Quick verdict: Rise of Merlin is a high-volatility Play’n GO slot from June 2019, with 5 reels, 3 rows, 10 paylines, a 96.58% RTP and a 5,000x max win. It plays like Book of Dead, with one expanding symbol in free spins, but every retrigger adds another expanding symbol, so long rounds can end with several of them.
Demo tested on mobile by Jason Thompson on 10 October 2026: it loaded and worked.
Where we play Rise of Merlin
1win is our top-rated casino (9.9/10), with thousands of slots and a crypto withdrawal that took 15 minutes in our test.
Play at 1win18+. T&Cs apply. Not available in every country. Game libraries vary, so search the lobby for Rise of Merlin.
Rise of Merlin at a glance
| Provider | Play’n GO |
|---|---|
| Released | June 2019 |
| Layout | 5 reels, 3 rows, 10 paylines (1 to 10 can be selected) |
| RTP | 96.58% (a 94.51% version exists) |
| Volatility | High |
| Bet per spin | 0.01 to 100 |
| Max win | 5,000x your stake |
| Wild and scatter | The crystal orb does both jobs |
| Free spins | 8 from 3 or more orbs, with a random expanding symbol |
| Retriggers | 8 more spins and another expanding symbol each time |
| Mobile | Yes |
How do the Rise of Merlin free spins work?
Three or more crystal orbs award 8 free spins. Before the first spin, one regular symbol is picked at random to be the special expanding symbol. When enough of it lands to make a win, it expands to cover its whole reel and pays across all lines.
What happens when you retrigger?
This is the difference from Book of Dead. Three or more orbs during the round add 8 more free spins and pick another expanding symbol, and the earlier ones stay active. A long round can have several symbols expanding at once, which is where the biggest wins come from. Five Merlins on a line pay 500x, the same as five orbs.
RTP versions: why it matters here
Rise of Merlin is offered at 96.58% and at 94.51%, and both look the same on screen. On a high-volatility game where most of the return sits in rare retriggered free spins, a 2-point drop matters more than it would on a steady game. Open the info screen before you play for real and look for 96.58%.
Tips for playing Rise of Merlin
- Play all 10 lines: the expanding symbols pay across every active line, so fewer lines means smaller free spin wins.
- The best expanding symbol is Merlin himself, but a low symbol that lands often can still fill the screen.
- Retriggers add a new symbol rather than replacing the first, so each one makes the rest of the round stronger.
- The crystal orb is both wild and scatter, so orbs in the base game can help line wins and trigger the bonus.
Slots like Rise of Merlin
- Book of Dead: the Play’n GO original with one expanding symbol (our full review).
- Legacy of Dead: another Play’n GO slot built on an expanding symbol in free spins.
- Book of Shadows: Nolimit City’s take on the expanding-symbol idea.
- Book of Atem: another book-style slot with an expanding symbol.
Where to play Rise of Merlin
Look for it among Play’n GO slots. A sequel, Lord Merlin and the Lady of the Lake, came out in 2021, so check you open the 2019 original. 1win is our top-rated casino at 9.9/10 and paid our crypto withdrawal in 15 minutes in June 2026. New players can use promo code Ultragambler (see our 1win promo code page).
Rise of Merlin FAQs
What is the RTP of Rise of Merlin?
96.58% in the standard version, with a 94.51% version also used by some casinos, according to SlotCatalog and Bigwinboard.
What is the max win in Rise of Merlin?
5,000x your stake, according to SlotCatalog, Bigwinboard, PokerListings and OLBG.
How many free spins do you get in Rise of Merlin?
8 from 3 or more crystal orbs, plus 8 more and an extra expanding symbol each time you retrigger.
Is Rise of Merlin like Book of Dead?
Yes. Both use one random expanding symbol in free spins, but Rise of Merlin adds another expanding symbol with every retrigger.
Can I play Rise of Merlin for free?
Yes. The demo at the top of this page plays with free credits; it loaded when we tested it on 10 October 2026.
How we checked this
- June 2019 release, 5×3 with 10 lines, high volatility, 0.01 to 100 bets and the 5,000x cap: Play’n GO, SlotCatalog, Bigwinboard and OLBG.
- 96.58% and 94.51% RTP: Bigwinboard, SlotCatalog, PokerListings and LCB.
- Orb wild and scatter, free spins, expanding symbols and retriggers: Play’n GO, SlotCatalog, Bigwinboard and OLBG. Sources disagree on how many times the round can retrigger, so we leave that out.
- Figures last checked: 10 October 2026.
Important: check your local laws before you play
Online gambling laws differ from country to country, and in some places it is restricted or not permitted at all. Check that online gambling is legal where you live and that the casino accepts players from your country. You must be 18 or older (or the legal gambling age in your country, if higher). Only gamble with money you can afford to lose.
