Excalibur’s Choice Slot

Excalibur’s Choice Slot Machine

Excalibur, the legendary sword wielded by the mighty King Arthur, has been a prominent element in numerous stories dating back to the illustrious medieval period in Britain. The rich history behind it has inspired countless films, and naturally, it found its way onto royal slot reels as well.

In 2012, Barcrest, a prominent supplier of slot machines in traditional casinos, introduced the initial version of the game to gaming floors worldwide. Given its immense popularity, it has now made the transition to an online video slot to cater to both existing fans and undoubtedly many more to come.

Straightforward yet Intriguing

Despite the appearance of simplicity, Excalibur’s Choice™ shouldn’t be underestimated. While it presents itself as a classic 10-line slot in a 5×3 layout with a free spins feature as its sole bonus round, it proudly stands out as a high volatility game, offering the possibility of winning well over 5,000 times your wager in a single spin.

The game’s interface is uncluttered and user-friendly, showcasing only the essential buttons for adjusting bet size, activating autoplay, and displaying wins. The visuals are sharp and clean, with symbols ranging from the traditional playing card symbols of 10s to As at the lower end, to medium-value symbols like a royal ring, crown, and King Arthur on horseback, and top-tier symbols including a royal castle and King Arthur himself. The Excalibur sword serves as both the wild and scatter symbol.

The Return to Player (RTP) rate is set at a fixed 94%, offering stake sizes beginning at a friendly 0.10 credits for low rollers, and reaching up to 100 to 500 credits based on the preferences of casino operators. Achieving a combination of five identical symbols will reward players with winnings ranging from 10 to 500 times the initial bet, while landing three to five scatter symbols will grant payouts of 2x, 20x, or 200x the stake.

A Single Noteworthy Feature

The simplicity of Excalibur’s Choice™ extends to its sole bonus feature. By landing three or more scatter symbols anywhere on the reels, players will trigger a bonus round consisting of ten free spins and the chance to win up to 200 times their bet in coin prizes. While the feature lacks win multipliers, it can be retriggered indefinitely.

What sets this bonus round apart is the selection of a random pay symbol before the free spins commence. This chosen symbol will then expand during the free spins, potentially leading to significant wins. To secure a win, a minimum of two high-value or three low-value symbols must appear, with the wild symbol substituting for other symbols but not expanding. However, landing at least three wild symbols during a free spin will trigger an additional ten free spins each time.

Simplicity Yields Lucrative Wins

The highest base game win is achieved by landing five King Arthur symbols or a combination of these symbols with wilds on an active payline, granting a substantial 500 times the wager. A scenario where five King Arthur symbols appear without a wild during free spins will fill the screen with expanding King Arthurs, resulting in a payout of ten times the win, equivalent to 5,000 times the bet. If these symbols align on a payline, the maximum win in a single bonus round spin can exceed 5,500 times the bet.

Embracing More Simplicity

The straightforward yet thrilling pay mechanic featured in Excalibur’s Choice™ has its roots in slots since 2004, with Novomatic launching the first edition of their renowned slot, Book Of Ra™. Subsequently, games like Lord of the Ocean followed suit, leading other game developers to adopt this concept. Among the popular titles utilizing this mechanic are Book of Dead by Play’n GO, as well as newer releases like Book of Ming by BF Games, Book of Aztecs by Amatic, and Ramses Book by Gamomat.

An enhanced version of this mechanic can be seen in games such as Magic Mirror by Merkur Gaming making its way into casino establishments. Recently, Big Time Gaming introduced an innovative approach with Book of Gods, a 243-ways-to-win slot featuring multiple expanding symbols triggered by free spins retriggers.

A Simple Verdict

Issuing a judgment on Excalibur’s Choice™ is a straightforward task. While not suited for the faint of heart, this game has the potential to deliver substantial wins. Achieving over 5,000 credits with a 1-coin bet is a feat any dedicated slot player would appreciate. Ultimately, true joy often stems from life’s simplest pleasures, a principle that holds true with Excalibur’s Choice. Nevertheless, it’s essential to consider that this game carries a high volatility, so choose your path wisely.

Jack Barens iGaming Writer

Last Updated: December 20, 2024