Hall of Gods (NetEnt): Overview

Norse God slots are a dime a dozen, but they don't get much bigger than Hall of Gods. It might be pushing on in years but it is just as popular as ever. The visual production undoubtedly stands the test of time, as do the features. But, as we all know, it's the progressive jackpot that keeps players coming back for more. Hall of Gods has produced a number of multimillion Euro payouts over the years. That fact alone makes it hard not to give it a spin at least once or twice. There is more going on than just massive wins though. Let's take a look at what makes Hall of Gods so successful.

When loading up Hall of Gods for the first time it might look a little dated, but not overly so. Its 5 reels and 3 rows are transparent, and behind them lies an icy wasteland. A drum throbs over the soundtrack during pacey moments, while the sound of crashing waves accompanies the calmer one. It's a simple yet effective premise for jackpot hunting. To get started, bet levels are adjusted from 20 p/c up to $/€50 per spin. A percentage of every bet goes into increasing the three jackpots – two local, and one pooled. Sitting above the reels is a juicy figure indeed. This is the Mega jackpot amount which is consistently in the millions.

As well as chasing the jackpot, the goal during the base game is to land combinations of symbols. This is done on 20 paylines which are inscribed on the pillars framing the grid. The symbols are part items, part divine characters. The low pays include a box of fruit, a pick, a brooch, a hammer, a ring, and Idun. The high pays are Loki, Freya, Thor, and Odin. The low pays need at least three of a kind, while the high pays need only two to payout. Odin is worth the most at 100 times the stake for five of a kind. The serpent of Midgard symbol is wild and can substitute for all symbols except the scatter and bonus symbol. If it lands on reels 2, 3, or 4 as part of a winning combination it expands to cover the whole reel. It is possible to convert all 3 middle reels to Stacked Wilds which helps up the win rate.

As well as tracking down jackpots with the gods, some players are drawn to Hall of Gods for its math model. This is driven by a low to medium volatility and rather high hit frequency of 37.15%-37.19%. This ensures a fairly steady run of, typically low value, wins. RTP is quite high when compared to other progressive jackpots at 95.3%-95.7% and worth noting is that the higher the stake, the higher the probability of triggering the jackpot (as is the case with many large progressive jackpot slots). Potential during Hall of Gods (not counting the Mega Jackpot for a moment) is also solid thanks to the features that come bundled with it.

Hall of Gods (NetEnt): Features

Hall of Gods comes with two extra features that can lead to stacks of coins for lucky warriors. The smaller one first, which is the Free Spins round. This is triggered by the Ravens symbol which is the scatter. When 3, 4, or 5 of these handy symbols land they award 10, 15, or 20 spins respectively. During free spins all wins have a x3 multiplier applied to them. Scatters continue to turn up and three or more reactivate the feature.

Now for the big one. Thor's Hammer and shield is the bonus symbol and the key to the big money. Three are needed to activate the Bonus Game. When this feature is triggered the screen becomes covered with shields and the cursor changes into Thor's hammer. Players then smash shields to reveal coin amounts or jackpot symbols. If 3 of the same coin amounts are revealed, the prize is paid out. If three of the same jackpots are revealed – Mini, Midi, or Mega, then the corresponding jackpot is won. The bonus game continues until 3 of the same coin amounts or jackpots are revealed. In this way, players always win something from the bonus round.

Hall of Gods (NetEnt): Verdict

What you want to see during Hall of Gods is the screen with Odin holding up the 'Congratulations you Won Mega Jackpot' sign. Land this and life will never be the same again. Such was the case in 2017 for an anonymous 47 year old Norwegian gambler who raked in €7.5 million. News like this ensures that Hall of Gods will continue to be a popular slot for the foreseeable future. Yes, it might be showing its age a little now, but it is still capable of entertaining sessions. For low to medium volatile action with a high hit rate, Hall of Gods is hard to beat.

Of course, the massive jackpot lurking above the reels is far and away the star attraction. For the record, the Mega Jackpot has an expected hit frequency of 1 in 2,464,171 from the base game. Odds tighten up during the bonus game at max bet to 1 in 26,618. So no, not everyone is going to win that, but potential of around 1,200x is capable during free spins, excluding the jackpot.

Even if Hall of Gods was absolute drivel punters would still be lining up for a crack at the Mega Jackpot. Another one of the reasons Hall of Gods has retained its popularity is due to being a highly playable slot with interesting features. Mechanically, it won't light the fire of hardcore gamblers. But its friendly volatility and high hit rate is another reason casual gamblers continue to enjoy spinning its God filled reels. Being part of countless Welcome Bonus offers also helps, and its popularity sees no sign of abating any time soon.