Eye of Horus: the Egyptian slot that upgrades instead of multiplying

From German arcade halls to Irish phones

Eye of Horus started out on land-based machines in Germany, where Egyptian themes have been a staple of the arcade halls for decades. It came online through Blueprint Gaming, the British studio in the same Gauselmann family as the German Merkur brand, and it has been one of Blueprint's most played titles ever since. Credits for the original design are usually given to Reel Time Gaming; the online game you open today carries the Blueprint name.

It is worth knowing the origin because it explains the feel. This is a machine designed for a hall full of players dropping in for twenty minutes: simple screen, clear symbols, one feature that is easy to follow from across the room.

The base game

Five reels, three rows and ten lines. Horus himself is the wild; he appears on the middle three reels and expands to cover the whole reel when he lands, helping complete lines. Three or more tomb-door scatters trigger twelve free spins. So far, so familiar.

The upgrade mechanic, which is the whole point

During the free spins, every Horus wild that lands does two things. It expands as before, and it upgrades a symbol: the lowest-paying symbol still on the reels turns into the next one up, for the rest of the round. Land enough wilds and the low symbols vanish altogether, until the reels hold only the top-paying ones. Each wild also adds extra free spins.

The effect is a feature that tends to get better as it goes on. A round with an early wild or two can turn into a long run where every line pays something decent. A round with no wilds is twelve ordinary spins. That distribution is the opposite of Book of Dead, where one random choice at the start sets the tone for the whole feature.

RTP and versions

The Blueprint version most sites list shows a return to player of around 96.3%, but like most Blueprint games it exists in more than one configuration, and there are several sequels and editions: a Megaways version, jackpot-linked versions and later titles in the series. Each has its own figure. The only reliable way to know what you are playing is the rules screen inside the game, and the habit of checking it will save you more money over a year than any bonus.

Who it suits, and how to play it

• Players who like a bonus that builds rather than one that is decided by a coin toss at the start.
• Medium-length sessions: budget for around 200 spins at your stake, which gives a fair chance of seeing the feature.
• Anyone coming from arcade or shop machines who wants something that feels familiar but has a genuinely clever twist.
• Not ideal for bonus wagering if the site you use runs a lower setting. Check first.

Blueprint's other famous title, Fishin' Frenzy, has its own page, and the studio is profiled on Blueprint Gaming. For the wider list, see our popular games hub.

Where to play Egyptian slots in the same vein

Egyptian slots with expanding wilds are common in large lobbies. The five sites we cover all carry big catalogues where such titles turn up, and each has a checked welcome code.