Ways of Athena

Ways of Athena Slot Review

Slot Provider: Thunderkick

RTP: 94.21% | Variance: High | Maximum Win: 25,000x

Our Score: 8.0

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QUICK LINKS: Game Information | Where To Play | Full Review | Testing Notes | Tips For Players | About The Developer

WHY YOU CAN TRUST THIS REVIEW: The information and opinions on this page are the result of an comprehensive process of information gathering and live game testing by the gambling experts who work at allslotsites.com. Find out more here.

About Ways of Athena

Reviewed by:

Published Date: 28th November 2024

How We Review Slot Games

We test and rate all slot games across 5 criteria, assigning a score out of 10 for each and an overall score that is an average of the 5. To build an accurate assessment of each game we gather information from the supplier and play in real play or demo mode. Find out more.

Ways of Athena is an Ancient Greek-themed online slot from Thunderkick with 5 reels and 243 win ways. Matching Mystery Symbols on reels 2 to 5 match up with a symbol from reel 1 when they land. They also split in two to increase the number of available win ways. In the bonus round you get 8 spins and an orb meter, filled by collecting orbs. Keep filling the meter so that Matching Symbols now split into 3, then 5 symbols each, giving you up to 43,923 win ways.

The max win in Ways of Athena is 25,000x. Spins start at 10p.

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Ways of Athena Game Information

  • Release Date: 11.12.24
  • RTP: 94.21%
  • Variance: High
  • Maximum Win: 25,000x
  • Progressive Jackpot: No
  • Reels: 5
  • Rows: 3
  • Paylines: Up To 43,923
  • Minimum Stake: £0.10
  • Theme: Ancient Greece
  • Features: Feature MeterFree SpinsMystery SymbolsSplitting Cells

Testing Notes: Here’s What Happened When We Played Ways of Athena

IMPORTANT: To give you an accurate assessment of the games we review our writers play 200 spins. Whilst this is a useful tool to help us review games and to give an example of what might happen when you play, keep in mind that 200 spins is only a very small sample and cannot be used to accurately predict what might happen over another 200 spins. The outcome of all slots play is always random.

Boom Or Bust? Our Session By The Numbers

I played 250 spins on Ways of Athena on Thunderkick’s test servers prior to release to test the game. This is what happened.

  • Stake Size: 1
  • Start balance: 5,000
  • End balance: 4947.7x
  • Win Rate: 20.8% (52 winning spins in 250)
  • Biggest Win: 67.2x
  • Free Spins Rounds: 0

Ways of Athena really lived up to its high volatility billing. The first 100 spins were really tight. It took 15 just to see a payout of any kind. Most wins were in the 0.1x to 1x range at this stage. I didn’t see a single Matching Mystery Symbol until 116 spins in, then the game loosened up a bit. Over the course of the next 130 spins or so the Matching Mystery Symbols dropped 7 times, producing wins of 52x, 67.2x, 19.2x and a few smaller ones. The 67.2x win came from 5 Matching Symbols which all turned to Jacks and split into 2, creating many more win ways. You can see that in this screenshot.

A big win in Ways of Athena
A 67.2x win from 5 Matching Mystery Symbols

This is a game that’s going to require some patience, but already from my short session you can see where the potential is. Landing a good number of Matching Symbols in free spins when they are all splitting 3 or 5 ways could be absolutely huge. But also, I saw some very long losing streaks too. So you have been warned!

What We Liked

  • Up to 44 free spins in the bonus round
  • Matching Mystery Symbols split in 2, 3 or 5 for lots more win ways
  • Slick production and design
  • Big 25,000x max win to play for
  • Spin from just 10p

What We Didn't like

  • No multipliers in the game
  • Tough maths model

Ways of Athena Review Scores

  • Theme and Design 9
  • RTP and Variance 7
  • Maximum Win 8
  • Symbols and Paytable 8
  • Features and Gameplay 8

What Our Reviewer Says ...

"A beautifully crafted high variance slot with one super-powerful feature that can deliver huge wins on its day!"

Overall Score: 8.0

Theme & Design

Our Score 9

Ways of Athena showcases Thunderkick’s design talents well. The backdrop is a painting of a sweeping rural landscape with a temple center stage behind an ornate reelset. The symbols are beautifully illustrated with intricate detail and a harp and piano soundtrack completes a warm and pleasant scene. It’s one of Thunderkick’s. more relaxing slots in fact.

Ways of Athena Slot by Thunderkick
Ways of Athena Game Screen

RTP and Variance

Our Score 7

What is RTP?

RTP (Return to Player) refers to the amount a game will pay out in cash prizes expressed as a percentage of all the money wagered on that game. For example, a 96% RTP means a game will pay out £96 for every £100 wagered. This is an average number and will vary from one session to the next.  Read more here.

What is Variance?

Variance refers to how far a game will deviate from its RTP over time. High variance games deviate a lot and produce uneven win distributions and unexpected windfalls. Low variance games provide a more stable and even distribution of wins. Read more here.

