Prince of Dead by Merkur brings ancient Egyptian mythology to life with its distinctive expanding symbol feature. The 5-reel, 3-row slot offers flexible gameplay with 5 or 10 paylines and combines golden visuals with high-paying character symbols, including an explorer worth 100.00 for five of a kind. With a solid 96.09% RTP, the game balances frequent smaller wins with potential for substantial payouts during the free games feature. Landing three or more book scatter symbols awards 10 free games where a randomly selected symbol expands to cover entire reels when part of a winning combination. The dual gamble options—card color and risk ladder—add strategic depth for players seeking to increase their winnings. Prince of Dead stands out among Egyptian-themed slots through its effective implementation of the expanding symbol mechanic that creates genuine excitement when high-value symbols spread across multiple reels.
The ancient sands of Egypt have long been fertile ground for slot developers, and Merkur's “Prince of Dead” continues this tradition with a distinctive take on the popular Egyptian mythology theme. This 5-reel, 3-row slot offers players flexible gameplay with either 5 or 10 paylines and combines familiar Egyptian iconography with innovative special features centered around a mysterious book that contains expanding symbols during the free games feature.
Game Concept and Visual Elements
“Prince of Dead” presents an atmospheric journey into the realm of ancient Egyptian afterlife mythology. The game's visual palette relies heavily on golden hues and warm desert tones, creating an immersive environment that feels both mystical and opulent. The reels are set against what appears to be ancient tomb walls, adorned with hieroglyphics and illuminated by a warm, amber glow that suggests the flicker of ancient torches.
The symbols on the reels include a handsome explorer character (presumably the titular “Prince”), who offers the highest standard payouts at an impressive 100.00 for five of a kind. The pharaoh symbol follows with payouts of 40.00 for five matching symbols. Other thematic icons include Anubis (the jackal-headed god of the afterlife), a scarab amulet, and the standard playing card symbols (A, K, Q, J, 10) styled to match the Egyptian aesthetic with gold trim and jewel-toned colors.
What makes this visual presentation stand out is the attention to detail in the character designs. Rather than generic Egyptian imagery, the character portraits display a sense of personality, particularly in the explorer character, whose rugged appearance with blonde hair and beard creates an interesting contrast with the ancient Egyptian setting.
Mechanics and Gameplay Features
The core gameplay of “Prince of Dead” follows standard slot mechanics with a left-to-right win pattern, but introduces several notable elements that create a distinctive experience. The game allows stakes ranging from 0.05 to 20.00 (or currency equivalent), making it accessible to both cautious players and those seeking higher risk play.
The wild symbol acts as a universal substitute, helping to complete winning combinations on active paylines. However, what truly distinguishes this game is its scatter symbol (represented by a book) and the subsequent free games feature it activates.
When three or more scatter symbols appear anywhere on the reels, players are awarded 10 free games. Before these free games begin, a special symbol is randomly selected from the standard symbols (excluding the scatter). During the free games, this chosen symbol gains the extraordinary ability to expand to cover entire reels when it appears as part of a winning combination. Critically, these expanded special symbols pay in any position on the active paylines, not just on adjacent reels.
This expanding symbol mechanic introduces a compelling risk-reward dynamic. Since the special symbol is randomly selected at the beginning of the free games, players may receive a low-value symbol that expands frequently but offers modest rewards, or they might get lucky with a high-value symbol that, while appearing less often, can deliver substantial payouts when it does expand across multiple reels.
Theoretical Return and Volatility
“Prince of Dead” offers a respectable return to player (RTP) of 96.09%, which positions it favorably among contemporary online slots. This percentage represents the theoretical long-term payout of the game, though actual session results will naturally vary.
The game's volatility seems to occupy a middle ground. While the base game offers frequent smaller wins through the standard payline mechanics, the real potential for significant returns comes during the free games feature with its expanding symbol mechanism. This creates a balanced experience where players can maintain their bankroll through consistent small wins while still having opportunities for occasional large payouts.
