Rise of Merlin

Rise of Merlin Slot Review

Rise of Merlin brings the legendary wizard Merlin to the reels in a fantasy-themed slot from Play’n GO. Set inside a medieval great hall filled with arches and pillars, the game combines magical imagery with classic slot mechanics, expanding symbols, and a Free Spins feature.

The game uses a simple five-reel and three-row layout with up to 10 adjustable paylines. Its base gameplay remains straightforward, but the real excitement comes during Free Spins, where randomly selected symbols can expand across entire reels. Retriggers can add more spins and introduce additional expanding symbols, creating opportunities for much larger wins.

Theme and Design

Rise of Merlin takes players into a medieval fantasy world inspired by the legendary enchanter himself. The reels sit inside a grand hall-like setting, with stone pillars and arches creating a suitably mystical atmosphere.

The symbols combine traditional card values from A through 10 with fantasy creatures and characters. Owls, dragons, and Merlin himself appear as the higher-paying symbols, while a crystal ball serves as both the Wild and Scatter.

The visual presentation is relatively simple, but the magical theme fits naturally with the game’s expanding-symbol mechanics. Merlin provides the strongest regular symbol payout, while the crystal ball drives the game’s most important bonus features.

Slot Structure

• Reels: 5
• Rows: 3
• Paylines: 1–10
• Winning System: Adjustable Paylines
• Theme: Fantasy / Medieval / Magic

Rise of Merlin features five reels and three rows, with players able to activate between 1 and 10 paylines. The flexible setup allows wagers to be adjusted according to different playing preferences.

Winning combinations are formed by matching symbols across active paylines. The game includes standard royal symbols alongside premium fantasy characters, while the Crystal Ball Wild provides substitutions for regular symbols.

The base game is relatively traditional, but the Free Spins feature transforms the reels by introducing a randomly selected expanding symbol.

How to Play

Players begin by selecting their preferred number of paylines and wager before spinning the five-reel grid. The betting range starts from just 0.01 and can reach up to 100 per spin, depending on the casino and market.

Winning combinations are created by matching symbols along active paylines. The game features card symbols from A to 10, along with owls, dragons, Merlin, and the Crystal Ball Wild.

The Crystal Ball can substitute for regular symbols and also functions as the Scatter. Landing 3 or more Scatters activates the Free Spins feature and awards 8 spins.

Before the bonus begins, one regular symbol is randomly selected as the special expanding symbol. When that symbol lands during Free Spins, it expands to cover its entire reel, potentially creating multiple winning combinations.

Symbols and Payouts

Rise of Merlin combines traditional card values with medieval fantasy imagery. The lower-paying symbols are represented by royal values, while owls, dragons, and Merlin form the premium symbols.

Regular Symbols

• Low-paying: A, K, Q, J and 10 symbols.
• Premium: Owls and dragons.
• Highest regular symbol: Merlin.
• Five Merlin symbols can award up to 500x the stake.
• Selected symbols can become expanding symbols during Free Spins.

The premium symbols give the game its magical identity, with Merlin acting as the most valuable standard symbol and offering a significant payout when five appear across a payline.

Wild Symbol

The Crystal Ball acts as the game’s Wild symbol.

• Substitutes for regular symbols.
• Also functions as the Scatter.
• Helps complete winning combinations.
• Can trigger the Free Spins feature.
• Expanding symbols become the key feature during the bonus round.

The Crystal Ball is particularly important because it serves two purposes. It can help form regular wins while also triggering Free Spins when three or more appear on the reels.

Bonuses & Special Features

Free Spins

• Triggered by 3 or more Crystal Ball Scatters.
• Awards 8 Free Spins.
• One regular symbol is randomly selected before the feature.
• The chosen symbol becomes the special expanding symbol.
• Landing the symbol can expand it across its entire reel.
• Free Spins can retrigger.

The randomly selected expanding symbol is the main attraction of the bonus round. When enough copies land, they can fill an entire reel rather than remaining in their original positions, significantly increasing the potential for winning combinations.

Free Spin Retrigger

• Triggered by 3 or more Scatters during Free Spins.
• Awards another 8 Free Spins.
• A second expanding symbol is randomly selected.
• Additional retriggers can repeat the process.
• Multiple expanding symbols can become active.

Each successful retrigger makes the feature more powerful. A new expanding symbol is selected alongside the additional 8 spins, meaning later stages can potentially have multiple symbols capable of covering entire reels.

RTP & Volatility

• RTP: Up to 96.58%
• Volatility: High (10/10)
• Maximum Win: Up to 5,000x the bet
• Maximum Win Probability: Less than 1 in 8.77 million

Its High 10/10 volatility means wins can be less frequent but potentially much larger. The standard stated maximum win is 5,000x the total bet, although the game’s maximum potential can vary depending on the number of coins and paylines selected.

Mobile Compatibility

Rise of Merlin is suitable for desktop and mobile casino play. Its five-reel, three-row structure keeps the interface compact and easy to navigate on smaller screens.

The medieval artwork, card symbols, and fantasy characters remain easy to identify on mobile displays. The expanding-symbol mechanic is also straightforward to follow, as selected symbols can visibly cover entire reels during Free Spins.

Gameplay Experience

Rise of Merlin combines a familiar classic-slot structure with a bonus mechanic centered around expanding symbols. Players can select between 1 and 10 paylines, while the Crystal Ball Wild provides substitutions and doubles as the Scatter.

The Free Spins feature is where the game becomes considerably more interesting. Eight initial spins are awarded, with one randomly selected symbol capable of expanding across an entire reel.

Retriggers provide another 8 spins and add a further expanding symbol. Multiple retriggers can therefore build the potential for increasingly powerful reel expansions and larger combinations.

Tips to Play

• Select between 1 and 10 paylines before spinning.
• Look for 3 or more Crystal Ball Scatters to enter Free Spins.
• Watch for the randomly selected expanding symbol.
• Expanding symbols can cover an entire reel during Free Spins.
• Retriggers award another 8 spins and add another expanding symbol.
• Keep the game’s high 10/10 volatility in mind.
• The maximum stated win reaches 5,000x the bet.

Quick Stats

Rise of Merlin Slot Machine

Rise of Merlin brings Play’n GO’s magical fantasy theme to a five-reel, three-row slot featuring Merlin, dragons, owls, and the mysterious Crystal Ball Wild. With up to 10 adjustable paylines, the base game keeps the mechanics familiar and accessible.

The game’s biggest attraction is its Free Spins feature. Landing three or more Crystal Ball Scatters awards 8 spins, while a randomly selected symbol can expand to fill an entire reel whenever it lands.

Step into Merlin’s magical realm, trigger the expanding symbols, and see how far the reels can rise.