Swords, knights and battles of all kinds have always fascinated slot machine designers. Although there are already many slots on the market that fit the theme, there always seem to be more games like this. One of the latest games in the genre is 10 Swords from Push Gaming, which we review today.
10 Swords is not very unique in its theme, but will the game’s other features make it a future classic? You’ll find out when you read our review.
Theme, graphics, and sounds
As said already, 10 Swords is not a very original slot and, especially in the Push Gaming category, a game set in the world of swords and knights is bound to fall flat.
Fortunately, however, the graphics and sounds in the slot are top-notch, which softens the game’s otherwise rather bland theme a little.
The slot’s payout patterns are also a familiar sight. The smallest wins are paid by the familiar J, Q and K patterns from the deck of cards, while the biggest wins are paid by the game’s heroic characters. There is a clear distinction between the big and small patterns, which is of course a good thing for gameplay.
How the game works
In its basic form, 10 Swords is a very traditional five-reel slot. Each reel is positioned with three slots for payouts and wins are paid from left to right. There are 20 paylines in total.A minimum of three hits on the lines is always required for a single win, regardless of the symbol value.
In the basic game, 10 Swords doesn’t play with special features to any wild degree. The eagle symbol is wild and substitutes for all but the special symbols on the paylines.
In addition, the base game features swords that pay the player anywhere on the screen. Four swords will pay double the bet and the maximum payout is 5,000 times the player’s bet on ten swords.
Unfortunately, the mechanics of 10 Swords are not very special and can easily become tedious.
10 Swords free spins
10 Swords free spins start when a player lands three or more scatters on the screen. Three scatters will award eight free spins, four scatters will award 10 free spins and two smaller symbols will change to a sword pattern. With five scatters, there are 12 free spins and four smaller winning patterns transformed into swords.
During the free spins, all shield symbols are collected on the left side of the screen. Once four symbols are collected, the low paying symbol turns into a sword. Each such transformation also awards the player with additional free spins. The first change will award four free spins, the second and third will award three free spins and the last will award two additional spins.
So the free spins are a slight improvement on the base game, but they don’t have too much action and pace either.
RTP, bet sizes and volatility
10 Swords has a theoretical payout percentage of 96.41%, which is higher than the average payout percentage for best slot games, which has hovered around 96% for the past few years.
The betting range is familiar to those who have played Push Gaming games, with a minimum bet of 10 cents per spin and a maximum bet of $100.
Volatility is between low and medium, meaning the game pays out small wins slightly more than high volatility games.
The medium volatility level in 10 Swords strikes a pleasing equilibrium between risk and reward. This means that players can expect to receive moderate winnings on a regular basis, all while keeping the door open for the possibility of substantial prizes. It caters to players who enjoy a consistent and thrilling gaming experience.
When it comes to the maximum win, 10 Swords offers an exhilarating opportunity for substantial returns. With the potential to win up to 5,000 times their initial bet, a player staking €1 could potentially walk away with a remarkable €5,000 in winnings, adding an enticing layer of potential excitement to every spin.
However, the maximum payout is as much as 5,000 times the player’s stake, which is the size of the top payout in many high-volatility games. This is definitely a plus for the game.
The game can be found in almost every online casino.
Verdict
10 Swords is a rather weak thematic performance, especially from Push Gaming, which has usually put a lot of effort into the storylines of its games. Now it’s a traditional sword swinging hero-themed slot.
Fortunately, the functionality makes up for the game’s lame theme a little. The base game features wilds and swords, which offer wins anywhere on the screen, up to 5,000 times the main payout.
During the free spins, as the game progresses, the low-paying patterns may also turn into swords, offering the player better chances of winning as they head for bigger wins. The moderately low volatility may also appeal to newer slot players, for example. With these features, the slot gets an average star rating of three out of five.
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