Rise of Merlin slot review

Rise of Merlin slot: the game in brief

Rise of Merlin comes from Play'n GO, the privately held Swedish studio based in Växjö and best known for Book of Dead and Reactoonz. Released in 2019, it takes the Arthurian wizard as its theme and sits in the same family of 'expanding symbol' games as Book of Dead.

The layout is the classic 5×3 with 10 paylines. Nearly all the excitement is saved for one bonus round, which is typical of high-volatility games of this type: long stretches of small or no wins, broken up by an occasional feature that can pay much more.

How the features work in Rise of Merlin

The game has one special symbol and one bonus round, but the way they connect is worth understanding. OLBG's Rise of Merlin page (opens in a new tab) lists the same features; the explanation here is our own.

The Magical Orb: wild and scatter in one

The Magical Orb does two jobs. As a wild, it substitutes for other symbols to complete wins on the 10 paylines. As a scatter, it counts wherever it lands, and three or more on one spin start the bonus. A single symbol type therefore controls both line wins and the feature.

Eight free spins with an expanding symbol

Three or more Orbs award eight free spins. Before they start, one symbol is chosen at random to be the special expanding symbol for the round. Whenever enough of that symbol lands to form a win, it grows to fill the whole of each reel it appears on, which can turn a modest hit into a screen-wide one.

Retriggers

Landing three or more Orbs again during the bonus adds another eight spins and a second expanding symbol. Two expanding symbols give the round two ways to cover the reels, which is where the game's 5,000× ceiling comes into reach.

1. Three or more Magical Orbs land anywhere on the reels.
2. Eight free spins are awarded and one symbol is picked to expand.
3. Each time the chosen symbol can form a win, it covers its reels.
4. A retrigger of three or more Orbs adds eight spins and another expanding symbol.
5. When the spins run out, the total is paid and the base game resumes.

Why the expanding symbol choice matters

Not every expanding symbol is equal. A high-paying picture symbol covering reels pays far more than a low card symbol doing the same, because each symbol has its own value in the paytable. The selection is random, so you can't influence it.

That randomness explains why two bonus rounds on the same game can end with very different totals. It also explains the high-volatility rating: the round's outcome depends heavily on which symbol is picked and how often it lands. Our glossary entry on volatility explains the idea, and the multiplier entry covers a different way games scale wins.

Open the paytable in the game menu to see what each symbol pays when it fills the reels at your stake. It's the quickest way to understand what a 'good' bonus looks like.

Rise of Merlin RTP: why 'top version' matters

The published figure for Rise of Merlin is 96.58% for the top version. Play'n GO, like many studios, can offer the same game to casinos at more than one RTP setting. The game looks and plays the same, but the long-run return differs.

Under the Gambling Commission's RTS 3 rules on game descriptions (opens in a new tab), the rules and return information must be available to you before you play. In practice, that means you can check the RTP of the version your casino runs in the game's help or info screen. Our guide on how to find the RTP in a casino app shows where to look.

Rise of Merlin on a £20 budget: stakes compared

At the top version's 3.42% edge, the average cost is stake × spins × 3.42%. The table holds the number of spins at 200 so you can see how stake size drives the cost. Notice that only the 10p row fits inside a £20 budget without wins along the way.

High volatility changes how that cost arrives. Instead of losing a little on most spins, you may lose most of a budget before seeing a bonus, or hit one early. Over enough spins, the edge wins out, so set your limit in pounds rather than chasing the feature.

The 5,000× maximum is £500 at 10p, £2,500 at 50p, £5,000 at £1 and £25,000 at the UK's £5 cap for those aged 25 and over.

Rise of Merlin on iPhone and Android

With 15 symbol positions and 10 lines, Rise of Merlin is one of the easier games to read on a phone. The free spins round fills reels with one symbol, which is clear even on a small screen. The game opens inside your casino's app or mobile site; you don't install it separately.

Orientation support isn't stated in the specifications we checked, so rotate your phone to see whether portrait is available. If the game fails to load, our guide for when a casino app won't open has fixes to try.

• On iPhone, keep both iOS and the casino app updated; our iPhone page explains requirements.
• On Android, install casino apps only from Google Play or the operator's official site; see our Android phones guide.
• Use Wi-Fi or a stable mobile signal, and see our data usage guide for what uses the most data.

UK rules for playing Rise of Merlin

Since 31 October 2021, online slots in Great Britain have had to follow design rules set out in the Gambling Commission's summary of RTS changes (opens in a new tab). Stake limits followed in 2025. They apply to Rise of Merlin in any licensed app.

The Commission's stake limit guidance (opens in a new tab) gives the detail. Free spins come only from Orbs: since a Gambling Commission warning in January 2020, feature buy-ins are not offered to British players. Read more in our page on UK slot stake limits.

Rise of Merlin review: pros and cons

Games like Rise of Merlin

Book of Dead is the obvious comparison: also Play'n GO, also 5×3 with 10 lines, also a wild-scatter symbol and an expanding symbol, but with 10 free spins. Legacy of Egypt and Rise of Athena are other Play'n GO games with a 5,000× ceiling.

See all reviews on our slots hub, or compare apps on our best slot apps list.

Where to play Rise of Merlin with a welcome offer

Our three partner offers are all spin offers on named or selected slots, and none of them is set on Rise of Merlin. Check each app's lobby to see whether the game is there. All offers are 18+ and terms apply.

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Coral and Ladbrokes belong to the same operator, LC International Limited, so new accounts at both may not be possible. Our free spins guide explains how to use spins once credited.

18+. Every casino game has a built-in house edge, so over time you should expect to lose what you stake. Set a budget before you play and stop when it’s gone: safer gambling tools and support. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.