Cairo Link & Win

Cairo Link & Win: Slot Overview

If you're interested in an online slot about 'Egypt, Cleopatra, Gods, [and] Mythical Creatures', come have a look at Cairo Link & Win from Microgaming partner Gold Coin Studios. An Egypt-themed Link & Win slot might not be the most unique idea floating around out there, and you are unlikely to find much in the way of fiery innovation. However, Gold Coin has put together a solid slot for players into these sorts of things and managed to wedge in one or two minor twists to discover.

An attractive set-up greats players when they venture forth into Cairo Link & Win. The base game is situated in a dimly lit, collonaded room, back in Ancient Egypt times, which could be a temple, or part of a palace, or some such location. It's attractive, for those who just can't say no to this sort of thing, with music that flicks between chilled woodwind and pumping drums while tinkly effects accompany wins on the reels. There's nothing out of the ordinary to report on initially, but it's a nice view, and Gold Coin has nailed the classic look of an Egyptian-themed slot.

Cairo Link&Win comes in three RTP versions, from a low of 92.23% to a high of 96.21%. In all cases, the math model is highly volatile, while hits have a frequency of roughly every 1 in 5 spins. Playable on all platforms, users may select bets from 20 p/c to $/€25 per spin.

Players can look forward to a modicum of reel expansion when certain symbols land, but for the most part, Cairo Link & Win is played on a 5x3 game panel with 20 fixed paylines. Pay symbols are a mix of low pay card ranks, 10-A, and high pay dignitaries and deities of Ancient Egypt. These are cats for Bastet, jackals for Anubis, falcons for Horus, and Cleopatra as the highest paying symbol. Pay symbols can land stacked, as can wilds, which are used to substitute any normal symbol to help make winning lines.

Cairo Link & Win: Slot Features

The Link & Win feature headlines around here and is presumably where the game's max payout can be achieved. It is complemented with other features, such as Expanded Reels, an Express Collect, and free spins. Key to much of the action is the Link&Win symbols which display cash values or the Mini, Minor or Major prizes, worth 10x, 50x, or 1,000x the bet, respectively.

Expanded Reels

When Eye of Ra symbols land on reels 1 and 2, then the remaining reels 3, 4, and 5 expand to a 3x5 sized grid. Landing 1-5 Link & Win symbols on the expanded grid area instantly awards their values via the Express Collect feature. Free spins and the Link & Win feature can also be triggered from Expanded Reels.

Free Spins

Land 3 Pyramid Scatter symbols on reels 1-5 in the base game or on reels 3-5 during the Expanded Reels feature to win 10 free spins. For free spins, all low pay card royals are removed from the reels. In an interesting addition, reel 3 displays only wilds or Link & Win symbols. If 3 Link & Win symbols land on the third reel, they are cloned onto reels 2 and 4, thereby triggering the Link & Win feature on the remaining two reels.

Link&Win

This is triggered when 6 Link & Win symbols land on reels 1-5 in the base game, reels 3-5 in the Expanded Reels feature or landing 3 Link & Win symbols on reel 3 in free spins. This bonus is played on a 3x5 grid or a 5x3 grid, depending on how it was triggered. Once in, 3 spins are awarded, with each new Link & Win symbol resetting the count back to 3. When no new Link & Win symbols hit, the feature ends and all values in view are awarded. If all positions are filled, players win the 10,000x Mega Prize.

Cairo Link & Win: Slot Verdict

You won't find much particularly new going on in Cairo Link & Win, yet it goes about its task in quite a stylish manner that should appeal to players looking for an Egypt-themed game with a streak respin round as its central feature. The same goes for the game's presentation. There's nothing especially new going on there either, but it's slickly drawn and sounds the business, so it sits in an above-average zone in terms of graphics and audio. Gods, columns, and Cleopatra are well represented in a number of slots already, and Cairo Link & Win keeps the standard high while using them again.

Some of the highlights include the Expanded Reels concept and the special third reel in free spins. The latter first, and when landing three Link & Win symbols on reel 3, triggering the duplication effect can be quite a dramatic way of going into the Link & Win feature. When less than three Link & Win symbols do hit, they may block winning lines from forming from the third reel onwards. However, the only other symbols on the third reel in free spins are wilds, so it sort of evens out. As to the Expanded Reel feature, its impact is largely visual rather than mechanical, but it does look quite decent. It's not a complete gimmick either because Gold Coin has cleverly worked the Express Collect feature in, which is handy since you can win Link&Win symbol values on the Expanded Reels, no matter how many are in view.

It would be easier to write Cairo Link & Win off if the presentation wasn't so glossy, and Gold Coin has injected a couple of slightly different, positive additions. They might not be enough to lure in major general crowds looking for some big, unique hold-n-win gaming, but Cairo Link & Win could be of interest to Egypt buffs or streak respin specialists.