As one of the biggest game-making companies in iGaming, Yggdrasil Gaming has quickly established itself as a powerhouse both in creating games and working with studios that create games. There’s a lot of industry-firsts in Yggdrasil’s timeline history, from in-game promo tools to award wins, but one thing that most players love about Yggdrasil are their mechanics. More specifically, we are referring to online slot mechanics, innovative game engines devised by Yggdrasil to generate winning combinations and facilitate payouts.
This article looks at the game mechanics that we have had the pleasure of trying out in Yggdrasil Gaming slots over the years.
Yggdrasil Game Engagement Mechanics
Here are the 13 – so far – game engagement mechanics that you can spot in Yggdrasil slots or games made by Yggdrasil partners.
- Splitz
- MultiMax
- GigaBlox
- GigaRise
- DoubleMax
- Wild Fight
- DuoMax
- FastPot5
- WildEnergy
- TopHit
- RushingWilds
- BoltLock
- OnlyWins
RushingWilds is the youngest addition to the growing series, and it’s surely going to become a success just like all the others did before. Of course, the most famous example is GigaBlox, which has been used in dozens of online slots either by Yggdrasil or its partners.
Splitz
Splitz is the one slot mechanic that started it all. It’s the debut GEM that we had the pleasure of meeting in 2020, with the Temple Stacks online slot release.
The core of Splitz makes the ability of the game symbols to split and thus create more symbols (and consequently, more Scatters, better wins, longer winning combos, bigger clusters, and more ways to win). To win in a Splitz game, the goal is very simple: try landing as many Splitz symbols as possible to create the best result possible.
There are several popular Splitz slots, with the first being the debut Temple Stacks, followed by Neon Rush, Synchronite, Rise of the Valkyrie and Fruit Gems. The latter two were created through the collab of Boomerang and ReelPlay, while the first three Splitz games were developed by Yggdrasil’s in-house team.
Best Splitz Slot….
Although Temple Stacks gives you an unparalleled opportunity to enjoy up to 200,000 ways to win, Neon Rush gives you a chance to enjoy up to 15-of-a-kind line wins. Plus, the Splitz icons can split off to create wins reaching up to 25,000x, which is a pretty decent win potential for an Yggdrasil slot.
The game also features 6 jackpot0073 that you can win on any random spin in the game. Thematically, it’s also quite ahead of its time, as the looks are what are popular in 2024, instead of 2020 when it was originally released. Lastly, the slot also has a 96.30% RTP, high volatility, and 25,000x wins.
MultiMax
Just a couple of months before the release of the first GigaBlox slot and after welcoming Temple Stacks Splitz, Yggdrasil announced the launch of yet another GEM – MultiMax. Multimax game mechanic first appeared in the Multifly! MultiMax online slot.
MultiMax facilitates Multipliers on the grid, which over time can get truly wild and generate massive wins. Essentially, most MultiMax games work by adding Multipliers to every reel Multiplier that was activated during a win. That might sound very dry and unclear to you right now, but once you start playing games with this type of game engagement mechanism, you will understand.
So far, there have been over 10 MultiMax online slot releases. Some were issued by Yggdrasil, while others were created by the studios that work with Yggdrasil and are part of the Gati platform. It’s one of the most successful mechanics in Yggdrasil slots.
Best MultiMax Slot…
Is Mexomax MultiMax.
The Aztec themed video slot is a game that Yggdrasil launched in 2022. Gameplay action takes place on a 6×6 board with cluster pay wins. The game has a 96% RTP, which used to be the standard for most Yggdrasil video slot releases.
Wins use the dropdown method to generate new icons landing from above to fill in the spaces left by the vanishing winning tiles. The game is very pretty and very detailed.
Just some of the game boosters you are going to love seeing are Wilds, Multipliers, Free Spins, and mystery Chests.
There’s also a Golden Bet which increases your chances of winning Free Spins.
GigaBlox
GigaBlox is so popular that we could make an entire article talking about GigaBlox mechanics and video slots. Oh wait – we actually did. Read it here.
