Rise of Merlin Slot Review
Rise of Merlin is a high volatility magical fantasy slot by Play'n GO with an RTP of 96.58%. It features 5 reels and 3 rows with free spins and expanding symbols across 10 paylines.
What is Rise of Merlin?
Rise of Merlin, released by Play'n GO in 2019, applies the proven book slot mechanic to an Arthurian magical fantasy setting. The 5x3 grid with 10 adjustable paylines uses a crystal orb as both wild and scatter. Three or more orbs trigger 10 free spins with a randomly chosen expanding symbol that fills entire reels when it contributes to wins. The mathematical model is identical to Book of Dead with the same 96.58% RTP as Legacy of Dead. Free spins can retrigger when additional scatters land during the bonus, and the gamble feature allows risking wins on card predictions. Rise of Merlin serves as the fantasy-themed alternative for players who enjoy the book slot mechanic but want a break from the Egyptian aesthetic that dominates the subgenre.
RTP, Volatility & Max Win
Rise of Merlin's 96.58% RTP matches Legacy of Dead and exceeds Book of Dead's 96.21%, placing it among the more player-favourable book slots. The 5,000x maximum win is standard for Play'n GO's book slot range. The mathematical profile is nearly identical to Book of Dead: high volatility with infrequent but potentially significant bonus round payouts. The 10-payline structure concentrates value in the free spins, where expanding symbols covering multiple reels create multi-line wins. Base game returns are modest, with the expanding symbol mechanic providing the primary path to meaningful payouts. A key distinction from Book of Dead: Merlin's Crystal Ball acts as both scatter and wild simultaneously during base game, slightly improving hit frequency outside of free spins — an advantage that is often overlooked when comparing the two mathematically similar titles.
How Rise of Merlin Works
The 5x3 grid operates with 10 adjustable paylines. The crystal orb symbol acts as both wild (substituting for all symbols) and scatter (triggering free spins with three or more). Premium symbols include Merlin, his spell book, a dragon, and an owl, with card values as lower-paying symbols. Wins pay left to right on active paylines.
Bonus Round & Free Spins
Three or more crystal orb scatters trigger 10 free spins. Before the bonus begins, one symbol is randomly selected as the special expanding symbol. When this symbol appears on a reel during free spins and can contribute to a win, it expands to fill all three positions on that reel. If the expanding symbol appears on multiple reels, the full-reel coverage creates wins across all active paylines. Free spins retrigger when three or more scatters land during the bonus.
Special Features
The gamble feature offers risk-reward after any win. Players can predict the colour of a hidden card (double the win) or the suit (quadruple). Multiple gamble rounds can be attempted up to the game's limit. The mechanic adds player agency to an otherwise entirely random game.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- 96.58% RTP is higher than Book of Dead (96.21%)
- Fantasy theme provides a refreshing alternative to Egyptian book slots
- 5,000x max win is standard and competitive for the format
- Familiar book slot mechanics — instantly accessible to fans of the genre
- Low minimum bet ($0.01) suits all bankroll sizes
Cons
- Mechanically identical to Book of Dead — no unique innovation
- No stacking expanding symbols like Legacy of Dead
- 10-payline structure limits base game win frequency
- Fantasy theme may not have the same draw as Egyptian mythology
Common Misconceptions
What Players Say About Rise of Merlin
Rise of Merlin occupies a niche position in the book slot community as the go-to alternative for players experiencing Egyptian theme fatigue. Forum discussions consistently describe it as 'Book of Dead in wizard robes' — a characterisation that is both accurate and affectionate. Players who have spent extensive time on Book of Dead appreciate the visual change while maintaining the identical gameplay loop they enjoy. The crystal orb scatter and Merlin character animations receive praise for quality production. The main criticism is the lack of any mechanical innovation: unlike Legacy of Dead (stacking symbols) or Cat Wilde titles, Rise of Merlin adds nothing new to the formula. Community consensus positions it as a solid, reliable book slot that serves its purpose — theme variety — without attempting to advance the format. Players who are choosing between Play'n GO book slots are typically advised to play Legacy of Dead for the superior mechanics, but Rise of Merlin for the fantasy aesthetic.
