Casino Game Review: Sun & Moon (Aristocrat)

min read
Sun and Moon start screen by Aristocrat.
BetMGM Nov 19, 2023, 3:43 AM

A Mayan-themed slot developed by avant-garde developers Aristocrat, Sun & Moon is a harmonious blend of contemporary gameplay mechanics, fruitful features, and spectacular visuals. 

Sun & Moon draws its aesthetic from the Mayan civilization, which inhabited southern Mexico, Guatemala, and northern Belize from around A.D. 250 to the late 17th century. This online slot pays homage to a culture that advanced society, from their use of hieroglyphs (which many argue to be the most sophisticated writing system in the pre-Columbian Americas) to their contributions to mathematics with a base-20 numerical system. Read on to discover the ins and outs of the Sun & Moon slot.

Game Overview

With a 5×3 grid nestled in front of a temple reminiscent of Mexico’s ancient Mayan city of Chichén Itzá, Sun & Moon is eye-catching from the moment you load the game. Released in 2011, it’s arguably one of the best games from Aristocrat, a studio renowned for fruitful and exciting casino games online. 

Within the reels, you’ll spot several Mayan-inspired symbols, including wilds, faces, and rings, with the former offering a 1,000x multiplier for landing five. Other lucrative five-of-a-kind combinations include the face (300x), ring (200x), and royals, A, K, and Q (120x).

Although this isn’t a jackpot slot, there are two wild symbols (sun and moon) within the game’s 20 paylines. These wilds can replace regular symbols to form winning combinations, or award players free spins with a 2x multiplier and a transforming pyramid, showcasing the game’s multitude of winning avenues. And with a return to player (RTP) percentage of 94.95%, the possibility of winning is good. 

How To Play

To spin the wheels, gamblers must first place a stake of between $0.02–$2.50, which makes it an excellent slot for low-budget and novice players. Once you’ve placed a bet, which can be altered using the “+” and “-” buttons below the reels, all you need to do is press the “Spin” button and marvel at the Mayan-inspired symbols sparkling across your screen.

When this slot’s in full flow, few games are more appealing to the eye. 

Graphics

Seamless and high-quality graphics are what players have come to expect from sun and moon slots, and this online casino game brilliantly showcases why. From the background to the symbols, each element possesses beautiful hues and extraordinary detail, helping pay homage to the Mayan civilization. And the soundtrack is great, too, helping to create a lively and enjoyable gaming experience.

As online slot games go, this is a must-play slot.  

Features

The reason many gamblers play slots online is the features. Contrary to most casino games like blackjack and roulette, usually each slot game comes with its unique set of gameplay mechanics, features, and symbols, meaning every game is fresh and exciting.

To trigger the free spins, you’ll need two or more sun and moon wilds landing across the reels, and when achieved, you’ll be awarded 5, 10, 20, or 25 respins. Although free spins are a regular feature amongst slots, there’s a 2x multiplier during this bonus round, meaning all profits are doubled. 

Interestingly, the sun and the moon symbols are both scatters and wilds, so to activate the free spins, they need to land from left to right to become wilds; otherwise, if they’re scatters, they’ll multiply your stake by up to 50, which isn’t a bad result.

Special symbols, which appear as a temple, are also worth looking out for as they replace regular symbols to create winning combinations. 

When it comes to the advantages of playing slots online, aside from being easy to learn, players can dissect the slot’s characteristics — features, RTP, trigger rate, and jackpots — before playing, which will help them to choose a game that’s more likely to pay out well. 

For example, on average, you have a greater chance of winning a slot game bonus if you play a game with a trigger rate of 25%, which means, on average, a gambler wins every fourth turn, compared to a slot with 20%, which suggests you’ll win on every fifth go. 

Bonuses and Jackpots

As mentioned, the game includes zero jackpot opportunities but does allow players to win mega multipliers ranging from 2–1,000x.

So, if you staked $2.50 and activated the 1,000x multiplier, you’d be walking home with $2,500.

Similar Games

Regarding detail and overall aesthetic, few themes compare to the intricacy and colorfulness of slots inspired by ancient Central and South American civilizations, with sun and moon online slots being an excellent example. Below are some of the most exciting on the market: 

  • Aztec’s Millions (RTG).
  • 3 Secret Cities (4ThePlayer).
  • Azteca Bonus Lines (Playtech).
  • Fortunes of the Aztec (Pragmatic Play).
  • Golden Gods (Max Win Gaming).

Play Themed Slots at BetMGM

Want to play a variety of themed slots? Look no further. From Mayan-themed games like Sun & Moon to viking-themed games, BetMGM proudly hosts an abundance of slots with lucrative jackpots and enticing features. Register today and get in on the action.

Actress Vanessa Hudgens flipping casino chips next to the text "The King of Casinos"
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Our BetMGM editors and authors are casino experts with a wealth of knowledge of the online casino industry at all levels. Their coverage includes company news, game reviews, how-to instructional articles, strategy guides, and editorials showcasing BetMGM’s superior product and game library.

Our BetMGM editors and authors are casino experts with a wealth of knowledge of the online casino industry at all levels. Their coverage includes company news, game reviews, how-to instructional articles, strategy guides, and editorials showcasing BetMGM’s superior product and game library.