Swedish studio Thunderkick launches Viking slot Bjorn
Swedish game studio Thunderkick has released a new Viking-inspired slot called Bjorn. The game arrived on 9 October but is now rolling out to more casino platforms, including the international site Jack.com. In Bjorn, players follow a lone Viking fighting the undead in a dark forest, with the chance of big wins but also higher risk than many other titles on the market.
What’s new
Bjorn is built on an unusually large grid with eight reels and eight rows. The game uses a Cluster Pays system instead of traditional paylines, and at least five matching symbols must form a cluster to create a win. When a cluster wins, the symbols disappear and new ones fall into the grid, which can create further winning combinations during the same spin.
In the centre of the grid stands a Viking warrior who acts as the game’s hero. The studio has added a mechanic where the hero defeats enemies to generate cash rewards, while destroying symbols in his path and triggering cascades. Along the way, the hero can gain upgrades that extract more value from defeated symbols, spawn more enemies on the board, or turn his path into matching symbols. During the bonus game, all abilities become permanent, letting players activate all six for the hero’s full power.
The game sets clear limits on how much can be won. Bjorn has an RTP of 94.22%, which sits below the industry’s usual benchmark of around 96%, along with very high volatility and a maximum win of 5,000 times the stake. Visually, players are greeted by a powerful loading screen featuring a muscular Viking surrounded by the undead and a towering troll, while the actual playing field is a more subdued forest in muted colours with a brooding soundscape of chanting and thunder.
What it means for you as a player
An RTP below the industry average combined with very high volatility means Bjorn is built for players who accept longer stretches without wins while chasing occasional big payouts. It’s not a slot for those wanting frequent, even wins. As with all high-risk slots, it’s wise to set a budget before you start a session, whatever online casino game you choose to try.
Thunderkick’s titles are certified in several jurisdictions and are normally available at operators with a Swedish licence, just like other popular slots from the studio. The specific launch on Jack.com concerns an international site without a Swedish licence, so it’s not something KasinoHitta recommends Swedish players use. If you feel your gambling is taking over, you can read more about support and self-exclusion via Spelpaus.se or Stödlinjen.se.
The bigger picture
Thunderkick was founded in 2012 by people who had previously worked at NetEnt, and the studio now has offices in both Stockholm and Malta, with games licensed by both the MGA and the UK’s UKGC and certified in multiple jurisdictions. The studio got its breakthrough with the slot Fruit Warp, which remains popular within the casino community. Bjorn shows that Thunderkick continues to invest in heavy, high-volatility titles with clear characters and progression, a way to stand out in an otherwise crowded field of Viking-themed slots.
Sources
Latest news
