Volatile Vikings

Volatile Vikings Slot Review

Relax Gaming continue building their portfolio with innovative mechanic-driven slots, and Volatile Vikings represents one of their more distinctive releases from 2021. The game centres around a unique multiplier reveal system fixed on reels 3 and 4, where counters tick down with each cascade before detonating adjacent symbols. Combined with a pay-anywhere scatter system requiring 8+ matching symbols on the 6×5 grid, this isn’t your standard payline slot. The Viking theme eschews traditional Norse warriors entirely, instead featuring stylised high-pay symbols that chant when forming wins, whilst the fire-and-ice visual aesthetic shifts dramatically between base game and bonus rounds. With 20,000x maximum win potential and high volatility gameplay, Relax Gaming have crafted something genuinely different in an oversaturated Viking slot market.

Base Game & Features

Volatile Vikings operates on a 6×5 grid with a Pay Anywhere mechanic, requiring 8 or more matching symbols to land anywhere on the reels to form a winning combination. This scatter pays system works seamlessly with the game’s cascading reels feature, where winning symbols are removed and new symbols cascade down to fill empty positions. Multiple consecutive wins can occur from a single spin, each triggering the core multiplier mechanic.

Multiplier Reveal System

The standout mechanic appears on every spin via two fixed Multiplier Reveal symbols locked to reels 3 and 4. Each displays both a multiplier value (ranging from x1 to x100) and a counter number. As cascades occur during the spin, the counter decreases by 1. When the counter hits zero, the multiplier activates with a destructive twist: it destroys up to 8 adjacent symbols in a cross pattern, clearing space for new symbols to cascade down whilst adding the multiplier value to an accumulating meter.

In base game play, these multipliers reset after each spin ends, meaning you’re starting fresh with new multiplier values and counters on every spin. The system creates anticipation as you watch counters tick down, though activation depends entirely on cascade frequency. With a hit frequency of 26.98%, roughly one in four spins produces a winning combination, meaning multiplier activation isn’t guaranteed even when counters reach low values.

Cascading Reels Mechanics

Cascades form the backbone of the multiplier system. After each win, symbols involved in the combination disappear and new symbols drop from above. If the new arrangement creates another winning combination of 8+ symbols, the cascade continues, decreasing multiplier counters further. This chain reaction mechanic is essential to multiplier activation, as multiple consecutive cascades are often needed to countdown multipliers to zero. During testing, we found that base game cascades typically produce 2-3 consecutive wins before exhausting possibilities, though exceptional sequences occasionally extend further.

Volatile Vikings Free Spins

Free Spins are triggered by landing 3 or more Bonus symbols (represented by chest icons) anywhere on the reels. Three chest symbols award 6 Free Spins, with each additional bonus symbol beyond the first three adding +1 extra spin. The maximum achievable is therefore 8 Free Spins if all 6 reels contain a bonus symbol simultaneously (a rare occurrence).

The critical difference during Free Spins centres on multiplier behaviour. Unlike base gameplay where multipliers reset after each spin, Free Spins feature sticky persistent multipliers. When a multiplier activates and adds its value to the meter, that value remains locked for all subsequent spins in the bonus round. This creates accumulation potential where multipliers compound together, building progressively larger total multipliers that apply to future wins.

New multiplier symbols continue appearing on reels 3 and 4 with each spin, featuring fresh random values and counters. As more multipliers activate and contribute to the persistent meter, win potential escalates substantially. The 20,000x maximum win becomes achievable during exceptional Free Spins rounds where multiple high-value multipliers (x50, x75, x100) activate and accumulate whilst large scatter wins land simultaneously. Should your win total exceed 20,000x stake during the feature, the bonus round ends immediately and the maximum win cap applies.

Bonus Buy Feature

Volatile Vikings includes a Bonus Buy option allowing players to purchase direct access to Free Spins for 100x their stake. This feature increases the game’s RTP from the base 96.23% to 97.00%, providing a mathematical advantage over organic play. However, this feature is not available to UK players due to UKGC regulations prohibiting bonus buy functionality. UK-based players will find the purchase button removed entirely, accessible only through standard bonus symbol triggers.

Our Honest Verdict

Volatile Vikings delivers a genuinely innovative multiplier system that differentiates it from the crowded Viking slot category. The multiplier reveal mechanic with countdown timers creates strategic anticipation, whilst the pay-anywhere scatter system feels like a refreshing alternative to standard payline structures. Relax Gaming have succeeded in creating something mechanically unique that justifies the high volatility classification.

