Viking Crusade (Rubyplay) – Review & Demo Play

Introduction to Viking Crusade

I spun Viking Crusade from Ruby Play on a 5x3 layout with 50 fixed lines, betting from £0.20 to £30 a go. It runs at 96.49% RTP with medium to high volatility and a max win of 5,000x, which sets the tone. The pace feels measured, with clean visuals and a relaxed village backdrop rather than raid-heavy action. Core extras centre on wilds and the hold-and-spin style Jackpot Mania, so the feature set is lean by modern standards yet clear in what it offers.

Theme & Graphics in Viking Crusade

I get a traditional Viking village, with wooden huts, a waterfall and a long boat behind the reels. The palette leans to natural greens and browns with splashes of yellow and red, which fits the calm tone. The soundtrack hits drums and tribal chants without getting in the way. It feels more like the tribe's home patch than a raid at sea, and that shift works for long sessions when you want less noise and more rhythm.

On the reels, the Viking, treasure chest, raven and helmet carry the premiums. A-Q royals, a horn and crossed axes make up the lows. The ship wild ties the theme together, while shields handle the jackpot work. The whole scene is tidy and readable, helping you track lines quickly. I like how the art stays consistent from base play to respins, keeping that calming vibe throughout. It keeps focus on the grid, which suits the respin flow.

Viking Crusade RTP and Variance

Viking Crusade runs at 96.49% RTP with medium to high volatility. That mix can hand out dry spells, then land chunky hits through respins and jackpots. Hit rate feels average in the base game, with most value tied to shields and jackpots rather than line wins. I bank on sessions that swing, setting a stop loss and target. For me, the 5,000x cap is fair for this model, and the above-average RTP helps even it out over time.

How to Play Viking Crusade Online Slot

Set your stake with the bet size buttons flanking the current bet display on the lower left. You can choose between £0.20 and £30 total per spin. On the lower right sit Turbo, Autospin and the main Spin button, so speed and flow are easy to set. Tap the i icon for the paytable and symbol info, and the question mark for the rules. I always scan both before I start, as the paytable is dynamic to your bet.

Wins land for three or more matching symbols on a payline from the leftmost reel. There are 50 fixed lines on the 5x3 grid, so every spin uses the full layout. For control, I keep autospins modest and watch the shield meter above the reels. If I am building the meter but not triggering respins, I might lower the stake to stretch the session, then raise it when I see more blue shields appearing.

Min & Max Bets in Viking Crusade

The total bet ranges from £0.20 to £30. Top base game pays use total bet values: five wilds pay 10x, four wilds pay 5x, five Vikings pay 1.5x, and four chests pay 1.5x. On a £1 spin, lining up five wilds on a payline pays £10. The paytable shifts with your chosen stake, so values scale cleanly without odd steps. I find the mid stakes sweet spot keeps variance manageable while still giving decent returns when wilds connect.

Viking Crusade Online Slot Bonus Features

The Ship Wild is central in Viking Crusade. It substitutes for all symbols apart from the jackpot and super jackpot shields, so it plugs gaps on the 50 lines and can also form its own pays. When the grid lines up, stacked wilds can push line wins higher than the premiums, which is useful in dry spells between respin rounds. I rate wild coverage over scatter hunts here, as the game does not pivot around a free spins trigger.

Shields carry cash amounts and jackpots. Orange shields are the regular jackpot symbols; blue shields are the super versions and can stand in for the orange ones during the feature. In base play, each orange shield fills a counter above the reels, and that increases the number of blue shields in the pool. When you finally hit the feature, the counter resets. Blue shields tend to post bigger numbers, so seeing more of them matters.

Jackpot Mania triggers when six or more jackpot symbols land anywhere. You get three respins, with shields sticking in place and the counter resetting on every new shield. Only shields and blanks appear, and each shield shows a cash prize or a Mini, Minor or Major. If you fill all 15 positions, the Grand drops. The round can go long, and it is the main event. There is no free spins mode, which some players will miss.

Overall Viking Crusade Review

As a long-time player, I rate Viking Crusade as decent rather than flashy. Great graphics and animations carry the look, and the atmosphere is spot on. The meat is the Jackpot Mania respin chase with four fixed jackpots, backed by a respectable 96.49% RTP and a 5,000x ceiling. Medium-high volatility means patience helps. Line wins keep things ticking, but real swings arrive with shields and the chance at the Grand.

The package feels a bit light by modern slot standards, with no FS mode and a narrow feature list. That said, the shield meter gives base play a purpose, and super jackpot symbols stepping in for regular ones is a neat touch. I spin this when I want a calming vibe and a focused jackpot hunt. If you are a die-hard fan of the theme, it is worth a look; if you crave layers of features, you may pass.