10 Pharaohs: Slot Overview

Two of history’s great powers, the Ancient Egyptians and the Ancient Romans, were based on opposite sides of the Mediterranean. Rome ultimately prevailed after the battle of Actium when the cultures collided, yet in a way it’s gamblers who’ve benefited most over time. That’s because Rome and Egypt remain go-to themes for online punters, and Push Gaming has blended both worlds with an instant prize win mechanic, aka 9 Masks of Fire, first seen in 10 Swords and now in 10 Pharaohs – a reskin of 2024’s 10 Flaming Bisons.

The base game takes place on a cracked, sand-worn structure, where the 10 Pharaohs grid sits beneath 4 jackpot prizes at the top and a prize ladder on the left. Both sets of prizes can be won when specific linked symbols land, while the ladder shows how many are needed for standard Pharaoh symbol payouts. There isn’t a huge amount to say about the presentation. Push Gaming rarely delivers unattractive visuals, and 10 Pharaohs keeps that standard. That said, it also doesn’t offer much that feels genuinely fresh, and a subtle land-based vibe runs through much of the experience.

In the base game, and when free spins begin, 10 Pharaohs uses a grid of 5 reels with 20 paylines. Extra rows can be opened during the bonus or by switching on the Push Up ante bet. Stakes run from 10 c to $/€100, rising to 2.5x the bet when Push Up adjusts the layout to 5×4, or to 5x the bet when Push Up expands the grid to 5×5. Free spins start with the matching number of active rows. There are three RTP versions available, with the top option set at 96.26%, and the volatility sits in the medium range.

From highest to lowest, the symbol set includes 3 character symbols, 3 Egyptian-themed items, plus J-A card royals. Five matching royals return 1x the bet, mid symbols pay up to 6x the bet, and 5-of-a-kind character hits award 20 to 30 times the bet. The ‘W’ acts as the wild, replacing any symbol except the Scarab, Pharaoh, and Jackpot Pharaoh symbols. Wilds also carry the same payout value as the top-paying regular symbol.

10 Pharaohs: Slot Features

Feature-wise, 10 Pharaohs includes instant-prize Pharaoh symbols and Jackpot Pharaoh symbols, a free spins mode with rows that can be unlocked, and a bonus buy option.

Pharaoh Symbol

In both the base game and the free spins round, Pharaoh symbols can appear on the reels. Hitting 4 to 10 Pharaoh symbols pays out 2x to 1,000x the bet.

Jackpot Pharaoh Symbol

Jackpot Pharaoh symbols can also land in every stage of play. If a Jackpot Pharaoh lands at the same time as at least 3 other Pharaoh symbols (whether they are Jackpot Pharaohs or not), the Jackpot Pharoah symbol’s instant prize is awarded. Jackpot Pharaohs also count toward standard Pharaoh symbol payouts. The 4 types of Jackpot Pharoah prizes are the 15x Mini, the 50x Minor, the 500x Major, and the 5,000x Mega.

Free Spins

Landing 3, 4, or 5 Scarabs awards 8, 10, or 12 free spins, respectively. In free spins, any Scarab symbols that land fill the Locked Row meter. Each locked row meter needs 4 collected Scarab symbols to unlock. Every unlocked row grants +3 free spins for the first unlocked row, +2 free spins for the second and third unlocked rows, and +1 extra free spin for the fourth unlocked row. As rows open, the ways to win rise accordingly, up to 60 on the 5×7 matrix.

Bonus Buy

10 Pharaohs offers one bonus buy option, costing 75x the bet to purchase the free spins round.

10 Pharaohs: Slot Verdict

Slots that pay out cash prizes based on how many prize symbols land were already plentiful, since this is a well-used format. Even so, Push Gaming has added worthwhile touches to the style. 10 Swords stood out thanks to its slick symbol conversion feature, and 10 Pharaohs, as a conversion of 10 Flaming Bisons, has its own highlights too. Still, it’s uncertain whether those moments will win over players who prefer the studio’s tougher titles, like Razor Returns et al., or the full-throttle risk of Mad Cars. Alongside catering to that audience, Push gaming has also been targeting other parts of the market for some time—players who enjoy softer maths and more mainstream mechanics—and 10 Pharaohs fits that mould.

One thing 10 Pharaohs brings that 10 Swords lacks is Pharaoh Jackpot symbols, though they’re a love-it-or-hate-it addition. The issue is the game already depends heavily on landing instant prize symbols for rewards. As a result, Pharaoh Jackpot symbols don’t introduce a huge amount that 10 Swords and similar releases haven’t already covered. Still, the possibility that just 3 Pharaoh symbols plus a Mega Jackpot Pharoah can trigger a 5,000x payout—rather than needing 12 symbols—may be enough to spark optimism for some players. Add a bit more on top of the Mega prize, and you’re already pushing into the game’s 5,602x the stake win cap.

Overall, while 10 Pharaohs isn’t bringing major innovation—really none, given it’s a reskin—the added elements like Push Up, an expanding free spins grid, and a jackpot layer do help it separate itself from the crowd, at least somewhat. It’s far from Push Gaming’s most extreme release, but the mainstream audience it’s aimed at should find plenty to like.