Odin Infinity Reels Megaways

Odin Infinity Reels Megaways: Overview

Odin Infinity Reels is the third slot in Australian developer ReelPlay’s Infinity Reels Series franchise. So far, all have had a fantasy/historical element to them and their latest addition continues on that tradition. This time around, players spin in the mythical world of Odin, the King of Asgard. There is nothing new about that you might be thinking. The Old Norse Gods are wheeled out regularly to theme a slot. What stands out though is ReelPlay's decision to combine the famed Megaways engine with their own in-house developed Infinity Reels.

The project was a little iffy there for a while. Initially, there had been a squaring up between ReelPlay and NetEnt over who invented the Infinity/InfiniReels thing first. Curious parties gathered around to witness the fracas like a schoolyard scrap. However, there were no blood noses, no pushing or shoving. The disagreement ended with a gentlemanly handshake and a civil parting of the ways. That’s good news for players, especially those on the harder edge of the spectrum. This comes up often, but if you’re doing mythology themed slots, you either go cartoon-style visuals where everyone wears a goofy grin, or you do what ReelPlay has done in Odin. You won’t find any grinning around here. This is serious business, and the tone matches the games math model.

For one, volatility is rated Very High, which puts it in a completely different category to the previous Infinity Reel slots. Potential has been upsized too, which we will get to. RTP, on the other hand, is down from the other two, but still decent enough thanks to a rating of 96.18%. So, ReelPlay has wound the math model up like a tight spring while boosting just about every other aspect of the game. Part of the overhaul is of course due to the inclusion of the Megaways game engine. We are used to seeing Megaways produce big numbers, such as the oft quoted figure of 117,649 win ways.

Odin Infinity Reels makes that number look pitiful, theoretically at least. Technically, since there is no limit to how many reels may be added, there is no limit to how many Megaways can come into play. Or as ReelPlay describes it: ‘Odin is the first slot in the world to offer Megaways to infinity.’ A great catchphrase, but how does it work in reality? Hitting winners remains the same - land three matching symbols on consecutive reels which, on average, occurs once in every 3.56 spins. Initially, the game uses 3 reels, meaning winning symbols are required on each of them.

When a combo hits, the Infinity Reels mechanic kicks into play, adding a new reel for a chance to keep the wins rolling. If more winning symbols land, more reels are added, without limit, until no new winners appear. Also, the game has a symbol multiplier starting at x1, increasing by +1 with each added reel. Playable across all devices from 30 p/c to $/€12 per spin, Odin is undoubtedly the best looking game ever produced by ReelPlay. The step up from their previous release, Giza Infinity Reels, is quite astonishing really. Set in a dream-like mountain valley in something that almost looks like a beautiful oil painting, the designers have left no detail to chance in this stunning masterpiece.

Plenty of effort has been invested into the design of the symbols as well of which there are 10 (regular) in the paytable – 6 runes, plus wolves, ravens, and an eight-legged horse. Odin is the top symbol with 3 on a payline giving you 8 times the coin value. The Valknut symbol is wild, substituting for all symbols except the scatter.

Odin Infinity Reels Megaways: Features

As well as the Infinity Reels driving the action, a Jackpot and a batch of free spins are up for grabs. Players win a jackpot of 888 times their bet, on top of any other wins that accrue in the process, whenever a spin results in 12 or more added reels. This might sound easy, but statistically only occurs around once in 63,323 spins.

Keep an eye out for Odin’s spear, Gungnir, since any win using the symbol triggers free spins. Before free spins begin, which have a frequency of 1 in 315 spins, players are presented with two wheels. The first wheel awards 8, 10, or 12 free spins whilst the second one selects the win multiplier increment level. In level 1, 2, 3, or 4, the win multiplier increases by 1, 2, 3 or 4 respectively every time a new reel is added.

Now, during the feature, players benefit from the win multiplier not resetting between spins, which can grow quite high if you get to play with an incremental win multiplier of 4. Moreover, players may extend the feature when any Gungnir symbol win occurs to pick up an extra 4 spins.

Odin Infinity Reels Megaways: Verdict

Odin Infinity Reels Megaways promises much with all this talk of Infinite Reels and Megaways, does it deliver? For the most part, yes. It’s definitely a more refined slot than the previous two due to the improved graphics and far superior reel-spinning animations, yet apart from that, the inclusion of Megaways does feel a little gimmicky. It just doesn’t add a whole lot which wasn’t there in the first place.

The reels were capable of expanding forever before, with four symbols on each. Now there can be different symbols on each reel, but the difference isn’t as pronounced as it often is in a Megaways reboot. The two mechanics do work well together, but Odin’s gameplay is not enormously different from what came before.

The worrying part is, having reviewed three Infinity Reels slots now, there's this sensation creeping in that maybe the Infinity Reels mechanic doesn't have all that much left to give. It's far less dynamic than Megaways and at times it even feels like it obstructs the Megaways engine from doing its thing.

Aside from that, the changes beneath the surface are significant. Odin Infinity is far more volatile than the previous two, while potential makes the others look like chump change. Factor in the 12 reel jackpot and max wins now top out at 20,000 times the stake now. Odin gave his eye for knowledge, and players get a glimpse of how that might feel trying to trigger free spins. Rewards are there, but it can be tough going, a little monotonous in fact while waiting for big wins or features to appear.

At the end of the day, it feels like the Infinity Reels franchise is evolving. Odin is an improvement in the looks department, the theme is well done, and the potential is huge. The game can be brutal, not to mention repetitive, ideally making it better suited to patient players or harder-edged gamblers.

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In case you haven't had enough of the Infinity Reels/Megaways combo ReelPlay has another one on offer titled Tiki Infinity Reels Megaways.