As soon as Microgaming lost its creativity it began funding smaller studios for their endeavours, and Crazy Tooth is one of them. This company released Arctic Valor in 2019 in collaboration with Microgaming.
The influence of Crazy Tooth is evident in the graphics. You will be part of an Arctic Adventure where Valkyries take the lead. Four of them to be exact, all acting as the highest-paying symbols. Icicles rewarding random wilds and cash, free spins, and a math model even Mega Joker would be fond of make Arctic Valor worth checking out.
Our review helps with that, offering an overview of our experience and the mechanics of the game.
Key Features
| Reels | 6 |
| Rows | 4 |
| Paylines | 4096 ways to win |
| RTP | 96.07% |
| Volatility | Medium |
| Max Win | 2700x |
| Special Features | Wild, Free Spins, Random Wilds, Random Cash Prizes, Any Adjacent Pays |
| Jackpot? | No |
| Stakes | A$0.15 – A$15 per spin |
| Developer | Microgaming/Crazy Tooth |
| Similar Games | Arctic Fortune, Agent Jane Blonde, Queen of the Crystals, and Lady Earth |
About Arctic Valor Pokie Game
Arctic Valor is a Norse Mythology online pokie. The graphics are flashy and the animations are vivid. You get flashes of broken icicles, Valkyrie animations, and quite original cut-scenes during big wins.
Outlook aside, the main draw of Arctic Valor is the Any Adjacent Pays format. There are 4096 ways to win during every spin, and wins are formed when you get three or more identical symbols anywhere on the 6-reel and 4-row structure. Although ways to win games are common, this format is quite unique.
Combined with an above-average RTP and medium volatility, Arctic Valor is a game that you could have a good day on. Still, some aspects raise my eyebrows:
| Pros | Cons |
| Original theme and animations | Low free spin number |
| Frequent wins between 5 – 10x the stake | The gameplay is disrupted through random animations |
| Above average RTP | Free spin random wilds substitute the highest-paying symbol robbing players of big wins |
| Bonus round triggers often | Small jackpot |
| Balanced game |
How to Play Arctic Valor
Playing Arctic Valor is like a walk in the park, although you might need some education to get to grips with the winning format.
So, the game is set on an original 6×4 reel structure. All symbols are related to Norse mythology and the Valkyries, while the special effects are linked to the icicles lurking above the reels.
To start betting, you must sign up on any of the listed Aussie casinos and launch the game. Set your stake between A$0.15 and A$15 per spin and hit the play button. The autospin lets you adjust the stake and set it up to 100 spins without the need for manual clicking. There is also a handy paytable, where you can find info on the symbol payouts and special features.
Wins are formed quite often since Arctic Valor has 4096 ways to win. The any adjacent pays mechanic means that any three adjacent symbols will payout, no matter where they are placed on the reels.
The actual winning combos are on the lower side, with less than 1x your bet for even the highest-paying symbols. However, this is kind of justified since Arctic Valor allows for stacked symbols and multiple winning combinations on every spin. If you pull through a big win, the Valkyries will cheer for you by raising their swords, and over 10x wins see a sword piercing through the reels for your regard.
Arctic Valor Pokie Bonus Features
The main draw of the game is the Icicle feature since it can be triggered in all game modes. How it works is after any spin, you might see those slowly melting on the reels. They will either turn selected symbols into wilds or cash prizes after revealing them. It’s a bonus feature that you will often encounter, although in some cases it teases you and doesn’t actually activate.
The same feature is also apparent in the free spins round, which is triggered after landing 3 or more scatters. However here, they automatically award wilds and pretty much activate on every spin. The amount of free spins you earn is fixed at 7, which is on the low side.
The jackpot, which is equal to 2700x your stake, is easier to achieve during the bonus thanks to extra wilds – just land a full screen of the highest paying symbol. Easier said than done.
Now, what I noticed while playing the Arctic Valor is that the random wilds automatically stack on the Valkyrie symbols. Given that this is the highest-paying symbol in the game, this feature mainly robs the player of big wins. Quite frustrating frankly.
Arctic Valor RTP & Volatility Explained
You should understand from the discussion so far that the Arctic Valor volatility is on the lower side, rated by Crazy Tooth as low/medium. The potential for winning combos anywhere on the reels and the random wilds/cash prizes pay justice to this metric.
The RTP is on the higher side, set at 96.07% for Arctic Valor. Since most online pokies are between 95 – 97%, it qualifies as slightly above average. In practice, it means that the casino holds a reasonable percentage of bets in the long run.
Best Casinos to Play Arctic Valor
I’ve been playing Arctic Valor for over four years now since pretty much any legit Aussie online casino prominently features the game.
Players can easily find their way to the title by using the links we’ve placed above. Using those to register will ensure you get something extra to start with, at least a 100% match bonus and free spins.
Our Thoughts on Arctic Valor
Arctic Valor isn’t the most straightforward game I have reviewed. So, the game graphics, animations, and layout will be mostly liked, although they can significantly slow down the whole gameplay unnecessarily.
The icicles feature is actually the best aspect after the adjacent pays anywhere system since it is triggered often and can lead to decent wins and bet multipliers.
What pretty much kills Arctic Valor is the average free spins bonus round. Not only is the free spins number on the low side, but the main draw is the same icicle feature you encounter in the base game. Despite the great math model and alright 2700x max win, the lack of an exciting bonus round makes the whole experience less engaging.
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