The sticky multiplier behaviour during Free Spins represents the game’s highlight, where accumulation potential builds progressively exciting moments as values compound. We found bonus rounds to be hit-or-miss depending on multiplier luck, with some sessions producing exceptional cascade sequences whilst others underwhelmed despite triggering the feature. The 20,000x maximum win is genuinely achievable but requires optimal multiplier setup during extended Free Spins cascades, positioning this firmly as headline potential rather than realistic expectation.

High volatility players will appreciate the variance, though the base game pacing can feel slow between bonus triggers. The 26.98% hit frequency means stretches of dead spins are expected, and even winning cascades don’t always activate multipliers if counters don’t reach zero. RTP of 96.23% (or 97.00% with Bonus Buy for non-UK players) represents fair value for the volatility level and mechanical innovation on offer.

The fire-and-ice visual design transitions effectively between base game and Free Spins, complemented by a Game of Thrones-style soundtrack that elevates thematic immersion. Notably, there are no actual Viking characters represented in the game, with high-pay symbols chanting when forming wins instead. This creative choice works well given the focus on abstract multiplier mechanics rather than character-driven storytelling.

Rating: 8.5/10 – A genuinely unique addition to Relax Gaming’s portfolio that succeeds through mechanical innovation rather than theme alone. The multiplier reveal system with countdown mechanics creates engagement that standard multiplier slots lack, whilst the 20,000x win potential gives high-variance chasers genuine reason to explore. Base game pacing won’t suit those seeking consistent smaller wins, but players comfortable with high volatility gameplay and willing to weather dry spells for explosive potential will find this well worth investigating. It positions itself comfortably amongst Relax Gaming’s stronger mechanical releases, though the UK Bonus Buy restriction limits maximum RTP access for British players.

Volatile Vikings FAQs

• What is the RTP of Volatile Vikings slot?

  The RTP of Volatile Vikings is 96.23% in the base game. When using the Bonus Buy feature to directly access Free Spins for 100x the stake, the RTP increases to 97.00%. Note that UK players cannot access the Bonus Buy option due to UKGC regulations, limiting them to the base game RTP of 96.23%.
• What is the maximum win on Volatile Vikings?

  The maximum win on Volatile Vikings is 20,000x your bet. This maximum can be achieved during the Free Spins round when multiple high-value multipliers are accumulated through the sticky multiplier mechanic and activated alongside large scatter wins. If your win total exceeds this threshold during a bonus round, the feature ends immediately and you receive the 20,000x maximum payout.
• What is the volatility level of Volatile Vikings?

  Volatile Vikings is classified as a High Volatility slot game. With a hit frequency of 26.98%, wins occur on approximately one in four spins. This volatility profile means wins are less frequent but potentially much larger, particularly during Free Spins when sticky multipliers accumulate. The game suits experienced players comfortable with variance and willing to weather dry spells for substantial payout potential.
• Does Volatile Vikings have free spins?

  Yes, Volatile Vikings features Free Spins triggered by landing 3 or more Bonus symbols (chest icons) anywhere on the reels. Three chests award 6 Free Spins, with each additional bonus symbol beyond the first three adding +1 extra spin. During Free Spins, multipliers become sticky and persistent, meaning multiplier values accumulated on one spin continue applying to all future wins and can be added together for compounding potential.
• How do the multiplier symbols work in Volatile Vikings?

  Each spin features 2 Multiplier Reveal symbols fixed on reels 3 and 4. Each displays a multiplier value (x1 to x100) and a counter number. The counter decreases by 1 with each winning cascade during the spin. When the counter reaches 0, the multiplier activates, destroys up to 8 adjacent symbols in a cross pattern, and adds its value to the Multiplier Meter. In base game, multipliers reset after each spin. During Free Spins, multiplier values become sticky and accumulate permanently throughout the bonus round.
• Can I play Volatile Vikings on mobile devices?

  Yes, Volatile Vikings is optimised for mobile devices with HTML5 technology, compatible with iOS and Android platforms including iPhones, iPads, and Android phones and tablets. The game maintains full functionality across all devices, with the same mechanics and features available whether playing on mobile or desktop.
• Does Volatile Vikings have a bonus buy feature?

  Yes, Volatile Vikings includes a Bonus Buy feature allowing players to pay 100x their stake to directly access the Free Spins round, bypassing organic bonus symbol triggers. This feature provides an improved RTP of 97.00% compared to the base game RTP of 96.23%. However, this feature is not available to UK players due to UKGC regulations prohibiting bonus buy functionality. UK players can only trigger Free Spins through standard gameplay.
• What is the hit frequency rate of Volatile Vikings?

  Volatile Vikings has a hit frequency of 26.98%, meaning approximately one in four spins results in a winning combination. This relatively modest hit frequency aligns with the game’s high volatility classification, where wins occur less frequently but carry higher potential payouts. Players should expect stretches of dead spins between winning cascades, particularly in base game play before bonus features trigger.