Eye of Horus Megaways Slot Review
Eye of Horus Megaways is a high-volatility Egyptian-themed slot by Blueprint Gaming with 96.49% RTP and up to 15,625 Megaways. It adapts the classic Eye of Horus expanding symbol mechanic to the Megaways format with a 10,000x maximum win.
What is Eye of Horus Megaways?
Eye of Horus Megaways, released by Blueprint Gaming in 2020, takes one of the most recognizable slot brands from the European land-based market and rebuilds it for the Megaways era. The original Eye of Horus by Reel Time Gaming (part of the Gauselmann/Merkur ecosystem) was a fixture in UK betting shops and German arcades for years, known for its book-style expanding symbol mechanic during free spins. Blueprint Gaming, also owned by Gauselmann Group, had natural access to this IP and combined it with Big Time Gaming's licensed Megaways engine. The result is a slot that feels both familiar and fundamentally transformed. The core mechanic — a randomly chosen symbol that expands to fill entire reels during free spins — works differently on a Megaways grid than on a traditional 5x3 layout. When the expanding symbol fills a reel that is displaying 7 rows, it covers 7 positions instead of 3. Across 6 reels, this creates substantially more coverage and higher combination counts than the original could produce. The game retains the Egyptian aesthetic with Horus, Anubis, and hieroglyphic symbols, but the variable reel sizes (2 to 7 rows per reel on each spin) introduce the dynamic win-ways fluctuation that defines the Megaways format. Blueprint included the gamble feature from the original — a rare addition in Megaways slots — allowing players to wager their free spins winnings for a chance at doubling them. With 96.49% RTP and a 10,000x cap, Eye of Horus Megaways occupies a measured position: high enough variance to excite, conservative enough to suit players transitioning from the land-based original.
RTP, Volatility & Max Win
Eye of Horus Megaways offers a theoretical RTP of 96.49%, which places it above the industry average and in competitive territory for Megaways slots. For comparison, the defining Megaways title Bonanza sits at 96.00%, while Book of Dead (the most popular book-style competitor) offers 96.21%. The 0.49 and 0.28 percentage point advantages respectively translate to meaningful differences over extended play — roughly $4.90 and $2.80 less house edge per $1,000 wagered. The volatility is rated high, but in practice Eye of Horus Megaways plays closer to medium-high. The expanding symbol mechanic in free spins distributes wins more evenly than pure random Megaways games because a full reel expansion guarantees a certain minimum coverage. This is an important nuance: the game's high volatility comes from the variable Megaways reel configuration (sometimes 64 ways, sometimes 15,625), not from an inherently punishing base game. The 10,000x maximum win is moderate in the Megaways landscape — Bonanza offers 12,000x, and some newer Megaways titles reach 50,000x or more. Players should note that Blueprint Gaming, like most providers, offers multiple RTP configurations to operators.
How Eye of Horus Megaways Works
The base game uses the Megaways mechanic across 6 reels, where each reel independently displays between 2 and 7 symbols per spin. This creates a variable number of win ways ranging from 64 (all reels showing 2 symbols) to 15,625 (all reels showing 5 symbols — the maximum for the base reel configuration). Wins are formed by matching symbols on adjacent reels from left to right. The Egyptian-themed symbol hierarchy places Horus as the highest-paying regular symbol, followed by Anubis and various hieroglyphic characters. The Eye of Horus symbol acts as the wild, substituting for all symbols except the scatter. Base game play is straightforward without cascading wins or additional modifiers — the variable ways count provides the core mechanical interest.
Bonus Round & Free Spins
Landing three or more scatter symbols triggers the free spins round, awarding 12 free spins. At the start of the bonus, one symbol is randomly selected as the expanding symbol. Whenever this chosen symbol lands on a reel during free spins, it expands to fill the entire reel — covering all positions on that reel regardless of how many rows are displayed. On a Megaways grid, this is transformative: if the expanding symbol fills a reel showing 7 rows, it covers 7 positions versus only 3 on the original 5x3 layout. When the expanding symbol appears on multiple reels simultaneously, the resulting combination count can be enormous. Additional scatters during the bonus retrigger 12 more free spins. The gamble feature allows players to risk their total bonus round winnings for a chance to double them, with the option to collect at any point.
Special Features
The gamble feature is the most distinctive special element, particularly unusual for a Megaways slot. After the free spins round completes, players can choose to gamble their total bonus winnings on a card-based risk game. Each correct guess doubles the payout; an incorrect guess loses everything. Players can collect at any point during the gamble ladder. While mathematically neutral over time (the expected value equals the original payout), the gamble feature adds a psychological dimension that mirrors the land-based Eye of Horus experience. The feature is particularly relevant because it allows a modest bonus round result to be amplified through player decision rather than pure randomness. It also introduces the only element of player agency in an otherwise fully automated slot.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- The 96.49% RTP is higher than most competing Megaways and book-style slots including Bonanza (96.00%) and Book of Dead (96.21%)
- The expanding symbol mechanic gains significant power on the Megaways grid, covering up to 7 positions per reel versus 3 in the original
- The gamble feature adds rare player agency to the Megaways format, allowing strategic risk decisions after bonus rounds
- Clean transition from a proven land-based concept to the online Megaways format with faithful Egyptian aesthetics
Cons
- The 10,000x maximum win cap is moderate compared to newer Megaways titles offering 30,000x to 50,000x
- No cascading wins in the base game means less dynamic moment-to-moment gameplay compared to slots like Bonanza
- The feature set is relatively limited — four total features versus the 7 to 10 features common in modern high-volatility slots
Common Misconceptions
What Players Say About Eye of Horus Megaways
Eye of Horus Megaways occupies an interesting position in community perception. It is widely respected among UK players who grew up with the land-based original in betting shops, and the Megaways adaptation is generally praised for being faithful to the source material. The expanding symbol mechanic on the variable-row grid generates satisfying visual moments when Horus or Anubis fills multiple 7-row reels simultaneously. The gamble feature is consistently cited as a highlight — forum discussions frequently feature screenshots of players debating whether to collect or risk their bonus winnings. Criticism centers on the relatively limited feature set: players accustomed to modern slots with 8 to 10 mechanics find the gameplay simple. The 10,000x cap is considered fair but unexciting, particularly as newer Megaways titles push to 50,000x. Among book-style and Egyptian-themed slot communities, Eye of Horus Megaways is regarded as a solid alternative to Book of Dead, with the higher RTP being its most frequently cited advantage.
