Bjorn

By Zena Grantham | Updated 9 October 2026

Bjorn is a video slot developed by Thunderkick and released on 9 October 2026. Norse mythology provides the setting for an adventure featuring a formidable Viking warrior, an army of undead Draugr and a bunch of unpleasant Trolls. The gods may be watching, but Bjorn has a fight on his hands to defend his realm.

Thunderkick has given the Viking hero a more active role than simply decoration. Bjorn moves across the grid, attacks enemies and collects rewards, with his actions influencing the outcome of each spin. Hero Abilities introduce further possibilities, including stronger attacks, additional enemies and Mystery symbols.

The action unfolds on an 8×8 grid with Cluster Pays and cascading wins. Free Spins introduce further upgrades as Bjorn defeats his enemies, and the maximum win stands at 5,000x the bet. Featuring high volatility and an RTP of 94.22%, this ambitious release places Bjorn firmly at the heart of the game.

Bjorn Technical Details

Bjorn features an 8×8 grid with Cluster Pays replacing traditional paylines. Wins require at least five identical symbols connected orthogonally. Winning clusters disappear, allowing new symbols to fall into the empty positions and potentially create further combinations.

Bjorn is available on desktop and mobile devices, with bets ranging from 0.10p to £100 per spin. However, due to strict UK regulations, slot stakes are capped at £5 for players aged 25 and over, and £2 for those aged 18 to 24.

Bjorn has an RTP of 94.22%, which is below the industry average of 96%. Bjorn is highly volatile, so expect lengthy periods between wins, but the maximum payout of 5,000x the bet is worth it.

Design

Bjorn unfolds in a remote Nordic wilderness, surrounded by dense forests, towering mountains and a stormy turquoise sky. Thunderkick has created a suitably bleak setting for its Viking adventure, with occasional flashes of lightning illuminating the landscape. The dark greens and muted colours create a cold, foreboding atmosphere.

The 8×8 grid blends into the forest rather than occupying a conventional reel set. Trees, rocks, stumps and rune-covered stones form the regular symbols, with a glowing green multiplier displayed prominently in the centre. Bjorn moves across the grid, accompanied by purple-hued undead warriors who look thoroughly out of place in these parts.

There is an impressive sense of scale to the landscape, although the background is relatively static. The soundtrack is atmospheric, combining ominous chanting with distant thunder and unsettling effects.

Thunderkick has resisted the temptation to fill every corner with elaborate decoration. The result is a sombre, atmospheric design that suits the Norse theme, with Bjorn and his supernatural enemies providing most of the visual entertainment.

Symbols

The lower-paying symbols feature trees, boulders, bushes and tree stumps. Wins begin with clusters of 5 or more matching symbols, with payouts reaching 2x the bet for clusters of 15 or more.

Green, orange and yellow runestones make up the high-paying symbols. Clusters of 15 or more matching symbols award between 4x and 5x the bet.

Bjorn is the Wild symbol and substitutes for regular symbols to complete winning clusters. Draugr and Trolls are special enemy symbols, while the hammer represents the Scatter.

Bjorn Features

Thunderkick has certainly not scrimped on the features in Bjorn, with the Viking warrior at the heart of the action. Cluster Wins and Avalanches are joined by Hero Hunt, Hero Abilities, Draugr and Troll enemies, Free Spins and BET+ options.

Cascading Wins

Bjorn features a cascading system known as Avalanches. After a winning combination, the symbols involved are removed from the grid, and the remaining symbols fall into place as new ones enter from above. Further winning combinations trigger additional Avalanches, continuing until no more wins are formed.

Hero Hunt

Bjorn begins in the centre of the grid. Once all winning combinations are complete, Hero Hunt triggers if at least one enemy symbol is on the grid.

Bjorn moves towards the enemy and attacks, destroying any regular symbols in his way. Defeated enemies drop Loot or increase the Global Multiplier, which applies to cluster wins and collected Loot. Loot prizes range from 0.1x to 5x the bet.

After each cascading sequence, if an enemy is present, the Hero Hunt triggers again, allowing Bjorn to continue fighting throughout the round.

Hero Abilities

Bjorn has three Hero Abilities, each with two power levels. An Ability or upgrade may be awarded at the start of a round, transforming how Bjorn fights enemies and collects rewards.

