Becoming the king of a pub might sound like a dubious honor, involving excessive alcohol consumption and rowdy barroom antics. However, in Pragmatic Play's Pub Kings, the Viking-themed slot takes a lighthearted approach to what these warriors might have done in their leisure time. This game offers a cheerful depiction of Viking life, set against a stunning backdrop of a stone-built pub perched on a windswept crag.
Overview: Pub Kings isn't a historical documentary but rather a brightly lit game that showcases a pleasant side of Viking territory on a beautiful day. With a warm and inviting atmosphere, the game captures the essence of enjoying a drink with friends on a weekend. Pragmatic Play has successfully crafted a spirited and enjoyable slot experience.
Gameplay and Features: The base game of Pub Kings operates on a 5x4 grid with 20 paylines, featuring a highly volatile math model that offers a 96.08% return to players (96.05% when buying free spins). Bets range from 20sen to MYR500 per spin, with the cost of buying the bonus round set at 100 times the stake.
The game includes 10 pay symbols, with 5 lower-value card ranks (10-A) and 5 higher-paying Viking character symbols. Wins pay from left to right, starting from the leftmost grid. While there is no wild symbol, Pub Kings features a scatter symbol on reels 1, 3, and 5.
Slot Features: Pub Kings introduces the Random Awards feature, activated when 2 scatters land on the reels. Players have a chance to win random awards from levels 1 to 5, with each reel offering different possible rewards.
Free Spins: Triggered by landing 3 scatter symbols, players receive 10 free spins. During free spins, high-pay symbols are associated with reels, and collecting the same symbol on its respective reel increases the level. The game culminates in a beer-filled showdown, where the symbol with the most collected beers pays out the accumulated award. Free spins cannot be retriggered.
Conclusion: Pragmatic Play, known for its rapid slot releases, strikes a balance with Pub Kings. While it may not be the most complex game, it offers clever features in both base and free spin phases. The Random Awards feature adds excitement to the base game, while the free spins create a thrilling race to collect symbols and determine the ultimate winner. Pub Kings may not be a groundbreaking slot, but it delivers entertainment with its celebration of collection mechanics, Vikings, and the joy of a good drink.