Anyway, GigaBlox is an insanely popular game mechanic oftentimes used in a variety of online slots that either Yggdrasil or one of its studios makes. Even though it came out in the same year as Multimax and Splitz, GigaBlox turned out to be the most profitable one – with 40 GigaBlox slots released to date. And that’s just the beginning.
GigaBlox is a mechanic that incorporates giant game icons into the grid – so, instead of playing with 1×1 icons only, you may encounter symbols as big as 2×2, 3×3, 4×4, 5×5, and in some special cases, even 6×6. That makes games quite interesting as the symbols and their sizes appear randomly and you get more winning chances.
Best GigaBlox Slot…
Is Hades GigaBlox.
This was a tough one, as there’s literally 40+ games to choose from, and they are all fantastic and well-made. But there’s just something about the second GigaBlox slot ever that sparks joy for us. Hades GigaBlox is about Greek mythology, or more specifically, the Greek underworld and the ruling god Hades. It’s a visual masterpiece, and the tiny details such as the shake of the ground when there’s a giant Giga symbol incoming is unmatched (that detail is used in several other GigaBlox slots, too).
Sure, there are other, perhaps better or more profitable GigaBlox slots, such as Primal Hunter, Lucky Neko, or Buffalo Blox GigaBlox , but Hades is a favorite for us.
GigaRise
The younger cousin of Gigablox, GigaRise, is a newer GEM that appears in two games so far. GigaRise is a reel-expanding game mechanic that has the power to expand the grid setup exponentially. GigaRise is activated through special symbols that add new rows/reels to the grid, which is how you get extra winning ways, and ultimately, wins.
GigaRise is all about sheer power, so whenever you complete a reel expansion, i.e., it grows to the maximum level, a special event such as Free Spins or something similar activates. When the feature ends, the reel resets to the default size, giving you a chance to chase the thrill and keep growing the reel all over again.
So, GigaRise is not only powerful but also fun. Sadly, there are not many GigaRise games out there – just Atlantean GigaRise and Dragon Lore GigaRise.
Best GigaRise Slot…
Is Atlantean GigaRise.
There are two GigaRise slots out there, both released a couple of years ago. The debut GigaRise slot, Atlantean GigaRise, caused a stir upon release as players were expecting to aysee something quite like GigaBlox. In truth, the two GEMs could not be more different, which most players realized quickly.
Atlantean GigaRise is a medum-volatility game with jackpots, a maximum win of 4,370x (outside jackpots), and Free Spins. The game offers you up to 32, 768 ways to win, which is excellent. The game is built for casual players, as evidenced by the game’s max payout.
DoubleMax
DoubleMax is a game engagement mechanic that first appeared in 2021 with Raptor DoubleMax. Since then, it has consistently appeared in online slots, as both Yggdrasil and its independent studios have used it.
So what’s the deal with DoubleMax? DoubleMax is a game mechanic is a Multiplier mechanic that has the power to double them on the grid. Usually, slots carrying a DoubleMax engine have cascading wins, meaning winning icons are eliminated from the grid in favor of new tiles. Each new cascade brings forth a new Multiplier – which doubles as you go.
And the best thing about it is that the games have unlimited win Multipliers. So yeah, DoubleMax gives an insane boost to the games and creates amazing winning possibilities.
So far, we’ve seen over 20 DoubleMax online slots, including Jellycious DoubleMax and others. There’s no doubt we’ll see even more in the future.
Best DoubleMax Slot…
Neon Villains is not the first nor the last DoubleMax game, but it’s one of the best games with this engine we’ve seen.
The theme is theft, or better yet, a grand heist. Neon is everywhere, too – and synthwave sounds bring out a cyberpunkish vibe to the screen, Your task is to be stealthy and win riches from the vault before you are caught. To do so, you can use 5 reels, 3 rows and 243 ways. The game’s max win capacity is 25,000x the stake. It’s also a Buy Bonus game, which is cool.
