Hermes Fortunes 2000

Hermes Fortunes 2000 Review

Once again, you are invited to ascend to the peak of Mount Olympus, this time in EGT Digital’s Greek mythology-themed slot game called Hermes Fortunes 2000. The cloudy backdrop is filled with pristine marble temples and rugged cliffs, and Hermes stands by your side all the way with his strong beard and stoic appearance. While the core DNA remains similar to the original Hermes Fortunes, the math model is significantly beefed up, among other things.

However, let’s start with the basics first. You can choose between bet levels ranging from €0.20 to €400 per spin, but unfortunately, rounded numbers like €1 per spin are not available for some reason. Anyway, Hermes Fortunes 2000 plays out on a 6x5 game grid with a Pay Anywhere win system. This means that you win as long as 8 to 12+ matching symbols appear anywhere in view, and the symbols consist of Greek artifacts like harps, chalices, rings, and scepters, as well as lower-value gems with Greek letters. The symbols pay 2x to 50x your stake for 12+ in view.

Hermes Fortunes 2000 Slot - Reels Screen

The Toppling Reels mechanic removes winning symbols and replaces them with new symbols cascading in from above. This process repeats as long as you keep winning in all stages of the game. The base game offers no other features, so the main focus in Hermes Fortunes 2000 is to trigger the bonus round. This is where multiplier symbols of up to x2,000 are introduced, and these are added together per toppling sequence to boost the total win.

Hermes himself is responsible for adding the multiplier symbols to the grid, and he does so with powerful divine commands. Hermes Fortunes 2000 also features a random jackpot feature, where you can win 1 of 4 progressive jackpots in a pick-and-click bonus game. This is a high volatility slot game, boasting an above-average top RTP setting of 96.8% (RTP ranges) and a solid max win of 25,000x your stake. With a hit rate of 41%, you can expect frequent wins.

Hermes Fortunes 2000 Features

Below, we will explore the features of this game in more detail, leaving no stone unturned. If you feel like seeing the features in action, check the Hermes Fortunes 2000 free play demo game at the top of this page. Let’s get started!

Toppling Reels

Winning symbols are removed from the grid via the Toppling Reels mechanic, as it is called in this game. After the winning symbols are removed, the remaining symbols drop to the lowest possible positions while a new batch of symbols drops down to fill the remaining gaps. This process repeats as long as you keep winning, allowing for indefinite winning streaks per round.

Free Spins Bonus Round

Landing 4, 5, or 6 Hermes scatter symbols in view on the same spin or in the same toppling reels sequence triggers the Bonus Round. You get 10 initial free spins regardless of the number of triggering scatters, and you also win 3x, 5x, or 100x your stake from the 4, 5, or 6 triggering scatters, respectively. During the feature, landing 3 or more scatters on the same spin or in the same toppling sequence awards 5 additional free spins plus the payout described above.

Multiplier symbols ranging from x2 to x2,000 appear randomly during the bonus round, and these are added together if more than one is present at the end of the spin or toppling sequence. Hermes announces each multiplier symbol before adding them to the reels, and he can also transform existing symbols into multiplier symbols. The sum of the multiplier symbols will boost your win at the end of each round.

Jackpot Feature

The Jackpot Feature triggers randomly at the end of a base game or free spin, and you will then make your picks from 15 treasure chests. Only 12 of the chests contain pearl symbols of colors corresponding to the 4 progressive jackpots. Revealing 3 pearls of the same color awards the corresponding jackpot. However, if you also reveal a 4-leaf clover symbol, you level up to win the jackpot above the one that corresponds to the 3 pearls you revealed. The constantly increasing jackpot values are on display above the reels.

Hermes Fortunes 2000 Bonus Buy (not UK)

The bonus buy menu is located on the left-hand side of the reels, and it comes with 3 options in Hermes Fortunes 2000. You can choose to pay 25% extra per spin to double your bonus round chances, which is an ante bet option. Alternatively, you can opt to purchase the bonus round directly, which awards a triggering spin for the price of 100x your stake. A super bonus round is available for 500x your stake, offering minimum multiplier symbols of x20 for the duration of the feature.

Theme & Graphics

Hermes Fortunes 2000 elevates you to the sun-drenched heights of Mount Olympus, with plenty of Greek temples scattered across the cloudy backdrop. The messenger god himself stands guard to the left of the grid, holding his golden scepter with a stern look on his face. Clad in golden armor, Hermes embodies his role as protector and bringer of good fortune. The reels are framed by marble columns and filled with symbols like harps, rings, overflowing chalices, and gems. The soundtrack is dreamy and ambient, and winning symbols explode with satisfying swirly puffs.

Hermes Fortunes 2000 Slot - Big Win

Hermes Fortunes 2000 Free Play

If you feel like taking this game for a spin already, you can head up to the Hermes Fortunes 2000 demo located at the top of this page. This allows you to get familiar with the mechanics and features, all without risking anything. Think of it as a casual test drive before you decide to try the real thing. This is a more volatile game than the original, and trying the Hermes Fortunes 2000 free play version will give you an impression of what to expect. Once satisfied, casinos carrying this title are found below the free demo game.Once comfortable, you can proceed to real-money casinos listed below the demo.

Pros and Cons of Hermes Fortunes 2000

Our Verdict

Hermes Fortunes 2000 is clearly inspired by the smash hit Gates of Olympus 1000, but to their credit, EGT Digital has attempted to one-up Pragmatic Play’s successful release with an even stronger math model. It’s easier to forgive copycat efforts when the developer attempts to improve upon the recipe instead of simply churning out another mindless clone. That being said, there are some drawbacks too.

Or, if not drawbacks in plural, there is at least the downside of not getting any multiplier symbol action in the base game. This is how EGT Digital has decided to balance out their math model, which offers a significantly higher potential than the Zeus-centric version from Pragmatic. The base game is therefore carried solely by the scatter pays and toppling reels mechanics, which seldom lead to anything too significant. It’s more of a grind until you hit the bonus round, in other words, and while Gates of Olympus offers 15 initial free spins, you only get 10 in Hermes Fortunes 2000.

Once the bonus round finally triggers, the outcome is determined by whatever mood your divine companion finds himself in. On his most generous days, Hermes will shower you with multiplier symbols, which can lead to payouts as high as 25,000x your stake. Of course, the titular x2,000 multiplier symbol is rare to see in Hermes Fortunes 2000, just like the x1,000 multiplier symbol is hardly ever seen in Gates of Olympus 1000. While the addition of a super bonus round buy option is appreciated, it’s only too bad it cannot be triggered organically.

It’s impressive that EGT has managed to land on a higher RTP than the source of inspiration, not least since Hermes Fortunes 2000 includes 4 progressive jackpots. These jackpots can reach significant sums too, offering yet another avenue to riches. Overall, Hermes Fortunes 2000 is a polished Greek mythology slot, complete with godly action commentary, and it’s beefed up enough to offer a strong alternative to Gates of Olympus. We don’t think Pragmatic is shaking in their boots just yet, however, as Zeus remains a formidable god to dethrone.