Thunderstruck Wild Lightning Slot Machine: Review & Demo

Thunderstruck Wild Lightning is likely to be one of the most memorable slots that Microgaming will launch in 2021, as it’s a continuation for one of their more popular older series. It started out in 2004, continued with Thunderstruck II in 2010, and it’s been about 11 years since then, and it’s time to see a new game released in this collection. Designed with help from Stormcraft Studios, the game has the same theme, related to Scandinavian mythology.

The game area is fairly large, 5x4 reels, but you also get more lines than in the usual slot, 40 of them being active each round. A good target, is on a 15,000x jackpot, potentially worth up to $240,000 when the maximum bet is used. This is from a slot machine that has a 96.10% RTP and high volatility. There is a decent list of special features as well, where you will discover multiplier wilds, 5 types of free spins with multiplier wilds, Link & Win respins, and scatters.

Betting and Prizes

Like most slots, Thunderstruck Wild Lightning doesn’t need to be expensive to play. $0.20 is going to be more than enough, to activate all lines, and spin the reels. From there, you could go up to $16 per spin.

I think you’re going to be a fan of this game, once you hear about the $240,000 top jackpot that is possible inside. Using the maximum bet, a 15,000x the stake return is a possibility, but not easily. Add the wild multipliers and the free spins, and you will see that there are several good ways to get a good prize from it, though the top one is only achievable through the Link & Win respins.

Because it is a slot that can pay well, it needs to take more money from the average player, in order to reward a few with those big jackpots. This is why it’s a high volatility game, but we also see that its RTP is typically at 96.10% (RTP ranges are a thing at Microgaming these days though, so it’s not guaranteed).

Thunderstruck Wild Lightning Slot Features

Quite a bit of attention should be given to the multiplier wild, a substitute that also boosts the value of wins it contributes to. You might see them only on the middle three reels, but it’s going to be worth it anyway, since 2x-5x multipliers are going to be randomly selected, and will apply to wins.

If you’re after the big prize, look out for Thunderball scatters, landing anywhere. You need a minimum of 6, to make use of them. If you do, then the triggering symbols become sticky, and the rest of the symbols clear. 3 respins follow, where you try to get more Thunderballs, but usually it will be blank positions that are coming. The respins reset each time that a Thunderball lands. The game area can expand to 5x8 reels, as you fill up the existing positions.

Once you run out of respins, each Thunderball pays you. Get all of them together, and a Mega Jackpot could be yours (15,000x the stake).

An alternative will come from the free spins, triggered via Mjolnir scatters. 3-5 scatters are needed. You’re going to have your pick, of the free spins version that will come next. The first four versions may have a Wild Lightning feature, activating positions when a wild first lands on them, and then expanding wilds, if they show up there a second time.

• 15 Jotunheim Free Spins with a wild multiplier at 2x-5x. Jackpot can reach 2,000x the stake.
• 12 Vanaheim Free Spins, with 2x-6x wild multipliers, and a 2,125x jackpot.
• 9 Alfheim Free Spins, getting a 3x-8x wild multiplier, plus a jackpot of 3,250x.
• 6 Nidavellir Free Spins, boosting wins via 5x-12x wild multipliers, going as high as 3,500x.
• 1 Svartalfheim Free Spin, with an extra feature called Wildstorm (gives you up to 5 wild reels). Up to 8,000x the stake can be paid.

Theme & Design

Norse mythology has proven to be fertile ground for slot machine themes in the past, and it has inspired many developers already. The Thunderstruck series has been one of those, and players loved it. We’re seeing modern graphics here, but the choice of symbols is the one we’re already used to.

It starts with a selection of rune stones, replacing the Royals that we get in other slots. It goes on to deliver four images of elemental balls, colored in purple, green, yellow, or orange. Thor and Mjolnir are also included.

Conclusion

Thunderstruck Wild Lightning will provide you with a very long of special features, a big pro for it. It’s just as generous at the kind of top payouts it will deliver, but there is the usual cost of the high volatility attached.