Vikings Go Wild is a premium video slot developed by Yggdrasil Gaming, featuring a 5-reel, 25-payline structure set against a Norse mythology backdrop. Released in August 2015, this game combines engaging Viking warrior characters with innovative bonus mechanics including sticky wilds, treasure chests, and free spins with sea monster battles.
Vikings Go Wild represents Yggdrasil Gaming's masterful approach to Norse-themed slot development, combining atmospheric storytelling with mathematically sound game mechanics. Launched in August 2015, this title established itself as a cornerstone of the Vikings series, later spawned successful sequels including Vikings Go Berzerk and Vikings Go To Hell. The game transports players aboard Viking longships crossing turbulent seas, where warrior characters seek treasure and glory against a backdrop of crashing waves and dramatic Nordic scenery.
The visual presentation features detailed character animations introduced through an opening cinematic that establishes the narrative context. Four distinct Viking warriors serve as the primary symbols, each with unique visual characteristics and payout values. The game's interface maintains clarity without sacrificing thematic immersion, ensuring players can easily track their progress while enjoying the atmospheric elements.
The game operates on a 5-reel, 4-row grid configuration with 25 fixed paylines running from left to right. This structure provides 100 visible symbol positions per spin, creating numerous opportunities for winning combinations. The symbol hierarchy divides into two distinct categories: character symbols representing Viking warriors and coin symbols representing ancient currency.
The brunette male Viking warrior occupies the top position in the paytable, delivering 250 coins for five matching symbols on an active payline. This character's dominant position reflects both visual prominence and payout potential. The ginger-bearded Viking follows closely with 225 coins for a five-symbol match, while the white-haired warrior provides 200 coins. The female shieldmaiden, despite her combat prowess, pays 125 coins for five symbols, representing the lowest value among character symbols.
Ancient coin symbols provide the lower-tier payouts while maintaining thematic consistency. Gold coins deliver 80 coins for five matches, silver coins pay 70, and bronze coins offer 50 for five-symbol combinations. These symbols appear more frequently than character symbols, creating a balanced payout distribution that sustains gameplay momentum between larger wins.
The gold wild symbol serves as a universal substitute for all regular symbols except scatters and treasure chests. This substitution capability significantly increases winning potential by completing otherwise incomplete payline combinations. Wild symbols appear on all reels during base gameplay, though their true power emerges during the free spins feature where they can become sticky and remain locked in position.
The wild symbol's design features ornate gold detailing that makes it instantly recognisable among other symbols. Its substitution rules follow standard industry conventions, replacing any symbol needed to create the highest possible winning combination on each payline. When multiple winning combinations are possible, the game automatically awards the highest value.
The free spins feature activates when three or more battleship scatter symbols land anywhere on the reels. Three scatters award 8 free spins, four scatters provide 16 free spins, and five scatters deliver 24 free spins. This scaling reward structure incentivises players to pursue maximum scatter appearances.
During free spins, the feature's defining mechanic comes into play: any Viking warrior symbol that lands can transform into a sticky wild. These transformed symbols remain locked in position for the duration of the free spins round, accumulating across multiple spins to create increasingly favourable reel configurations. As more warriors transform, the probability of forming winning combinations increases dramatically.
The transformation occurs through an animated sequence where the Viking character battles a sea monster. Victory in this battle converts the warrior into a sticky wild, adding narrative weight to the mechanical transformation. This visual storytelling element distinguishes Vikings Go Wild from competitors that employ sticky wilds without thematic justification.
Vikings Go Wild operates on a straightforward yet rewarding payline system where wins are calculated from left to right across 25 active lines. The game features eight regular symbols divided into high-value Viking characters and lower-value ancient coins. The brunette male warrior serves as the top-paying symbol at 250 coins for five matches, followed by the ginger-bearded Viking at 225 coins and the white-haired warrior at 200 coins.
The betting structure allows players to adjust their stake using simple plus and minus controls, making the game accessible to both casual players and high rollers. All paylines remain active throughout gameplay, ensuring maximum winning potential on every spin. The game's mathematical model balances frequent smaller wins with the possibility of substantial payouts through bonus features.
The treasure chest symbol appears exclusively on the fifth reel and can land during both base gameplay and free spins. When it appears, the chest opens to reveal one of several possible rewards, creating an additional layer of anticipation beyond standard payline wins.
In the base game, treasure chests award either 8 to 12 free spins or an instant coin prize of up to 1,000 coins. This dual reward structure provides variety in bonus outcomes, with free spins offering extended gameplay and coin prizes delivering immediate bankroll boosts. The random nature of treasure chest rewards adds unpredictability that maintains player engagement.
During the free spins feature, treasure chests offer enhanced rewards including 2 to 4 additional free spins, coin prizes up to 1,000, or activation of the Wild Reel feature. The Wild Reel feature transforms the entire fifth reel into wild symbols for the current spin, creating maximum winning potential when combined with existing sticky wilds from warrior transformations.
