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Today, I’m diving into Booming Games’ Shields of Gold: Valkyrie Hold and Win, a Norse-themed release that combines the classic Hold and Win mechanic with modern visuals and a handful of bonus twists. Booming Games is not usually the first developer that comes to mind when I think of polished slots, but this one caught my attention with how well it ties together the look, sound, and gameplay.
Before I get into how my session went, here’s a quick breakdown of the game’s specs:
- Developer: Booming Games
- RTP: 95.5% (varies)
- Volatility: Medium-High
- Release date: Sept. 4, 2025
- Max win: 2,200x your bet
- Reels & Paylines: 5 reels, 20 ways to win
Where can you play Shields of Gold Valkyrie: Hold and Win?
I was able to test this slot game for real money at WOW Vegas. You can use PlayUSA’s WOW Vegas promo code to play it with free coins.
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Taylor’s video review
My basic experience playing Shields of Gold Valkyrie: Hold and Win
I gave Shields of Gold Valkyrie a 10-minute test run on Microsoft Edge. In that short time, I managed to spin through 293.75 SC, and by the end of the session, I was down 100 SC. It was a relatively quick look at what the game had to offer, but I still walked away with a solid impression of how it plays.
My balance never felt like it was draining too quickly, and I saw enough small and medium wins along the way to keep me in the action. The game stayed entertaining, even if none of the features really exploded into massive wins. I triggered the Hold and Win feature three times during my run, once naturally and twice through bonus buys, and also got into the free spins. Each feature gave me a sense of how the slot is designed, and while the results were mixed, it was a fun session overall.
- Browser: Microsoft Edge
- Play Time: 10 minutes
- Amount Bet: 293.75 SC
- Amount Won or Lost: Down 100 SC
Shields of Gold: Valkyrie key takeaways
The first thing I noticed when the game loaded up was just how bright and polished it looked. The snowy mountains in the background immediately pulled me into the setting, and the Valkyrie theme was well represented. On the left-hand side of the screen, the jackpots are clearly displayed, always tempting you with the chance at something bigger.
What stood out more than anything else was the flexibility in how you can play this slot. Shields of Gold Valkyrie gives you multiple bonus buy options if you want to skip the base game grind, as well as an extra chance feature that boosts the odds of landing a bonus. This kind of flexibility makes the game feel modern and player-friendly, offering different approaches depending on how you want to spend your balance.
Overall, it made a strong first impression, showing me that this wasn’t just another cookie-cutter Hold and Win slot.
Sensory experience of Shields of Gold: Valkyrie
Visually, Shields of Gold Valkyrie exceeded my expectations. Booming Games has a history of releasing slots that look decent but don’t necessarily stand out (see: Burning Love and Buffalo Hold N Win). This one felt different. The animations were crisp, the reels spun smoothly, and the overall presentation carried a lot of polish. The snowy mountains in the background and the golden accents on the reels gave it a clean, immersive look that felt on par with bigger studios.
The soundtrack and sound effects are where the game really surprised me. The music had a Nordic style that perfectly fit the Valkyrie theme, and it kept the atmosphere fun without ever becoming annoying. But the real highlight was how every symbol came with its own unique audio cue when it hit. A horn blast, a beer pouring, the crash of an axe, each win was tied to a sound that matched the symbol. It made even small wins more engaging, because they came with a burst of personality.
On top of that, big wins landed with strong, punchy audio that made them feel impactful. It’s not often that Booming Games impresses me with presentation, but here, they absolutely did.
Gameplay highlights and lowlights
The Hold and Win feature is the centerpiece of this slot, and I triggered it three times in total. The first time was from a natural spin, and the other two were through bonus buys. All three played out in nearly the same way: I collected shields across the reels until only two positions remained, and then the feature ended. It was uncanny how consistent this was, and it gave the impression that the game is designed to cut you off right before a full screen. The prizes weren’t bad, but none of the rounds exploded into anything memorable.
The free spins feature showed up as well, but it felt like more of a gateway to another Hold and Win rather than a big feature in its own right. The wins during free spins weren’t particularly strong, and it didn’t leave a lasting impression.
The base game, on the other hand, was a pleasant surprise. There weren’t long stretches of dead spins. Wins came frequently enough to keep the balance healthy, and the constant teasing of the Hold and Win added suspense without draining me too quickly. Since wild symbols play a key role in triggering the feature, those teases often came with solid hits, which made them feel more rewarding.
The only real disappointment came from the bonus buys. I tried two different ones, and both ended as losses. They weren’t disastrous losses, but they didn’t feel worth the investment either. For me, the base game offered more value and better entertainment than forcing the features through buys.
