Valhall Gold

Valhall Gold: Slot review

If you’re curious, the word ‘Valhall’ is the anglicized version of the Old Norse term ‘Valhǫll’, which means ‘hall of the slain’. It’s believed to be a hall in Asgard, led by Odin, where fallen warriors go after battle. The other half are said to be taken to Fólkvangr to join the Goddess Freyja. It’s fitting in some ways because Valhall Gold, developed by ELK Studios, brings the highly popular Gold slots series to a close. The series began in 2019 with Ecuador Gold, introducing the adventurous character Kane to the gambling community. Since then, Kane has embarked on thrilling journeys to exotic locations like Tahiti, Louisiana, and Kathmandu. Now, he finds himself in Valhall, in a slot game that combines classic Gold gameplay with exciting new features, for one last hurrah.

Adaptability is one of Kane’s strong points, and Valhall Gold is no exception. In this slot, our explorer has transformed into a Viking warrior, complete with Viking attire, an axe, and a hairstyle reminiscent of Uhtred, son of Uhtred from The Last Kingdom. He blends in perfectly with the majestic Viking setting, with mountains sloping into a fjord and two imposing statues guarding the entrance to a grand space in the distance. This space is accessed when free spins are triggered and reveals burning braziers, a lavish banquet, and a tree that is likely Yggdrasil in the background. The dense Viking atmosphere creates an enticing environment for players to engage with the final installment of the Gold slot series.

Let’s address one of the drawbacks of Valhall Gold. While the features and winning potential have increased throughout the series, the RTP (Return to Player) has decreased, currently standing at 94%. This applies whether you are playing in normal mode, with bets ranging from 20 p/c to £/€100 per spin, or when activating bonus modes from the X-iter. Valhall Gold is highly volatile and features a dynamic gaming grid that starts each spin of the base game with 6 reels and 4 rows of symbols, offering 4,096 ways to win. However, it is possible to expand the reels to a maximum of 9 rows, providing 531,441 ways to win super free spins.

Valhall Gold features 12 regular pay symbols and a variety of special symbols. The low-paying symbols consist of 4 runic blocks of stone, while the mid-paying symbols showcase Viking and Celtic designs. The high-paying symbols include 4 symbols topped by Kane. When you achieve 6 of a kind winning combination of bonus symbol, the payouts range from 0.3x for the runes, 0.8-1x for the pattern symbols, and 2-5x for the remaining high-paying symbols. All of these pay symbols can appear in sizes of 1×1, 2×2, 3×3, or 4×4. The regular wild symbol can also appear in these various sizes, substituting for any regular pay symbol.

Features of Valhall Gold Slot

Valhall Gold offers a captivating blend of classic and modern features. Experience the thrill of Avalanches, Odin’s Ravens, Trickster Loki, Almighty Thor, Spike Symbols, a bonus game, and the X-iter bonus buy menu.

Avalanches

Watch as winning symbols vanish from the grid, making way for new ones to drop in. The reels can expand up to 8 rows high with consecutive Avalanche wins. Overflowing symbols can even trigger the ninth row, filling the other reels to match the extended symbol’s height. In the base game, each spin resets the reels to 4 rows high, while free spins reset to the safety level. Big symbols leave behind matching 1×1 symbols, while Thor wilds and Loki wild symbols can fill empty spaces with 1×1 wilds.

Odin’s Ravens

Initially, Odin’s Ravens symbols act as blockers. However, when 2 or more of these symbols appear, they transform into wilds, functioning as 1×1 wilds.

Trickster Loki

Loki’s multiplier, represented by a 2×2 blocker symbol, brings unique modifiers to each win evaluation. Once activated, Loki remains active for the round and applies his feature before win evaluation. Loki’s modifier options include:

• Loki Multiplier: Enhances the current win evaluation with a multiplier of x2, x3, x5, or x10. This multiplier adds to any saved multiplier in the bonus game.
• Loki Both Ways: Enables win evaluation from left to right and right to left.
• Loki Spike Storm: Adds spike frames to existing symbols, transforming them into spike symbols.
• Loki Axe Fury: Upgrades a random number of symbols on the screen to the same symbol.

Spike Symbols

When a spike symbol contributes to a win, it replicates itself in the direction indicated by the spike on its frame. Notably, spikes do not affect Loki, the Thor symbol, or Odin’s Ravens symbols.

Almighty Thor

Encounter the powerful 2×2 wild symbol known as Almighty Thor. This wild remains sticky throughout a single drop, enhancing your winning potential.

Bonus Game

Obtain 3, 4, 5, or 6 scatter symbols in the base game to activate 10, 15, 20, or 25 mega free spins and drops, respectively. The bonus game commences with a safety level of 5 rows after the first winning drop. The safety level represents the minimum starting reel height during the spin. Each winning free drop increases the safety level by 1 row, up to a maximum of 8 rows. The ninth row opens when a large symbol extends into it, and it remains for the duration of the round.

