The Cursed King (Backseat Gaming) Slot Review

The Cursed King: Slot Overview

Backseat Gaming ventures into the mystique of Ancient Egypt with its latest slot, The Cursed King. As a studio gaining prominence for its engaging themes and entertaining gameplay mechanics, Backseat Gaming tackles one of the most iconic settings in the casino world. With a rich visual design, The Cursed King incorporates a 5×5 grid with 19 paylines. It delivers a combination of engaging features such as expanding Wilds, bonus spins, and a free spins feature that promises extended gameplay. This slot offers an impressive potential max win of 12,500x your stake, making it an attractive choice for players seeking high volatility excitement. 

But does The Cursed King rise to the occasion in this saturated thematic genre? Let’s explore its design, gameplay mechanics, sound, features, and more. 

Design and Graphics

The visual presentation of The Cursed King is a classic Ancient Egyptian affair, complete with hieroglyphics, flame-lit braziers, and towering statues. While the theme is familiar, Backseat Gaming has ensured the game feels immersive with a stone-carved reel frame and background elements evoking a tomb-like atmosphere. Despite these efforts, there’s an amateurish touch to the hieroglyphs that may seem like ancient graffiti rather than authentic inscriptions. This small misstep doesn’t detract too much from the experience, as the overall design creates a fitting setting for a high-stakes adventure. 

The symbols range from low-paying card suits (10 to A) to higher-paying icons like scarabs, jewelry, scorpions, and winged birds, each rendered with distinct detail. A particular highlight is the Pharaoh Wild, a striking depiction that becomes even more compelling when it expands to cover entire reels during key features. 

Gameplay Mechanics

The Cursed King employs a straightforward 5-reel, 5-row grid with 19 paylines. Wins are triggered by matching three or more symbols along paylines starting from the leftmost reel. Low-paying card symbols offer payouts between 1-1.5x your bet for five-of-a-kind, while higher-paying icons reach up to 10x for a similar combination. 

The standout aspect of the gameplay comes with the Cursed King Wild Reel mechanic, which can introduce multipliers ranging from 2x to a jaw-dropping 100x. The game’s high volatility (rated 4 out of 5) ensures that payouts can be massive, though they may come infrequently. 

Sound and Music

The auditory elements of The Cursed King are atmospheric and enhance the immersive qualities of the game. The soundtrack features subtle drumming and ancient-themed instruments that evoke the sands of Egypt. As reels spin and Wilds expand, you’ll hear a combination of soft, mysterious tones and dramatic audio cues, creating a sense of tension and anticipation. While the sound design doesn’t break new ground, it complements the visual elements effectively. 

Bonus Features

The gameplay experience is elevated by several features that provide a mix of unpredictability and strategic excitement: 

Cursed King Wild Reels: When a Pharaoh symbol lands, it can expand into a Wild Reel with multipliers between 2x and 100x. If multiple Wilds appear, their multipliers are combined, potentially leading to astronomical wins. 

Free Spins Bonus Game: Triggered by landing 3, 4, or 5 scatter symbols, the free spins round offers between 3 and 5 spins. Expanded Wilds from the Cursed King move across the grid on each spin. When two Wilds collide, they merge, combining their multipliers for even larger payouts. This feature is especially thrilling due to the added respins whenever Wilds remain in play. 

Feature Buy Options: Players eager to skip directly to the action can opt for one of three buy-in features: 

BonusHunt FeatureSpins (2x the bet): Increases the chances of triggering the bonus round. 

Cursed Kings FeatureSpins (50x the bet): Guarantees at least one Pharaoh symbol and its corresponding respins. 

Bonus Game (125x the bet): Immediately activates the free spins round, allowing players to chase big wins without waiting. 

These features add depth to the gameplay, giving players multiple pathways to the coveted 12,500x max win. 

Betting Options and Payouts 

With a betting range from €0.10 to €100 per spin, The Cursed King caters to a broad spectrum of players. Whether you’re a casual gamer or a high roller, the slot ensures accessibility without compromising on the stakes. The RTP of 96.31% is competitive, falling within the industry standard for online slots, and the hit frequency of 26% means that winning spins occur approximately once every four spins. 

The game’s maximum win potential of 12,500x your bet is its main draw. Achieving this requires a combination of Wild Reels and multipliers during the bonus rounds. While the max win frequency is not explicitly stated, players can expect high volatility to make the road to such rewards challenging yet exhilarating. 

Conclusion 

The Cursed King is a visually engaging slot that capitalizes on the enduring appeal of Ancient Egypt. Backseat Gaming has crafted a solid game with features like the Wild Reel multiplier and a dynamic free spins mechanic. While the design occasionally borders on generic and the gameplay might lack the complexity of other high-tier slots, it provides plenty of entertainment value for fans of the theme. 

For players seeking the thrill of high-risk, high-reward gameplay, The Cursed King delivers a satisfying experience. Its 12,500x max win potential ensures that every spin carries a sense of possibility, making it a worthy addition to Backseat Gaming’s expanding portfolio. If you’re intrigued by the allure of ancient riches and the promise of dramatic payouts, this slot is well worth a spin.