One of the most popular online slots on the planet, we take a closer look at whether or not Thunderstruck has what it takes to keep up with newer, flashier slots.

Its 10,000 coin jackpot isn't as big as some other pokies, but there must be at least one reason why Thunderstruck has such a cult following even after being on the market for years.

The star of Thunderstruck is the Norse god Thor and reel symbols include the likes of the big man himself, his magic hammer, lightning and a drinking horn. Win animations are fairly basic but still look good enough.

The cartoony graphics lend Thunderstruck the air of a comic book, even though the game is based on the classical version of Thor and not the one belonging to Marvel Comics. As a result, the game doesn't look particularly dated despite having been around for quite a long time.

The game is pretty quiet, with no background music during standard play and little in the way of sound effects to break up the action. This probably won't bother you too much if you tend to be doing other things, such as watching TV or spending time with family, while you play pokies.

Thunderstruck's gameplay really is very simple; it's just a standard 5-reel slot with 3 rows and 9 lines. This is probably why Thunderstruck is so popular with first-time pokies players; you can sit down and start playing immediately.

The two symbols you'll be hoping appear most often are Thor himself, who acts as a wild and doubles wins, and scatter rams. Get three or more rams and you'll trigger a bonus round of 15 free spins with a 3x multiplier. As bonus rounds go, this is definitely one of the better ones out there!

Players can also gamble their winnings on the turn of a card. Correctly guessing the colour will double any winnings while getting the suit right will quadruple them.

While Thunderstruck's simplicity makes it very accessible to newbies, it might also make it a little boring to players who are used to newer, more exciting games that often boast 3D graphics, fancy animations and interactive mini-games.

Once upon a time, Thor was a bit of a trailblazer and it was impossible to visit an online casino without running across it. Since then, other titles have worked hard to unseat the God of Thunder and the game isn't quite as popular as it once was.

Where Thunderstruck still shines is in how steady it is: with a bonus round of 15 guaranteed free spins and a 3x multiplier, you have to be VERY unlucky to come out of the other side of it without a decent win.

Thunderstruck is still widely available, so give it a try in free play mode and see how you do – how often you encounter the bonus round, how long your bankroll lasts etc. – when using your desired bet. If you're happy with that, you can always upgrade to playing for real.

Despite being one of the older titles on the market, Thunderstruck remains very popular. But with just 9 paylines and a maximum jackpot of 10,000 coins, it isn't immediately obvious why that's the case. However, there are plenty of wilds and scatters in the mix, as well as a bonus round featuring 15 free spins with a healthy 3x multiplier. There's nothing fancy about Thunderstruck – the graphics are looking a bit outmoded though they remain more than serviceable – but it still seems to be a slot that people love and has a tried and tested formula that's certainly served Microgaming well!