Dark King: Forbidden Riches uses a single Wild count as its multiplier: every Wild on the reels raises the multiplier applied to all bet-line wins, up to ×5. Three or more Scatters award Free Spins, where fixed cross-shaped hotspots turn landing Wilds into Sticky Wilds and add an extra spin. The 5×3, 20-line layout is conventional, but the feature hinges on a sharp contrast between a global Wild count in both modes and a positional lock rule that exists only in the bonus.
Dark King: Forbidden Riches at a glance
| Provider | NetEnt |
|---|---|
| Genre / theme | Fantasy |
| Game type | Video slot |
| Reels / grid | 5 reels × 3 rows |
| Reference RTP | 96.06% |
| Volatility | 7 (catalog scale) |
| Payout mechanic | 20 lines |
| Maximum win | 1,600× bet |
| Release date | 8 October 2020 |
| Main features | Every Wild raises the multiplier on all line wins to a ×5 cap; 3–5 Scatters award 10–15 spins, with cross-hotspot Wilds sticking and adding capped extra spins. |
RTP and stake limits can vary by version and market. Check the information screen in the game you open. Maximum win is a ceiling, not an expected result.
A global multiplier tied to Wild presence
The game has five reels by three rows and 20 lines. When one or more Wild symbols appear anywhere in the main game or Free Spins, all bet-line wins are multiplied by a Wild Multiplier equal to the number of Wilds on the reels. The maximum is ×5. This is a count-based global effect: the source says all line wins receive the value, not only lines containing a Wild. It also establishes a cap, so a sixth Wild does not raise the multiplier beyond five.
The description says each new Wild boosts winnings, which aligns with the recorded count rule, but no details are given about whether Wilds can arrive in a particular reel position or how multiple Wilds interact with payline symbol substitution beyond their multiplier role. The count is the grounded fact; no separate additive or multiplicative rule between Wilds should be added. Because the multiplier applies to all bet-line wins, the effect can influence a line that does not itself contain a Wild, provided Wilds are present elsewhere on the reels.
Cross hotspots make bonus Wilds persistent
Three, four or five Scatters anywhere award ten, twelve or fifteen Free Spins. The bonus has Sticky Wild hotspots arranged in a fixed cross. Any Wild landing on one of those positions becomes Sticky and awards one extra Free Spin. Up to five extra spins can be awarded during a session. The hotspot location is fixed, so the feature turns landing position into a second condition beyond Wild count: a Wild can contribute to the global multiplier anywhere, but only one landing on the cross-shaped area becomes sticky and extends the bonus.
This produces a two-part interaction. Wilds increase the multiplier across all wins, and hotspot Wilds remain on the reels while adding time. The maximum multiplier is five, while the extra-spin cap is five; the packet does not say that Sticky Wilds alter the multiplier count after landing or that they can retrigger multiple times from the same position. The rules also do not provide a Free Spins end condition beyond the stated spin awards, so the article does not invent one. The core contrast is sufficient: global count affects win size; fixed cross positions affect persistence and feature length.
Reference configuration
The official catalog lists RTP 96.06%, volatility 7 and a maximum payout of 1,600× bet for this exact title. These reference figures may vary by operator; no maximum-win probability is supplied. The Wild Multiplier and Sticky Wild extra-spin cap are both explicit, but the probability of landing Wilds in the cross or the distribution of Scatter triggers is not. The ×5 multiplier cap is not a promise about the likely size of a Free Spins result.
Strengths and weak points
Strengths
The global Wild-count multiplier is clearly capped at ×5, while cross hotspots create a separate, positional way to persist Wilds and add bonus spins. Each system has a distinct job.
Weaknesses
No probabilities are supplied for Wilds landing on hotspots or for Scatter counts. The multiplier and extra-spin caps are clear, but do not show how often either progression develops.
Our Editor’s View
Dark King: Forbidden Riches is built on a clean distinction between value and persistence. Wilds anywhere set the multiplier for all line wins, while Free Spins hotspots decide whether a Wild remains sticky and adds a spin. That makes the cross-shaped area important without making it the only source of Wild value. The ×5 multiplier ceiling and five-extra-spin limit give the feature firm bounds, helping the rules stay readable. What remains unknown is how often those positions and Scatters align, so the cap does not tell us how commonly the more extended bonus occurs. Players who enjoy a global multiplier with a small positional twist may appreciate the straightforward structure; anyone looking for a more elaborate bonus progression may find the feature comparatively contained. Related review: The Knight King’s sticky-symbol bonus.
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