In this edition of Slots Wars, two of the Pragmatic Play’s releases launched at the beginning of 2022 are facing each other. Norse-inspired Gates of Valhalla and Wild Depths with an ocean theme are more similar than beats the eye, so let’s see which one will prevail.
Let the slot war begins!
Round 1: Winning Potential and RTP
Maybe the first thing players check before starting to play any game is the maximum winning potential. Of course, this doesn’t determine the quality of the slot, but it is a crucial factor for ones hopping to hit some big wins.
Launched in January 2022, Wild Depths comes with a hefty max payout of 5,000x the bet. However, released just a few weeks after, the Gates of Valhalla slot is surpassing it by far with an impressive winning potential of up to 10,000x the stake.
When it comes to volatility, it is at a very high level in both releases, ranked 5/5 by the provider. As for RTP, the difference is hardly noticeable. If we’re nitpicking, the underwater adventure has a slightly higher RTP of 96.48% compared to the 96.46% featured in the Gates of Valhalla slot.
Round 2: Bonus Features
Interesting bonus features have become an inseparable part of modern slots. Classic, old-school games that have marked the slot history are still around, but players nowadays tend to choose releases packed with exciting special features that elevate the playing experience.
In this segment, the similarities of these games come to show. Both slots come with Roaming Wilds, multipliers and free spins round, but the Nordic slot comes with a bit more kick.
In Wild Depths played on a 5×4 grid, the Wild symbol always carries a 2x multiplier attached to it, thus doubling the value of the winning combo that is a part of. Also, every time it lands, the Wild sticks to the reel. On every next spin, it moves up one position until it completely disappears from the grid.
During the bonus round with up to 12 free spins triggered by 3 or more Scatters, every Wild on sight awards a new respin and increases the total win multiplier by 1x. A nice addition to this extra gameplay is the possibility of retriggering free spins by landing 3 scatters during the bonus round.
On the contrary, the Wild symbol in Gates of Valhalla with a 5×5 grid and tumbling reels doesn’t have a multiplier attached to it every time it appears. Instead, here a Roaming Wild symbol moves to the random positions whenever is a part of a winning combo after every tumble. It also awards multipliers of up to 5x the win as it moves, also when part of a winning combination.
In this game, you can get 10, 12, or 15 free spins for a batch of 3, 4 or 5 Scatters respectively. During this round, a general multiplier is present, starting at 1x and increasing by 1x on every next tumble. Besides more spins and a tumbling feature, this game also provides the chance of purchasing the free spins via the Buy Bonus option.
Round 3: Visual and Audio Effects
When it comes to visual appearance, the two releases are quite different. Not only by the theme but also by the design. One thing they have in common is the high level of graphics and superb animation.
With a striking similarity to “Finding Nemo” visuals, the ocean-inspired title has a vibrant, relaxed atmosphere, filled with vibrant and colorful fishes. Both characters and symbols are in a cartoonish design, making them lovable and familiar. The upbeat soundtrack follows the theme completely, while the Caribbean music gives the title the specific charm.
On the other hand, the theme of Gates of Valhalla revolves around Norse mythology and has a bit more serious take. Symbols are represented as runes, while the background is showing the sharp snowy mountain peaks. The music is suspenseful, adding more mystery to the game.
There can’t be a winner in this category as the games are addressing different preferences. It all comes to personal taste, but both games are visually attractive and enjoyable to play.
And The Winner Is…
In this battle of slot wars, Gates of Valhalla takes the victory. Although almost equal in most segments, the Wild Depths slot has a significantly lower winning potential compared to its opponent, and that’s the main reason for losing the title. However, it is still more than worthy of the player’s attention, as both slots are premium products by the esteemed Pragmatic Play with a very high level of playing experience.
