Soft Viking Raid by Nocturn Play: Game Review
Viking Raid is a 625-ways slot released by Nocturn Play in September 2026. A longship wild turns whole rows wild, The Storm free spins climb to x12, and The Raid locks rune coins that pay for each row completed. Both bonuses can be bought.
| Studio | Nocturn Play |
|---|---|
| Game type | Video slot (ways, Hold & Win) |
| Theme | Norse fjord under the aurora, Viking warriors |
| Features | 4x5 grid, 625 ways · Longship wild that turns its whole row wild · The Storm free spins with a multiplier climbing to x12 · The Raid: rune coins lock and pay by completed row, Grand Loot close to 1,000x · Two separate bonus buys |
| Max win | 5,000x the bet |
The studio’s opening statement
Viking Raid was one of the first games Nocturn Play released, in September 2026. It reads like a studio showing what it can do: a familiar theme, a clear wild mechanic and a pair of features with very different personalities.
A fjord glows under the aurora. Four warriors stand by. Mjolnir, the axe, the dragon ship and the horn lead the paytable, with card royals underneath.
625 ways and a ship that clears a lane
The grid is four reels by five rows, paying 625 ways from the left. There are no lines to track.
The longship is the wild, and it has a temper. When it lands, it sails along its row and turns the entire row wild before anything is counted. One longship on the middle row can join symbols that were nowhere near each other. In a base game that is otherwise patient, these are the spins that keep players in their seats.
Two bonuses, two moods
Three or more horns start The Storm. It is free spins with a multiplier that climbs one step per spin, up to x12. The early spins are modest, and the closing spins of a long Storm are where the large results come from.
Six or more rune coins start The Raid, a Hold & Win. Coins lock, the rest of the grid respins, new coins lock as well. Here is the twist: coins pay by completed row, not one by one. Each finished row pays its rune, from Fehu up through Thurs, Ansuz and Raido to Odal. Fill the whole grid and the Grand Loot, close to 1,000x the bet, is paid. A ladder on the left shows the live value of each rune at the current stake, so players always know what the next row is worth.
Both bonuses can be bought separately, so a player can pick the mood instead of waiting for it. The overall ceiling is 5,000x.
Volatility, said plainly
The studio describes Viking Raid as high volatility. Quiet stretches are part of the deal, and so are rows that suddenly fill with coins. Players looking for steady play will be happier elsewhere in the range.
Lobby fit
Norse themes are perennial in Nordic, German and UK-facing lobbies and travel well beyond them. Hold & Win fans who know the coin-respin format will recognise The Raid at once and notice the row-based payout. For an operator, the two separate bonus buys are an easy promotional hook.
Viking Raid comes with the SoftAggregator connection, switched on by default, with no separate contract with the studio.
Where to get these games
Similar games from other studios
- Wolf Gold Pragmatic Play
- Vikings Go Berzerk Yggdrasil
- Vikings NetEnt
Frequently asked questions
What does the longship do in Viking Raid?
It is the wild. When it lands, it sails across its row and turns the whole row wild before wins are counted, which can connect symbols across all 625 ways.
How does The Storm multiplier work?
Three or more horns start The Storm. Each free spin raises the multiplier one step, up to x12, so the last spins of a long Storm are the most valuable.
How does The Raid pay?
Six or more rune coins start it. Coins lock and the grid respins, new coins lock too. Each completed row pays its rune (Fehu, Thurs, Ansuz, Raido, Odal), and filling everything pays the Grand Loot, close to 1,000x the bet.
Is Viking Raid high volatility?
Yes, according to the studio. Long quiet stretches between bonuses are expected, and most of the value sits in The Storm and The Raid.