Wild Fight
Just like the name suggests, Wild Fight is a game mechanic that’s all about the Wilds. Namely, in slots that boast Wild Fight mechanics, every type of high-rank icons has the ability to transform into a Wild.
If there’s a win, you get a Wild. If you lose, there’s nothing. Simple, easy, efficient.
An added perk of the mechanic is that icons typically have different outcomes, which adds a layer of innovation and unpredictability to the game. Keeps players on their toes and still makes them have fun, which is a bonus in our book.
Moreover, the mechanic is a random feature, so you never know when you can trigger it. The feature has been used in a handful of slots so far, three of which are Yggdrasil-made. We are excited to see what Yggdrasil plans to do with the mechanic in the future.
Best Wild Fight Slot…
Is Vikings Go to Egypt Wild Fight™.
Vikings and Egypt? Together in a slot? Sign us up! The battle has been brewing for a while with the Vikings, and they are ready to turn up the heat and exchange their frosty seas with hot Egyptian weather.
In doing so, they offer you 5 reels, 4 rows, and heaps of game features you can use to increase wins. The game came out in the middle of summer of 2024, scorching other releases that came out at the same time. It’s a Buy Bonus slot, too. Maximum win in Vikings Go to Egypt is 4,375x.
DuoMax
DuoMax is just like DoubleMax, only better. We’re kidding, both GEMs are outstanding and worth trying out. Both focus on Multipliers, but there’s a difference as DuoMax does not double Multipliers. It does, actually, but it also clones it – creating 2 separate Multipliers.
So, Yggdrasil took a very traditional and common concept and evolved it into something capable of delivering big wins. Thanks to the innovation, reels pay separately, which in turn, gives players better payouts. There’s also increased potential.
All this speaks volumes about Yggdrasil’s dedication to the players’ comfort. And as if unlimited multipliers are not enough, each and every DuoMax game is fitted with a flurry of other boosters, including but not limited to, Free Spins, Wilds, Bonus Rounds, and more. So far, not many games bear the DuoMax mechanic, but that will surely change.
Best DuoMax Slot…
Did you have a chance to watch Stranger Things? More specifically, the first season of the show? Yes, the monsters in that one remind us greatly of the ones found in this apocalyptic Yggdrasil slot.
It’s plant themed but it came out looking like a Halloween slot (which, truthfully, you can view it as if you want) which is great for fans of the macabre.
And who says the doom of civilization must be bleak? With Florageddon, it’s fast-paced and intense, a never-ending story of survival. If you are lucky, you might hit a big prize. The highest possible win in the game is 10,632x the stake.
FastPot5
FastPot5 is a unique game engagement mechanic as it it’s not about Multipliers, Wilds, or reel expansions. Instead, it’s a jackpot mechanic, containing 5 jackpots that are featured in every FastPot5 game.
Now, to date, there have been only two FastPot5 slots: Elysian Jackpots and the Gold Frontier Jackpots. It’s a newer mechanic, as the debut Elysian Jackpots slots came out in 2023.
To trigger the jackpots, players must trigger special in-game events that then help you collect items required for the jackpots. Jackpot values are not fixed, as they can grow over time – but whenever they are won, they reset. Players are big fans of the jackpot mechanic as not many games nowadays feature linked jackpots such as these. The only other example that’s as popular as that comes to mind is Relax Gaming’s Dream Drop network, but that’s different.
Best FastPot5 Slot…
Is Elysian Jackpots.
One of two (so far) releases that bear the jackpot engine is Elysian Jackpot, the debut game. It’s a Greek-themed video slot, a garden full of beautiful views, landscapes, and possibilities.
Gameplay-wise, it’s a cluster of features designed to augment the potential of the slot. Still, the game does not have a stellar payout potential; you can up to 1,265x only. That’s excellent for casual players who enjoy the game’s low variance and 96% RTP.
When it comes to boosters, there is a Pick & Click Game, Free Spins, a Treasure Chest game, as well as five jackpots. What more can you ask for?