In the bonus game, any win featuring a Loki modifier saves the modifier in Loki’s inventory slot. Subsequent wins with the same Loki feature activate the saved modifier, which remains sticky for the rest of the round. Saved Loki can award additional multipliers that are cumulative, multiplying all future wins. Additional Loki multipliers can be awarded even after the first multiplier is saved. The Both Ways modifier also remains active for the entire round once it is saved in the inventory, no longer requiring Loki’s award. Once the Spike Storm and Axe Fury modifiers are saved in the inventory, they activate automatically on each remaining free drop. Loki may still award extra Spike Storms or Axe Fury features even after they are saved. Additionally, landing 3, 4, 5, or 6 scatter symbols during the bonus game rewards an additional 10, 15, 20, or 25 free drops.

X-iter

The X-iter feature offers five exciting game modes to choose from:

• Bonus Hunt: Double your bet for a single drop, doubling your chance of triggering the bonus game.
• Big Block: Increase your bet by 5x for a guaranteed big symbol on a single drop.
• Trickster Loki: Multiply your bet by 25x for a guaranteed Loki symbol on a single drop.
• Bonus: Purchase the bonus round for 100x your bet.
• Super Bonus: Fully activate Loki’s inventory and buy the bonus round for 500x your bet.

Gameplay and Atmosphere

This casino game offers an impressive layout with 6 reels and up to 262,144 paylines/ways. Valhall Gold immerses players in captivating themes like Coins, Gods, Gold, Gold Series, Mythology, Nordic, Norse, Valhalla, and more.

Max Win Potential and RTP

The Valhall Gold slot has an RTP (Return to Player) of 94%, which is relatively low and below average for an online slot. In theory, this means that for every €100 wagered, the expected payout next win would be €94. However, it is important to note that the RTP is calculated based on millions of spins, ensuring that each spin’s outcome remains entirely random.

With a maximum potential payout of 25,000 times your total bet, this slot offers the opportunity to win substantial rewards. It’s worth mentioning that the maximum possible win is calculated over a significant number winning combinations of spins, often reaching one billion spins.

Learn How to Play Valhalla Gold

1. Click on the ‘?’ icon located in the bottom left corner of the screen to access the menu and review the game rules. Here, you can also customize your in-play settings and familiarize yourself with the paytable, win lines, and bonus features.
2. Use the ‘-‘ and ‘+’ buttons on either side of the BET PER LINE box to adjust your stake.
3. Once you are satisfied with the amount displayed in the TOTAL BET box, you can begin spinning.
4. Valhalla Gold offers two spin modes: standard and autoplay. Simply choose the appropriate spin button to responsibly enjoy the game.

Get ready to embark on an exciting gaming experience!

ELK Studios: A Leading Provider of Online Slots

ELK Studios has established itself as a powerhouse in the online gaming industry, known for creating top-notch and inventive slot games. With state-of-the-art graphics and captivating gameplay, this provider has consistently produced popular titles, solidifying its reputation as a leader in digital casino entertainment and captivating players from around the globe.

Valhall Gold: Slot Review

When we reviewed Valhall Gold, it marked a week of farewells. Not only did we encounter Valhall Gold, the final addition to ELK Studios’ popular Gold series of slots, but just a few days earlier, we assessed Money Train 4, the concluding slot in Relax Gaming’s monumental train-themed collection. Money Train 4 was a colossal finale, boasting a whopping 150,000x winning potential, a plethora of features, and a fresh pay mechanic. In comparison, Valhall Gold doesn’t quite reach the same levels of greatness as its predecessors in the final game in the Gold series. That’s not to say it isn’t an excellent game by any means. It’s just that ELK Studios didn’t go out with a mind-blowing bang to mark the occasion.

Nonetheless, Valhall Gold is a solid game that does the series proud, despite the slightly disappointing downward trend in RTP values. Apart from that, the winning potential has seen a significant boost, starting at 2,500x in Ecuador Gold and now reaching an impressive 25,000x the bet in Valhall Gold. Valhall Gold does come across as quite volatile, which may appeal to some players but prove to be a bit too much for others, and the option to buy bonus rounds is a bit of a gamble. However, this is the nature of the game, and when its extensive features come into play, including Loki’s inventory and the easy feature and activation of repeat features, Valhall Gold has the potential to deliver big wins. Loki, often known as the ‘trickster god’, brings his own bag of tricks to Valhall Gold, and they’re not always of the humorous kind.

Nevertheless, Valhall Gold is a well-crafted game with stunning artwork and innovative concepts. Considering the success the Gold series of slots has achieved over the years, it’s hard to imagine ELK Studios completely abandoning the expanding reels, avalanche mechanics, and safety level features. After experiencing the entertainment value of Kane and his games, it’s quite exciting to speculate on what related ideas the studio may explore in the future. For now, farewell, Kane. We’ll see what the future holds.

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