Aurora Beast Hunter: Overview

Slip on your sunnies, players, because Microgaming partner Just For The Win has cranked the neon right up for Aurora Beast Hunter, a wild 90s-inspired ride. The plot is a bit out there, but it fits the game’s vibe perfectly.

In short, the main character, Aurora, is on the hunt for what look like enormous mutant worms out in the scorching US desert. Along the way, these tardigrade-esque creatures drop all kinds of reel modifiers, and you’ve also got three free spins choices to aim for.

If you lived through the 90s, expect a serious nostalgia hit the moment it loads. For starters, Aurora has that classic VGA-era video game look—256 colours and all, in the best possible way. Then spin a few times and the film nods start coming thick and fast.

How to describe it? It feels like a mash-up of Tremors with Kevin Bacon and the futuristic attitude of Cherry 2000 (technically late 80s, but close enough). Overall, Just For The Win blends animation, visuals, and audio into a fun tribute to the 1990s.

With wagering set between 10 p/c to $/€50 per spin, Aurora Beast Hunter runs on 5 reels in a 3-4-3-4-3 layout. Players use 40 paylines that zig-zag across the grid to form winning combinations. The maths are high volatility, featuring a listed RTP of 96.27% and a 20.58% hit rate. Respectable figures, and nothing that should raise eyebrows.

Checking the paytable, you’ll find a colourful line-up of increasingly lethal gear and characters. From lowest to highest it goes J-A royals, nunchucks (arguably not the most practical weapon, but peak 90s), ninja stars, pistols, a full-on Gatling gun, and Aurora herself.

Aurora is the top payer and can appear stacked, returning 12.50x the stake for five. Wilds are a welcome sight too, especially since Aurora Beast Hunter includes 4 different types – regular, stacked, expanding, and sticky. Each can replace any standard pay symbol and also triggers the special effects outlined below.

Aurora Beast Hunter: Features

The feature set is packed and can sound trickier on paper than it feels in play, so bear with us. As noted above, the game includes a range of modifiers, each shown by one of the alien creatures. On any base game spin, there’s a chance to receive a random cash prize, a random wild, or a sticky wild stack.

If the cash prize lands, then at least one expanding wild or stacked wild is guaranteed, along with an extra win boost of 1.5x or 2x. The random wild feature drops 1 to 5 wilds onto reels 1, 3, or 5. Finally, the sticky wild stack feature delivers expanded wilds with respins.

The action ramps up in the free spins round, triggered when 3 monster truck scatter symbols land on reels 1, 3, or 5. When activated, you can pick one of three options – The Sub, Danger Zone, and Sandstorm.

• Sandstorm awards 12 low volatile free spins. In this mode, expanding wilds and stacked wilds pay a cash prize of 1.5x or 2x respectively. Maximum wins from Sandstorm is 2,000x.
• Danger Zone gives 8 medium volatile free spins. Each spin, 1 to 5 wilds are scattered across the reels in random spots. The most you can win from the Danger Zone is 3,000x.
• The Sub begins with 5 highly volatile free spins. On every spin, one reel is randomly selected. If a stacked wild or an expanding wild is on that reel, it turns into a sticky wild stack for the rest of the feature. Whenever a sticky wild stack lands, you gain one extra free spin. Payouts from The Sub max out at 5,000x.

Aurora Beast Hunter: Verdict

Every so often, a studio steps outside its usual formula and delivers something that catches players off guard. The throwback presentation and effects are a big reason Aurora Beast Hunter stands out as one of Just For The Win’s stronger releases.

Of course, the visual style won’t be for everyone—it’s definitely a taste thing. If loud colours, goofy sci-fi, and a thick layer of nostalgia aren’t your thing, it may not land. But for fans of classic gaming, the 1990s, or slots that don’t take themselves too seriously, there’s plenty to enjoy.

As with many action films, it helps to switch off the logic and enjoy the spectacle. Just For The Win captures the time-travel vibe with bold graphics, heroic icons, heavy metal audio, and lively animations. Better still, the mechanics and win potential match the presentation nicely. The three different volatility free spins options, plus the additional features, add variety and make Aurora Beast Hunter one of Just For The Win’s more appealing slots.

If you’re after old-school flavour, Aurora and her crew of creatures can easily dish out some straightforward fun. And if you’re into the same era, it’s also worth a look at the chunky, retro-styled Hellcatraz from Relax Gaming.