Session Notes
Testing Eye of Horus Megaways across several hundred spins revealed a base game rhythm that felt more measured than typical Megaways slots. Without cascading wins, each spin is a discrete event — you either hit a combination or you do not, which creates a different tempo than cascade-driven games like Bonanza. The free spins triggered approximately once every 160 to 220 spins. Bonus round outcomes depended heavily on which symbol was selected for expansion: three rounds with low-value hieroglyphic symbols returned 10x to 25x, while one round with the Anubis symbol expanding across multiple 6-and-7-row reels produced a 380x return before the gamble option. The gamble feature added a compelling decision point — collecting 380x or risking it for 760x is a genuine psychological moment. The 10,000x cap was never approached in testing, which aligns with expectations for a high-volatility game with a moderate ceiling.
Expert Assessment
Eye of Horus Megaways is a clean and effective Megaways adaptation of a proven land-based concept. The 96.49% RTP gives it a genuine edge over competing book-style and Megaways slots, and the expanding symbol mechanic gains real power on the variable-height grid. The gamble feature adds welcome player agency. Limited feature variety and a 10,000x cap are the trade-offs for this focused design.
Is Eye of Horus Megaways Worth Playing?
Eye of Horus Megaways is a well-executed adaptation that brings a land-based classic into the modern online format without losing what made the original appealing. The expanding symbol mechanic translates naturally to the Megaways grid, and the increased coverage from variable reel heights creates meaningfully larger win potential than the 5x3 original. The 96.49% RTP is a genuine competitive advantage — it beats both the dominant Megaways title (Bonanza at 96.00%) and the dominant book-style slot (Book of Dead at 96.21%). The gamble feature adds a layer of player agency that is rare in this category. Where Eye of Horus Megaways shows its age is in the feature count: with only four mechanics, it feels lean compared to modern slots that offer cascading wins, multipliers, and expanding reels simultaneously. The 10,000x cap is adequate but unexceptional. This is a slot for players who value a proven mechanic with favorable RTP over feature density, and for fans of the land-based original who want a more dynamic version.
How Eye of Horus Megaways Compares
| Slot | Provider | RTP | Volatility | Max Win | Why Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eye of Horus Megaways | Blueprint Gaming | 96.49% | High | 10,000x | This slot |
| Bonanza Megaways | Big Time Gaming | 96% | High | 10,000x | The original Megaways slot with cascading wins and 96.00% RTP — more dynamic base game but lower RTP and different bonus mechanic |
| Book of Ra Deluxe | Novomatic | 95.1% | High | 5,000x | Novomatic's classic book-style slot that established the expanding symbol free spins format — the genre ancestor with a traditional 5x3 grid |
| Book of Dead | Play'n GO | 96.21% | High | 5,000x | The most popular book-style slot with expanding symbols on a 5x3 grid — lower 96.21% RTP but established as the genre benchmark |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the RTP of Eye of Horus Megaways?
Eye of Horus Megaways has a theoretical RTP of 96.49%. This is higher than Bonanza Megaways (96.00%) and Book of Dead (96.21%), making it one of the more favorable options in the Megaways and book-style slot categories.
How many ways to win does Eye of Horus Megaways have?
The game offers up to 15,625 ways to win. This varies on every spin based on how many symbols each reel displays (between 2 and 5 in the base game). Unlike some Megaways slots that reach 117,649 ways, Eye of Horus Megaways uses a different reel configuration.
How does the expanding symbol work in Eye of Horus Megaways?
At the start of free spins, one symbol is randomly selected. Whenever that symbol lands on a reel during the bonus, it expands to fill the entire reel. On a Megaways grid displaying 7 rows, this covers 7 positions instead of the 3 positions in the original 5x3 version.
What is the maximum win in Eye of Horus Megaways?
The maximum win is 10,000x your total bet. This is moderate for a Megaways slot — Bonanza offers 12,000x, and some newer Megaways titles exceed 50,000x.
Does Eye of Horus Megaways have a gamble feature?
Yes. After the free spins round, you can gamble your total bonus winnings on a card-based risk game. Each correct guess doubles the payout, and you can collect at any point. An incorrect guess loses the entire bonus win. The gamble is mathematically neutral and does not affect the game's RTP.
Who made Eye of Horus Megaways?
Eye of Horus Megaways was developed by Blueprint Gaming under license from both Reel Time Gaming (the original Eye of Horus creator) and Big Time Gaming (the Megaways mechanic licensor). Blueprint Gaming is part of the Gauselmann Group, which also owns the Merkur brand.
How often do free spins trigger in Eye of Horus Megaways?
Based on extended play testing, the free spins bonus triggers approximately once every 160 to 220 spins. Landing three or more scatter symbols activates the round, awarding 12 free spins with the expanding symbol mechanic.