Session Notes
Rise of Merlin sessions played identically to Book of Dead from a mathematical perspective. The 10-payline structure meant base game wins were infrequent but occasionally meaningful when wild orbs aligned with premium symbols. Free spins triggered approximately once every 180 to 200 spins. The expanding symbol mechanic during free spins produced the familiar range of outcomes: low-value expanding symbols returned modestly, while Merlin himself expanding across three or more reels delivered the strongest results. Our best bonus round saw Merlin selected as the expanding symbol and appearing on four reels, producing a 267x return. Several other rounds returned between 5x and 30x with lower-value expanding symbols. The gamble feature tempted after smaller wins, and we used it successfully twice to double modest payouts.
Expert Assessment
Rise of Merlin is a competent execution of the book slot formula with a fantasy aesthetic. The 96.58% RTP matches Legacy of Dead and exceeds Book of Dead. The expanding symbol mechanic is proven and engaging. The absence of any unique innovation (no stacking symbols, no grid twist) means it functions purely as a theme alternative. For fantasy fans who enjoy book slots, it delivers exactly what it promises — nothing more, nothing less.
Is Rise of Merlin Worth Playing?
Rise of Merlin delivers exactly what it sets out to be: a fantasy-themed book slot with proven mechanics and a competitive RTP. The 96.58% return is higher than Book of Dead, the expanding symbol mechanic is reliable, and the Arthurian aesthetic provides genuine visual variety in a subgenre dominated by Egyptian themes. The absence of mechanical innovation is the clear limitation — Legacy of Dead's stacking symbols offer a more evolved book slot experience. But for players who value theme variety and want the familiar book slot loop in a magical fantasy setting, Rise of Merlin is a polished, dependable option. Its continued presence in casino lobbies confirms that the book slot audience values aesthetic diversity alongside mathematical quality.
How Rise of Merlin Compares
| Slot | Provider | RTP | Volatility | Max Win | Why Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rise of Merlin | Play'n GO | 96.58% | High | 5,000x | This slot |
| Book of Dead | Play'n GO | 96.21% | High | 5,000x | Same provider, same mechanic, Egyptian theme — the original book slot that Rise of Merlin is themed after |
| Gates of Olympus | Pragmatic Play | 96.5% | High | 5,000x | Same provider but completely different engine — contrasts traditional book slot vs modern scatter pays design |
| Legacy of Dead | Play'n GO | 96.58% | High | 5,000x | Same provider, same RTP, Egyptian theme — adds stacking expanding symbols that Rise of Merlin lacks |
Session Calculator: Rise of Merlin vs Book of Dead
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the RTP of Rise of Merlin?
Rise of Merlin has a theoretical RTP of 96.58%. This is above the industry average and matches Legacy of Dead, while exceeding Book of Dead's 96.21%.
How do free spins work in Rise of Merlin?
Three or more crystal orb scatter symbols trigger 10 free spins. One symbol is randomly selected to expand and fill entire reels when it can form a winning combination. This mechanic is identical to Book of Dead.
What is the maximum win on Rise of Merlin?
The maximum win on Rise of Merlin is 5,000x your total bet. The highest payouts occur when Merlin or another premium symbol is selected as the expanding symbol and appears across multiple reels.
How does Rise of Merlin compare to Book of Dead?
The mechanics are essentially identical. Rise of Merlin has a higher RTP (96.58% vs 96.21%) and a fantasy theme instead of Egyptian. For pure mathematical value, Rise of Merlin is slightly superior. For brand recognition and promotional availability, Book of Dead remains dominant.
Does Rise of Merlin have a gamble feature?
Yes. After any win, players can gamble the payout by predicting a card colour (double) or suit (quadruple). The feature is mathematically fair and can be repeated multiple times.
Who made Rise of Merlin?
Rise of Merlin was developed by Play'n GO and released in 2019. It uses the same book slot mechanic as Book of Dead but with an Arthurian fantasy setting.