| RTP | 96.53% - Compare RTPs |
|---|---|
| Volatility | Medium |
| Reels | 5 |
| Hit Frequency | 37.55% |
Take the Kingdom is a medieval slot from Betsoft, released in December 2021. It runs on a 5x5 grid with 100 fixed paylines, an RTP of 96.53%, and medium volatility. The max win is 3,640x your stake. Stakes run from £0.25 to £60 per spin.
At a Glance
| Developer | Betsoft |
|---|---|
| Grid | 5x5 (25 positions) |
| Paylines | 100 fixed |
| RTP | 96.53% |
| Hit Frequency | 37.55% |
| Volatility | Medium |
| Stake Range | £0.25 to £60 |
| Max Win | 3,640x stake |
| Bonus Buy | Yes |
| Mobile | HTML5 (iOS and Android) |
Theme and Design
The setting is a castle under siege at night. A dragon stands guard in front of the stone reels while Fireball symbols and countdown timers glow across the grid. High-value symbols include the King (pays up to 70x per line), Princess, and Knight. Mid-tier weapons - sword, axe, bow, and mace - fill out the paytable. Lower-value icons are card ranks dressed in medieval armour. The Treasure Chest acts as the scatter.
Betsoft built this on HTML5, so the visuals carry across desktop, tablet, and phone without a separate app. The 3D animation style the studio is known for comes through in the Dragon character - it reacts visibly each time a Fireball is placed or detonates.
Fireball Wilds - The 7-Spin Countdown
This is the main base-game mechanic and the reason the game plays differently from a standard Betsoft slot. The game runs in cycles of 7 spins. Each time the Dragon symbol lands on the reels, it marks those positions with a countdown timer starting at 7. That number ticks down by 1 with every subsequent spin. When it reaches zero - on the 7th spin of the cycle - every marked position simultaneously converts into a Wild symbol.
Multiple Dragon landings stack across the same 7-spin cycle. If the Dragon hits on spins 1, 3, and 5, positions from all three landings are active on the grid at once, each on its own countdown. When the cycle ends, all of them detonate together. On a 5x5 grid with 100 paylines, a cluster of simultaneous Wilds covering 8 to 12 positions can clear the board.
This mechanic gives the base game a persistent tension most medium-volatility slots lack. Every spin has a purpose beyond just watching the reels land - you are tracking active Fireballs and anticipating when they fire.
Free Spins
Landing 3 Treasure Chest scatters anywhere on the grid triggers 12 free spins. The Fireball countdown mechanic pauses during the bonus - existing Fireballs do not expire. Instead, 6, 9, or 12 Wild symbols are pre-positioned across the reels at the start of each free spin. Those Wilds move to new positions on every spin, so coverage shifts constantly rather than staying fixed in one area of the grid.
The moving Wilds combined with 100 paylines on a 5x5 grid means strong hit rates throughout the round. The 3,640x cap means it will not compete with the highest-volatility slots - for that see Reactoonz or Immortal Romance - but for medium variance the ceiling is solid.
A bonus buy option is available. You purchase direct entry to the free spins round, with the cost varying depending on how many starting Wilds you want active. This option is restricted in some jurisdictions including the UK.
RTP and Volatility
At 96.53%, the RTP sits above the current UK market average of around 95-96%. Betsoft also publish a hit frequency of 37.55%, which means roughly 38 in every 100 spins produce some form of return. That figure is consistent with the medium-volatility classification - wins arrive regularly, but the biggest payouts concentrate in the free spins or at the moment a large Fireball cluster detonates.
The 3,640x max win equals £218,400 at the £60 maximum stake, or £910 at the £0.25 minimum. For context, higher-volatility alternatives like Dragon and Phoenix and Dragon Fire offer steeper upside but far less frequent wins. Take the Kingdom trades ceiling for floor.
How the 5x5 Grid Affects Play
Most Betsoft slots use a standard 5x3 layout with 15 symbol positions. The 5x5 grid here provides 25 positions across 100 paylines. With more active positions, wins form more often, but individual payouts per winning line are smaller to keep the maths balanced. The practical effect is a smoother session with fewer dead spins than a higher-volatility title of comparable variance.
The larger grid also amplifies the Fireball mechanic. On a 5x3 layout, a cluster of 4 or 5 simultaneous Wilds would dominate the board. On 5x5, the same cluster covers fewer relative positions, which means the countdown needs to accumulate more Dragon landings to produce the most dramatic detonations. Sessions where 10 or more Fireball positions are active simultaneously are the game's highest-impact moments.
Comparison to Other Betsoft Titles
Within Betsoft's catalogue, Take the Kingdom is unusual for its 5x5 layout - most of the developer's portfolio sticks to 5x3. The Fireball countdown mechanic is also absent from older Betsoft releases like Good Girl Bad Girl (97.79% RTP) or The Slotfather Part II, which use more traditional wild and scatter structures.
If the 5x5 grid format appeals, Sugar Pop is another Betsoft 5x5 title, though it uses a cascade mechanic rather than the Fireball countdown. Take the Kingdom's 7-spin cycle creates a different rhythm - one built around anticipation rather than chain reactions.
Who Should Play Take the Kingdom
Take the Kingdom suits players who want a base game with a visible running mechanic. The 7-spin countdown makes every spin matter beyond its immediate result - you are tracking where Fireballs are building, how many spins remain before detonation, and how much of the 5x5 grid is marked. For players who find standard reel-watching passive, this structure keeps attention engaged between bonus triggers.
The £0.25 minimum makes it accessible at low stakes. At £60 max it reaches the mid-tier range. Browse our casino reviews to find operators carrying Betsoft's full catalogue. For slots with similar RTP but different mechanics, the high RTP slots list covers the market above 96%.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the RTP of Take the Kingdom?
Take the Kingdom has an RTP of 96.53%, which is above the UK market average. Betsoft also publish a hit frequency of 37.55%, meaning roughly 38 in every 100 spins return something.
Who developed Take the Kingdom?
Take the Kingdom was developed by Betsoft, a Malta-based studio known for 3D-style slot graphics. It was released in December 2021.
How do the Fireball Wilds work?
The game runs in 7-spin cycles. When the Dragon symbol lands, it marks those grid positions with a countdown starting at 7. The number decrements each spin. When it hits zero, all marked positions convert into Wild symbols simultaneously. Multiple Dragon landings stack within the same cycle.
How do you trigger the free spins?
Landing 3 Treasure Chest scatter symbols anywhere on the 5x5 grid triggers 12 free spins. During the round, 6, 9, or 12 Wild symbols are placed on the grid at the start of each spin and move to new positions on every subsequent spin.
What is the maximum win in Take the Kingdom?
The maximum win is 3,640x your stake. At the top bet of £60 per spin that equals £218,400, and at the minimum £0.25 bet it equals £910.
Can you buy the bonus in Take the Kingdom?
Yes. Take the Kingdom includes a bonus buy option that gives direct access to the free spins round. The cost varies depending on how many starting Wilds you select. This feature is not available in all jurisdictions, including the UK under UKGC rules.
Take the Kingdom Free Spins
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Take the Kingdom RTP and Variance
Take the Kingdom has an RTP of 96.53%, which is above average. See our highest RTP slots for the best returning games. Medium volatility offers a balanced mix of win frequency and payout size.