Kings of Gold: Overview

Showing that iSoftBet isn’t solely focused on Megaways or Asia-themed titles, the developer put together Kings of Gold, an Ancient Egypt-inspired slot. With such a well-worn setting, you generally need a standout twist to separate yourself from the crowd. iSoftBet doesn’t really chase that idea here, and the end product struggles to leave a mark. Maybe the thinking was that as long as there are no expanding symbols or books, it would be enough. Still, by the time you’re done, it’s difficult not to think a Book of Ra style clone might have been the better route.

Kings of Gold runs on a 5-reel, 25-payline layout set against the backdrop of Giza. One of its better touches is the desert scene featuring the Pyramids, which looks genuinely nice. Around the reels you’ll spot the Nile, a few dunes, and a guy on a camel taking it all in. It’s attractive, but it also feels like generic artwork with nothing animated or lively. The audio doesn’t break new ground either, leaning on the familiar “exotic” Arabic rhythm you’d expect from the screenshots. In the end, the pleasant presentation mirrors the wider game—no matter how much you search, there’s little in the way of originality.

Available on any device, Kings of Gold lets you bet from 25 p/c, rising to $/€25 per spin. Under the glossy exterior sits a fairly underwhelming RTP of 95.14%, which doesn’t exactly boost its appeal. For some reason, it often feels like ‘Book of’ style slots are destined to come with below-average RTPs. The upside is also fairly limited, while volatility sits around medium/high. Much like the rest of Kings of Gold, the numbers don’t make it especially easy to be won over.

In total, you’ve got 25 fixed paylines and 8 standard symbols. The paytable starts with card royals J-A, then moves into higher-value icons: ankhs, cat statues, winged scarabs, and a chest of gold. The four premium symbols pay 6 to 18 times the stake for five-of-a-kind line hits.

Assisting with combinations is the pharaoh wild, which substitutes for any symbol except the bonus or gold coins to complete a win. Wilds can land stacked three high, and they’re also the top-paying symbol, awarding 20 times the total bet for a line of five.

Kings of Gold: Features

In the base game, keep an eye out for the gold coin showing a specific cash value. Hitting 5 or more anywhere triggers Pharaoh’s Gold Respins. The action then switches to a grid-style setup where only gold coins, Golden Pharaoh symbols, or empty spaces can appear.

At this point, the coins that started the feature stay locked in place and the bonus begins with 3 respins. Whenever a fresh coin lands, it sticks where it is and the respin counter resets back to 3. The key symbol to land is the Golden Pharaoh. When it appears, it clears coins off the grid and gathers up all of their values. This opens up room for additional coins to drop while building towards potentially stronger returns. The feature ends either when every position is filled with symbols or when you run out of respins, after which all accumulated values are paid.

The other feature is free spins, triggered by landing 3 or more pyramid scatters. Scatters on reels 1, 3, and 5 grant 8 free spins. During each free spin, 2 to 5 reels synchronise, showing identical matching symbols, much like the mechanic used in iSoftBet’s lion themed game The King. You’ll want as much syncing as possible, since free spins can’t be retriggered, and Respins can’t be awarded from within them either.

Kings of Gold: Verdict

The last iSoftBet release we encountered with the Hold & Win label was Gold Digger—a quirky slot that may not have been amazing, but at least attempted a couple of slightly different ideas. Kings of Gold, by comparison, brings nothing new to the table. The theme, features, and overall play are as plain as they come. With Egyptian slots everywhere, developers really need a hook to justify another run at the concept. Whether it’s a brand-new feature, a standout math model, or anything that draws players in, something is needed to avoid ending up as forgettable shelf-filler like Kings of Gold.

There are a few fun stretches during the bonus rounds, and some of the animations are nicely done, but overall Kings of Gold doesn’t rank among iSoftBet’s stronger efforts. The biggest problem is just how familiar it all feels. Between the dull core gameplay and features that echo other slots, there’s not much to get excited about. Making matters worse is the weak return to player figure, which won’t help it win many fans.

Before long, it comes across as though iSoftBet built Kings of Gold on autopilot. There’s nothing fresh, engaging, or inventive here to persuade more selective players to jump in. Kings of Gold doesn’t elevate iSoftBet’s Hold & Win catalogue, and it certainly doesn’t push slot design forward. Maybe dedicated Egyptian-theme collectors who feel compelled to try every release set in their favourite corner of the world can be forgiven for giving it a spin. For everyone else, there are countless better choices. Like wandering through the Old Cairo Bazaar at peak hours, you may come away feeling a bit worn down and grubby after this one.