Vikings Go Wild operates with a 96.3% RTP, positioning it slightly above the industry average of 96%. This percentage indicates that over extended play sessions, the game returns £96.30 for every £100 wagered, though individual sessions will vary significantly due to variance. The RTP calculation includes all features and bonus rounds, representing the game's overall mathematical expectation.
The game's volatility classification as low to medium suggests a balanced hit frequency with moderate payout variation. Players can expect regular smaller wins interspersed with occasional larger payouts, particularly during bonus features. This volatility profile suits players seeking entertainment value with manageable bankroll fluctuation rather than high-risk, high-reward gameplay.
While slot outcomes remain determined by random number generation, understanding game mechanics enables informed decision-making. The 25 fixed paylines mean stake adjustments affect the total bet rather than active lines, simplifying bankroll management. Players should calculate their cost per spin relative to their available funds, ensuring sufficient spins to encounter bonus features which typically activate every 100-200 spins on average.
The treasure chest's exclusive appearance on reel five means its activation remains independent of other reel outcomes. Free spins activation requires scatter symbols which can appear on any reel, making each spin equally likely to trigger the feature regardless of previous results. The sticky wild mechanic during free spins means early warrior transformations create compounding value across remaining spins.
Yggdrasil designed Vikings Go Wild with mobile-first principles, ensuring full functionality across smartphones and tablets. The game employs HTML5 technology, eliminating the need for plugin downloads while maintaining visual quality and performance. Touch controls replace mouse interactions seamlessly, with tap-to-spin and swipe-to-adjust-bet gestures feeling intuitive on touchscreen devices.
The 16:9 aspect ratio adapts to various screen sizes without compromising symbol visibility or interface accessibility. All game information, including paytables and rules, remains accessible through mobile-optimised menus. Performance remains consistent across iOS and Android platforms, with the game supporting major browsers including Chrome, Safari, and Firefox.
Vikings Go Wild established the foundation for Yggdrasil's Vikings franchise, with subsequent releases Vikings Go Berzerk and Vikings Go To Hell building upon its mechanics. The original title's low to medium volatility contrasts with the higher variance found in later instalments, making it more suitable for extended play sessions with moderate bankrolls. The sticky wild mechanic introduced here became a signature feature refined in subsequent games.
The maximum win potential of 2,000x stake remains modest compared to modern slots offering 10,000x or higher, reflecting the game's 2015 release date and conservative volatility profile. However, this lower maximum win correlates with more frequent bonus feature activation, providing regular engagement rather than rare massive payouts.
Vikings Go Wild delivers a well-balanced slot experience that prioritises consistent entertainment over extreme volatility. Its 96.3% RTP, engaging bonus features, and polished presentation justify its continued popularity nearly a decade after release. The sticky wild mechanic during free spins provides genuine excitement as warrior symbols accumulate, while treasure chests add unpredictable bonus value. Players seeking Norse-themed slots with reliable mathematics and proven track records will find Vikings Go Wild meets these criteria effectively. The game serves both as an enjoyable standalone experience and as an entry point to Yggdrasil's broader Vikings series, each offering variations on the established formula.
Vikings Go Wild has an RTP of 96.3%, which is slightly above the industry average. This return to player percentage applies across all features and represents the theoretical long-term payout rate.
Free spins activate when you land 3, 4, or 5 battleship scatter symbols anywhere on the reels, awarding 8, 16, or 24 free spins respectively. Scatters can appear on any reel position.
The maximum win is 2,000x your total stake, which can reach up to €380,000 depending on your bet level. This maximum can be achieved through combinations of sticky wilds during free spins.
No, warrior symbols have a chance to transform into sticky wilds during free spins when they battle the sea monster. Not every warrior symbol that lands will necessarily transform, adding variability to the feature.
Yes, treasure chests can appear on reel 5 during both base gameplay and free spins. During free spins, they offer enhanced rewards including additional spins, coin prizes, or the Wild Reel feature.
Vikings Go Wild has low to medium volatility, meaning it provides a balanced mix of frequent smaller wins and occasional larger payouts. This makes it suitable for players with moderate risk tolerance.
Vikings Go Wild is available at licensed and regulated online casinos that meet strict industry standards for player protection and fair gaming.
The sequel to Vikings Go Wild introduces Berzerk Mode and Ragnarok Free Spins, offering higher volatility and enhanced winning potential with expanded sticky wild mechanics.
The third instalment takes Vikings into the underworld with Rage Collection mechanics, multipliers up to 7x, and the most volatile gameplay in the series.
Yggdrasil celebrates a decade since Vikings Go Wild launched, with the series generating over 2 billion game rounds globally.
Recent analytics show 78% of Vikings Go Wild gameplay occurs on mobile devices, validating Yggdrasil's mobile-first design approach.
Despite being released in 2015, Vikings Go Wild continues ranking among the top 50 most-played slots across UK-licensed casinos.