Journey of the Sun

Journey of the Sun Slot Review

Ancient Egypt is one of the most enduring slot themes around, but Microgaming found a way to stand out from the crowd with Journey of the Sun. Rather than leaning on the usual mummies and pharaohs, this 2013 release puts cats front and centre - and given how revered they were in Egyptian culture, that is a natural fit. The result is a five-reel, 25-payline slot with an ornate temple backdrop, cartoonish artwork, and a bonus round built around an actual piece of ancient history.

Game Basics

Journey of the Sun runs on five reels with 25 adjustable paylines. You control three things: coin value (starting at £0.01 per coin), coins per line, and how many lines to activate - giving a betting range of roughly £0.01 up to £25 per spin. Paylines pay left to right only, so there is no both-ways mechanic here.

The RTP sits at 95.88%, which is slightly below the modern average but not unusual for a Microgaming title from this era. Volatility is medium, meaning you can expect a reasonable mix of smaller regular wins and the occasional bigger payout - it will not swing wildly in either direction. For comparison, Sun Quest from the same developer carries a higher 96.95% RTP over a similar 5-reel, fruit-themed format.

Symbols and Wilds

The symbol set is split between thematic icons and the familiar playing card fillers (9 through Ace). On the thematic side you get four distinct cat designs, each paying out at different rates depending on how many land in sequence on an active payline. Cats aside, two symbols carry the gameplay weight:

• Golden Ankh (Wild) - substitutes for all regular symbols to complete winning combinations. The ankh appears on all reels and can make a real difference when it drops in the right spot.
• Journey of the Sun (Scatter) - the wild cannot substitute for this one. Hit two scatters anywhere on the reels and you get a cash prize; hit three or more and the free spins bonus kicks in.

The scatter triggering from any position - not just specific reels - means you do not need to play all 25 lines to have a shot at the bonus, which is a useful flexibility when playing at lower stakes.

The Senet Bonus Round

This is where Journey of the Sun earns its place as more than just another Egyptian slot. When three or more scatter symbols appear, the game takes you to a second screen based on Senet - an actual ancient Egyptian board game dating back over 5,000 years. It is one of the oldest known games in human history, and using it as the backbone of a bonus round is a neat piece of design thinking that sets this game apart from titles like Crown of Egypt or Throne of Egypt, which rely on more conventional free spins triggers.

The Senet screen presents a 3x10 grid split between light and dark squares. You pick from the first 15 squares, and your selection determines two things simultaneously: the number of free spins you receive, and your multiplier for the entire free spins round. Your game piece then moves along the board to a corresponding square that confirms the multiplier before the free spins begin.

Once the free spins are running, all standard game mechanics apply - wilds still substitute, scatters still pay. Better still, it is possible to re-trigger the feature by landing another three or more scatters during your free spins, sending you back to the Senet board for another pick.

Expert Mode and Statistics

Journey of the Sun offers two play modes: regular and expert. The only functional difference is autoplay, which is only available in expert mode. When you do switch over, the autoplay options go beyond a simple spin count - you can set it to stop when you hit a particular win amount, which is handy if you want to lock in a good run rather than let it ride.

Expert mode also surfaces a statistics panel showing your session length and a record of your best wins. It is a minor touch but the kind of detail that adds personality to a game that might otherwise feel a bit sparse on features by current standards.

Mobile and Compatibility

Journey of the Sun was built in the Flash era and is not natively mobile-compatible. Most modern casinos will offer it through an emulated or HTML5 conversion if they carry it at all, but it is worth checking with your chosen site before assuming it will load on a phone or tablet. The desktop version runs smoothly and the interface is clean enough to navigate without any friction.

How Journey of the Sun Compares

Within the Egyptian slot category, Journey of the Sun has a more distinctive identity than most. Legacy of Egypt from Play'n GO features a more modern mechanics set with pays-anywhere clusters, while Egyptian Heroes goes in a different direction entirely with a superhero twist on the theme. For players who want a straightforward pick-your-multiplier bonus with genuine historical context, Journey of the Sun is the more focused choice.

It is also worth looking at Microgaming's broader Egyptian output: Cleopatra covers the queen-of-the-Nile angle, while the ancient world appears again in Avalon and other Microgaming releases that lean into mythology and history. Journey of the Sun stands out because the Senet mechanic is not just decoration - it directly shapes the outcome of the bonus round.

Casinos carrying Microgaming titles are listed in our casino reviews.

Verdict

Journey of the Sun is a slot that rewards a closer look. On the surface it is a fairly standard Egyptian-themed game from 2013 - five reels, 25 paylines, 95.88% RTP. But the Senet bonus round genuinely sets it apart. Using one of history's oldest board games to determine your free spins count and multiplier is an unusual and memorable mechanic, and the ability to re-trigger keeps things interesting. Medium volatility means neither high rollers nor cautious players will feel out of place here. If you are browsing Egyptian slots and want something with a bit more thought behind its bonus structure, this one is worth your time.

Where to Play Journey of the Sun

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