Merlin Journey of Flame Slot Review
Play’n GO have established themselves as reliable developers within the fantasy slot space, and Merlin Journey of Flame continues their approach to the Arthurian theme. This is a game that understands its lane, delivering polish and solid mechanics rather than pushing boundaries. The six-reel unlock system during free spins adds real strategic depth to what might otherwise feel like another routine Book of title.
Base Game & Features
Merlin Journey of Flame operates on a 5×3 grid (expanding to 6×3 during free spins) with 10 fixed paylines. The base game structure is straightforward but purposeful. Symbols land across the grid, with wins forming left to right across the paylines. Dragon Egg Wilds substitute for all high and low-paying symbols, acting both as scatter triggers and regular wild substitutes. This dual functionality is elegant in its simplicity—it means nearly every spin has potential for the Dragon Eggs to contribute to wins.
The base game runs lean by design. Wins land regularly enough to maintain interest, though between bonus triggers you’ll experience the extended dry spells typical of high volatility Book of style games. This is intentional pacing rather than poor design. Players comfortable with this rhythm understand the trade-off: patience during base play is rewarded with explosive potential during the bonus round.
The Sixth Reel Mechanic
What distinguishes Merlin Journey of Flame is the sixth reel that unlocks during free spins. This is the game’s primary innovation, expanding the grid from 5×3 to 6×3. More importantly, a randomly selected symbol becomes an expanding symbol that covers entire reels during the bonus round—it doesn’t need adjacent positioning to create full-reel wins, dramatically increasing payout potential. For context, five-reel full-screen wins reach 5,000x, but landing the same symbol across all six reels can hit the full 7,500x maximum.
This mechanic is well-constructed. It creates variance within the bonus round and makes the sixth reel feel genuinely consequential rather than cosmetic. The expanding symbol changes each bonus round, keeping the experience unpredictable across sessions.
Dragon Egg Scatters and Gamble Feature
Dragon Egg Wilds serve as the scatter symbol, triggering free spins when landing 3-5 across the grid. Beyond bonus entry, the Gamble feature offers strategic win multiplication. After any win, players can guess the card’s colour to double the payout or the suit to quadruple it. This feature is playable up to five times consecutively, allowing players to chase significant returns—or lose the entire win if incorrect guesses land. It’s an optional tool for strategically-minded players rather than a mandatory mechanic.
Merlin Journey of Flame Free Spins
Landing 3-5 Dragon Eggs grants 8 free spins with win multipliers applied based on scatter count: 3 scatters = 2x multiplier, 4 scatters = 20x multiplier, 5 scatters = 200x multiplier. These multipliers apply to all wins during the bonus round, making five-scatter triggers genuinely impactful.
The free spins mode is where Merlin Journey of Flame separates from its lower-volatility counterparts. During bonus play, the sixth reel remains active alongside the expanding symbol mechanic. Retriggering free spins adds additional spins to your counter—though notably, retriggering doesn’t grant a new expanding symbol. This is a deliberate design choice that prevents the bonus from becoming entirely outcome-dependent on random symbol selection. Long bonus sequences remain valuable through the continued expanding symbol and the increased multiplier carry-through.
It’s worth noting that this game shares identical core mechanics with Play’n GO’s earlier title Scroll of Dead. The Arthurian/wizard theming and production refinements are fresh, but the underlying system is recognisably similar. If you’ve played the original, you know exactly what to expect mechanically. For those new to the system, the core is sound—proven rather than experimental.
Our Honest Verdict
Merlin Journey of Flame is a well-executed high volatility slot that does what it sets out to do without overreaching. Play’n GO has built a reputation for delivering polish within established frameworks, and this release confirms that approach. The six-reel unlock and expanding symbol mechanics create meaningful variance within the free spins experience. The 96.28% RTP sits above average for the slot category, compensating for the extended base game dry spells inherent to high volatility gameplay.
Where Merlin Journey of Flame falls short is innovation. If you’ve played other Merlin titles or Scroll of Dead, you’re looking at familiar mechanics with updated theming. The community consensus is measured appreciation rather than enthusiasm—solid execution of proven systems rather than a breakthrough release. The 7,500x maximum win is genuine and achievable through the bonus mechanics, though the high volatility means most sessions will end with smaller returns.
This is ideal for Book of Dead enthusiasts and high volatility players with suitable bankrolls who value production quality and solid payout structure over experimental features. Those seeking innovation or preferring frequent smaller wins should look to other Play’n GO releases or alternative studios. The visual presentation—complete with rare voice acting from the Merlin character—ranks among the best in slot design, making the experience enjoyable regardless of session outcomes. It’s a capable addition to the Merlin franchise that will satisfy its intended audience, though it won’t convert sceptics of the Book of genre.
Merlin Journey of Flame FAQs
What is the RTP of Merlin Journey of Flame?
The RTP of Merlin Journey of Flame is 96.28%, which sits above average for high volatility slots. This configuration is the highest available for this Play’n GO release, offering fair value relative to the extended volatility.
What is the maximum win for Merlin Journey of Flame?
The maximum win for Merlin Journey of Flame is 7,500x your stake. Five-reel full-screen wins reach 5,000x, with the sixth reel unlock during free spins enabling the full 7,500x potential when landing the expanding symbol across all six reels.
How volatile is Merlin Journey of Flame?
Merlin Journey of Flame is a highly volatile slot with a volatility rating of 9 out of 10. This means wins are less frequent than lower volatility titles, but when they arrive during free spins, they can be substantial. The game requires patience and a suitable bankroll to weather extended dry spells between bonus triggers.
What triggers the free spins in Merlin Journey of Flame?
Landing 3-5 Dragon Egg Wilds anywhere on the reels triggers the bonus round and grants 8 free spins. The number of Dragon Eggs determines the win multiplier: 3 eggs = 2x, 4 eggs = 20x, and 5 eggs = 200x multiplier applied to all bonus wins.
What is the sixth reel mechanic in Merlin Journey of Flame?
The sixth reel is locked during base game but unlocks during free spins, expanding the grid from 5×3 to 6×3. A randomly selected symbol becomes an expanding symbol during the bonus round, covering entire reels and significantly increasing payout potential. This mechanic is what enables the full 7,500x maximum win.
Does Merlin Journey of Flame have a gamble feature?
Yes, players can engage the Gamble feature after any win to attempt multiplication. Guessing the card’s colour correctly doubles the win, whilst guessing the suit quadruples it. The feature is playable up to 5 times consecutively, though incorrect guesses result in losing the entire win.
What is the bet range for Merlin Journey of Flame?
The minimum bet is 0.10 per spin and the maximum bet is 100 per spin, offering flexibility for different player budgets. The wide range accommodates both cautious players testing the game mechanics and experienced high-volatility players managing larger stakes.
How does Merlin Journey of Flame compare to other Merlin games?
Merlin Journey of Flame is essentially a reskin of Play’n GO’s earlier title Scroll of Dead, sharing identical core mechanics but with Arthurian/wizard theming instead of Egyptian theming. The underlying game structure, free spins mechanics, and feature triggers remain the same—it’s the presentation and production that’s been refreshed for this release.
