Merlin Realm of Charm

Merlin Realm of Charm Slot Review

Slot Provider: Play n Go

RTP: 96.2% | Variance: High | Maximum Win: 10,000x

Our Score: 7.2

Play at Grand Ivy Casino
QUICK LINKS: Game Information | Where To Play | Full Review | Testing Notes | Compare Slots | Tips For Players | About The Developer

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About Merlin Realm of Charm

Reviewed by:

Published Date: 17th May 2024

How We Review Slot Games

We test and rate all slot games across 5 criteria, assigning a score out of 10 for each and an overall score that is an average of the 5. To build an accurate assessment of each game we gather information from the supplier and play in real play or demo mode. Find out more.

Merlin Realm of Charm is an online slot game from Play n Go featuring the magician Merlin who is searching for an Enchantress. When she appears 3 times on one spin then a free spins round is triggered when one pay symbol becomes an expander which sticks in place when it lands. This simple game has a top payout of 10,000x and spins start at 10p.

Merlin Realm of Charm Game Information

  • Release Date: 13.06.24
  • RTP: 96.2% | 94.2% | 91.2% | 87.2% | 84.2%
  • Variance: High
  • Maximum Win: 10,000x
  • Progressive Jackpot: No
  • Reels: 5
  • Rows: 3
  • Paylines: 10
  • Minimum Stake: £0.10
  • Theme: FantasyMagic
  • Features: Expanding SymbolsFree SpinsWilds
  • Format: 5-Reel

Testing Notes: Here’s What Happened When We Played Merlin Realm of Charm

IMPORTANT: To give you an accurate assessment of the games we review our writers play 200 spins. Whilst this is a useful tool to help us review games and to give an example of what might happen when you play, keep in mind that 200 spins is only a very small sample and cannot be used to accurately predict what might happen over another 200 spins. The outcome of all slots play is always random.

Boom Or Bust? Our Session By The Numbers

I played 250 spins on Merlin Realm of Charm on Play n Go’s test server prior to release to test the game. This is what happened.

  • Stake Size: 1
  • Start balance: 25,000
  • End balance: 24,990
  • Hit Rate: 32% (80 winning spins in 250)
  • Biggest Win: 77x
  • Free Spins Round: 2

Merlin Realm of Charm’s win rate was impressive at 32% with 80 winning spins in 250. That is unusually high for a high variance slot, but it’s offset by the fact that many of those wins were small. The reason for that is there is nothing in the base game to enhance the value of wins – no multipliers or symbol splits for example. But nevertheless, the game rattled along at a good pace, and having a high win rate kept me interested whilst waiting for the free spins to trigger.

Merlin Realm of Charm Free Spins Round
On the way to a 77x win in free spins with apple symbols as expanders on reels 1 to 3

That happened twice for me in 250 spins which is a good result. And both times the win was good – 62x and 77x. I had just 5 spins but if you land expanders early on you’ll do well because they stick so you win on every remaining spin. And that’s it. It’s not a complex slot, but the fun theme, regular wins and powerful bonus feature were enough for me in this short session.

What We Liked

  • Expanding symbols stick in the free spins round
  • Chance to re-trigger free spins to up to 30 plays
  • Stakes as low as 10p
  • Gamble to double of quadruple your wins

What We Didn't like

  • Low RTP at some slot sites
  • Very simple gameplay

Merlin Realm of Charm Review Scores

  • Theme and Design 7
  • RTP and Variance 7
  • Maximum Win 7
  • Symbols and Paytable 7
  • Features and Gameplay 8

What Our Reviewer Says ...

"A 'Book Of'-style magical adventure with a very volatile engine and sticky expanders in the free spins round. Will suit big win chasers!"

Overall Score: 7.2

Theme & Design

Our Score 7

Merlin Is Tracking Down A Beautiful Enchantress

Play n Go add another slot game featuring the magician Merlin to their catalogue. This guy has cropped up in previous slots of theirs, including Merlin’s Grimoire. The storyline here involves his dalliance with an Enchantress. She appears in a forest glade in the intro clip before disappearing, as if by magic. We can only assume Merlin will now try to track her down. The vibe is (not surprisingly) magical and ethereal. It’s all quite charming, with nice sounds and visuals, a little at odds with what seems to be a pretty volatile engine.

Merlin Realm of Charm by Play n Go
Merlin Realm of Charm – a magical and ethereal adventure

RTP and Variance

Our Score 7

What is RTP?

RTP (Return to Player) refers to the amount a game will pay out in cash prizes expressed as a percentage of all the money wagered on that game. For example, a 96% RTP means a game will pay out £96 for every £100 wagered. This is an average number and will vary from one session to the next.  Read more here.

What is Variance?

