The Cursed King Slot Review
Backseat Gaming, the sibling studio of Hacksaw Gaming, continues the developer’s tradition of crafting visually impressive slots with engaging mechanics. The Cursed King takes players on an adventure through Ancient Egypt, featuring a distinctive walking multiplier wild system that adds layers of anticipation to both base game and bonus rounds. Released in February 2024, this 5×5 Egyptian-themed release sits firmly in the medium-high volatility space, delivering solid mechanics without attempting to reinvent the genre.
Base Game & Features
The Cursed King operates across a 5×5 grid with 19 paylines, creating a compact yet engaging base game experience. The mathematical foundation is solid, with an RTP of 96.31% and a hit frequency of 26.02%, meaning roughly one in four spins will deliver some form of win. This hit rate helps maintain engagement during base gameplay, though the medium-high volatility ensures not every win is substantial.
The standout feature during base game is the Cursed King Wild Reels mechanic. When the Pharaoh symbol lands on the reels as part of a winning combination, it expands to transform the entire reel into a wild symbol. What makes this particularly interesting is the multiplier attached: these wild reels apply multipliers ranging from 2x to 100x to winning combinations passing through them. The mechanic allows multiple expanding multiplier wilds to participate in the same win, with their values combining additively. This creates the potential for explosive spins even during the base game, though activation frequency remains unpredictable–adding genuine volatility to standard play.
Visual Presentation
Backseat Gaming has invested considerable effort in the visual design, and it shows. The graphics quality sits above the industry standard for this tier of release, with smooth animations throughout the game. Particularly when the Pharaoh symbol expands to occupy entire reels, the animations are visually captivating. Intricately designed symbols reflect classic Egyptian iconography–hieroglyphics, golden amulets, and regal imagery–creating an atmosphere of mystery and ancient wealth. The presentation is polished and professional, establishing clear visual identity without feeling dated or over-rendered.
The Cursed King Free Spins
Free spins are triggered by landing 3, 4, or 5 scatter symbols anywhere across the reels, providing flexible access to the bonus feature. During the free spins round, the walking multiplier wild mechanic truly shines. The expanded Pharaoh wild reels that trigger remain persistent on the reels, and here’s where the unique mechanic emerges: these full-reel wilds walk one step left or right with each respin, creating strategic anticipation as they move across the grid. The walking wild awards respins whenever it lands, meaning a single Pharaoh symbol can unlock multiple consecutive spins if it keeps landing on new positions.
This mechanic effectively extends the free spins round beyond the initial award, providing genuine winning potential. In our review, we found that respins triggered by wild symbols can significantly stretch initial free spins allocations, creating engaging gameplay dynamics where players genuinely wonder how far a walking wild will progress across the reels.
Feature Buy Options
The Cursed King offers three bonus purchase paths, allowing players to choose their preferred route into the feature:
- BonusHunt FeatureSpins (costs 2x bet) – Increases bonus activation probability by 3x, giving players a better chance of landing free spins naturally during regular play
- Cursed Kings FeatureSpins (costs 50x bet) – Guarantees a minimum of one Pharaoh symbol per spin during the feature, ensuring at least some guaranteed winning potential
- Bonus Game (costs 125x bet) – Direct entry into a full free spins round with accelerated feature activation
These options provide flexibility for different play styles. Casual players might use the 2x BonusHunt option occasionally, whilst high-stakes players seeking immediate free spins access can pay the 125x premium. The bonus buy feature is increasingly common in modern slots, though the pricing remains within industry-standard ranges for the volatility tier.
Our Honest Verdict
The Cursed King sits comfortably in the “above-average but not exceptional” category–a solid mid-tier release from a developer that shows technical competence without delivering the killer innovation that elevates games from good to excellent. The walking multiplier wild mechanic is genuinely the standout feature, and it does bring a layer of excitement and anticipation during bonus rounds. The 96.31% RTP is respectable for a medium-high volatility slot, and the maximum win of 12,500x stake is achievable in all game modes (base game, free spins, and via bonus buy), which gives players genuine winning potential.
Visually, this slot punches above its weight class. The graphics and animations are better than many other games at this price point, with particular attention to detail in the Egyptian theme and smooth symbol animations. The gameplay feels captivating when the walking wild mechanic activates, though between feature triggers, the base game remains fairly conventional.
The primary limitation isn’t mechanical but rather philosophical: Backseat Gaming as a studio tends to design games that are “very good” but lack that certain something that would elevate them to “excellent.” The feature set here is perfectly fine but somewhat limited in variety compared to what the industry has seen from more ambitious releases. Those seeking feature-rich gameplay or truly groundbreaking mechanics will find more innovative options elsewhere. However, for players who appreciate well-designed Egyptian-themed slots, enjoy the walking wild mechanic, and are comfortable with medium-high volatility gameplay, this slot will more than suffice. It’s the sort of game that rewards extended play sessions without demanding they be particularly eventful–straightforward, competent, and visually appealing.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is the RTP of The Cursed King?
The Cursed King features a default RTP of 96.31%, which is solid for a medium-high volatility slot. Alternative RTP settings are available: BonusHunt FeatureSpins (96.3%), Cursed Kings FeatureSpins (96.29%), and Bonus Game (96.26%). The default 96.31% RTP matches UK and European player expectations for this volatility tier. -
What is the maximum win on The Cursed King?
The maximum win on The Cursed King is 12,500x your stake. This maximum is achievable in all game modes–base game, free spins, and through the bonus buy feature. The walking multiplier wilds (which range from 2x to 100x) combined with the Pharaoh symbol expansion mechanic enable this substantial win potential. -
Does The Cursed King have free spins?
Yes, The Cursed King features a free spins bonus round triggered by landing 3, 4, or 5 scatter symbols. During free spins, the walking multiplier wild mechanic is fully activated, with persistent Pharaoh wilds moving across the reels and triggering respins. This extends the feature beyond the initial award and creates the primary opportunity for substantial wins during bonus play. -
What volatility level is The Cursed King?
The Cursed King features medium-high volatility (rated 4 out of 5 on the volatility scale). This means wins are less frequent than low-volatility games but tend to be more substantial when they land. The hit frequency of 26.02% means roughly one in four spins delivers some payout, whilst the walking wild mechanic provides the potential for explosive wins during favourable streaks. -
Can I buy the bonus on The Cursed King?
Yes, The Cursed King offers three bonus purchase options: BonusHunt FeatureSpins (2x bet, increases bonus chances), Cursed Kings FeatureSpins (50x bet, guarantees minimum Pharaoh per spin), and full Bonus Game (125x bet, direct entry). These options allow players to choose whether to chase features naturally or purchase direct access based on their play style and bankroll. -
What is the betting range on The Cursed King?
The Cursed King accommodates a wide range of player budgets with a minimum bet of $0.10 per spin and a maximum bet of $100 per spin. This range suits casual players testing the game at low stakes as well as high-stakes players seeking substantial wagering potential. -
Is The Cursed King mobile-friendly?
Modern Backseat Gaming releases are built with mobile play in mind. The Cursed King is fully optimised for smartphone and tablet play, allowing players to experience the walking wild mechanic and full feature set on mobile devices. The 5×5 grid format scales smoothly to mobile screens without compromising gameplay or animation quality. -
What theme does The Cursed King follow?
The Cursed King is set in Ancient Egypt with intricately designed symbols reflecting classic Egyptian iconography–hieroglyphics, golden amulets, mystical artefacts, and regal imagery. The visual presentation creates an atmosphere of mystery and ancient wealth, supported by smooth animations and a polished overall aesthetic that suits the theme without feeling derivative.
