Game of Thrones’ prequel, House of the Dragon, is just a matter of weeks away from airing its first episode on HBO. Staged some three centuries prior to the events that unfolded in Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon still explores the Targaryen family tree, which becomes embroiled in a bitter civil war.
The eagerly anticipated prequel will certainly stir up interest in Game of Thrones for those new to the franchise. The franchise has taken the world by storm in so many ways. According to Wikipedia, the show – inspired by George R. R. Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire” fantasy novel series – raked in over $4 billion in television revenue and a further $280 million in DVD and Blu-ray purchases.
It’s also become something of a phenomenon in the online gaming world, generating $125 million in sales of branded games within the franchise. This is an impressive return considering the pull of other fantasy adventure titles like Assassin’s Creed and Elden Ring. Aside from console and desktop versions, Game of Thrones has also made waves in the iGaming scene. The Microgaming-led title is one of several slots online that are heavily inspired by popular culture, with several other titles inspired by hit Hollywood movies like Jurassic Park and Jumanji, as well as other successful TV series like Narcos.
If you have a penchant for slot gaming and you’ve not yet discovered the officially licensed Game of Thrones title, read on as we delve deep into what makes this such an immersive experience.
The lowdown on the Game of Thrones slot features
Microgaming has collaborated seamlessly with HBO to deliver a visually and audibly enchanting celebration of the Game of Thrones franchise. With 243 ways to win, this is a slot game that doesn’t employ the traditional payline structure. Instead, it pays out depending on symbol matches across the reels. There is a more conventional 15-payline Game of Thrones slot, but for the purposes of this review we will be focusing firmly on the 243-ways-to-win version.
The five reels are set in front of the iconic Iron Throne, which looms large in the background. From the moment this game loads up, players are treated to the original Game of Thrones soundtrack, transporting you immediately into the land of Westeros before your very first spin.
There are several memorable base game symbols on the reels for Game of Thrones fans. Aside from the face card playing card symbols – which are the lowest-value symbols – you’ll find house banners for the four main houses of Westeros – Targaryen, Stark, Lannister and Baratheon. The branded logo symbol acts as the slot’s ‘wild’ symbol. A wild symbol is designed to be capable of substituting for any of the base game symbols, appearing in their place to enhance winning symbol combinations. There’s also the Iron Throne scatter symbol – find three or more of these to unlock one of four free spins features:
- Targaryen Free Spins
Play with 18 free spins and 2x win multipliers for any subsequent combinations. - Stark Free Spins
Play with 14 free spins and 3x win multipliers for any subsequent combinations. - Lannister Free Spins
Play with 10 free spins and 4x win multipliers for any subsequent combinations. - Baratheon Free Spins
Play with 8 free spins and 5x win multipliers for any subsequent combinations.
There’s also a cash prize awarded just for unlocking the free spins features. Land three, four or five scatters in a combination to win either 1x, 20x or 200x your initial wager.
Microgaming has also recently unveiled an updated version of its Game of Thrones slot, with Game of Thrones: Power Stacks designed to provide another all-action slot experience. As it is around seven years newer than the original, it’s no surprise that the Power Stacks version carries greater aesthetic appeal. Nevertheless, it’s still nowhere near the drain on resources that would require watercooling solutions for your PC to keep your graphics card going. Instead of the House banners, Power Stacks includes some of the most popular characters in the series, namely Daenerys Targaryen, Jon Snow, Tormund Giantsbane and Wildling.
Whichever of these two Microgaming versions you choose, you’re sure to get your fix as a keen Game of Thrones fan. As with most franchises, the originals tend to get the best reception and that’s no different in the online slot terms.