John Hunter and the Book of Mystery Slots

We don't appreciate software providers sneakily changing the names of their slots. Now, this isn't an issue in the vast majority of cases. But if you want to play this game, you'll probably find it under a different name: John Hunter and the Aztec Treasure! This actually caught us off guard, and led us going on a small detective hunt across the internet. And now that we've confirmed these two releases are one and the same, we can get back to what's really important. Is John Hunter and the Book of Mystery any good, and what kind of prizes can you expect from it?

Gameplay

Visuals are a mixed bag in this slot. On one hand, we really like the burning torches and how they contrast against the night time environment. Not to mention that you get to see an awesome, Aztec pyramid looming in the distance. What's on the reels is a lot less impressive, however. The symbols are a mixture of playing card royals and theme specific icons. We get torches, hats and whips, various animals and John Hunter himself! Our issue is, apart from our stylish protagonist, is that none of the symbols look that memorable or interesting. Maybe the torch and the panther, but the rest are plain boring.

You play this game on a 5x6 board at its best. But unlike most other releases, the height of each reel isn't fixed. The first reel might be six icons tall on one spin, and drop all the way down to two in the next! And as the height of each reel changes, so do the available ways to win. If you get insanely lucky and have six symbol tall reels everywhere, you'll have a total of 7,776 ways to win! These changing reels are the main mechanic of John Hunter and the Book of Mystery. In contrast, its sole bonus in the free spins round is valuable, but not nearly as engaging.

John Hunter and the Book of Mystery Slots Real Money

And while the name might not be consistent, the awesome layout is! Pragmatic Play takes a very cool approach to setting your wager by appealing to both types of people. If you just want to set your total bet, you can keep clicking one button until the number is set to what you want. But if you prefer fine-tuning the coins per payline and coin value individually, that's also an option! No matter which option you choose, you can stake between £0.20 and £100 on each spin.

Each individual icon has a very low value. A five-of-a-kind win of the most valuable symbol will only earn you 4x your total bet. This is done by design; as the slot is accounting for its variable ways to win. On a good spin, you might be able to flood the board with multiple five-of-a-kind wins! Those will then quickly add up, and create a win that goes over 9,000x! Now, you would be forgiven if you thought that kind of jackpot would be hidden behind an unforgiving, high volatility game. But no, this release has a medium variance and an RTP of 96.5%, which is above the current industry average.

Bonus Rounds

Collect three or more medallions to win the free spins special feature. The number of extra turns you get is randomly awarded, but the range increases the more Scatters you collect. For example, with three Scatters, you can win anywhere between five and twenty-five free spins. Meanwhile, with five Scatters, you can still win twenty-five extra turns as a maximum, but the minimum is now fifteen free spins. During each free spin, a random multiplier value is awarded between 2x and 10x. And yes, it is possible to retrigger the bonus to win even more free spins!

Summary

No matter if you call it the Book of Mystery or Aztec Treasure, it's still the same thrilling John Hunter experience. The graphics left us wanting more, but the gameplay was a lot of fun. Still, we predict the changing reel heights won't appeal to everyone. We recommend trying out a few spins to see if it suits you.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the RTP of John Hunter and the Book of Mystery?

The RTP (Return to Player) of John Hunter and the Book of Mystery is 96.5%, above the industry average. The game runs at medium variance and despite each symbol's low individual pay value, its variable reel height system enables multiple simultaneous five-of-a-kind wins on a single spin — with a theoretical maximum exceeding 9,000x your total stake.

Can I play John Hunter and the Book of Mystery for real money?

Yes, John Hunter and the Book of Mystery is available as a real money slots game at online casinos powered by Pragmatic Play. Bets range from £0.20 to £100 per spin. The random 2x–10x multiplier on every free spin, combined with the variable reel height system, creates the conditions for the game's largest real money payouts.

How does the variable reel height work in John Hunter and the Book of Mystery?

Each of the five reels in John Hunter and the Book of Mystery can change height independently on every spin — from as few as 2 positions to as many as 6. The number of available ways to win changes accordingly: at maximum height across all reels, the game provides 7,776 ways to win. Because each symbol pays at a low base rate, the game is designed to deliver value through multiple simultaneous winning combinations on high-reel spins.

How do Free Spins work in John Hunter and the Book of Mystery?

Free Spins are triggered by landing three or more medallion Scatter symbols on the reels. The number of spins awarded is randomly selected within a range that improves with more Scatters: three Scatters give 5–25 spins, while five Scatters guarantee at least 15. Every individual free spin applies a randomly chosen multiplier of 2x to 10x to all wins. The feature can be retriggered.

Is John Hunter and the Book of Mystery the same as John Hunter and the Aztec Treasure?

Yes — John Hunter and the Book of Mystery and John Hunter and the Aztec Treasure are the same game. Pragmatic Play released the title under different names in different markets, which can cause confusion when searching for it online. The gameplay, features, RTP, and mechanics are identical regardless of which name appears at a given casino.

How many ways to win does John Hunter and the Book of Mystery have?

John Hunter and the Book of Mystery has a maximum of 7,776 ways to win when all five reels are at their full 6-symbol height. Ways to win fluctuate on every spin as reel heights change independently. The game uses no fixed paylines — wins form whenever three or more matching symbols appear on adjacent reels from left to right in any reel position.