With five hugely successful series under its belt, Game of Thrones, based on George R. R. Martin’s series of fantasy novels, is one of the biggest hit TV shows of recent years. In December 2014, Microgaming sought to build on this popularity with their online pokie adaptation of the program. Available in both 243 ways-to-win and 15 payline versions, the game successfully incorporates themes and imagery from the show with relatively straightforward gaming action, along with an innovative free spin feature and some big payouts.
Game of Thrones is a Microgaming 5-reel video pokie which can be played in either a 243 ways-to-win or 15 payline version. The main difference between the two is in the size of wagers available and the potential jackpots on offer. Overall, the paylines game is the higher volatility pokie, with larger high-end payouts, but smaller wins at the lower end than the ways-to-win version.
In the ways-to-win edition, players have a choice of four coin sizes – 0.01, 0.02. 0.05 and 0.10 – and between 1 – 10 coins can be wagered on each spin. There is a minimum of 30 ‘lines’ in play, meaning the maximum bet ranges in size from $3.00 – $30.00 (minimum bet is $0.30). The paylines game offers a greater variety of coin sizes – 0.01, 0.02, 0.05, 0.10, 0.20, 0.25, 0.50 and $1 – and so with between 1 – 10 coins available to wager on each line, the maximum bet also has a greater range, from $1.50 – $150.00 (minimum bet is $0.15). In both versions of the game, wins are multiples of the line bet, except for scatter wins which are multiplied by the total bet.
243 ways-to-win
15 paylines
Free Spin Bonus Feature
The free spin bonus feature is triggered by hitting 3x, 4x or 5x scatter symbols anywhere on the reels. Players are taken to a separate screen where they can select one of four different free spin options:
Additional free spins can also be triggered during the feee spin bonus feature.
Gamble Trail Feature
After any winning spin, players can choose to gamble their winnings by embarking on a four-stage gamble ‘journey’. At each stage – Raven, White Walker Direwolf or Dragon – you can flip a coin to double your win; a winning flip takes you to the next stage of the journey, which ends when you successfully gamble against the Dragon and the gamble limit is reached
Not surprisingly, Microgaming have sought to use as many themes and images, and as much music from the TV show as possible. As well as the Iron Throne, symbols include the crests of the different Houses who dominate the show: Stark, a silver wolf; Lannister, a red lion; Baratheon, a golden deer; and Targaryen, a red multi-headed dragon. These crests are skilfully created and there is lively animation of the symbols on a winning spin. The popular theme tune to the TV show plays throughout in a pared-down version, and in different version again during the free spin feature. Overall, the look and feel of the game should meet the approval of most Game of Thrones aficionados.
There are different size jackpots available in each version of the game, in both the free spin bonus feature and during base play. In the 243 ways-to-win version the biggest jackpot on offer is $605,000 for hitting 5x stacked Wilds (meaning all the reels show the Wild symbol) during the free spin feature when playing as Baratheon. In the paylines version, the biggest jackpot possible is $750,000, again when hitting 5x stacked Wilds when playing the Baratheon option during the free spin feature. In both cases, you need to be betting the max.
During base play, the biggest jackpot on offer in the ways-to-win game is $121,000 for hitting 5x stacked Wilds, and $150,000 in the paylines game, again for hitting 5x stacked Wilds while betting the max.
The variety of options on offer during the free spin bonus are an innovative and highly lucrative feature which ultimately increases the overall appeal of Game of Thrones.