Special Features and Bonus Rounds
The centerpiece of “Prince of Dead” is undoubtedly its free games feature with the expanding special symbol. The selection of the special symbol adds an element of suspense to the beginning of each free games session, as the potential value of the feature can vary dramatically depending on which symbol is chosen.
If a high-value symbol like the explorer (with his 100.00 payout for five of a kind) is selected as the special expanding symbol, the potential rewards become substantial. Even getting a few of these on the reels during the free games can lead to significant wins, since they expand to cover entire reels and pay in any position.
It's worth noting that the scatter symbol itself also offers direct payouts, with rewards of 0.40, 4.00, and 40.00 for landing three, four, or five symbols respectively. These scatter wins are paid independently of their positions on the reels and are added to any line wins, potentially creating compound wins when triggering the free games feature.
Risk Game Options
After any win of at least 0.05, “Prince of Dead” offers players two different gamble features to potentially increase their winnings: the card gamble and the ladder gamble.
The card gamble is a straightforward double-or-nothing bet where players guess the color (red or black) of the next card drawn. A correct guess doubles the winnings, while an incorrect guess results in the loss of the amount being gambled.
The ladder gamble offers a different approach, where players attempt to climb a value ladder. Each successful step increases the win amount, but a failed attempt can result in dropping to a lower value step. This risk ladder introduces a more strategic element to the gamble feature, as players can use the “Collect Half” function to secure part of their winnings while continuing to gamble with the remainder.
These risk games add an additional layer of decision-making to the gameplay experience, allowing players to potentially increase modest wins into more substantial rewards, albeit with the accompanying risk of losing what they've already won.
Strategic Considerations for Experienced Players
For seasoned slot enthusiasts, “Prince of Dead” presents several strategic considerations. The choice between playing with 5 or 10 paylines significantly impacts both the frequency of wins and the overall volatility of the game. Playing with all 10 lines maximizes win opportunities but requires a higher total bet, while using fewer lines increases volatility but allows for potentially higher returns relative to the stake on winning spins.
The free games feature represents the primary avenue for substantial wins, particularly when a high-value symbol is selected as the special expanding symbol. This creates an interesting dynamic where the randomly selected special symbol dramatically affects the potential value of the feature. The explorer symbol, with its top payout of 100.00 for five of a kind, can lead to exceptional returns when selected as the special symbol, while lower-value card symbols might result in more modest, though more frequent, wins.
The dual gamble features offer additional strategic depth. The card gamble is straightforward but offers the potential to double winnings with a 50% chance. The ladder gamble, with its varying steps and the “Collect Half” option, allows for more nuanced risk management, potentially enabling players to secure portions of their winnings while still pursuing higher returns.
“Prince of Dead” successfully blends familiar Egyptian slot themes with engaging gameplay mechanics centered around the expanding symbol feature during free games. With its respectable 96.09% RTP, flexible betting options, and potential for significant wins through the special expanding symbols, it offers a well-balanced experience that can appeal to both casual players and more experienced slot enthusiasts. The visual presentation, while not revolutionary, effectively establishes an atmospheric Egyptian setting through detailed character designs and warm, golden color schemes. The game's interface provides convenient customization options that enhance the overall user experience. What distinguishes “Prince of Dead” from the multitude of Egyptian-themed slots is its effective implementation of the expanding symbol mechanic during free games, creating moments of genuine excitement when high-value symbols expand across multiple reels. This feature, combined with the dual risk game options, results in a gameplay experience that offers both strategic depth and significant win potential. For players who enjoy Egyptian mythology themes and appreciate slots with a balance of consistent smaller wins and the potential for occasional substantial payouts, “Prince of Dead” represents a worthy addition to Merkur's portfolio of online slot games. Its combination of familiar mechanics with distinctive features creates an engaging experience that stands out in the crowded landscape of Egyptian-themed slot games.