Thor’s Strength: At Level 1, defeated Draugr increase the Global Multiplier by 1x or 2x. Level 2: 2x or 3x.

Call of Hel: Additional Draugr are added to the grid, providing more enemies for Bjorn to defeat. Level 1 introduces 1–2 extra Draugr, increasing to 3–5 at Level 2.

Odin’s Insight: Any position passed by Bjorn is transformed into matching regular symbols. Level 2 transforms them into Wilds.

Abilities remain active for the current round. During the Free Spins, Bjorn has further opportunities to acquire and upgrade his Abilities, strengthening his position as the bonus progresses.

Troll

The Troll is a giant enemy symbol occupying a 3×3 area of the grid. Although it takes up nine positions, Bjorn treats it as a single enemy during Hero Hunt.

Defeating a Troll counts as nine Draugr kills, making it particularly valuable during Free Spins, where defeated enemies contribute towards additional spins and Hero Ability upgrades.

The Troll may enter the grid before a round ends, crushing symbols across a 3×3 area as it moves. Once defeated, the Troll awards Loot or increases the Global Multiplier.

Free Spins

Landing a single Scatter triggers the free spins, awarding 5 Free Spins and between 1 and 3 Hero Abilities or upgrades. These remain active throughout the feature.

For every 20 defeated Draugr, another 2 Free Spins are awarded, together with 1 to 3 additional Abilities or upgrades. Defeating a Troll counts as nine Draugr towards this total.

Feature Buy and Bet+

Bjorn features three BET+ options, including three boosters that increase the chances of triggering Free Spins and a direct Feature Buy.

Bonus Boost (1.5x bet) – Doubles the chance of triggering Free Spins.

Bonus Boost Plus (3.5x bet) – Increases the chance of triggering Free Spins by 5x.

Boost Extreme (12x bet) – Increases the chance of triggering Free Spins by 20x.

Feature Buy (150x bet) – Guarantees entry into the Free Spins bonus, awarding 5 spins and between 1 and 3 random Hero Abilities or upgrades.

⚠️ These options are not available in the UK due to strict UKGC regulations.

Verdict

There is no doubt Thunderkick has pushed the boat out with Bjorn. Viking-themed slots are ten-a-penny, but the developer has taken a completely different approach to a familiar theme. Rather than relying on conventional bonus mechanics, Thunderkick has created an adventure where one feature feeds into another, with Bjorn’s battles, cascading wins and Hero Abilities working together to produce an almost progressive style of gameplay.

The concept is excellent, and there is satisfaction in watching Bjorn grow stronger as a round develops. However, the experience has its drawbacks. The Global Multiplier resets between spins, limiting the opportunity to build substantial values over time.

The RTP of 94.22% is disappointing, especially combined with high volatility and the potential for long dry spells. The 5,000x maximum win is disappointing compared to many slots with similar volatility.

Bjorn will appeal to those who appreciate innovative mechanics, character-driven gameplay and the occasional extended sequence of action. Those who prioritise regular payouts, a competitive RTP or enormous win potential may find the experience less rewarding.

Bjorn is imaginative, beautifully presented and much more interesting than other conventional Viking-inspired slots. The maths profile will not appeal to everyone. However, for players who value originality and innovative features, this is one of Thunderkick’s more ambitious releases, and they deserve every bit of credit for that.

Bjorn FAQs

Zena Grantham

News Editor at Slotfruit

Zena Grantham has been part of the Slotfruit team since the very beginning, making her one of the site’s longest-serving contributors. As news editor, she is responsible for the majority of Slotfruit’s industry news coverage – from UKGC enforcement actions and regulatory developments to major slot releases and record-breaking jackpot wins.

With well over 15 years of experience in the UK gambling sector, Zena has an encyclopaedic knowledge of the industry. She tracks everything from licensing changes and operator consolidations to emerging trends in game design, and her reporting keeps Slotfruit readers ahead of the curve on the stories that matter.

Zena’s writing is grounded in accuracy and a genuine understanding of how the industry works – both for operators and players. Whether it’s a £3.6 million jackpot win or a major policy shift from the Gambling Commission, she makes sure the facts are straight and the context is clear.

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