Pyramid King (Pragmatic Play) Slot Review

Pyramid King: Slot Overview 

Pyramid King, released by Pragmatic Play on May 26, 2020, is a classic Ancient Egyptian-themed slot designed with familiar mechanics and visuals reminiscent of popular “Book” style games. With a 5-reel, 3-row grid and 25 paylines, Pyramid King combines simple gameplay with a few engaging bonus features, making it accessible for all types of players. 

The game offers a medium volatility experience, ensuring balanced payouts with moderate risks. With an RTP of 96.50%, a hit frequency of 1 in 2.4 spins, and a free spins frequency of 1 in 192 spins, Pyramid King delivers frequent small wins while occasionally ramping up excitement with special features like free spins and the money respin feature. 

Players can bet between €0.25 and €125 per spin, targeting a maximum win of 2,500x the stake. While the jackpot isn’t enormous compared to modern high-volatility slots, Pyramid King’s consistent payouts and engaging features make it a solid option for casual players and fans of Egyptian-themed games.

Design and Graphics 

Pyramid King is a visually traditional slot, drawing heavily on the Ancient Egyptian theme that has become a staple in the online slot world. The game’s backdrop features golden pyramids, desert dunes, and an endless blue sky, immersing players in a warm, sunlit environment that feels both familiar and vibrant. The reel set is encased in golden borders, with hieroglyphics and iconic Egyptian carvings completing the look. The color scheme leans heavily on rich golds, blues, and reds, adding a sense of luxury to the visuals. 

Symbol design is clean and polished. The lower-paying symbols are represented by J-A royals, decorated with subtle Egyptian motifs. High-paying symbols feature classic Egyptian imagery, including: 

• Ankh (the key of life), 

• Golden rings, 

• Serpents, 

• And the jackal-headed god Anubis, which is the most valuable symbol, offering 20x the stake for five-of-a-kind. 

The pharaoh symbol serves as the wild, substituting for other symbols to complete winning combinations, while the scroll bonus symbol triggers the free spins feature. 

Animations are minimal but effective. Winning combinations trigger smooth transitions, and the reels spin with satisfying motion. Overall, while the graphics are not groundbreaking, they deliver a familiar and polished Ancient Egyptian aesthetic that will appeal to fans of the genre.

Gameplay Mechanics 

Pyramid King follows a straightforward gameplay structure on a 5×3 grid with 25 paylines. Wins are achieved by landing three or more matching symbols on adjacent reels, starting from the leftmost reel. 

Here are the key gameplay elements: 

Medium Volatility: The game strikes a balance between frequent smaller wins and occasional larger payouts, making it suitable for both casual and mid-risk players. 

Hit Frequency: With a hit frequency of 1 in 2.4 spins, players can expect regular base game wins, keeping the gameplay engaging. 

Wild Symbol: The pharaoh symbol acts as the wild, substituting for all regular symbols except the bonus scroll and money symbols. It pays as much as the premium Anubis symbol. 

The game’s simplicity makes it easy to pick up and play, while the bonus features provide enough variety to keep things interesting.

Sound and Music 

The soundtrack in Pyramid King is a mix of atmospheric and energetic elements. The base game features a mellow, jazzy Arabic-inspired tune that sets a relaxing tone, enhanced by occasional bursts of celebratory sound effects when wins occur. 

However, the music intensifies during bonus rounds, reaching a crescendo as features like free spins or the money respin feature play out. This shift in audio adds excitement and tension, creating a sense of anticipation for bigger wins. 

While the soundtrack isn’t entirely unique, it complements the theme effectively. Pragmatic Play has struck a balance between ambiance and excitement, ensuring the audio enhances the gameplay without becoming repetitive.

Bonus Features 

Pyramid King introduces two key bonus features that elevate the gameplay and create opportunities for bigger wins: Money Respin Feature 

The money respin feature is triggered when 6 or more money symbols (represented by camel tiles) land on the reels simultaneously. Each money symbol has a random cash value or a fixed jackpot (Minor, Major, or Grand) attached to it. 

Minor Jackpot: Awards 30x the stake. 

Major Jackpot: Awards 100x the stake. 

Grand Jackpot: Awards 1,000x the stake. 

Here’s how the feature works: 

Respin Start: Players are awarded 3 respins, and the triggering money symbols lock in place. 

New Symbols: Each time a new money symbol lands, it locks in place, and the respin counter resets to 3. 

End of Feature: The feature ends when no more spins remain, and all cash values are totaled. If players fill all 15 positions with money symbols, they win the Grand Jackpot. 

This feature is straightforward yet exciting, offering the potential for significant payouts without being overly complex. 

Free Spins 

The free spins round is triggered by landing 3 scroll bonus symbols on reels 1, 3, and 5. Players are awarded 10 free spins, and one regular symbol is randomly chosen to become the expanding symbol for the duration of the round. 

When the chosen symbol lands, it expands to cover the entire reel after regular wins are paid out. The expanded symbols can form winning combinations on non-adjacent reels, similar to the mechanics seen in classic “Book” slots. 

The free spins feature can be retriggered indefinitely by landing 3 more scroll symbols, adding 10 additional spins each time.

Betting Options and Payouts 

Pyramid King offers a flexible betting range to suit all types of players. The minimum bet starts at €0.25, while the maximum bet goes up to €125 per spin. 

The game’s RTP stands at 96.50%, which is competitive for medium-volatility slots. The hit frequency of 1 in 2.4 spins ensures consistent action in the base game, while the free spins and money respin features provide opportunities for bigger rewards. 

The maximum win of 2,500x the stake may feel modest compared to modern high-volatility games, but it aligns with the game’s medium-risk math model. Premium symbols offer decent payouts, with the highest-paying Anubis symbol awarding 20x the stake for five-of-a-kind.

Conclusion 

Pyramid King is a solid addition to Pragmatic Play’s collection of Ancient Egyptian-themed slots. While it doesn’t reinvent the wheel, it combines familiar mechanics with polished visuals and engaging features to deliver an enjoyable gaming experience. 

The game’s highlights include the money respin feature, which adds a jackpot element to the gameplay, and the free spins round, where expanding symbols create the potential for significant wins. With its medium volatility and 96.50% RTP, Pyramid King appeals to players who enjoy steady action and balanced payouts. 

However, players seeking groundbreaking mechanics or massive jackpot potential may find Pyramid King a bit underwhelming compared to higher-risk slots like Book of Dead.

For fans of Ancient Egyptian slots, Pyramid King offers a familiar yet polished experience that’s perfect for casual gameplay. Its combination of bonus features and classic design makes it a worthwhile option for players seeking simple, engaging fun.