Anchoring itself as a prequel to Merlin and the Ice Queen Morgana (2021) and Rise of Merlin (2019), new online slot Merlin: Journey of Flame by renowned iGaming developer Play’n GO, follows a younger, more rough-and-tumble Merlin as he encounters a rare Dragon’s Egg in a swampy lake. Casting a shell-busting spell, Merlin finds himself in a trial by fire.
As players open Merlin’s Book of Spells, they’re tasked with landing three or more Colored Runes to secure victory. Merlin himself assumes the role of a High-Paying symbol, the Dragon Egg fashions itself a standard Wild, and its cracked variant is the slot’s Scatter.
Before Free Spins commence, one Special Expanding Symbol is randomly selected, expanding when a winning combination is formed. If a High-Paying symbol like Merlin, His Staff, Potion or Spell Book, two or more reels are needed, however, if it’s a low-paying colored Rune symbol, three or more reels are needed to trigger the Expanding Symbol mechanic.
If Merlin manages to acquire three or more Hatched Dragon Egg Scatters, it can trigger up to eight Free Spins with an additional sixth reel so players can achieve more wand-waving wins. Merlin can also cast a powerful, but risky Gamble Spell. He activates this ability when wins are below 2,500 coins. Through the Gamble Spell, Merlin’s prize can be doubled if he guesses the color correctly during a mini-game. Merlin should be cautious, though: his Gamble Spell can only be cast five times in a row, or summon up to 2,500 coins, meaning players must think critically about their moves.
George Olekszy, Head of Game Retention at Play’n GO, stated: “Merlin: Journey of Flame is a truly magical title, and we’re so happy to build on the Merlin IP’s rich mythology. This slot pulls from various corners of the Play’n GO portfolio, and uses those components to craft something truly fresh and unique. Mixing Expanding Symbol Mechanics, powerful Scatters and Gamble feature with a dragon-like narrative has made real magic.”