The allure of Ancient Egypt is a timeless theme in the world of online slots, yet few manage to capture its essence while delivering innovative gameplay.
Pragmatic Play enters this competitive arena with Pyramid King, a title that blends familiar aesthetics with a compelling dual-bonus system. The game immediately draws you in with its vibrant desert landscape, where golden sands stretch to meet a glistening river, all under the watchful eye of a stoic pharaoh. The reel set itself is framed in ornate gold, suggesting a vault of untold riches waiting to be unlocked.
What sets the Pyramid King slot apart from a legion of similar games is its refusal to rely on a single feature. Instead, it presents two distinct and highly engaging bonus paths. Players can hunt for fixed jackpots through a tense Money Respin round, a feature that has become a hallmark of the developer's success. Simultaneously, the game pays homage to a classic slot mechanic with a Free Spins round that incorporates a special expanding symbol. This combination ensures that the gameplay remains dynamic and that anticipation builds with every spin, as either treasure-filled respins or reel-covering symbols could be just around the corner. The Pyramid King game successfully merges two popular mechanics into one cohesive and entertaining package.
Game Specifications
| Title |
Pyramid King |
| Release date |
25th June 2020 |
| Type |
Video Slot |
| Developer |
Pragmatic Play |
| Theme |
Egyptian, Ancient civilizations, Gold, Treasure, Gods |
| Reels |
5 |
| Layout |
5×3 |
| Paylines |
25 |
| Volatility |
Medium |
| RTP |
96.5% |
| Bonus Feature |
Money Respin Feature, Free Spins, Expanding Symbols, Fixed Jackpots |
| Free Spins |
Yes |
| Respins |
Yes |
| Wild |
Yes |
| Scatter |
Yes |
| Min / Max Bet |
$0.25 / $125 |
| Max Win |
2,500x |
Pyramid King Bonus Features Overview
| Feature Name | Description | Trigger / How it Works |
|---|
| Wild Symbol | The Pharaoh's golden mask acts as the Wild. It substitutes for all regular paying symbols to help form winning combinations. It also pays as the highest value symbol. | Appears on all reels and substitutes for any symbol except Bonus and Money symbols. |
| Money Respin Feature | A “hold and win” style bonus where only Money symbols and empty spaces appear. The feature awards cash prizes and fixed jackpots. | Triggered by landing 6 or more Camel (Money) symbols anywhere on the reels. Players start with 3 respins, which reset every time a new Money symbol lands. |
| Free Spins | A round of 10 free spins is awarded, with a randomly selected special symbol that expands to cover its entire reel after regular wins are paid. | Triggered by landing the Scroll (Bonus) symbol on reels 1, 3, and 5 simultaneously. |
| Special Expanding Symbol | Before Free Spins begin, one symbol is chosen to become the special symbol. This symbol pays out on any position, even on non-adjacent reels. | During the Free Spins round, after standard payouts, the special symbol expands vertically if enough are present to form a win. |
| Jackpots | The game features three fixed jackpots: Minor, Major, and Grand. | Minor (30x) and Major (100x) jackpots can be won via Money symbols during the Money Respin feature. The Grand Jackpot (1000x) is awarded for filling all 15 positions with Money symbols. |
What Are the Core Mechanics of the Pyramid King Slot?
The Pyramid King slot builds its gameplay on a foundation of two powerful and distinct bonus mechanics. These features provide different paths to significant wins and ensure the experience does not become monotonous. One focuses on collecting instant cash prizes and jackpots, while the other leverages the popular expanding symbol mechanic for full-screen payout potential.
The Money Respin Feature Explained
The primary draw for many players is the Money Respin feature. This is triggered when six or more Money symbols, depicted as a Camel against a sunset, land anywhere on the reels in a single spin. Once activated, all regular symbols fade away, leaving only the triggering Money symbols locked in place on a special set of reels.
You begin the round with three respins. The goal is to land additional Money symbols in the empty positions. Each time at least one new Money symbol lands, the respin counter resets back to three. This continues until you either run out of respins or successfully fill all 15 positions on the grid. During this feature, Money symbols can reveal either a cash value or one of two fixed jackpots: the Minor Jackpot (30x the total bet) or the Major Jackpot (100x the total bet). Should you manage to fill the entire screen, you are awarded the Grand Jackpot of 1,000x your total bet, in addition to all the cash values collected.
How Do the Free Spins with Expanding Symbols Work?
For those who appreciate classic slot bonuses, the Pyramid King free play offers a robust Free Spins feature. This round is triggered by landing three Bonus symbols, represented by ancient scrolls, on reels 1, 3, and 5. This combination awards an initial batch of 10 free spins.
Before the round commences, one of the standard paying symbols is randomly selected to become the special expanding symbol. Throughout the free spins, after any regular payline wins are calculated, this special symbol will expand vertically to cover all three positions on its reel. This expansion only happens if enough of the special symbols are present anywhere on the reels to create a win. A key advantage here is that these expanded symbols pay out like scatters, meaning they do not need to be on adjacent reels to form a winning combination. Landing three more Bonus symbols during the feature retriggers it, awarding an additional 10 free spins with the same expanding symbol, with no limit to the number of possible retriggers.