Variance refers to how far a game will deviate from its RTP over time. High variance games deviate a lot and produce uneven win distributions and unexpected windfalls. Low variance games provide a more stable and even distribution of wins. Read more here.

Merlin Realm of Charm has 5 RTP rates – 96.2%, 94.2%, 91.2%, 87.2% and 84.2%. It’s not unheard of for UK slot sites to run Play n Go slots at under 90% RTP, so watch out. I recommend playing at MrQ from Lindar Media which consistently runs slots at optimum RTP rates, in this case, 96.2%. You can check the RTP for yourself by hitting the ‘?’ link at the foot of the game screen then scrolling down until you see Return to Player.

This is a high variance slot, and Play n Go can make their games volatile, so keep that in mind when choosing your stake as Merlin can burn you.

Maximum Win

Our Score 7

What Is Maximum Win?

Maximum win refers to the maximum amount a player can win from one spin. It is expressed as a multiple of the stake. For example, where the maximum win is 100,000x, from a £1 stake, the maximum win would be £100,000.  

The max payout from a single spin here is 10,000x or £10,000 from a £1 bet. That’s not bad potential. Play n Go aren’t known for their huge payouts, though occasionally they produce games with higher max wins like Kiss Reels of Rock (50,000x) and Clash of Camelot (35,000x).

Symbols and Paytable

Our Score 7

Merlin Realm of Charm plays on a simple 5 reel and 3 row reel set with just 10 paylines in play. You’ll need to land 3 or more identical symbols on a line from left to right, starting at the left most reel, to score a win.

There are 9 pay symbols in the table. The low value ones are the rune icons that look vaguely like cards, valued up to 0.6x for 5 on a line. The premiums are the sword, crystal, apple and merlin. These are valued at up to 10x for 5 merlins on a line.

You’ll also notice a red-headed Enchantress character who acts as both the Wild and the Scatter. She will substitute for any standard pay symbol to complete a payline.

Features and Gameplay

Our Score 8

Merlin Realm of Charm includes expanding symbols and free spins. This is how it works.

Enchantress Scatters Trigger Free Spins

You need to land 3 or more Enchantress symbols on one spin to tigger free spins. Remember, she is also the wild, so a powerful symbol.

One Symbol Becomes An Expander 

Before your free spins start, one symbol is chosen as the Expander. If you don’t like the symbol that was chosen you can try for another, but you may find you end up with one of a lower value, so beware.

When the expander lands, it is sticky for the rest of the round, but it doesn’t expand UNTIL enough are visible to create a win. At that point, they ALL expand.

You can extend the round by landing 3 or more Enchantress symbols once again. That will get you 5 more spins, with a maximum of 30 spins available.

Gamble Your Wins

Finally, a gamble feature has been thrown into Merlin Realm of Charm, activated EVERY time you win. The gamble is on a card turn, to double by guessing the color, or quadruple by guessing the suit.

You can gamble up to 5 times, but keep in mind that losing will mean forfeiting the prize entirely.

The Final Verdict

Merlin Realm of Charm has strong ‘Book of … ‘ vibes as any regular slots player will have noticed. Expanding, sticky symbols in the free spins round are what drives games like Book of Dead, also by Play n Go, and they are the main event here too. And like those games, Merlin packs all its punch into the bonus feature where spectacular results are possible if you can keep re-triggering with a bunch of high value expanded symbols stuck on the reels. The downside is, to balance things out the base game lacks any real thrills. In short, this slot is built for the pure gamblers out there ready to take risks and be patient chasing down the big win moments. If that’s you, then Merlin Realm of Charm is one you should try.

Useful Tips When Playing Merlin Realm of Charm

Remember, online slots are games of chance, there is NO strategy that can improve your odds of winning. However, reading our review and following these tips will help you get the most out of your time playing this slot game.

1. Look Out For The Enchantress

She is the most powerful symbol in this game, acting as both Wild AND Scatter. You need her to unlock the only real feature available – the free spins round.

2. Check The RTP Wherever You Play

Play n Go slots are often set to low RTP rates in the UK, so check the game info screen before you spend your money. If the published RTP is lower than 94% I would try elsewhere.

3. Think Before You Gamble Your Wins

Before you gamble any win to double or quadruple it, think carefully. You can lose the lot if the card turn goes against you.

4. Play At Our Recommended UK Slot Sites

We have chosen the sites on this page because they score high in our reviews and they are licensed by the UK Gambling Commission which makes them fair and safe places to play slots online.

Who Made Merlin Realm of Charm?

  • Name: Play n Go
  • Established: 1997
  • UK License: Remote 021725-R-304911-020
  • Total Games: 200 +
  • Known For: Grid slots, high variance slots, huge range of themes, styles and maths models
  • Popular Slots: Book of Dead, Reactoonz 1 and 2, Troll Hunters 2, Rise of Olympus
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