Shaolin Master Slot by Hacksaw Gaming

Shaolin Master in a Shaolin Robe

Shaolin Master shares its mechanical foundation with Hand of Anubis, one of Hacksaw's more popular cluster-pays slots. Same 5x6 grid. Same cascade system. Same Chi Orb multiplier wilds. The difference sits in the math model - Hacksaw deliberately softened the volatility from high to medium, increased hit frequency, and swapped the Egyptian horror aesthetic for a tranquil Shaolin temple setting. Whether that trade appeals depends on how much you valued Hand of Anubis's aggressive swings.

The core loop works like this: clusters of 5+ matching symbols trigger a win, those symbols disappear, and new symbols cascade in from above. Chi Orbs act as wilds and carry multipliers that grow during a cascade sequence. Three types exist. Blue Chi Orbs gain +1 to their multiplier each time they participate in a win. Red Chi Orbs gain +1 for every symbol in the winning cluster they're part of - so a 12-symbol cluster adds 12 to the Red Orb's value. Balance Chi Orbs only appear during cascades, carry a multiplier equal to the product of any active Blue and Red values, and vanish after one win. When multiple Chi Orbs contribute to the same cluster, their multipliers multiply together.

The Student - Reel Multipliers

Three scatters award 10 free spins (4 scatters give 12). Each reel has a global multiplier below it that increases by 1x for every winning symbol that lands on that reel. Green Chi Orbs activate a reel's multiplier - once activated, it applies to all wins involving that reel for the rest of the bonus. Each activation also awards +3 extra spins. The multipliers compound fast when multiple reels get activated and the cascade chains run long. Maximum multiplier sits at 9,999x per reel.

The Master - Block Dropping

Five scatters trigger a completely different bonus with 3 refilling lives. The standard grid disappears, replaced by falling stone blocks. Multiplier values sit above each reel. Adding modifier blocks (blue gems) increase reel multipliers by +2x to +10x - normal versions affect one reel, epic versions hit all five. Multiplying modifier blocks (green gems) multiply reel values by 2x through 10x with the same normal/epic split.

Ice blocks crush on landing and drop a Multiplier Block from the reel multiplier. Crusher blocks fall through everything, destroying all blocks below and becoming a single block worth the sum of everything destroyed. Lives reset to 3 whenever any relevant block lands. Final payout equals the sum of all Multiplier Blocks times your bet.

It plays like a hold-and-win bonus with block physics, and the epic modifier variants hitting all five reels simultaneously create the biggest spikes.

Temple Atmosphere, Familiar Engine

Visually, it's a Chinese temple courtyard with cherry blossoms and dragon carvings. An elderly master and young apprentice flank the reels. Stone-carved Asian characters serve as low-pay symbols, while themed items (gems, prayer beads, character portraits) fill the premium positions. HIGH_5 pays 60x for a 15+ symbol cluster.

The honest criticism here is straightforward: if you've played Hand of Anubis, Shaolin Master feels like the same game wearing different clothes. The Chi Orb system, cascade mechanics, and bonus structure all map directly to the predecessor. The medium volatility makes sessions smoother but removes some of the high-stakes tension that made Hand of Anubis compelling. Players wanting a calmer version of that engine will appreciate it. Those chasing the original's peaks might find it underwhelming.