The Best Mythology-Based Slots in the Online Casino Industry

For slot games in the online casino industry, differentiation is a top priority for development studios. With thousands of online slots and an expansive range of jackpot slots online, developers often use game mechanics or themes to stand out. The iGaming industry today features hundreds of slot themes, each offering distinct experiences. Many developers in the iGaming industry have based their titles on ancient mythology, incorporating elements from some of the most popular historical cultures. Developers draw inspiration from a range of cultures, with the most popular being Ancient Greek, Ancient Egyptian, and Ancient Norse mythology. All these cultures are themes in their own right, each with unique elements that reference their cultures, with many titles featuring links to deities of the time. With three popular mythology-based slot themes, it can be hard to determine which is best in its genre, and this article aims to make the choice simpler.

Ancient Greek Theme – Gates of Olympus

The Gates of Olympus slot was developed and released by iGaming giants, Pragmatic Play, in 2021. The Gates of Olympus slot showcases the Greek theme exceptionally well, centred on the infamous Mount Olympus and the Greek deity Zeus. As this is a Pragmatic Play slot release, the range of bonuses is unsurprising, with almost all of the developer’s releases featuring innovative gameplay mechanics. The Gates of Olympus slot features some interesting visual elements that align with the game’s theme, using fitting colour palettes, symbols, and backdrop designs. The base gameplay in the Gates of Olympus slot is held across a 6×5 playgrid, which features the Pays Anywhere mechanic. 

The gameplay will take place at the heights of Mount Olympus, above the clouds, with a white temple visible in the distance. All visuals in this slot express a Greek theme, ranging from the marble pillars with fire atop surrounding the playgrid to the golden platform the grid stands on. Beside the reels floats Zeus, adorned in a toga, with golden elements elevating his design.  

Gates of Olympus features a range of bonus mechanics that enhance the base gameplay. The most notable mechanic in this title is the Free Spins feature, which can be triggered if players land 4 or more Scatters on the reels in the same spin. In this feature, multipliers can land on the reels and can increase throughout the rounds. In addition to this feature, players may also encounter the Cascading Reels mechanic or land multipliers in the base gameplay, too.

Ancient Egyptian Theme – Temple of Iris 2

Eyecon released the Temple of Iris 2 slot game in 2020, a sequel to its previous title. As this is an instalment in the Temple of Iris series, we see a return of some familiar elements in the series, as well as some additional features to separate the titles. The same Ancient Egyptian mythology theme returns in this slot, which is well showcased throughout gameplay. In this sequel, the jackpots have been stripped and have been replaced by new game mechanics, including the ‘Instant Prize’ feature. The developers have kept things simple in the Temple of Iris 2 play grid, with a 5×3 reel setup and a fixed payline count of 25. 

The game’s design is unsurprising given its theme, which features numerous references to Ancient Egyptian culture. The backdrop is made up of imagery of the iconic Egyptian pyramids, with the scene being set at sunset, with an orange skyline, accented with some purple and blue. The play grid further enhances the theme, with golden and blue stripes bordering it, a common colour palette in Ancient Egyptian culture.

Once again, the most notable bonus feature is the Free Spins rounds, which can be triggered if at least 3 Scatter symbols are landed in the same spin. During this feature, 15 free spins are awarded, with multipliers available to be triggered during the play. In addition to this feature, there are Wild symbols and the Instant Prize, as we already covered.

Ancient Norse Mythology – Power of Thor Megaways

Perhaps the most infamous figure in Norse history is the god Thor, who inspired the release of this slot in 2021. The Power of Thor Megaways slot game was developed by Pragmatic Play, which adds to their catalogue of 800+ releases. As the title suggests, the developers have implemented the popular Megaways mechanic, along with other features, resulting in fun gameplay. The Power of Thor Megaways slot features a visually pleasing design that conveys the theme well. As with many Megaways slots, gameplay takes place across 6 reels, each with a unique symbol count and variable payline count, offering a maximum of 117,649 ways to form combinations.

The visual design of Power of Thor Megaways resembles many slots in the genre, with gameplay set against snow-capped Norwegian mountains. Other elements express a Norse aesthetic, with green grass surrounding the backdrop and the playgrid bordered by wood, partially wrapped in fur, and featuring Viking helmet horns.

As this is a Megaways slots release, the Cascading Reels feature comes as no surprise, though there are plenty more to mention. The Free Spins feature can be triggered if players land 4 Scatters spelling the word ‘THOR’, awarding 10 free spins, where multipliers can be triggered. Additionally, there are Wild symbols that may expand to cover the entire reel.