WildEnergy
Not to be confused with Wild Fight, WildEnergy is a game engagement mechanic that reinvents the Wild symbol to create a more engaging and exciting gameplay.
How so, you may ask?
For starters, WildEnergy Wilds land with lives attached to them. Remember the old-school notion of lives in games? Well, that concept has been foreign in online slots, until WildEnergy! All lives have specific triggers. When they are activated, the symbol transforms into a Sticky Wild that activates a chain reaction (a Respin). And then the Respin goes on until you run out of lives.
Interesting, right? It’s a fairly new mechanic that is not yet widespread.
Best WildEnergy Slot…
Yggdrasil is fluent in Norse themed slots, and Ragnawolves fit the bill perfectly. The Norse themed slot explores the tale of the Sun and Moon being chased by two wolves Skoll and Hati. Visually, the game is out of this world. It has a great narrative and storyline, and the visuals to back all that up.
Of course, the volatility stated is ‘super high’ so please be careful when placing bets. The game has a high win potential of 10,000x which is good; it’s a high roller game, after all. The RTP is also okay as it’s over 96%, which is becoming rare for Yggdrasil.
TopHit
TopHit a new game mechanic that’s rarely been used but has a great potential.
At first it might seem a bit complex to understand, but TopHit is actually very easy to use. It’s a game engagement mechanic that generates an additional reel on top of the grid that functions as a horizontal reel (it’s not a row, though). This creates new ways to score, and gives you more ways to have fun. Plus, it looks good.
The icons that land in the horizontal reel affect the way your round plays out, so keep an eye out on the big icons. The effects can be different – they can either generate Wilds or trigger Free Spins. What is even better is that the feature is new, so Yggdrasil has a lot of room to experiment and play with the concept further.
Best TopHit Slot…
Is Starfire Fortunes TopHit.
The universe is a pretty big place, big enough to host a variety of cosmic slots that appeal to a large audience. One of such games with a fair share of that audience is Starfire Fortunes TopHit.
Thanks to the inclusion of the TopHit GEM, Starfire Fortunes give you a chance to enjoy a smorgasbord of rewards as the extra horizontal reel transforms icons into Wilds and Scatters.
There’s also a Golden Bet option which increases your chances of winning better prizes. However, the Golden Bet costs a bit extra, so be careful with that one. The game has a max win rate of 25,000x.
RushingWilds
RushingWilds is another – you guessed it – Wild game engagement mechanic from Yggdrasil. What can we do? We love Wilds, and as they are one of the most versatile special symbols, they give players fantastic ways to explore games.
RushingWilds take regular Wilds from the game and give them a makeover. Said makeover includes transforming them into Sticky Wilds and leaving them fastened to the grid. As the round progresses, so do your winning chances. In the end, you get to win more and have more fun.
And did we mention that Wilds increase the Multipliers as well? Because of course they do.
So far the RushingWilds game engagement mechanic appears in only one game, Aphrodite Goes Wild RushingWilds. We look forward to seeing it in other games, but knowing Yggdrasil, they are more likely to invent new mechanics than repeat previous ones. We’ll see.
Best RushingWilds Slot…
Is Aphrodite Goes Wild RushingWilds.
Aphrodite Goes Wild RushingWild is the debut game for this mechanic, and can we just say what a great way to start a series? Aphrodite Goes Wild is a Greek slot, set in the picturesque temple on the Olympus.
Aphrodite is having a party, so expect lots of action on the grid. It all starts with 5 reels and 3 rows, but things can quickly get heated up as you use the RushingWilds mechanic to increase wins.
Officially, the game has a maximum win capacity of 82,982x the stake, which is insane. However, the game has super high variance and 94% RTP, which means it’s beyond risky for casual players. Tread carefully!
Read Also
Yggdrasil, along with its studios, regularly releases a host of games. That being said, almost every release features one of the listed game mechanics; it’s just up to you to pick a theme, provider, and mechanic.
If you want other games built by Yggdrasil or slots with other game mechanics, be sure to check out our game database to find Megaways and other slot series.
