| Provider | NetEnt |
|---|---|
| RTP | 96.15% - Compare RTPs |
| Volatility | Medium |
| Reels | 5 |
| Paylines | 20 |
| Bet Range | £0.20 - £80.00 |
| Hit Frequency | 35.00% |
| Max Win | 1,000x |
| Features | Wilds, Scatters, Bonus Rounds |
Excalibur is a 5-reel, 20-payline slot from NetEnt built around the King Arthur legend. Released in the early 2010s, it remains one of NetEnt's most recognisable classic titles, with a medieval theme, atmospheric soundtrack, and a free spins round that keeps players coming back. The RTP sits at 95.08%, volatility is low to medium, and bets start from £0.20 per spin.
Theme and Visuals
The reels are set against a stone castle, with symbols drawn straight from Arthurian legend: Merlin the wizard, Sir Lancelot, Queen Guinevere, and the Excalibur sword itself. Card-rank symbols (9 through Ace) fill the lower-value positions. The art style is detailed and cinematic for its era, and the orchestral soundtrack adds a sense of grandeur. This is not a flashy modern video slot - it is a classic with character.
Five reels and 20 fixed paylines keep the structure simple. You cannot adjust the number of active lines, only the bet size per line. The maximum bet is £200 per spin, making it accessible to low-stakes players and higher rollers alike.
RTP and Volatility
The RTP of 95.08% is slightly below the current online slot average of around 96%. That gap is noticeable over long sessions. Low to medium volatility means wins arrive fairly regularly, though they tend to be modest in the base game. The bigger payouts come from the free spins round.
The base game hit frequency is around 30%, so you will land winning combinations on roughly one in three spins. That gives the slot a steady rhythm without constantly eating into your balance between features.
Wild Symbols
Excalibur has two types of wild. The standard Excalibur sword wild appears on reels 2, 3, and 4 and substitutes for all symbols except scatters. It also carries a 2x multiplier, doubling any win it completes.
Reel 3 can also produce a golden wild - a higher-value version of the sword that applies a 4x multiplier to any line it completes. Landing the golden wild alongside the standard wild stacks the multipliers for a significant base game payout. This distinction is worth knowing before you play: the golden wild on reel 3 is your primary source of big base game hits.
Scatter Symbol and Free Spins
The Holy Grail acts as the scatter. Land three or more anywhere on the reels to trigger the free spins round. The number of spins scales with how many scatters you land:
- 3 scatters: 10 free spins
- 4 scatters: 20 free spins
- 5 scatters: 30 free spins
All wins during the free spins round carry a 3x multiplier. Combined with the wild multipliers (2x for the sword wild, 4x for the golden wild), you can reach 6x or even 12x on a single line. This is where the slot's best payouts originate. Five scatters also pay 500x your total bet outright.
The free spins can retrigger if more scatters land during the round, though any additional spins won through a retrigger do not carry the 3x multiplier.
The trigger rate for the free spins sits around one in every 150-170 spins. That means the bonus arrives at a reasonable pace without being constant, which suits the low-medium volatility profile.
Maximum Win
The maximum win from a single spin during free spins - with multipliers stacking - is in the region of 1,000x to 1,800x your stake. There is no progressive jackpot. What you win comes entirely from the paytable and multipliers.
Mobile Play
Excalibur runs in mobile browsers on iOS and Android without any additional download. NetEnt built the game with cross-device compatibility, so the controls resize cleanly to touchscreens. Older slots like Excalibur were sometimes patchy on mobile, but this one holds up well.
How It Compares
Excalibur belongs to a generation of NetEnt slots that offered generous symbol payouts relative to later releases. The paytable is comparatively strong for a low-medium volatility game. The downside is the RTP, which at 95.08% falls short of what you would find on newer titles. If RTP is your primary consideration, games like NetEnt's Starburst (96.09%) or Gonzo's Quest (95.97%) edge it out on paper.
What Excalibur offers that many modern slots do not is a clear, understandable feature set. The two wild types, the scatter trigger, the multiplier free spins - these are all transparent and well-signposted. There is nothing hidden or unnecessarily complicated here.
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Where to Play Excalibur
These online casinos carry NetEnt games including Excalibur. Read our Donbet review or browse all casino reviews.
Excalibur RTP and Variance
Excalibur has an RTP of 96.15%, which is above average. See our highest RTP slots for the best returning games. Medium volatility offers a balanced mix of win frequency and payout size.
At the minimum bet of £0.20 per spin, a £10 deposit gives you 50 spins with a statistical expected return of £9.62. Read our slot betting strategy guide for tips on managing your bankroll.
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