Visuals and Atmosphere: A Journey to Ancient Egypt
Pyramid King creates an immersive world rooted in the iconic imagery of Egyptian themed slots. The backdrop is a beautifully rendered desert panorama, complete with towering pyramids and a serene river that evokes the Nile. A pharaoh's bust, reminiscent of Tutankhamun, flanks the reels, adding a regal presence to the game. The soundtrack complements the visuals with traditional melodies that intensify during bonus rounds, enhancing the sense of adventure and discovery.
“In a game with medium volatility like Pyramid King, it's wise to manage your bankroll to withstand the periods between larger wins from the bonus features. The balanced math model means both the Respins and Free Spins are accessible, but patience is key.”
— Vlad Hvalov
Symbol Payouts and Design
The symbols in this treasure-themed game are crafted with detail, separating the high-value icons from the low-value royals. The highest paying symbols include the god Anubis, a coiled cobra, an Ankh cross, and a jeweled ring. The Pharaoh's golden mask is the Wild symbol, substituting for all others except the Bonus and Money symbols, and it also carries the same high payout value as Anubis. The lower-paying symbols are stylized card ranks from Jack to Ace, decorated with Egyptian motifs. This clear visual hierarchy helps players quickly identify winning combinations and the potential for large payouts.
What Are the Betting Options and Payout Structure?
Pyramid King accommodates a wide spectrum of players with its flexible betting range. The minimum bet is set at $0.25 per spin, making it accessible for casual players. For high rollers, the maximum bet can be increased to $125.00 per spin. All wins are formed across 25 fixed paylines, and payouts are calculated from left to right, starting from the leftmost reel.
Pyramid King Volatility and RTP Analysis
The Pyramid King slot operates with medium volatility. This math model offers a balanced gameplay experience, providing a mix of smaller, more frequent wins in the base game and the potential for substantial payouts during the bonus features. It sits comfortably between the infrequent but large wins of high-volatility games and the steady but modest wins of low-volatility ones. The theoretical RTP (Return to Player) is 96.5%, which is a solid figure that aligns with industry standards for modern online slots.
Understanding the Jackpot System
Unlike progressive jackpot slots where the prize pool grows over time, Pyramid King utilizes a fixed jackpot system. This is a core part of its gold-themed slots appeal. The values of the jackpots are always a direct multiplier of your total stake, ensuring clarity and transparency.
- Minor Jackpot: 30x the total bet.
- Major Jackpot: 100x the total bet.
- Grand Jackpot: 1,000x the total bet.
These jackpots can only be won during the Money Respin feature. The Minor and Major jackpots can appear on any Money symbol, while the Grand Jackpot is an exclusive prize awarded for the achievement of filling all 15 reel positions during the bonus round.
Comparative Analysis: Pyramid King vs. Other Titles
In the vast landscape of online slots, it is useful to see how Pyramid King stands against other popular games. Its blend of features makes for some interesting comparisons.
Compared to the Pragmatic Play Gates of Olympus slot, Pyramid King offers a more structured experience. While Gates of Olympus uses a Scatter Pays system with cascading reels and random multipliers, Pyramid King relies on traditional paylines and its two distinct bonus rounds. Players who prefer a clear path to jackpots and a classic free spins structure will find Pyramid King more straightforward. In contrast, those who enjoy the chaotic excitement of unpredictable, chain-reaction wins would gravitate towards Olympus.
When placed next to a traditional “Book of” style game like the Book of Gold: Multichance online slot, Pyramid King's added dimension becomes clear. Both games feature a free spins round with a special expanding symbol. However, Pyramid King enhances this core concept by integrating the completely separate Money Respin feature. This gives players two different major features to anticipate, adding a layer of variety that is absent in most standard “Book of” titles.
Expert's Corner: Unearthing Pyramid King's Secrets
Playing the Pyramid King demo extensively reveals a few subtle details that might not be immediately obvious. Here are some expert observations:
1. Feature Synergy: The rules confirm that the Money Respin feature can be triggered during the Free Spins round. This is the game's most potent combination. Imagine having a high-value expanding symbol active while simultaneously hitting six camels to start the jackpot hunt.
2. Grand Jackpot Challenge: Securing the Grand Jackpot is a true “all or nothing” event. You must fill all 15 positions. This makes the final few respins, when only a couple of spots are left, incredibly tense.
3. High-Value Wild: The Pharaoh Wild is not just a substitute; it is also a top-tier paying symbol, matching the payout of Anubis. This dual role adds significant value to the base game, turning otherwise small wins into more substantial ones.
“Don't underestimate the power of the infinite re-trigger in the Free Spins round. With a bit of luck, a good expanding symbol can deliver wins spin after spin, often eclipsing the value of the Minor and Major jackpots.”
— Vlad Hvalov
Based on a thorough review, I recommend the Pyramid King slot to players who enjoy variety. It successfully combines the thrill of a jackpot chase with the proven appeal of expanding symbols in free spins. The medium volatility and solid RTP provide a balanced foundation for an engaging session. While the Grand Jackpot isn't life-changing, it offers a tangible and exciting goal. This title from Pragmatic Play is a well-crafted adventure into ancient civilizations that stands out in a crowded market.
Pyramid King
