Slot machines with a Viking theme will likely always be a popular choice among gamblers. Designers love to revisit the idea every time they need to add some oomph to their work. The good news is that there are studios like Relax Gaming that can make something fresh and interesting out of a tired concept like Vikings. Volatile Vikings combines a classic Relax aesthetic with a win-in-any-position payout structure, collectible multipliers, and free games.
The standard game of Volatile Viking is played out in a cold, blue environment, while the bonus game takes place in a fiery, red one. It has a Song of Ice and Fire vibe to it, and the soundtrack is very Game of Thrones. Interestingly, no actual Vikings appear in the game; nevertheless, the high pay symbols bring the game to life by chanting a music whenever they contribute to a winning payline. This may sound strange at first, but it really works very well. Taken as a whole, Volatile Vikings exudes an unusual, even supernatural atmosphere, boosted by Relax’s deft additions.
The payment structure in Volatile Vikings is one of the game’s more peculiar features. Symbols pay regardless of their location on the grid, so there’s no need to start from the left. The cascading pay feature is activated if 8 or more like symbols appear on the game’s 6-reel, 5-row layout. unpredictable Vikings, as the name would imply, is an extremely unpredictable slot that offers wagers ranging from 10 pence to 100 pounds or euros each spin. The return to player percentage is 96.23%.
The nine standard symbols include four low-value rune symbols and five premiums, as shown in the paytable. These five wooden characters are the highest paying symbols, and they really come to life and sing their melodies whenever they’re part of a winning combination. The value of a win is based on the sum of the winning symbols at the conclusion of a cascading sequence. For premium icons, a payout of 10x to 50x the wager is possible at a symbol count of 12 or more.
Violent Vikings: Slot Bonus Rounds
While players spin for the chance to unlock a round of free spins (or buy them if attainable), a multiplier reveal feature and cascades help improve winnings.
Cascade kicks in after each victory, clearing the grid of the winning symbols. As the remaining symbols fall into the empty spaces, more wins are created. Cascades stop when there is no further win.
Two multiplier reveal symbols appear initially on reels 3 and 4 of every spin. These unique icons have a countdown and multiplier value. For each consecutive winning cascade on the same spin, the counter will reduce by 1. When the countdown hits zero, the multiplier is triggered, and it detonates to destroy up to eight nearby symbols, clearing the way for more symbols to fall from above. All activated multipliers are totaled together and applied to the final payout.
If you get three of the locked chests anywhere in view, you’ll be rewarded with six free games. One extra turn is awarded for every bonus symbol that appears. During free games, the multiplier reveal symbols work just like they do in the base game, except that the win multiplier remains in effect and is applied after each spin. If a bonus sign appears during the round, you get an extra round.
If allowed in your area, players can pay 100 times the total stake to “buy” the feature. After making a purchase, the next gaming round will always start with free spins.
Slots’ Final Say on ‘Volatile Vikings’
Volatile Vikings lives up to its fairly corny name by being a highly unstable creature. However, the enthusiasm is due to more than simply a risky mathematical model. Everything in the game has been expertly handled by Relax. The visual style of Volatile Vikings is fantastic, reminiscent of other games from Relax Gaming like Snake Arena and Hellcatraz. The fire and ice images, together with a great music reminiscent of Game of Thrones, give the film a distinct feel. The lack of genuine Vikings is puzzling but not fatally so, and the tone is nicely balanced overall.
The gameplay is as fluid as you’d expect it to be, and it also has a ton of great fun. The pay anywhere mechanic isn’t brand new—it’s been seen in games like Pragmatic Play’s Sweet Bonanza—but it’s still uncommon enough to give the game a touch of originality. At first glance, the paytable’s inclusion of 8-12 symbol combinations may appear to be an error. This specific numerical configuration is optimized for both the cascade and multiplier reveal features. While win multipliers in the standard game are exciting when they trigger and accumulate, their potential to thrill increases dramatically during free spins since they remain in place for the duration of the feature. When this happens, Volatile Vikings becomes one of those games with a high inertia roll, making winnings of up to 20,000 times the stake possible.
The only real annoyance is the snowballs’ obnoxious habit of repeatedly clicking the feature purchase button whenever the reels are stopped. It’s a small distraction at most, and the reels will continue to spin anyway. If you need to escape reality for a bit, Volatile Viking’s fire and ice setting is the perfect place to do so. Although the game’s volatility makes it feel at times like an unwieldy war hammer, it is a refreshingly original take on the Viking-themed slot genre and was a lot of fun to play.
To Not Lose
The sequel, Volatile Vikings 2: Dream Drop, may also appeal to you if you liked the first game. It has the potential for huge payouts because to the Dream Drop jackpot feature from Relax Gaming.