What are the bonus features of Shields of Gold: Valkyrie Hold and Win?
There is no shortage of bonus features on this free slot from Booming Games. Here’s a breakdown.
| Feature/Bonus | Description | Impact on gameplay |
|---|---|---|
| Wild Transform | Transforms every Wild on the screen into a Shield and activates one of two bonus features: Coin Collection or Hold and Win Respins. You must land Shields on reels 1 and 2 and then hit Wilds on any of the other reels. | Increases the gameplay pace and unlocks opportunities to potentially win more coins without spending more. |
| Coin Collection | Sums up the coin value of all the Shield symbols and lets you claim it as an instant prize. | Get more coins to play with. |
| Hold and Win Respins | Three respins to start with, with Shields locked in place. Offers the possibility of triggering more respins every time a new Shield lands. Additionally, get access to one of the four jackpots. | Play more rounds without spending your coins. Additionally, get the chance to win one of the four jackpots to boost your bankroll. |
| Tactical Free Spins | Land Ship symbols on reels 1, 3, and 5 to unlock free spins options. You can get 6 free spins and a higher likelihood of landing Shields on reels 1 and 2, which could help activate Wild Transform. Alternatively, you can get 8 free spins and a higher likelihood of landing Wilds on reel 5. | Play more rounds without spending coins and get the opportunity to unlock more Wilds or Wild Transform features. |
| Fixed Jackpots | There are four fixed jackpots: Mini (10x); Minor (50x); Major (100x); Grand (1,000x). | Win potentially huge prizes to boost your coins bankroll. |
| Golden Bet | Boost your bet by 25% and increase your likelihood of triggering free spins and Hold and Win features. | Play more for less and potentially win more if you activate the two bonus features. |
| Bonus Buy | Get a Mystery Bonus feature (random feature) for 75x the stake amount or a Special Bonus (specific feature of your choosing) for 100x your stake. | Trigger more bonus features and hopefully win bigger prizes, but the cost can cut deep into your bankroll. |
Volatility on the Shields of Gold: Valkyrie
For a medium-high volatility game, Shields of Gold Valkyrie felt more forgiving than I expected. My balance never collapsed quickly, and there were plenty of smaller hits along the way to keep me engaged. The bonuses didn’t seem overly difficult to land either, which kept the session lively.
That being said, the Hold and Win rounds all ended the exact same way for me, two spots shy of a full board. It created the impression of a ceiling that the feature doesn’t want you to break through. The smaller jackpots and shield prizes seem attainable, but the grand jackpot of 1000x your spin feels incredibly rare. With a listed max win of 2,200x, I would be shocked to see anyone actually hit the absolute top end.
Still, this slot strikes a good balance. It keeps you in the action without crushing your balance, but the massive wins it teases may never realistically happen.
The pros & cons of Shields of Gold: Valkyrie Hold and Win
- 👍 Crisp visuals and polished animations, better than what I usually expect from Booming Games
- 👍 Immersive soundtrack with Nordic flair, plus unique audio cues for each symbol win
- 👍 Base game stays lively with frequent hits and plenty of wilds
- 👍 Hold and Win feature is fun to chase and not too hard to trigger
- 👍 Free spins provide another path into Hold and Win, keeping bonuses accessible
- 👍 Several bonus buy options and an extra chance feature give you flexibility in how you play
- ❌ All three Hold and Win rounds ended the same way, two spots shy of a full board
- ❌ Free spins felt more like a setup for Hold and Win than a strong feature on their own
- ❌ Bonus buys were underwhelming and didn’t deliver value in my session
- ❌ Grand jackpot and max win potential feel almost unattainable
My final thoughts on Shields of Gold: Valkyrie Hold and Win
Shields of Gold: Valkyrie left me with a better impression of Booming Games than I expected. The visuals are clean, the soundtrack is immersive, and the little touches like symbol-specific sound effects make it stand out in a crowded market. The base game held my balance steady and delivered plenty of excitement, which is not always the case with slots in this volatility range.
The Hold and Win feature was fun to chase, even if it always seemed to end with two spots left on the board. The free spins added another layer, though they felt more like a supporting act than a headliner. The bonus buys were my least favorite part, as they didn’t pay off and drained more than they gave back.
This game will appeal most to players who enjoy Hold and Win mechanics but don’t want to endure brutal volatility to experience them. It’s forgiving enough to keep you engaged, with plenty of teases and decent payouts to keep your balance alive, even if the grand jackpot feels more like a dream than a real possibility. If you’re looking for a polished slot with steady action, multiple ways to play, and an immersive presentation, Shields of Gold Valkyrie: Hold and Win is worth giving a spin.
