Sands of Eternity (Slotmill) Slot Review

Sands of Eternity 2: Slot Overview
The sands have shifted once more. Sands of Eternity 2, released on June 18, 2024, marks Slotmill’s return to ancient Egypt—but this time with upgrades tailored by player feedback. A sequel to the popular 2021 original, this reimagined slot expands on the foundations of its predecessor without reinventing them, offering a visually richer experience and significantly enhanced mechanics. It’s a well-paced tumble slot with cascading wins, modifier blocks, and a much broader dynamic grid, bolstered by additional stone features and an overhauled free spins mode.
Where the original Sands of Eternity felt more restrained, its successor feels bold and expansive. With a 6-reel, up-to-7-row layout and a boosted ways-to-win system ranging from 729 to 117,649, this medium-high volatility title aims to appeal to both fans of the original and newcomers seeking an avalanche-style Egyptian slot. With a max win of 15,000x and a 96.10% RTP, Sands of Eternity 2 is geared toward epic sessions built on symbol destruction, explosions, and game state progression.
Design and Graphics
Slotmill has taken full advantage of the sequel format to elevate the visual identity of Sands of Eternity 2. Gone is the slightly modest presentation of the original—now replaced by a fully animated Egyptian chamber drenched in mysticism and glowing blue runes. The game grid is framed by tall columns and mystical statues, with shifting light effects enhancing the ambiance. Symbols now feel more stylized and defined, particularly the gem types and ancient deities.The reel area is dynamic, expanding and contracting based on wins and special features. Stone blocks serve both as a visual and functional element, giving the grid a layered, tactile look. When combined with subtle animations and visual flourishes from modifiers like Shift of Thoth or Rays of Ra, the presentation becomes highly engaging.
Symbol design blends ancient motifs with modern color palettes:
- Low pays include animal shapes and colorful gem blocks.
- High pays are stylized faces of Egyptian gods.
- Scatter and feature symbols are distinct, glowing with supernatural energy.
This is one of Slotmill’s best-looking games—at once atmospheric and modern.
Gameplay Mechanics
Sands of Eternity 2 plays out on a 6×7 grid, with varying rows and up to 117,649 ways to win. Wins are awarded for matching symbols from left to right, beginning at the leftmost reel.
The game uses the Avalanche mechanic, where winning symbols and adjacent stone blocks explode off the reels, allowing others to tumble into place. This opens the door for chain reactions and multiple wins per spin. Importantly, stone blocks do not fall, creating fixed barriers that influence the dynamics of the grid.
Reel modifiers add additional depth to every spin, from random expansions to cascading win multipliers in Super Mode. With 12 pay symbols and varying payout tiers (0.25x–3.5x), there’s enough base game variation to keep even non-feature spins entertaining.
Slotmill’s decision to allow feature modifiers to remain active across spins, particularly during the bonus, enhances player immersion and perceived momentum.
Sound and Music
The soundtrack is a haunting, ambient Egyptian-inspired score layered with low-frequency hums and chimes that subtly escalate as the action unfolds. It’s immersive without being intrusive—a good fit for the ancient, mystical theme.
Audio effects are richly layered:
- Stone blocks crack and shatter
- Scatters explode with impact
- Win streaks pulse with increasingly intense notes
The auditory payoff for modifiers like Rays of Ra and Shift of Thoth gives each feature a distinct identity. The balance between relaxing base game sound and dramatic feature audio helps maintain engagement over long play sessions.
Bonus Features
Sands of Eternity 2 doesn’t skimp on features. Whether it’s through manually triggered mechanics or randomly activated ones, there’s always something new popping off the reels. Avalanche Feature
All winning symbols—plus stone blocks directly next to them—explode, triggering a cascade. New symbols drop into the gaps, and avalanches repeat until no new wins appear.
Special Stone Blocks
Positioned in the grid’s corners, these activate special effects when destroyed:
- Wild Scarab: Spawns a wild symbol.
- Shift of Thoth: Randomly transforms symbols into one type.
- Rays of Ra: Adds random wilds to the grid.
These modifiers can appear both in the base game and during free spins.
Random Expansion
This mechanic removes non-special stone blocks randomly, increasing bet ways and opening up the grid for larger combinations.
Free Spins Bonus
Triggered by collecting 3 scatter symbols, which also remove neighboring stone blocks, this mode starts with 8 free spins. During each spin:
- Special stone blocks are added in random positions.
- Multiplier Stone Blocks increase a persistent win multiplier.
- Extra Free Spin Stone Blocks add +1 spin when destroyed.
Super Mode
Occasionally, the game enters Super Mode, either randomly or via the Fast Track buy option. In this state, every win increases the win multiplier by +1, leading to dramatic cascades and surging payout potential.
Betting Options and Payouts
Sands of Eternity 2 accommodates a broad range of bankrolls:
Min/Max bet: €0.20 to €60 per spin
Volatility: Medium to High
Max Win: 15,000x your stake
The game has a base RTP of 96.10%, with slight variations depending on feature buys:
Expand (15x) – RTP: 96.15%
Free Spins Bonus (100x) – RTP: 96.36%
Super Mode Bonus (300x) – RTP: 96.4%
Payouts for symbol matches range from:
0.25x to 0.3x for low pays
0.5x to 0.6x for mid-tier symbols
1.5x to 3.5x for high pays (6 of a kind)
Given the dynamic grid and multiplier systems, the real value lies in combo-building and feature stacking, not just single-line payouts.
Conclusion
Sands of Eternity 2 is a model sequel. Rather than replacing what worked in the original, Slotmill has expanded, refined, and empowered it. The larger grid, upgraded visuals, and multitude of mechanical enhancements bring fresh energy to the formula without losing its identity. Every corner of the grid can potentially erupt in modifiers, wilds, or reconfiguration, creating a feeling of unpredictability that’s exhilarating rather than chaotic.
With Super Mode, avalanche cascades, and the powerful stone block system, gameplay is consistently engaging. The base game doesn’t feel like a grind thanks to constant movement and decent win frequency, while the bonus features offer that adrenaline-fueled potential for big rewards.
Slotmill has once again demonstrated that it listens to its audience. Sands of Eternity 2 is a brilliant expansion of a beloved title—bigger, better, and more generous in both visuals and payout opportunity.
If you’re a fan of avalanche-style slots with strategic modifiers, high replayability, and epic Egyptian aesthetics, Sands of Eternity 2 deserves a spot on your must-play list.