Sword of Ares (Pragmatic Play) Slot Review

Sword of Ares: Slot Overview

Sword of Ares is a mythology-themed video slot developed by Pragmatic Play, released on October 27, 2022. The game draws inspiration from Greek mythology, centering on Ares, the god of war and son of Zeus, portrayed with themes of bloodlust and brutality. It employs a scatter pays mechanic on a 6×6 reel grid, requiring 8 or more identical symbols anywhere on the screen to form wins, similar to the concept in Gates of Olympus. This high-volatility title targets players seeking explosive potential through tumbles, multipliers, and bonus features, with a maximum win of 10,000x the stake. It supports bets from €0.20 to €100 and is optimized for desktops, tablets, and mobiles.

Design and Graphics

The visuals in Sword of Ares evoke an ancient Greek aesthetic, set against a backdrop of towering pillars entwined with climbing plants, evoking a mythical battlefield. Ares, depicted as a formidable warrior, stands prominently to the right of the reels, overseeing the action. The 6×6 grid features polished, high-definition symbols with smooth animations during tumbles and explosions. Low-paying symbols are colorful gemstones in purple, blue, green, red, and turquoise, while premium symbols include a gleaming sword, ornate shield, chariot, and helmet, offering higher payouts for 12+ matches. The golden scatter symbol represents Ares himself, and bomb symbols appear as explosive gold-adorned orbs. Animations are fluid, with winning symbols shattering dramatically and new ones cascading in, complemented by thematic sound effects of clashes and godly roars. The interface is intuitive, with multiplier meters displayed above the reels, ensuring clarity across devices without compromising visual quality.

Sword of Ares slot – base game

Gameplay Mechanics

Sword of Ares utilizes a 6-reel, 6-row grid with no fixed paylines, instead relying on the scatter pays system where 8 or more identical symbols anywhere on the reels trigger a win. Payouts scale with symbol count: low-paying gemstones (purple, blue, green, red, turquoise) pay 1x to 3x the bet for 12+ symbols, while high-paying sword, shield, chariot, and helmet deliver 5x to 20x for the same quantity. Wins activate the Tumble feature, removing winning symbols and allowing new ones to drop in, continuing until no further wins occur.

Special symbols include the Ares scatter, which triggers free spins, and bomb symbols that land randomly. Bombs persist until tumbles end, then explode in horizontal, vertical, cross, or X patterns, clearing symbols (requiring at least one prior tumble in the base game) and contributing to collections. Above the reels, locked Multiplier Collection meters (3 levels in base game) fill with tumbled symbols: 20 symbols unlock 2x-4x, 50 symbols unlock 5x-8x, and 100 symbols unlock 9x-15x multipliers. The highest unlocked multiplier applies to the total win when tumbles cease, adding progression to base game spins.

Bonus Features

Sword of Ares offers a robust set of features centered on cascading wins and escalating multipliers. The Tumble mechanic chains reactions by replacing winning symbols, enabling prolonged sequences. Bomb Symbols enhance this by exploding in defined patterns (horizontal, vertical, cross, or X), removing additional symbols whose count contributes to the Multiplier Collection. In the base game, 3 multiplier tiers are available; the free spins round expands to 6 tiers with higher values.

Sword of Ares slot – free spins

Landing 4+ scatter symbols (Ares) awards Free Spins: 4 scatters grant 3x bet instant win + 15 spins, 5 scatters 15x + 15 spins, and 6 scatters 100x + 15 spins. Free spins cannot retrigger but feature enhanced Multiplier Collection levels, resetting per tumble sequence. Bombs operate similarly here, aiding collections without base-game tumble prerequisites.

The Bonus Buy option instantly activates free spins for 100x the bet, guaranteeing 4-6 scatters.

Betting Options and Payouts

Bets range from €0.20 to €100 per spin, accommodating casual and high-roller play. The default RTP is 96.4%, with configurable lower options at 95.4% or 94.44% at operator discretion. Classified as high volatility, it delivers infrequent but substantial payouts, capped at a 10,000x maximum win. The scatter pays structure favors cluster wins via tumbles, with low symbols paying up to 3x for 12+ and premiums up to 20x. Multipliers amplify totals, reaching 15x in base game and 500x in free spins, supporting the high-win potential through chained reactions and bomb clears.

Sword of Ares slot – bonus buy

Conclusion

Sword of Ares excels in its dynamic scatter pays and Tumble integration with bomb symbols and progressive Multiplier Collection, offering base-game excitement via 3 tiers up to 15x and free spins escalation to 500x, culminating in a superior 10,000x max win. Strengths include prolonged spin sequences, device compatibility, and bonus buy accessibility, enhanced by thematic visuals. Drawbacks encompass adjustable lower RTPs, high volatility suiting patient players, and no retriggers in free spins. Players can test the slot risk-free using the built-in demo available on this page. Overall, it refines familiar mechanics into a high-potential mythological powerhouse for volatility enthusiasts.