North Guardians (Pragmatic Play) Slot Review

North Guardians: Slot Overview 

Pragmatic Play’s North Guardians, released on April 28, 2022, is a Viking-themed slot game that merges classic grid-based mechanics with innovative pattern-based features. Played on a 5×5 grid with 50 fixed paylines, the game offers a fresh take on wild placements with its unique Wild Pattern Wheel. 

This highly volatile slot boasts an RTP of 96.30% and a maximum win potential of 5,000x the stake. With its adventurous theme, crisp graphics, and thrilling bonus mechanics, North Guardians immerses players into a frosty Nordic world where wilds, free spins, and multipliers are key to unlocking massive rewards. 

While Pragmatic Play borrows inspiration from their earlier titles like Eye of Cleopatra, North Guardians stands apart with its layered mechanics and pattern-based wild placement system, adding a unique twist to the gameplay.

Design and Graphics 

Visually, North Guardians is a feast for the eyes, successfully capturing the rugged and mystical atmosphere of a Viking-themed slot. The backdrop features a snow-covered wilderness, glowing braziers, and towering runestones that add a layer of grandeur to the icy Nordic landscape. The 5×5 game grid is framed with ornate carvings, further emphasizing the Viking aesthetic. Each spin brings smooth animations, from spinning reels to the activation of wild patterns, which light up the board with golden highlights when triggered. 

The symbols are well-designed and reflect the Norse theme: 

• Low-paying symbols: Runestones in various colors (green, blue, red, and purple). 

• Mid-paying symbols: Axes, horse heads, and Viking horns. 

• High-paying symbols: Male and female Viking warriors, the latter paying up to 10x the stake for a full line. 

• Wild Symbol: Depicted as a golden Viking rune, the wild substitutes for all standard symbols and pays 15x the stake for five-of-a-kind. 

The game’s visual design is clean, polished, and immersive, without feeling cluttered—a hallmark of Pragmatic Play’s modern slots.

Gameplay Mechanics 

At its core, North Guardians uses a 5×5 grid with 50 fixed paylines, ensuring that wins are triggered by landing matching symbols from left to right across adjacent reels. However, what sets this game apart is its Wild Pattern Wheel mechanic. 

Wild Pattern Wheel 

During each spin, two halves of a marking rectangle appear on random positions of the grid. When these halves align in the same position, the Wild Pattern Wheel activates. The wheel, located next to the grid, spins to reveal a pattern of wild symbols that are added to the reels. 

The wheel can trigger two outcomes: 

Wild Pattern Placement: A random pattern of wilds is applied to the grid. 

Level Up: The wheel progresses to the next level, increasing the complexity and number of wild patterns. 

The wheel has five levels, and progressing through higher levels significantly improves the quality of wild patterns, potentially filling large portions of the grid with wild symbols.

Sound and Music 

The audio design of North Guardians perfectly complements its Nordic theme. The soundtrack combines dramatic orchestral music with subtle Viking chants and the occasional howl of the wind, creating a sense of mystery and adventure. 

Sound effects are crisp and well-timed: 

• The reels spin with satisfying clicks. 

• The Wild Pattern Wheel produces a dramatic “whoosh” sound as it spins, building anticipation. 

• Winning combinations trigger triumphant musical cues, heightening the excitement of each win. 

The audio never feels overbearing and seamlessly blends with the visuals, keeping players immersed in the game’s Viking world.

Bonus Features 

Wild Pattern Wheel

The Wild Pattern Wheel is the core feature of North Guardians. It activates when the two halves of the marking rectangle align on the grid during a spin.The wheel can land on: 

Wild Patterns: Random patterns of wilds are added to the reels. 

Level Up: The wheel progresses to the next level, unlocking better wild patterns with more wilds. 

At Level 5, the wild patterns become extremely lucrative, offering the potential for a full grid of wild symbols. 

Free Spins

The Free Spins feature is triggered by landing 3, 4, or 5 scatter symbols anywhere on the reels. Players are awarded: 

5 free spins 

A cash prize of 2x, 10x, or 100x the bet, depending on the number of scatters. 

During free spins: 

The Wild Pattern Wheel is active on every spin, starting at Level 1. 

Level progression is persistent, meaning the wheel does not reset between spins. 

Advancing to Levels 2, 3, or 4 awards +2 additional free spins. 

Reaching Level 5 awards +1 additional free spin. 

This bonus round is where the game’s full potential shines, as consistent wild patterns and level-ups can lead to massive payouts. 

Buy Free SpinsFor players who want to skip straight to the action, North Guardians offers a Bonus Buy option. For 100x the total bet, players can purchase immediate access to the Free Spins feature. 

It’s worth noting that using the Bonus Buy slightly lowers the RTP to 96.29%, but it guarantees a shot at the lucrative free spins round.

Betting Options and Payouts 

Pragmatic Play offers a wide range of betting options in North Guardians, making it accessible to both casual players and high rollers. The minimum bet is €0.50, while the maximum bet goes up to €100 per spin. 

Payout Metrics: 

• RTP: 96.30% (96.29% with Bonus Buy) 

• Volatility: High 

• Free Spins Frequency: 1 in 191.8 spins 

• Max Win: 5,000x the stake 

• Max Win Frequency: 1 in 1,000,000,000 spins 

While the game’s high volatility means that wins can be less frequent, the Wild Pattern Wheel and free spins feature provide ample opportunities for significant payouts, especially at higher levels.

Conclusion 

North Guardians by Pragmatic Play is an engaging and visually striking slot that combines classic mechanics with a unique pattern-based feature. The Wild Pattern Wheel adds a fresh and dynamic element to the gameplay, keeping players on the edge of their seats as they chase level-ups and wild-filled grids.

Overall, North Guardians offers an exciting slot experience for players who enjoy high-risk, high-reward gameplay. The combination of wild placements, free spins, and progressive levels makes this game stand out from the crowd. If you’re a fan of Viking-themed slots or enjoy innovative bonus mechanics, North Guardians is well worth a spin.