Lord of the Ocean Slot Machine
Inspired by Greek Mythology, Lord of the Ocean by Novomatic is a classic video slot set deep inside the blue realm and featuring mighty Poseidon as the game's highest value symbol. If you are not really a fan of petty, vengeful gods and their shenanigans, you will probably remember him as Little Mermaid's grandfather and Triton's dad.
Out of all the slots made by Novomatic, Lord of the Ocean might be one of the best. Or at least, the most popular. It is very similar, in some ways, to Book of Ra, but has extra features and charm, which has to be a good thing.
The blue-haired beauty and the symbol second in value is Poseidon's partner in crime and wife Amphitrite, goddess of the sea and one of 50 daughters of Doris, the sea nymph and Nereus, the oldest son of Sea and Earth (Pontus and Gaia). How's that for a family tree?
Lord of the Ocean has 5 reels and 10 adjustable paylines which can be set using the + and – commands at the very bottom of the game screen. The minimum number of coins that can be wagered per line is one and if you feel that this is not really challenging, you can maximise the bet to 5,000 coins on a single line, making the max bet 50,000 coins per spin. The game is estimated as a medium volatility slot and comes with the return to player percentage of 95.1%.
In case you are feeling lucky, the Gamble feature can be used after every winning spin for a chance to double the won amount up to 5 times. All you need to do is guess the colour of the card facing down — should you fail, the money will be deducted from your balance and you will be returned to the base game.
Once the bets are all set, players can take advantage of the Auto Play button and avoid having to click the spin button every time. The option will not void the Gamble feature and it can only be stopped manually since there are no advanced Auto Play setups available.
The Scatter symbol has a dual value, functioning as the bonus-feature triggering icon and replacement of other symbols. Three of the Scatters will trigger 10 Free Spins, during which a special expanding icon will appear — this icon cannot be replaced by the Scatter.
The expanding symbol is determined at random before the Free Games session begins. While the bonus rounds are in progress, the selected icon will stretch across three reel positions; the icon will have the same value as in the base game but will be paid even if it lands onto non-connecting reels.
Triggering Free Games may take some time and somewhat longer time spans between the bonus rounds are known to happen. When you finally manage to activate the Free Spins, the expanding icon is not guaranteed and it is not uncommon for the bonus spins to expire without reels being covered by the relevant symbol.
On the other hand, base game winnings can be pretty decent and the players can expect higher value symbols to land at decent intervals.
Even though Lord of the Ocean was released back in 2008, when it comes to visual representation, payout hit frequency, and bonus features, it can still compete with newer slots. If we could change but one thing with this slot, it would definitely be the bonus feature rate of occurrence, although with a bit of luck, the relatively sporadic free spins sessions may be compensated with main game wins.
Bonus Rounds
When you play the bonus round in Lord of the Ocean, you get an initial 10 free spins. This can be re-triggered during the bonus game, so you could end up with 20, 30 or even 100 free spins in total, if you were really lucky.
The bonus round is free spins in style, but the symbols don't spin. Instead, they reveal themselves like a scratch card. At the same time, the music is cinematic and makes you feel like you are part of a Hollywood movie.
Like in Book of Ra slots, you get expanding symbols in the bonus round. A lot depends on which symbol you are given at the beginning of the bonus — the ones that will expand. Some massive wins are possible if you get the right symbol.
To play for real money, you most likely need to be in an EU country, or the UK, because Lord of the Ocean is not yet released for real cash play in the US or Canada. But, you can enjoy very similar games at our recommended casinos, many of which you might actually find more fun.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the RTP of Lord of the Ocean?
Lord of the Ocean has an RTP (Return to Player) of 95.1%, which is slightly below the current industry average of 96%. As a medium volatility Novomatic classic, the lower RTP is partially offset by the game's longevity and the expanding symbol mechanic during free spins, which can deliver substantial wins when the right icon is selected.
Can Lord of the Ocean be played for real money?
Yes, Lord of the Ocean is available as a real money slot in the UK and most EU countries at online casinos carrying Novomatic titles. Players in the US and Canada may have limited access due to licensing restrictions, though similar Novomatic games are available at recommended casinos in those regions.
How many paylines does Lord of the Ocean have?
Lord of the Ocean features 10 adjustable paylines on a 5-reel layout. Players can increase or decrease the number of active lines using the on-screen controls. The minimum bet is one coin per line and the maximum is 5,000 coins per line, giving a maximum bet of 50,000 coins per spin.
How do you trigger free spins in Lord of the Ocean?
Free spins in Lord of the Ocean are triggered by landing three or more Scatter symbols anywhere on the reels. This awards 10 free spins and randomly selects one expanding symbol for the duration of the bonus. The feature can be retriggered during free spins, potentially accumulating 20, 30 or even 100 total free games.
How does the expanding symbol work in Lord of the Ocean?
Before the free spins round begins, one symbol is randomly chosen to become the expanding symbol. During each free spin, if this icon appears on the reels, it expands to cover all three rows of its reel. Crucially, it pays even when it does not land on adjacent reels left to right, making it possible to land wins from non-connecting positions — similar to the Book of Ra mechanic.
How does the Gamble feature work in Lord of the Ocean?
After any winning spin in Lord of the Ocean, players can choose to use the Gamble feature. By correctly guessing the colour of a face-down card, you double your win. This can be repeated up to five times in a row, but a wrong guess forfeits all accumulated winnings from that spin and returns you to the base game.