Cleopatra 2: Slot Overview

Next time you’re out in the desert, scoop up a fistful of sand and slowly let it slip through your fingers. If you tried counting every grain drifting away, you’d probably land on a number not far off the amount of Egyptian themed slots on the market. Alright, that’s a bit dramatic, but there are plenty, and among the dozens released each year, only a handful manage to stand apart. One of those was Cleopatra, a land-based classic from IGT that later made a strong move online in 2012 and became massively popular there too. It took almost ten years for a follow-up to arrive, but in 2021 the studio returned with more Egyptian queen themed action in a sequel called Cleopatra 2.

The deeper you get into Cleopatra 2, the more differences you notice, even though the overall feel stays largely familiar. Visually, there are some modest refinements; the 5-reel, 20-payline layout looks less like Book of Ra than the original did, and IGT has replaced the background columns with a classic view of the Giza Pyramids. It’s a cliché, sure, but they’re also Egypt’s most famous photo backdrop — and they’ve held that crown for thousands of years. The original’s acid jazz soundtrack has been dropped in favor of something nearly as unconventional. There are hints of Ancient Egypt, but the chanting and hand drums blend in influences from other cultures as well. Once the bonus game kicks in, the tempo ramps up with every free spin and becomes almost hypnotic by the end — especially if you manage to land a few retriggers.

Set to appear in land-based casinos worldwide, Cleopatra 2 is also playable on any device, from desktop computers to mobile phones, with stakes starting at 20 p/c per spin. As with the previous game, Cleopatra 2 is a fairly volatile trek through the sands, and it comes with a puzzling RTP spread of 93.17% to 95.88%. With no extra choices or strategy involved beyond pressing spin, it’s unclear why the RTP shifts so much, and that lack of clarity is a bit off-putting.

Anyone who enjoyed how straightforward the first game was will likely be glad that Cleopatra 2 keeps things just as simple. In both the base game and the triggered free spins, wins land when three or more matching symbols connect on a payline. IGT has changed up the symbol set, particularly the premium icons, where Bastet, Horus, and Anubis now form the 3 high-value symbols, paying up to 25 times the bet for five of a kind. For the lower symbols, the familiar royals remain, except the 9, which has been removed.

The logo symbol is where the action really starts, since five of them on a payline deliver a 2,500x payout. This Cleo II symbol also acts as a wild, appearing anywhere to substitute for any standard pay symbol. When Cleo II wilds help complete a winning line, they also double the payout value it would normally award.

Cleopatra 2: Slot Features

Keeping with the no-fuss approach, the only additional feature in Cleopatra 2 is a free spins round. To claim it, you need at least 3 Sphinx scatters on the screen to trigger the bonus. It begins with choosing one of 3 boxes to decide how many free spins you receive. The more scatters that activate the feature, the higher the total can be. That means 3, 4, or 5 scatters award 5-15, 8-18, or 10-20, plus a payout of 3x, 10x, or 2,600x the bet, respectively.

In free spins, scatter win values are reduced, but the trade-off is that premium symbols now pay for two of a kind hits. The real hook in this mode is the added win multiplier, which begins at x1. With every subsequent spin, the multiplier climbs by +1 — whether you win or not. Free spins may be retriggered up to 50 times, and the multiplier continues rising even across retriggers. In other words, if players reach the absolute limit, an x50 multiplier will be in place at the very end.

Cleopatra 2: Slot Verdict

Most readers will know we don’t cover many IGT titles here, but Cleopatra 2 earned attention thanks to the reputation and popularity of the original. That same thinking will likely apply to plenty of players too. As a standalone release, Cleopatra 2 would feel fairly standard, even if it does come with enormous win figures. Still, the first game was a huge hit, so there should be a sizeable group of curious fans ready to load up the sequel — if only to check what’s changed. In truth, not much, and that’s probably for the best. It would have felt like outright sacrilege if IGT had taken a beloved classic and rebuilt it into something ultra-modern.

Thankfully for long-time fans, they didn’t, though there are a few fresh touches to find in a game that still carries a strong land-based vibe. The standout change is that Cleopatra is now a much higher stakes experience, with five times the potential of part one. A progressive multiplier that’s guaranteed to rise on every spin is an enticing idea. It’s not entirely new, but it doesn’t often stretch as far as the 50,000x the bet potential available in Cleopatra 2. And as noted earlier, the free spins music goes completely wild, so paired with a big hit, it creates a strangely thrilling payoff.

Mixing huge potential with familiar visuals and a recognizable feel is close to a sure-fire formula. IGT will be counting on nostalgia to bring back returning players, while that 50k headline win figure may help others ignore the confusing RTP range.