Review: Pub Kings by Pragmatic Play
Pragmatic Play brings players a rollicking adventure with Pub Kings, an online slot that immerses you in a medieval tavern filled with hearty ales, lively music, and legendary Viking kings. With its rich theme, engaging features, and potential for substantial payouts, Pub Kings blends humor, camaraderie, and adventure into one entertaining package. Featuring dynamic multipliers, a lucrative free spins round, and an innovative collection mechanic, this slot has plenty to offer for fans of historical and lighthearted themes.
Overview
- Developer: Pragmatic Play
- Theme: Medieval Pub, Vikings
- Reels & Rows: 5×4
- Paylines: 20 fixed paylines
- RTP: 96.53%
- Volatility: Medium to High
- Max Win: 5,000x your stake
Set in a lively Viking tavern where tankards of ale and golden treasures abound, Pub Kings takes players on a raucous journey through history. The slot offers feature-packed gameplay, quirky visuals, and an immersive experience filled with Viking charm.
Graphics and Sound
Pragmatic Play has delivered a visually delightful slot with Pub Kings. The reels are set inside a rustic Viking pub, with wooden barrels, warm lighting, and frothy tankards decorating the background. The overall design captures the bustling and jovial atmosphere of a medieval tavern.
Symbols include:
- High-Paying Symbols: Seven Viking kings, each uniquely dressed in their regal attire.
- Low-Paying Symbols: A, K, Q, J, and 10, styled with Nordic-inspired carvings.
- Special Symbols:
- Wild: A golden crown substitutes for all regular symbols except the scatter.
- Scatter: A frothy tankard of ale triggers the Free Spins feature.
The soundtrack features lively medieval tunes with flutes, drums, and cheerful chants, perfectly complementing the pub theme. Sound effects like clinking tankards and cheers from the tavern crowd add to the immersive experience.
Gameplay and Features
Core Gameplay
Pub Kings uses a traditional 5×4 reel layout with 20 fixed paylines. Wins are achieved by landing at least three matching symbols on adjacent reels, starting from the leftmost reel.
Bonus Features
- Free Spins: Kings’ Feast Landing 3 or more scatter symbols triggers the Kings’ Feast Free Spins feature:
- 3 Scatters: 10 free spins
- 4 Scatters: 15 free spins
- 5 Scatters: 20 free spins
- Each Viking king symbol that lands on the reels contributes to its respective collection meter above the reels.
- The more symbols collected, the higher the multiplier applied to the wins involving that king:
- 5 Kings Collected: x2 multiplier
- 10 Kings Collected: x5 multiplier
- 15 Kings Collected: x10 multiplier
- Pub Multiplier Bonus At random, the Pub Multiplier Bonus can activate during the base game, applying a multiplier (up to x5) to any winning combination. This feature keeps base game spins exciting and offers the potential for big wins outside of the Free Spins round.
- Golden Wild Reels Wild symbols can randomly expand to cover entire reels, significantly increasing the chances of landing high-paying combinations. This feature is active during both the base game and Free Spins.
- Collection Meters Above each reel, a meter tracks the number of Viking king symbols collected. These meters are particularly important during Free Spins, as filling them unlocks higher multipliers for those specific symbols. The collection mechanic adds depth to the gameplay and encourages players to chase larger wins.
- Buy Bonus Option For players who want to skip directly to the Free Spins feature, the Buy Bonus option is available for 100x the current bet. This allows players to dive straight into the game’s most rewarding mode without waiting for scatters to land.
Payout Potential
With an RTP of 96.53% and medium-to-high volatility, Pub Kings offers a balanced blend of frequent smaller wins and the potential for larger payouts. The max win of 5,000x your stake is achievable during the Free Spins feature, especially when collection meters and multipliers align with high-paying symbols. The Pub Multiplier Bonus and Golden Wild Reels also provide ample opportunities for substantial wins during the base game.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Immersive Theme: The Viking pub setting and lively design create an engaging and humorous gaming experience.
- Dynamic Features: Free Spins, collection meters, and random multipliers keep gameplay exciting and varied.
- Strategic Gameplay: The collection mechanic adds depth and encourages players to aim for specific symbols.
- Buy Bonus Option: Allows instant access to the Free Spins feature for players seeking faster action.
- Balanced Volatility: Offers a mix of frequent wins and high payout potential, appealing to a wide range of players.
Cons:
- Moderate Max Win: The 5,000x cap may feel limited compared to other high-volatility slots.
- Theme Familiarity: While unique, the Viking theme has been widely explored in other slots.
- Feature Complexity: The collection mechanic may take time for new players to fully understand.
Final Verdict
Pub Kings is a charming and feature-rich slot that combines humor, adventure, and rewarding gameplay. Pragmatic Play has successfully blended a lively Viking pub theme with innovative mechanics, creating a slot that feels fresh and engaging. The Free Spins feature, with its collection meters and multipliers, adds strategic depth and significant payout potential, while random base game features keep the action exciting.
While its max win might not rival some of Pragmatic Play’s other high-volatility slots, Pub Kings offers a balanced and enjoyable experience that appeals to a broad audience. Its combination of immersive visuals, dynamic features, and entertaining gameplay makes it a standout addition to Pragmatic Play’s portfolio.
Rating:
- Graphics and Sound: ★★★★★
- Gameplay Features: ★★★★★
- Payout Potential: ★★★★☆
- Overall Fun: ★★★★★
Pragmatic Play’s Pub Kings delivers an entertaining and rewarding gaming experience that is perfect for fans of Viking-themed slots and innovative bonus features.