Dark Vortex (Yggdrasil Gaming) – Review & Demo Play

Dark Vortex Slot Review

I’ve spun Dark Vortex since launch and it still hits the spot. It’s a 5-reel slot that pays both ways, starting on a 5x3 grid with 243 ways. The hook is the Vortex feature that can grow reels to 5 symbols high, then push into a 5x5 board with 3125 Win All Ways in Free Spins. Base play holds interest, but once wilds, bonus symbols and orbs show up, the game shifts gear fast and the pace gets lively.

Max Win, RTP and Volatility in Dark Vortex

The numbers suit my style. RTP sits at 96.5% with a range, and the buy feature can lift it to about 97%. Volatility is high, with swings that can bite, yet the hit frequency around 28.3 keeps the meter ticking. Max win is x7318, which is serious for a ways slot. Stakes run from 0.10 to 50 per spin. I treat the bankroll with care here, as the big stuff tends to cluster in Vortex and Free Spins phases.

Bonus Features of the Dark Vortex Slot

Two bonus symbols on adjacent reels light up the Vortex feature. You get three respins, with highlighted reels expanding to 5 rows, packing stacked high pays and wilds. The game pays both ways, so expanded height matters. Land more bonus symbols next to active Vortex reels to extend the zone and add respins. The sweet spot is opening all five reels before the respins expire, which primes the Free Spins and carries over the collected extras.

During Vortex spins, coloured orbs drop and load up enhancements. Red orbs, shown on the left meter, set the number of stacked wilds for the bonus. Blue orbs, shown on the right meter, add Free Spins. This collection phase decides the shape of the round that follows. I like how each nudge towards a full five-reel Vortex also feeds those meters, so it feels like progress even when the trigger takes a few tries.

Dark Vortex Free Spins

Open all five Vortex reels and the slot shifts to a 5x5 layout with 3125 Win All Ways. Stacked wilds land on the three centre reels, and their height matches the red orbs you banked. Blue orbs add to the spin count. This is where I’ve seen the line-ups explode, as two-way pays meet tall stacks and full-height reels. The setup phase really matters; more orbs mean more control over how those stacked wilds cover the grid.

There’s a buy option for x80 your stake. Hit it and pick two of five face-down cards to set your starting Free Spins and stacked wilds. The ceiling is 20 spins and 10 wild stacks, which is spicy on a 5x5 board. I use the buy when hunting session highs, though it needs a sensible budget. With the higher RTP on buy, the maths feels fair for shots at proper ladders.

Dark Vortex Symbols and Paytable

Low pays are coloured spell books. High pays are various evil spirits with sharper edges and better values. The wild is a golden Cerberus and shows only on reels 2, 3, and 4. The bonus icon is a golden amulet that starts Vortex respins and helps trigger Free Spins. Pays run both ways in all phases. In the 5x5 mode the ways jump to 3125, so stacked sets and wild cover can turn modest hits into chunky screens.

Top-tier pays follow the public table: a best symbol can reach x6 for five of a kind, with mid highs around x4 for five, stepping down through x3, x1.5, and so on. Books sit lower: five-of-a-kind ranges near x1.2 to x0.7 depending on colour. The value feels balanced once reels are tall or stacks appear. I’ve had most of my better totals from two-way connections that tie into stacked wilds across the centre.

Dark Vortex Symbols and Paytable

Symbol	Quantity	Payout
	5	x6
	4	x2.5
	3	x2
	5	x4
	4	x1.5
	3	x1
	5	x4
	4	x1.5
	3	x1
	5	x3
	4	x1.2
	3	x0.8
	5	x3
	4	x1.2
	3	x0.8
	5	x1.2
	4	x0.5
	3	x0.4
	5	x0.9
	4	x0.4
	3	x0.3
	5	x0.9
	4	x0.4
	3	x0.3
	5	x0.7
	4	x0.3
	3	x0.2
	5	x0.7
	4	x0.3
	3	x0.2
	Wild

Dark Vortex Graphics and Sound

The mood is spot on for a dark fantasy slot. The board sits by a pagan altar with stone figures and ritual kit. Books and monsters fit the theme cleanly. Audio leans into low rumbles, chant-like tones and the odd mad laugh, which ramps up when the Vortex opens. I rate the clarity of stacked symbols and meters; red and blue orbs are easy to read in the heat of spins. It’s polished without getting in the way.