Viking Runecraft Slot Review

Our Viking Runecraft review takes a detailed look at a Play’n GO game that’s absolutely bursting with engaging features.

Based on Norse mythology, this 7x7 highly-volatile cluster pays slot stars four of Asgard’s biggest names. What’s more, the gameplay is quite unusual, with a level-based system that rewards you as you progress.

Want to know more? Then stick with our Viking Runecraft slot review.

Viking Runecraft Details, RTP and Volatility

The RTP of 96.71% is quite generous, though lower-paying versions of 94.66%, 91.66%, 87.66% and 84.66% exist. A maximum potential win of 5,000x awaits in this high-volatility slot which uses a cluster-paying mechanism and a 7x7 grid. Spin the reels from just $0.10 up to $100 per play.

Released back in April 2017, this Play’n GO slot proved popular enough to earn a sequel. Viking Runecraft Apocalypse offers a slightly lower RTP of 96.20%, though the maximum potential win was boosted to 10,000x.

Theme & Graphics in Viking Runecraft

Mythology influences many of the most popular casino slot themes, especially when it involves Norse deities like Odin, Thor and Loki. Viking Runecraft may not be original in terms of the subject matter, but it’s actually an extremely creative game.

Aside from the tense, cinematic music and dramatic sound effects, the graphics are also neat and tidy. There are some pretty cool animations accompanying various features, while the gods are beautifully detailed. However, as you’re about to discover, the real creativity lies under the hood, in the way the game works.

Viking Runecraft Slot Features

Brace yourself, as the next part of our Viking Runecraft review details the game’s many bonuses, modifiers and features.

Regular Symbols

There are nine regular symbols in the Viking Runecraft slot, four of which are items belonging to Norse deities. Thor’s Hammer is the highest-paying, with rewards of 5x for a cluster of five, rising to 1,000x for 15 or more.

Next comes Odin’s Helmet, followed by an ax and an amulet. These pay up to 150x, 100x and 80x, respectively. Five runestones are the lower-paying symbols, worth between 10x and 50x for a cluster of 15 or more.

Cascading Reels

If a cluster of five or more is created, winning symbols are removed and recorded in a chart on the left-hand side. New symbols cascade in from above, potentially creating new combinations.

Also to the left of the grid is a circular meter containing 20 symbols. For each one collected, a notch on the meter lights up. With every new winning cascade, the meter continues to charge. Fill it completely to trigger the Charge of Destruction feature.

Charge of Destruction

Once the meter is full, one of four random modifiers is awarded.

• Fury Of Fenrir: Randomly selects four diagonal lines, removing two and switching the rest to the same symbol type.
• Judgment Of Jörmungandr: A random chain is selected, with some turned into the same type of symbol and the rest removed.
• Scorching Of Surtr: Three symbols are randomly chosen and their neighbors are transformed to the same type.
• Lure Of Loki: Two symbol types are chosen at random, with one group removed and the others becoming the same type.

Ragnarök Free Round

There are two ways to activate the Ragnarök free spin feature. Collect 20 more symbols after triggering a Charge of Destruction, or 40 symbols prior to a Charge of Destruction.

Once triggered, a multiplier comes into play. Every winning cluster during Ragnarök charges the multiplier by one, up to a maximum of 15x. When the free spin ends, you’ll receive a Charge of Destruction to keep the round alive. This process repeats until all four Charge of Destruction features are used.

Level Up

You’ll notice a bingo-style pattern, as well as a ranking, to the right of the grid. Starting at level one, you can improve your rank and benefit from different features. To do so, simply form winning clusters on top of the grid spaces featured in the pattern.

Look carefully at the reel grid and you’ll notice some blue-colored squares. These correspond to the designated pattern. Win on those spaces and they’ll turn yellow, indicating they’re now complete. Turn them all yellow to increase your rank by one and change the active Norse god.

Gift Of The Gods

There are four deities to cycle through as you increase your level, each with their own special feature. On any losing spin, they could randomly bless you with their unique powers, which are as follows:

• Thor: Strikes the grid with lightning to create up to nine wilds.
• Odin: Adds two groups of adjacent wilds to the grid.
• Freya: Creates clusters of wilds until at least one win is complete.
• Heimdall: Adds a wild to every single row.

Runes Of Valhalla

In the top-left corner, you’ll notice a number which progressively increases as you form clusters. This is the Runes Of Valhalla bonus. To have a chance of winning it, you must collect at least one rune and complete the pattern to level up.

Every time this happens, you’ll spin the bonus wheel, where each rune has its own section. If you collected that particular rune prior to completing the pattern, it becomes active on the wheel. If the wheel lands on an activated space, you’ll win the entire Valhalla bonus.

Wilds and Scatters

This highly unusual slot features neither a wild symbol nor a scatter.

How to Play Viking Runecraft Online

There are no traditional paylines on the 7x7 reel grid. Instead, you’ll need to match symbols together in clusters of five. Form wins in accordance with randomly-chosen patterns to level up and benefit from the different Gift Of The Gods modifiers.

Choose your stake using the options beneath the reels, then hit the green button to spin. You can also configure automatic spins with the orange button.

Try the Viking Runecraft Demo for Free before playing for real money

As you’ve learned from our Viking Runecraft review, this is a pretty complex game with far more features than the average slot. So, before you head off to one of our recommended real money casinos, take the time to practice in a risk-free environment. Try the free demo here on this page first.

Viking Runecraft Review – Our Final Verdict

Play’n GO pulled off a masterpiece with Viking Runecraft. It’s not hard to see why they chose to create a sequel, as well as eventually remaking the original. There is just so much going on and it’s a real feast for the senses.

You can look at the generous RTP, broad betting limits and ever-popular theme of Norse mythology, all of which are appealing. But it’s the sheer number of intriguing features which really stands out, especially the progressive leveling system which kept us highly engaged.

It’s so frustrating — but in a good way — when you just need a single piece of the puzzle that’s stuck in the corner of the grid. Then, when you eventually level up, you can’t wait to see how the newly acquired deity will impact your game play. We just couldn’t put this one down. Full marks!

Similar Slot Games

Loved our Viking Runecraft review? Check out these other fantastic slots!

• Odin Infinity Reels: This Reelplay slot offers a potentially unlimited number of paylines and a 96.18% RTP.
• Viking Runecraft 100: Play’n GO opted to reinvent this popular title in December 2023, with an improved max win of 15,000x.
• Vikings Go Berzerk: A medium volatility 5x4 slot by Yggdrasil with an RTP of 96.10% and 25 paylines.