| Provider | IGT |
|---|---|
| RTP | 95.03% - Compare RTPs |
| Volatility | Low-Medium |
| Reels | 5 |
| Paylines | 40 |
| Bet Range | £0.80 - £800.00 |
| Features | Wilds, Scatters, Bonus Rounds |
Crown of Egypt Slot Review
Crown of Egypt is a slot developed by IGT (International Game Technology) and released in 2012. It runs on a 5x4 grid - one row taller than most standard slots - and comes with a feature unique to IGT called MultiwayXtra, which layers two win systems onto the same set of reels simultaneously. That mechanic is what separates Crown of Egypt from the longer list of Egyptian-themed slots on the market.
IGT has made more Egyptian slots than perhaps any other studio. Cleopatra (1998) built the genre template. Crown of Egypt came later, with a different structural approach, and has remained a regular fixture at online casinos since its digital release.
Game Stats at a Glance
- Provider: IGT
- Release year: 2012
- Reels / Rows: 5 x 4
- Paylines: Up to 40 fixed lines plus 1,024 MultiwayXtra
- RTP: 95.03%
- Volatility: Low to medium
- Bonus features: Free spins (retriggerable), MultiwayXtra
- Bet range: £0.80 - £800 per spin
The 95.03% RTP is consistent with IGT's land-based heritage, where return rates tend to sit slightly below the 96% that some newer online-native providers publish. The low to medium volatility means the game produces wins at reasonable frequency rather than concentrating most of the action in rare bonus triggers. The 5x4 layout gives 20 symbol positions - more than the standard 5x3 - which feeds into the win mechanics.
MultiwayXtra Explained
MultiwayXtra is the headline mechanic in Crown of Egypt and is worth understanding before you play. When active, it combines two win systems at the same time: standard left-to-right payline wins and a 1,024-ways win system where matching symbols in any position on adjacent reels pay out.
You can choose how many paylines to activate - 1, 10, 20, or 40 - or switch on MultiwayXtra alongside the paylines. Activating MultiwayXtra doubles your stake, because you are now running both systems simultaneously. So on a £1-per-spin base stake with 40 lines, enabling MultiwayXtra takes your cost to £2 per spin in exchange for the additional 1,024 ways to win working in parallel.
For casual players the flexibility is useful - you can keep costs lower by sticking to a reduced payline count or the standard 40-line mode. Players who want maximum coverage activate MultiwayXtra and use both win systems at once. Neither option is inherently better; it is a matter of how much you want to spend per spin versus how many ways you have to land a win.
Symbols and Pays
The symbol set is built around Egyptian figures and artefacts. High-value symbols include Ra, Bastet, Sobek, and a lotus flower design. Lower-value icons use the standard card suite of 9, 10, J, Q, K, A styled to match the theme.
The Crown of Egypt logo is the wild. It appears on reels 2, 3, 4, and 5 - not reel 1 - and substitutes for all standard symbols. Because reel 1 never carries a wild, you cannot land an entire payline of wild symbols, but the wild can complete or extend lines across reels 2 through 5.
The scatter is a pyramid symbol and behaves differently from most slot scatters. Rather than landing anywhere on the reels to trigger a feature, it needs to appear on the middle reel (reel 3) specifically. This is unusual and worth knowing before you play - a pyramid on reel 1 or reel 5 counts for nothing beyond its visual presence.
Free Spins Feature
Two or more pyramid scatter symbols on the middle reel trigger free spins. Two pyramids awards 10 free spins, three awards 15, and four gives 20. The maximum number of scatters that can appear on reel 3 is four given the 4-row layout.
During the free spins round the symbol set changes slightly - Bastet, Sobek, and pelican-styled symbols replace some of the base game icons, shifting the visual presentation without altering the core mechanics. The same payline and MultiwayXtra structure from the base game carries through into the bonus round.
The feature is retriggerable. Landing the required pyramid scatters on reel 3 during a free spins round adds more spins to the remaining total. The upper end of how many spins can accumulate through retriggers is disputed across sources - figures between 40 and 130 are cited by different casino guides. In practice, reaching a very large number of retriggers in a single session requires a run of significant fortune.
How the 5x4 Grid Affects Play
The extra row has a practical effect on win frequency. A 5x4 grid with 40 paylines gives more opportunities for low-value symbol combinations to complete across those lines than a standard 5x3. The result is that the base game produces wins more regularly, which supports the low to medium volatility rating. The hit frequency feels different from high-volatility slots where long stretches without a win are normal.