Ways of Athena has an RTP of 94.21%. An RTP in the region of 94% seems to be commonplace in Thunderkick slots now. It’s not optimal – a good RTP would be in the region of 96% – but its fixed, so it will be that rate wherever you play, which is a good thing. Previous Thunderkick slots have had sub-90% RTP versions appearing at some slot sites, so I’ll take 94.21%!

This is a high volatility slot too, so the win distribution will be uneven, with the occasional burst of big wins. It’s advisable to set a low stake with games like this as they can burn down your balance fast.

Maximum Win

Our Score 8

What Is Maximum Win?

Maximum win refers to the maximum amount a player can win from one spin. It is expressed as a multiple of the stake. For example, where the maximum win is 100,000x, from a £1 stake, the maximum win would be £100,000.  

The max payout in Ways of Athena is a whopping 25,000x. That’s one of Thunderkick’s highest max wins and a very good top payout. It means you can win £2,500 with the minimum stake of 10p! If you like high paying games like this then check out our list of the highest max win slots.

Symbols and Paytable

Our Score 8

The reel configuration looks simple enough – 5 reels and 3 rows. The game uses a win ways mechanic means wins are triggered by landing identical symbols on adjacent reels from left to right regardless of the row they land. That gives you 243 win ways (3x3x3x3x3). But it gets better because splitting symbols in the bonus round – explained below – can expand the rows to give you up to 43,923 win ways.

Ways of Athena Paytable
The paytable with 5x for 5 top paying premium symbols

The pay table features 10 pay symbols and a wild. The pay symbols are the cards, 10 to Ace, valued at from 0.2x for 3 10s up to 1x for 5 Aces, and the vase, harp, shield, helmet and Athena. These are valued at from 0.4x for 3 vases up to 5x for 5 Athenas.

The Wild is represented by the letter W which substitutes for any pay symbol to complete a win way and is valued at 5x when 5 land on a line.

Features and Gameplay

Our Score 8

This is a really simple slot with just Matching Mystery Symbols and a Free Spins round to enhance the win ways gameplay. This is how those features work:

Matching Mystery Symbols

On reels 2, 3, 4 and 5, Matching Mystery Symbols can land on any spin. They are represented by fire pits with pink flames. You can have up to TWO per reel. When they drop they will match with ONE of the symbols showing on reel 1, splitting into two symbols as they do so, creating an extra win way for that symbol.

For example, a Matching Mystery Symbol might match with a Shield that appears on reel 1. It if does then it becomes TWO Shield symbols.

Matching Mystery Symbols In Ways of Athena
Matching Mystery Symbols on reels 3 and 4

Free Spins Round With Extra Win Ways For Matching Symbols

The headline feature here is the free spins round. You need to land 3 BONUS symbols to trigger it. These can just drop on a single spin OR you can get there by matching a Mystery symbol with a BONUS symbol on reel 1. That automatically gives you 3 BONUS symbols and you’re into the free spins.

You’ll get 8 spins, and an extra 2 for every further BONUS symbol after the first 3. So, 4 gets you 10, 5 gets you 12, and so on, with a cap of 44 free spins.

Things get much more exciting here because under the reels is a meter which can be filled by landing Mystery Symbol Orbs. Each one fills another space in the meter. Filling enough spaces to hit the next level on the meter increases the number of symbols a Matching Mystery Symbol splits into. This increases the Win Ways. Firstly, the Matching Mystery Symbols split into 3, then if you collect enough Orbs to fill the entire meter, the symbols will split into 5.

And … at each new level you get 2 more spins. It’s easy to see how when you have all Matching Mystery Symbols splitting into 5 and you have a good number of spins left, you will be able to drive some serious payouts in this game.

The Final Verdict

This is one of Thunderkick’s better high risk slots in my opinion. The configuration of its one and only feature – if you don’t count the free spins round – is brilliant. It can land a few duds – I saw a few wins of less than 1x from Matching Symbols – but it can also turn a slow session on its head in an instant if you get lucky. And isn’t that just what high risk gaming is all about? Couple that with a high-class production and you have a something of a hit on your hands.

Useful Tips When Playing Ways of Athena

Remember, online slots are games of chance, there is NO strategy that can improve your odds of winning. However, reading our review and following these tips will help you get the most out of your time playing this slot game.

1. Look For Those Matching Mystery Symbols

These often trigger a win when they land as they add 2 symbols to the reels that match with one on reel 1.

2. Remember To Watch The Orb Meter During Free Spins

This is one of those slots that feels like it can escalate fast if you fill that meter and Matching Symbols start splitting into 3 or even 5!

 

3. Keep The Stakes Low

Remember that high volatility means you can burn through balance in no time. Choose the low stakes to avoid an early exit!

4. Play At Our Recommended Slot Sites

We have chosen the sites on this page because they all scored high in our reviews and they are licensed by the UK Gambling Commission. That makes them fair and safe places to play slots.

Who Made Ways of Athena?

  • Name: Thunderkick
  • Established: 2012
  • UK License: 40165
  • Total Games: 55
  • Known For: Quirky, eccentric slots with fun features and distinctive designs
  • Popular Slots: Pink Elephants 1 and 2, Flame Busters, Birds on a Wire
Find More Thunderkick slots

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