In the mood for a heavy dose of machismo? Then Spartan King from Pragmatic Play is just what you need. The slot takes inspiration from all the best parts of an ancient civilisation. Muscle-bound warriors, the adrenaline of a battle scene and the mystic of a time long since forgotten.
But when it comes to games from this top provider, it’s definitely not just style over substance. While you’re mesmerised by the visual display, you’ll also be treated to spinning reels that offer potential prizes that shoot up higher than 7,400 times the bet. As is befitting these immortalised heroes, the game runs on super high volatility and with a rewarding RTP of 96.60%, and comes fully armed with Wilds, Free Spins, Bonus Symbols, and Multipliers that shoot up to 25 x.
The Highlights
- 5 reels and up to 40 paylines
- Wilds, Free Spins, Multipliers, Colossal Symbols
- High Volatility
- Maximum prize of 7,494 x the bet
- RTP of 96.60%
Spartan King Theme and Background
I don’t know about you guys, but when I heard the title of this game, my mind zipped straight over to Gerard Butler. No one can forget that epic drop kick into a bottomless pit. But the bigger question is, does Leonidas feature in this game from Pragmatic Play? The answer is both yes and no.
Pragmatic Play is asking players to indulge them as they re- introduce you to a world you’ve seen depicted across your screen a few times over. The stand of the 300 Spartan warriors at Thermopylae is famous, depicted in several films, video games and books. Pragmatic Play don’t mention Leonidas by name, so while nothing is spelled out, his identity is heavily inferred.
Obviously the game is based in Sparta, a city once forming a part of Ancient Greece. The background setting is a majestic view of the coast of Sparta, where brave soldiers have lined up to defend their mighty king. They stand under a setting sun, surrounded by mountains and waterfalls.
Each game symbol has been carefully crafted to match the theme. There are 12 symbols in total. Four of these are low payers, depicted by the usual Jack, Queen, King, and Ace card symbols. The remaining icons are more original, made up of five premium symbols of vases, swords, helmets, ships, and a Spartan warrior brandishing a sword. The line up is completed by the most exciting symbols. These include a Warrior Wild, rewarding Bonus Scatters, and a super size Shield that covers a 2 x 2 area. The most valuable symbol is the Spartan Warrior, who pays up to 7.5 x for five symbols on a winning payline. The game’s Wilds can substitute for all symbols except Bonus Scatter, and appear on all reels except reel one.
Spartan King Pros
- Multipliers that climb up to 25 x
- Double sized Wilds in the base game
- The Free Spins games comes with unlimited re-triggers
Spartan King Cons
- The Colossal Wild doesn’t increase in size during the bonus game
- Individual symbol values could be higher
- The theme isn’t original
Gameplay and Special Features on Spartan King
Spartan King is more than just a visually powerful game. Players will access some exciting features beneath the snarls and muscle. These are vital to the game mechanic, as it’s the only way you’ll get close to theat 7,494 x maximum prize.
Each spin carries the potential to unlock Colossal 2×2 Wilds as well as a Free Spin Bonus round where those colossal wilds can really come into their own. Here’s how each one works.
Colossal 2×2 Wilds
This a giant shield, adorned by arrows. You should get pretty excited when it lands, as your chances of making winning combinations is vastly increased. The best news is that it can land on any spin, and the 2×2 Wild block will substitute for everything apart from the Scatter. This symbol is in addition to the regular Spartan Wild.
Free Spins Bonus
Here’s where Spartan King really brings out the big guns. The feature is triggered when you land three of more of the Scatter symbol. This is represented by a red military banner. Depending on how many Scatters you land, the number of Free Spins awarded changes.
Land three, four or five Scatters anywhere on the reels and you’ll also get a multiplier pay out. This is in addition to the free games, which is why the round has such high payout potential.
- Three Scatters only gets a 1 x multiplier
- Four Scatters get a 5 x multiplier
- Five Scatters get a 20 x multiplier
Of course you’re also guaranteed to trigger the Free Spins feature. The more bonus symbols, the more Free Spins you kick things off with:
- Three Scatters gives 8 Free Spins
- Four Scatters gives 10 Free Spins
- Five Scatters gives 12 Free Spins
During Free Spins, the colossal 2×2 Wild can also make an appearance. This time around they’re also attached to a multiplier, boosting value exponentially. Whenever a Colossal Wild lands, the whole of the payout from that spin is boosted by a multiplier of 2 x, 3 x, 5 x, 10 x, 15 x or 25 x.
Finally, retriggers are possible here too. Land three, four or five Scatters more during the bonus game and you’ll get another round of 8, 10 or 12 free spins. There’s no limit to how many additional Free Spins you can win.
What are the Payouts and Wagering Limits for Spartan King?
Designed on five reels and with 40 fixed and active paylines, Spartan King runs with a familiar mechanic. Kick things off by selecting your bet level. You can choose to place bets from as little as $0.20 per spin, or get extra daring with bets that go all the way up to $100 per spin.
The game offers very decent, if not the highest on offer, payout potential. This changes drastically depending on whether you’ve triggered a bonus feature. During the base game, the Wilds will pay out the most, offering up to 10 x on every payline. That means you can collect up to 400 x on a single spin.
The Free Spins round offers boosted payouts. Manage a full line of Wilds for up to 10 x the stake on each line. That means 400 x is the most available in a single spin. The Free Spins are also furnished with another level of multipliers. These can increase your win by up to 25 x.
A very lucky combination of these will bring you to the game’s top prize of 7,494 x the stake. Of course this is the highest number achieved during testing, and it’s vey few players who will trigger it themselves. Luckily you don’t need to reach the top of the mountain to walk away with considerable fatter pockets.
Keep in mind that because Spartan King comes with very high volatility (the highest possible afforded by Pragmatic Play) it’s not a game that will pay out frequently. Instead, you have to tolerate a few dry spins in between wins, which will hopefully be worth the wait. The game also comes with a 96.60% RTP. This level just above the industry average, which gives those who like to play longer a generous return on their bet spend.
The final verdict on Spartan King
Spartan King runs with a theme that most players will get great enjoyment out of. Male, female or Greek history agnostic, you’re bound to engage will with the game. Pragmatic Play have done a great job of infusing bonus features during the base game and above. One of the most exciting is the 2×2 Colossal Wild shield, which is further boosted by multipliers in the bonus round.
The game offers players the chance to walk away considerably richer, with prizes up to 7,480 x the bet. However, you should proceed with caution. These fierce Spartan warriors come with super high volatility, which means you have to be prepared to wage war for your opportunity at victory – but you’ll definitely have fun doing it!
