Zhong Kui Slot Review & Free Play

Zhong Kui: Use Talismans to Ward off Evil Spirits for up to Four Jackpots

Drive away evil spirits carrying up to 25x cash prizes in the Zhong Kui slot by Ainsworth. During this supernatural battle, you can open portals to free spins, convert regular symbols into wild talismans, and aim for four different jackpots. Ready to face demons and fire-breathing foes? Let's take a closer look at what this game has in store for you!

An abandoned village has been taken over by evil spirits, featuring 5 reels, 3 rows, and 20 paylines. In the main game, wilds didn't appear often enough, which made it difficult to secure big wins or keep the game profitable. The low symbol payouts didn't help either, as I mostly landed returns between 0.50x to 1.50x my bet every 2 to 5 spins. It was less than ideal overall and had I not landed 3 scatters early on, my bankroll would have taken some major hits. 

With three scatters on the grid, I received eight free spins, during which one or more reels could randomly turn into wilds. This happened on the first couple of spins, but the wild reels appeared on the fourth or fifth reels, which didn't help much. Fortunately, the last three spins made up for it, bringing me a major 19.40x win with two wild reels and another 18.30x win with three wild reels. 

These wins combined to give me a 39.70x profit on my bet, which kept my session going a bit longer. A secret feature is also present in the main game where jackpots can be won but it doesn’t activate in free play. 

To be fair to Ainsworth, the Zhong Kui slot isn't a bad game. It features a beautiful Asian aesthetic, some environmental storytelling, and a potentially rewarding free spins bonus round. That said, it's nothing exceptional and probably not worth seeking out specifically. If you're after an Asian-themed game with familiar mechanics for short sessions, this one might be a good fit.