Rise of Khepri: Slot Overview

Software developer Light & Wonder (formally SG Digital) has visited the ancient world plenty of times, though it’s arguably most recognised for its Greek-themed outings, including 300 Shields Mighty Ways. Here, the studio heads across the Mediterranean for an Ancient Egyptian adventure in an online slot called Rise of Khepri. With Egyptian slots being one of the most crowded categories around, Rise of Khepri tries to separate itself via a progressive scatter prize mechanic in free games, where players can steer the volatility or, with enough luck, unlock Super Free Games.

Ancient Egypt remains one of the most well-preserved early civilizations, and it’s easy to imagine how impressive it must have been in its prime. Rise of Khepri offers a window into that grandeur, presenting crisp pyramids, obelisks, and other neatly arranged stonework. Khepri is the god of the morning sun, or the rising sun, and was sometimes shown as a scarab—an iconic symbol in Ancient Egyptian culture and a familiar sight in online slots. The idea was that the sun is reborn each day, with Khepri pushing it across the sky much like a beetle rolls dung across the ground. It’s a striking way to interpret nature, and it does make you think about how people thousands of years from now might judge our own understanding of the universe. Maybe we’ve overlooked something obvious, or there’s a deeper layer of reality still waiting to be uncovered that could change everything we assume we know.

What’s beyond doubt is that Rise of Khepri runs on a 5-reel, 3-row layout and uses a 243-ways-to-win format. A win is formed by landing at least three matching symbols on three consecutive reels starting from the left. Although players can adjust volatility during free games, Light & Wonder classed the overall volatility as medium and offers three RTP configurations, with the top option set at 96.12%. Stakes range from 20 p/c to $/€50 per spin, and Rise of Khepri is available on tablet, mobile, and desktop.

On the lower end of the paytable are the 10-A card royals, followed by a scroll, vase, Ankh, eye, and a pyramid/sphinx pairing, with the premium icons looking particularly well-crafted. For payouts, five of a kind returns 2x to 2.5x the bet for the royals, or 4x to 15x the bet for the premium symbols. Wilds assist by substituting for any paying symbol to help complete wins. Wilds can land on every reel except the leftmost one.

Rise of Khepri: Slot Features

Rise of Khepri doesn’t reinvent the wheel, yet its mechanics are enjoyable and revolve around scarab cash prizes, free games, Super Free Games, and bonus buy options.

Scarabs and Mega Scarabs

Scarab and Mega Scarab symbols may land on any reel. Hitting 1 Mega Scarab awards a cash prize, while 2 Mega Scarabs award a cash prize and a multiplier. Landing 3 Mega Scarabs awards a cash prize, multiplied twice, then Super Free Games are triggered.

Free Games

Landing 3 regular Scarabs activates the standard free games feature. After it starts, players pick one of the following:

• 12 free spins with a starting Scarab value of x1.
• 9 free spins with a starting Scarab value of x2.
• 6 free spins with a starting Scarab value of x5.
• A random mix of the above values.

In free games, the Scarab multiplier value is shown beside the reels. Each time a Scarab symbol hits, the current multiplier value is awarded, and then the multiplier is increased by the Scarab symbol’s starting value – the x1, x2, or x3 that was picked at the beginning. As an example, if the multiplier sits at x1 and four x1 Scarabs land, they pay 4x the bet and then raise the multiplier by +4. The multiplier maxes at x200, and free games cannot be retriggered.

Super Free Games

Activated by landing 3 Mega Scarabs, this feature grants 12 free games with the Scarab value for the multiplier increment is x5. In addition, all ways wins are multiplied by x3. Mega Free Games cannot be retriggered.

Bonus Buys

Where available, players may purchase access to the regular free games round for 50x the bet, or buy entry to Super Free Games for 300x the base bet.

Rise of Khepri: Slot Verdict

Rise of Khepri doesn’t overflow with fresh ideas or an intense, high-energy feel, but it’s a pleasant Ancient Egyptian-themed slot with features that will appeal to the right audience. It also lacks the sense of peril found in 300 Shields Mighty Ways; there’s no combat, no chaos, and nothing along those lines. Instead, the overall tone is noticeably calmer, helped by the less volatile maths. That said, players still get some control over volatility once free games begin, thanks to four selectable options that change the number of spins and the multiplier progression. It’s also fairly well priced, as a 50x bet cost for buying the regular free games round is competitive compared to many alternatives.

The 300x price tag for Super Free Games is naturally steeper, though Super Free Games delivered some of the standout moments during testing. Much depends on how many Scarab symbols appear, since more of them not only award additional cash prizes but also accelerate the multiplier as they keep landing. When the multiplier had built to a strong level and Scarabs were arriving in stacks, Rise of Khepri became genuinely entertaining. Super Free Games also seem like the most likely route to the title’s top end, which the game sheet lists as 7,500x the bet. For completeness, outside of Super Free Games, the fun factor dipped quite noticeably.

Overall, Rise of Khepri doesn’t feel like it’s going to shake up the genre in the way a 300 Shields-type release might, but its strengths outweigh its shortcomings in the grand scheme of online slots. It offers solid entertainment and should suit Ancient Egyptian slot fans who want a different set of mechanics to play around with.