Riches of Midgard: Land and Expand (NetEnt) Slot Review

Riches of Midgard: Slot Overview

Riches of Midgard: Land and Expand is a Norse mythology-themed online slot developed by NetEnt and released on December 5, 2020. The game draws inspiration from Scandinavian legends, featuring iconic figures such as Thor, Odin, and Freya, set against the backdrop of Midgard, one of the Nine Realms. It presents a cartoon-styled interpretation of the mythological genre, which NetEnt has previously explored in other titles. The slot employs a core 3-reel, 3-row layout that can expand during features, utilizing 9 paylines in the base game and up to 29 paylines when fully expanded. Gameplay revolves around traditional slot mechanics enhanced by innovative elements like side Hot Spot reels, the Land and Expand Respin feature, and Mjolnir free spins. With medium volatility and a 96.03% RTP, it targets players seeking an entertaining experience with frequent feature triggers rather than extreme payout potential, capped at a 435x max win. This makes it suitable for casual spinners and those who appreciate dynamic grid changes and strategic expansions in a lighthearted mythological setting.

Design and Graphics

The visual design of Riches of Midgard: Land and Expand departs from the typical dark, gritty aesthetics of Norse-themed slots, opting instead for a vibrant, cartoon-like style that emphasizes accessibility and whimsy. The game’s environment depicts an idealized Midgard with rolling green hills, wooden scaffolding, and clear blue skies, creating a picturesque and inviting atmosphere. The central 3×3 reels are housed within a large wooden contraption that rotates with mechanical clunkiness, evoking the craftsmanship of Norse artisans and adding a tactile, hands-on feel to the presentation.Symbol artwork strikes a balance between classic slot royalty and thematic icons. Low-paying symbols consist of 10 through A royals, stylized as metallic runestones for a subtle nod to ancient runes without overwhelming the playful tone. Higher-value symbols include a chunk of meat, a ram’s horn, and stylized depictions of the gods Freya, Thor, and Odin, with Odin serving as the top-paying symbol. These gods are rendered in a humorous, animated manner reminiscent of family-friendly cartoons rather than epic historical dramas, featuring exaggerated expressions and vibrant colors that enhance visual appeal.

A distinctive design element is the pair of Hot Spot reels flanking the main grid on either side. These independent reels spin alongside the central action but do not form standard paylines, instead serving as visual and functional highlights that introduce asymmetry to the otherwise compact 3×3 setup. Animations are smooth and purposeful: winning combinations trigger coin spills and symbol glows, while expansions during features animate with satisfying reel stretches and locks. The overall aesthetic is polished and cohesive, prioritizing clarity and engagement on both desktop and mobile devices, ensuring symbols remain legible even as the grid potentially grows to 7 rows high.

Gameplay Mechanics

Riches of Midgard: Land and Expand begins with a compact 3×3 grid featuring 9 fixed paylines, but its mechanics elevate it beyond a standard 3-reel slot through the innovative Hot Spot system and expansion capabilities. The two Hot Spot reels, positioned left and right of the main grid, spin simultaneously with the central reels. Unlike the main reels, Hot Spots do not contribute to payline wins directly; their primary role is to facilitate feature triggers by landing matching high-paying symbols (meat, ram’s horn, or gods).

Basic rules follow conventional slot play: wins form left-to-right on active paylines when three matching symbols align. The flow of the base game is punctuated by the Land and Expand Respin, triggered when identical high-pay symbols appear in both Hot Spots and on at least one central reel. Upon activation, the triggering high-pay symbols expand vertically to fill their entire reels (up to 3 positions initially), locking in place. All other reels then respin once. If an additional matching high-pay symbol lands during the respin—either in a Hot Spot or central reel—it expands and locks similarly. No payout occurs mid-feature; evaluation happens only after expansions complete, potentially yielding multiple expanded reels for clustered wins across paylines.

This mechanic introduces variability and excitement, as expansions can chain during a single respin sequence, altering the grid’s effective height temporarily. The base game’s pace remains brisk, with frequent Hot Spot interactions keeping sessions dynamic despite the small grid. Payline wins are calculated at standard multipliers, with Odin offering the highest payouts for three-of-a-kind combinations. Overall, gameplay emphasizes anticipation around Hot Spot syncs, blending traditional spins with progressive reel growth for sustained engagement.

Bonus Features

The slot’s bonus features are streamlined yet impactful, centering on the Land and Expand Respin in the base game and a robust Free Spins round. The Land and Expand Respin operates as detailed in the base mechanics: matching high-pays in both Hot Spots plus one central reel prompt expansion and respin, with new matches expanding further before payout. This can occur on any spin, providing regular bursts of heightened win potential without requiring a separate buy-in.The primary bonus, Free Spins, activates by landing three Mjolnir scatter symbols anywhere on the main 3×3 reels, awarding 8 spins initially. During this round, the grid expands dynamically: each retrigger (three additional scatters) adds one new row either above or below the existing grid, capping at 7 rows total and increasing paylines from 9 to a maximum of 29. This vertical growth significantly boosts winning opportunities, as more symbols can align across expanded heights.

Further enhancements include: every extra Mjolnir scatter beyond the retrigger grants 2 additional spins. The Hot Spot reels retain their influence, with potential for wild symbols to appear in the left Hot Spot, substituting for regular high-pay symbols to form or extend wins. The Land and Expand Respin remains active, synergizing with expansions for cascading builds. Retriggers are feasible up to the grid limit, making prolonged Free Spins sessions possible where fully expanded 7×3 (effectively taller) grids with 29 paylines offer peak volatility. These layers ensure the bonus is the slot’s highlight, transforming the modest base into a feature-rich payoff phase.

Betting Options and Payouts

Betting flexibility accommodates diverse bankrolls, with a minimum stake of $0.10 and a maximum of $200 per spin. This range supports low-stakes exploration for beginners and higher wagers for those chasing the 435x max win. The 96.03% RTP aligns with industry standards, ensuring fair long-term returns, while medium volatility delivers a balanced hit frequency—frequent small-to-medium wins punctuated by feature-driven spikes.

Payouts emphasize consistency over extremes: base game wins peak with three Odins, but true potential unlocks in expanded states. The 435x max win is most attainable during max-expanded Free Spins with 29 paylines, multiple locked high-pays, and wild assists. Payline behavior favors adjacent symbol clusters post-expansion, with no progressive jackpots but reliable feature triggers compensating for the capped ceiling. This structure suits players prioritizing engagement over lottery-like payouts, as Hot Spot interactions occur steadily across bet levels.

Conclusion

Riches of Midgard: Land and Expand excels in inventive mechanics like the Hot Spot reels and Land and Expand Respin, paired with dynamic grid growth in Free Spins, offering engaging gameplay in a charming Norse-themed package. Its colorful cartoon visuals and whimsical design enhance accessibility, while the 96.03% RTP and medium volatility provide steady action. Strengths include frequent features, strategic expansions up to 29 paylines, and broad betting from $0.10 to $200, making it approachable for varied audiences. Weaknesses encompass the modest 435x max win, which may disappoint high-volatility seekers, and a base game constrained by the 3×3 grid absent expansions.

Players can test the slot risk-free using the built-in demo available on this page. Overall, it delivers satisfying, feature-rich entertainment for those valuing creativity and pace over jackpot grandeur, solidifying NetEnt‘s knack for refreshing familiar themes.