The 1,024-ways option amplifies this further. In ways-to-win mode, every position on every reel counts - adjacent positions on adjacent reels pay regardless of which specific row they occupy. On a 5x4 grid, that means each reel contributes four positions to the count rather than three, which is why it reaches 1,024 rather than the 243 you typically see on 5x3 grids.
Mobile Compatibility
Crown of Egypt is built in HTML5 and works on any current browser without plugins or downloads. The 5x4 grid is slightly taller than average, which means on smaller portrait-mode screens the reels take up more vertical space. Landscape mode on most phones gives a more comfortable view with the control panel visible without scrolling.
The bet adjustment and feature toggles (including MultiwayXtra on/off) are available in mobile play. Load times are reasonable for a game of its vintage - IGT's online portfolio tends to be lighter on visual processing than some of the newer studios with cinematic animations.
Comparing Crown of Egypt with Cleopatra
The two most common IGT Egyptian slot comparisons are Crown of Egypt and Cleopatra. They are quite different in structure. Cleopatra uses a 5x3 grid with 20 paylines, a Sphinx scatter that triggers from anywhere on the reels, and a 3x multiplier across all free spins wins. Crown of Egypt uses a 5x4 grid, a scatter restricted to the middle reel, no multiplier in free spins, and adds the MultiwayXtra dual-system mechanic.
Cleopatra's flat 3x multiplier is straightforward - every win in free spins is tripled. Crown of Egypt relies on the volume of wins from the larger grid and MultiwayXtra rather than a multiplier boost. For players who prefer the multiplier structure, Cleopatra is the cleaner option. For those who want more reel coverage and flexibility over how many win systems are active, Crown of Egypt has the advantage.
Verdict
Crown of Egypt is a well-constructed IGT slot that uses a 5x4 grid and MultiwayXtra to differentiate itself from the standard Egyptian slot formula. The mechanic giving players control over how many win systems to activate - paylines, MultiwayXtra, or both - adds a layer of choice that most similar titles do not offer. The 95.03% RTP is reasonable without being exceptional, and the low to medium volatility suits players who want regular wins over long-shot volatility.
The scatter restriction to reel 3 is the most distinctive quirk of the game and the one that catches players out most often. Once you know to watch reel 3 specifically, the session rhythm makes more sense. The retriggerable free spins deliver the bulk of the larger wins when the feature runs well, particularly if MultiwayXtra is active during the bonus.
What is the RTP of Crown of Egypt?
Crown of Egypt has an RTP of 95.03%. Some casinos may offer a lower configuration, with 92.90% cited as the floor. The headline figure of 95.03% applies at the majority of online casinos that carry the game.
Who made Crown of Egypt?
Crown of Egypt was developed by IGT (International Game Technology), one of the longest-established gaming companies in the world. IGT is best known for land-based cabinet games including Cleopatra, Wheel of Fortune, and Double Diamond.
How do you trigger free spins in Crown of Egypt?
Two or more pyramid scatter symbols on the middle reel (reel 3) trigger the free spins feature. Two pyramids awards 10 free spins, three awards 15, and four gives 20. The scatter must land specifically on reel 3 to count.
What is MultiwayXtra in Crown of Egypt?
MultiwayXtra is an IGT mechanic that adds 1,024 ways to win on top of the standard paylines. When active, matching symbols in any position on adjacent reels pay out, regardless of which row they are in. Activating MultiwayXtra doubles your bet and runs both win systems simultaneously.
What is the wild symbol in Crown of Egypt?
The Crown of Egypt logo is the wild symbol. It appears on reels 2, 3, 4, and 5 and substitutes for all standard symbols. The wild does not appear on reel 1, so a full line of wilds across all five reels is not possible.
Can free spins be retriggered in Crown of Egypt?
Yes. Landing two or more pyramid scatters on reel 3 during the free spins round adds more spins to your remaining total. The feature is retriggerable multiple times within a single bonus round, potentially extending the bonus significantly with a good run of fortune.
Where to Play Crown of Egypt
These online casinos carry IGT games including Crown of Egypt. Read our Magic Win Casino review or browse all casino reviews.
Crown of Egypt RTP and Variance
Crown of Egypt has an RTP of 95.03%, which is around the industry average. See our highest RTP slots for the best returning games. Low-medium volatility gives a good balance between regular payouts and occasional bigger hits.
At the minimum bet of £0.80 per spin, a £10 deposit gives you 12 spins with a statistical expected return of £9.50. Read our slot betting strategy guide for tips on managing your bankroll.
More IGT Slots
If you enjoy Crown of Egypt, try these other IGT games available at the same casinos.