Vikings Review

Vikings by NetEnt is a branded video slot based on the hit TV series, combining gritty Norse visuals with feature-driven gameplay built around Hotspot, Shield Wall and Raid Spins. Among modern online slots, it stands out by expanding from a 5×3 base-game grid with 243 betways to a 7×5 layout with 78,125 betways during Raid Spins. The game has a published RTP of 96.05%, high volatility and maximum-win potential of 5,600x stake. UK players should confirm the displayed RTP and play only through a UKGC-licensed casino. 

Casinos Where You Can Play Vikings in the UK

• PlayOJO
• NetBet
• 10Bet

Key Vikings Facts

UK Compliance Deep Dive: Is Vikings Fair & Legal?

RTP Variation Warning: Vikings has a provider-published RTP of 96.05%. Players comparing best payout casinos should still check the RTP shown in the in-game information before wagering, because casino-level payout comparisons and the theoretical return of an individual slot are separate considerations. The displayed game information is the relevant place to confirm the RTP available for the version being played.

UKGC Banned Features Check: Historical versions of Vikings included Autoplay because the game predates the current UK rules. A compliant Great Britain implementation cannot include autoplay or player-controlled features that accelerate the game cycle, and online slots must observe the UKGC’s minimum game-cycle requirements.

Stake Limit Compliance: The underlying NetEnt game supports stakes from €0.20 to €100.00, but licensed Great Britain operators must restrict online-slot stakes to £5 per game cycle for players aged 25+ and £2 for those aged 18–24. The original £100-equivalent provider maximum therefore cannot be offered as the real-money maximum under current UK rules.

Responsible Gambling Integration: Vikings has an 18% hit frequency and medium-high volatility, so losing sequences remain part of its mathematical profile even though the RTP exceeds 96%. Set a fixed session budget and use deposit limits or session reminders rather than raising stakes while waiting for Raid Spins.

Fairness & RNG Certification: Vikings uses NetEnt’s RNG-based gaming system, with individual game outcomes generated independently according to its mathematical model. No reliable public title-specific record identifies the individual testing laboratory that certified Vikings, so naming eCOGRA, GLI or iTech Labs specifically would be unsupported.

First Impressions: Theme, Graphics & Soundtrack

Vikings recreates the television series with a bleak Scandinavian landscape, icy water, mountains and recognisable characters including Ragnar and Lagertha. Character animations and stacked Viking symbols give the reels more visual personality than standard card-based slots, while the expanding Raid Spins grid creates an obvious shift when the main feature begins. The soundtrack uses dark cinematic music and atmospheric effects to reinforce the raiding theme rather than relying on upbeat casino audio. Its interface remains clean despite the transition from a compact 5×3 grid to the larger 7×5 bonus layout. 

Base Game Mechanics & Payouts

Mechanics: 
Vikings starts with five reels, three rows and 243 Ways to Win, so matching symbols pay on adjacent reels without fixed paylines. Its Hotspot mechanic occupies reel three – landing a fully stacked Viking there transforms the other Viking symbols into the same character and evaluates the resulting combinations as Scatter wins. 

Symbols & Payouts: 
Ragnar, Lagertha, Bjorn and Floki form the premium character set, while royals such as A, K, Q, J and 10 occupy the lower-value tier. The Vikings logo sits above the character symbols in the regular paytable. 

• Vikings Logo: highest-paying standard symbol.
• Ragnar: premium stacked Viking symbol.
• Lagertha: premium stacked Viking symbol.
• Bjorn and Floki: premium stacked character symbols.

A Closer Look at the Bonus Features for Vikings

Mechanics: 
The Shield Wall can randomly place a block of mystery symbols over the grid, while Raid Spins provide the main bonus. Landing the required Raid Spin symbols activates seven spins on an expanded 7×5 grid with 78,125 Ways to Win and three Hotspots across reels three, four and five, dramatically increasing the number of possible symbol combinations. 

Bonus Weighting: 
Vikings places much of its feature depth in Raid Spins, where the grid expands to seven reels and five rows, creating 78,125 betways and three Hotspots instead of one. This in-game feature should not be confused with casino promotions such as 20 free spins no deposit, which are operator offers with their own eligibility, game restrictions and terms rather than a mechanic built into Vikings. The expanded grid, additional Hotspots and Shield Wall interactions are what give the native bonus mode its increased win potential. 

From the Player’s Mouth: Real Experiences & Expert Advice

Player Sentiment: Player discussion is mixed but consistently highlights the bonus as the main attraction. One Reddit discussion specifically praised the Vikings bonus while criticising its base game, whereas Casinomeister users have described the game as having strong potential and worth returning to, showing how differently its feature-focused structure is received. 

Expert Tips for Volatility:

• Tip 1: Size your stake around the 18% hit frequency rather than expecting regular winning spins.
• Tip 2: Do not increase your stake simply because Raid Spins have not appeared – each spin remains an independent RNG event.
• Tip 3: Keep enough of your session budget available for sustained base-game play, as the expanded bonus is the game’s most feature-rich phase.

Vikings Mobile Performance

Vikings is designed for mobile play, with the interface adapting its reel layout and controls to smaller screens. Players using Google Pay casinos should remember that the payment method concerns deposits and withdrawals rather than the slot itself, so it has no effect on Vikings’ RTP, volatility, betways or game mechanics. The expanding 7×5 Raid Spins grid contains considerably more symbol positions than the base game, making landscape orientation useful on smaller displays. Loading performance ultimately depends on the casino platform, device and connection.

Pros & Cons of Vikings

Pros

• 96.05% RTP sits above the 96% benchmark.
• Raid Spins expand the game from 243 to 78,125 Ways to Win.
• Hotspot transformations give stacked character symbols a distinctive purpose.
• The licensed TV presentation closely integrates characters and Norse imagery.

Cons

• The 18% hit frequency creates extended periods without winning combinations.
• Raid Spins cannot be purchased directly through a standard Bonus Buy.
• The base game is considerably simpler than the expanded bonus.
• As a 2018 release, its structure is less complex than many current feature-heavy slots.

Is Vikings Worth Your Time & Money?

Vikings earns 8/10 for combining a strong licensed presentation with Hotspots, Shield Walls and one of NetEnt’s more dramatic expanding-reel bonuses. It suits players comfortable with medium-high volatility who prefer feature progression over frequent small wins.

Vikings is worth considering if the transformation mechanics and 78,125-way Raid Spins appeal to you, but use the 18% hit frequency as a reminder that results can be uneven. Play through a licensed operator, verify the displayed 96.05% RTP and set your budget before starting.

Vikings Frequently Asked Questions