Pillars of Asgard: Overview

In a packed slots landscape, the best way to get noticed is to introduce something genuinely different—or to go so huge that you end up redefining expectations. SG Studio developer NextGen Gaming aims for both here, pairing fresh mechanics with a mind-bending number of win ways. Megaways is known for scale, yet even its 117,648 win ways look modest next to what Pillars of Asgard can deliver. It’s the kind of extreme design that will split opinion—players will either be drawn to the numbers or put off by them.

If you’re going to build around an enormous win-ways system, an equally grand theme fits the bill. Few settings feel as larger-than-life as Norse mythology. It’s familiar territory, yes, but it’s also a strong match for a game engine built to go big.

The adventure starts by crossing the rainbow bridge Bifrost into the legendary realm of Asgard. The action plays out on a 6 reel, 4 row layout, framed by the two imposing pillars referenced in the name. It may seem fairly restrained at the start with ‘only’ 4,096 paylines, but that number can rise dramatically as you play. Symbols include low-paying 9 to A characters styled in a Runic typeface, alongside Norse-themed icons—Odin is the standout, doubling as the wild and offering the best reward, as 6 across a full payline returns 200 times your stake. With stakes from 0.25 to €/$50 per spin, Pillars of Asgard is positioned as the highest volatility release ever in NextGen Gaming’s catalogue.

Pillars of Asgard: Features

Pillars of Asgard is loaded with features and some distinctive mechanics. First up is the Wild Multiplier feature. Whenever one or more Odin wilds land as part of a winning combination, a random multiplier is applied to the total win. More Odin symbols is always better, since additional wilds increase the likelihood of landing a bigger multiplier. You’ll see at least x2, with the top end reaching x10, as follows:

• 1 wild symbol – 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, 6x, 8x or 10x multiplier.
• 2 wild symbols – 3x, 4x, 5x, 6x, 8x or 10x multiplier.
• 3 wild symbols – 4x, 5x, 6x, 8x or 10x multiplier.
• 4 wild symbols – 5x, 6x, 8x or 10x multiplier.
• 5 wild symbols – 8x or 10x multiplier.

There’s also a Free Spins feature, triggered by landing 3 or more scatter symbols, awarding 20 free spins. In addition, the number of scatters used to activate the bonus determines how many extra rows are added, up to a maximum of +4:

• 3 scatters will give you 1 extra row and 15,625 ways to win.
• 4 scatters will give you 2 extra rows and 46,625 ways to win.
• 5 scatters will give you 3 extra rows and 117,649 ways to win.
• 6 scatters will give you 4 extra rows and 262,144 ways to win.

When a scatter appears during the free spins feature, it adds an extra symbol to that reel—this mechanic is called the Reel Rise Engine. A reel can grow to as many as 10 symbols, and each increase boosts the available win ways. If every one of the 6 reels reaches 10 symbols, the game reaches its maximum with 1,000,000 win ways active. On top of that, once a reel hits the 10-symbol height, it triggers the Odin’s Blessing feature, which grants 5 additional free spins and turns all scatter symbols into wilds for the remainder of the bonus.

On top of this, if you manage to get all 6 reels up to 10 symbols, the Pillar Shift Engine is activated. Odin rises, and a full reel becomes entirely wild, shifting from reel to reel on each subsequent free spin.

As with other NextGen Gaming releases, anyone who doesn’t want to wait for the bonus can jump straight in by purchasing it for 80x the bet via the Buy Pass feature. Another option is to reduce the price and spin a chance wheel for a shot at triggering it for less—though the cheaper you set it, the lower your odds of success.

Pillars of Asgard: Verdict

NextGen Gaming deserve recognition for trying to expand what slot games can do. If Pillars of Asgard attracts the crowd the studio is aiming for, it may encourage even bigger win-ways designs in the future. That’s great news for players who enjoy pushing boundaries, but less appealing for those who prefer traditional formats. If you already consider Megaways’ win ways excessive, this one probably isn’t for you. For everyone else, Pillars of Asgard looks like the kind of unusual experience that’s worth trying at least once to understand the excitement around it.

The buzz is certainly strong. Since NextGen Gaming rarely discloses a maximum payout, we can only guess at the top prize here, but based on other games from the provider, we’re expecting a sizeable number. Medusa Megaways, for instance, offers a maximum win of up to 50,000x, so hopes are understandably high.

With so much focus on win ways and mechanics, it’s easy to miss how well the theme and visuals come together. Again, NextGen deserve credit for blending the Norse setting smoothly with the game’s oversized feature set. Odin and his blessings help the huge figures feel earned rather than exaggerated. At this stage, the hype suggests a thrilling slot. If the maximum payout lives up to the rest of the stats and features, NextGen Gaming may have a future classic on their hands. If it falls short, it still remains one of those games you have to play once to truly believe.