Odin Slots

How’s your Norse mythology? Yeah, we prefer Greek too, but don’t worry: you don’t need to know your Njord from your Freyja in order to play Odin, the 5-reel mythology-themed video slot from German developer Merkur.

Odin, of course, is the name of the famous one-eyed, raven-flanked god associated with royalty, healing, knowledge, battle, the gallows, poetry and frenzy. Yep, old greybeard Odin got up to his all sorts during his day, and he’s considered the father of all of the gods in Norse mythology – alongside Thor, of course, the hammer-wielding maniac associated with strength and storms.

Merkur’s video slot is dedicated to the Scandinavian deity who was said to have sacrificed an eye to gain wisdom. You won’t need to give up an eyeball to win on the slot, though – hopefully your passage to immortality is far smoother. Whether you win or lose, whether you’re playing in free slots mode or with real readies, you’re sure to appreciate the slot’s crystal-clear HD graphics, which set it apart from many low-budget Merkur titles.

Odin has a return-to-player percentage of 94.85%. Are you ready to embark on an epic quest for Norse riches? Me, too. Let us talk you through the game first, though…

The lap of the gods

In Odin, all wins must form from left to right, beginning on the furthest reel, and players must hit three matching symbols to trigger a prize. The game features five reels, as stated, and 20 fixed paylines. There’s also an Auto Start mode, useful if you wish to play speedily. This feature can be enabled by clicking on the button in the lower left-hand corner of the screen, and the game can be played for between 0.10 and 10 per spin.

The simple 5×3 reel grid appears against a woodland forest backdrop, and all the usual gameplay controls are arrayed along the bottom of the screen.

Mythological characters

Symbols include Odin, burning fire bowls, a wild battle shield, an axe, a horned helmet, a cairn, three decorative horns, a female handmaiden and playing cards. There are also five playing card icons, from 10 to ace. The symbols are extremely detailed, particularly the image of Odin, who is decked out in full regalia, including a fur-trimmed cape. He also holds a sharpened spear.

Unsurprisingly, Odin is linked with the highest paying symbols in the game. He pays 40 for three, 100 for four and the 1,000 credit grand prize for five in a row. The maiden, meanwhile, pays 20 for three, 50 for four and 300 for five, while the axe, horns, helmet and cairn all pay 10 for three, 40 for four and 150 for five.

There are 13 symbols in Odin, but because all five playing cards, and the aforementioned four totems, pay identical sums, there is a decided lack of variation on the pay-table.

Wilds, scatters and free games

The burning fire bowls constitute the scatter, and you must land three or more to claim ten free spins. The free spins round can also be reactivated.

During free ones, an additional feature keeps things interesting. There’s a special symbol showing a wooden wall, see, and it can occupy entire reels for up to two revolutions. During re-spins, all timber boxes and battle shields will be captured, and after the final reel stop, all the timber walls vanish, to be replaced by multiple identical icons, thereby enhancing your prospects of a win. After the final re-spin, though, you won’t be able to find scatters or battle shields.

The wild is the gold and silver battle shield. This icon can be used to replace others in the game and help you form winning combinations. However, the wild is not associated with any regular symbols in the pay-table: its sole function is to stand in for other symbols. The wild cannot replace the scatters.

Worthy of myth?

Odin is perhaps one of the best video slots in Merkur’s gaming cabinet. The title’s strong points include its atmosphere and theme, as well as its piercing HD graphics and creditable return-to-player percentage. Certainly Odin is superior to the classic – but by now generic – old-fashioned video slots featuring bells, BARs and lemons. If you count history and mythology among your interests, give this one a go and see if you can enter the pantheon of greats.