Book of Vikings (Pragmatic Play) Slot Review

Book of Vikings: Slot Overview

Book of Vikings is a Viking-themed video slot developed by Pragmatic Play and released on July 22, 2021. The game transports players to a Scandinavian setting featuring fearless Vikings, including their king and queen, amid a backdrop of ancient Norse mythology. It employs the classic “Book of” mechanics, similar to titles like Book of Shadows, where a special symbol expands during free spins. Structured on a 5-reel, 3-row grid with 10 fixed paylines, the slot delivers high-volatility gameplay focused on triggering bonus features for substantial payouts. With a maximum win potential of 5500x the stake, it appeals primarily to players who enjoy high-risk, reward-driven experiences with familiar expanding symbol mechanics and Viking lore, suitable for both desktop and mobile devices.

Design and Graphics

The visual design of Book of Vikings immerses players in a rugged Viking world, set against a dramatic valley landscape where the thunder god Thor looms actively in the background, complete with stormy skies and flickering lightning effects. The reels are framed by wooden Viking longship elements, enhancing the thematic authenticity. Symbols are intricately carved in a Norse style: low-paying icons (10, J, Q, K, A) feature Viking runes etched into stone-like surfaces, while medium-paying symbols include a drinking horn and a battle helmet, rendered with metallic sheen and detailed engravings. Premium symbols depict the Viking Queen and King, portrayed as fierce warriors with flowing hair, fur cloaks, and imposing weaponry, paying homage to historical Viking imagery blended with fantasy.

Animations are smooth and thematic—winning combinations trigger shield-clashing effects and glowing runes, while scatters reveal ancient pages flipping open. The color palette emphasizes earthy tones of gray stone, deep blues from fjords, and fiery oranges from torchlight, creating a cold yet intense atmosphere. Audio complements the visuals with epic orchestral scores featuring war horns, thunder rumbles, and rhythmic drumming that intensifies during features. The interface is clean and intuitive, with a control panel below the reels for bet adjustments, spin button, and autoplay options. Optimized for mobile play, the slot maintains crisp HTML5 graphics across devices without compromising quality, ensuring seamless performance on smartphones and tablets. Overall, the aesthetic is polished and cohesive, prioritizing thematic immersion over flashy excess.

Gameplay Mechanics

Book of Vikings operates on a standard 5-reel, 3-row setup with 10 fixed paylines, where wins form by landing three or more matching symbols on adjacent reels starting from the leftmost reel. The game flows straightforwardly: players select their bet level, hit spin, and watch symbols tumble into place. Payouts are calculated based on the left-to-right rule, with all wins paid per line and multipliers applied from the bet amount.

Special symbols include the Wild/Scatter, depicted as an ancient book that substitutes for all standard symbols to complete wins and triggers bonuses. Regular symbols divide into low, medium, and high payers. The table below outlines payouts for five-of-a-kind combinations:

Wild payouts for 3/4/5 are 2x, 20x, and 200x respectively. Base game spins are brisk, with frequent Wild appearances aiding smaller wins, though the high volatility means streaks of non-winning spins are common before building toward features. Autoplay supports up to 1,000 spins with customizable loss/win limits, and the game’s pace suits both casual and strategic playstyles.

Bonus Features

Book of Vikings centers its excitement around two interconnected features: Free Spins and Expanding Symbol, augmented by Wild functionality and a Bonus Buy option.

The Wild Symbol, represented by the Book, substitutes for all pay symbols and pays 2x, 20x, or 200x the bet for 3, 4, or 5 instances. Landing 3+ Scatters (the same Book icon) anywhere triggers 10 Free Spins and awards instant payouts of 2x, 20x, or 200x the bet for 3, 4, or 5 triggers. During Free Spins, a random symbol (from low payers to premiums, excluding Wild) is selected as the special Expanding Symbol before spins begin. This symbol pays for 2+ instances anywhere on the reels, not requiring adjacency or paylines. When part of a win, it expands to cover its entire reel, potentially filling multiple reels for massive combinations—especially lucrative with high payers like the Viking King at 500x for five.

Retriggering occurs with 3+ Scatters during Free Spins, granting 10 additional spins without reselection of the Expanding Symbol, allowing unlimited retriggers for prolonged sessions. No maximum retrigger limit exists, enabling potential for extended play with escalating wins as expansions chain together.

For instant access, the Bonus Buy feature costs 100x the bet to activate Free Spins directly, complete with random Expanding Symbol selection—ideal for high-rollers seeking to bypass base game variance.

These mechanics integrate seamlessly: base game Wilds build tension toward Scatter triggers, while Free Spins deliver the high-volatility payoff through expansions that can re-spin the board dramatically. No additional modifiers like multipliers beyond symbol values or gamble options are present, keeping focus on the core “Book of” expansion system.

Betting Options and Payouts

Betting flexibility accommodates a wide audience, ranging from €0.10 minimum to €100 maximum per spin, with increments allowing precise stake control via coin value and level adjustments. The RTP stands at an above-average 96.5%, providing fair long-term returns. Classified as high volatility, the slot delivers infrequent but significant wins, with base game payouts skewed toward smaller hits from Wild substitutions and premium symbols, punctuated by bonus round explosions.

The 5500x max win is achievable primarily through Free Spins with the Viking King as Expanding Symbol fully expanding across reels, combined with Scatter payouts. Payout behavior reflects high variance: expect dry spells in the base game, offset by the 200x Scatter hit and expansion potential in bonuses. No hit frequency, bonus frequency, or max win probability data is specified, but the mechanics suggest Free Spins trigger less often than low-vol slots, rewarding patience. The table below summarizes key metrics:

Conclusion

Book of Vikings excels in delivering a reliable execution of the proven “Book of” formula, with strong symbol payouts across low and high tiers, frequent Wild assistance in the base game, and explosive Free Spins potential via the Expanding Symbol mechanic. The Viking theme is evocatively rendered, and mobile optimization ensures accessibility. Strengths include its 96.5% RTP, generous 5500x max win, and Bonus Buy for direct feature access, making it appealing for high-volatility enthusiasts. Weaknesses lie in its lack of innovative features beyond the classic expansion system, potentially feeling formulaic to veterans, and the high volatility that demands bankroll resilience during base game lulls. Players can test the slot risk-free using the built-in demo available on this page. Overall, it stands as a solid, entertaining option for fans of thematic slots with substantial upside, though it may not revolutionize the genre.