphere for a more classic archaeological mystery. Set on a 5x5 grid with a payline win system, the game focuses on a persistent respin mechanic where desert storms can either shift your fortune or ignite it with massive multipliers.

Key Specifications & Features

Based on official pre-release data.

Core Gameplay: Sticky Wilds and Storms

The gameplay in Sand and Ashes revolves around a dynamic respin engine triggered by the most classic of symbols:

• Sticky Wild Respins: Landing at least one Wild symbol triggers a respin. During this mode, all Wilds remain sticky on the grid. Any new Wild that lands resets the respin counter, allowing for potentially full-screen Wild connections.

• Storm Modifiers: During any respin, one of two storms may randomly trigger before new symbols land:

  • Sandstorm: This wind shifts all existing Wilds one tile to the left (where possible), helping to reposition them for better line wins.

  • Firestorm: This heatwave increases the multipliers of all Wilds currently on the grid. Multipliers can climb all the way to a staggering 999x cap.

Bonus Games

While specific details on the triggers are still under wraps, Hacksaw has confirmed the presence of:

• Two Stormy Bonus Games: These are expected to focus heavily on the Sandstorm and Firestorm mechanics, likely offering guaranteed triggers or persistent multipliers throughout the round.

Next Steps for This Review

With a May 14th release date and a 10,000x max win, Sand and Ashes looks like a more balanced, medium-volatility alternative to Hacksaw's "Extreme" catalog. When the demo drops, we will be testing the frequency of the Firestorm modifier to see how realistic that 999x cap truly is during a standard bonus run.