Merlin’s Grimoire Demo & Review

Julia Crane Casino Game UX & Slot Reviewer, Updated August 19, 2026

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Merlin's Grimoire is a 5x3, 243-ways Play’n GO slot with very high volatility, a top RTP commonly listed around 96.10% to 96.20%, and a max win around 30,000x. Its main features are splitting symbols, a dual wild-scatter trigger, and a 10 free spins round with a randomly selected expanding symbol. It is a stronger, more modern version of the old bonus-led Play’n GO style.

Play Merlin’s Grimoire Demo

Merlin’s Grimoire's Features

Slot Name: Merlin's Grimoire
Developer: Play’n GO
Theme: Merlin / dark forest / enchanted grimoire
Reels / Rows: 5 / 3
Paylines / Ways: 243 ways, up to 7,776 ways
RTP: 96.10% to 96.20%; lower versions may also exist
Volatility: Very high
Hit Frequency: Not publicly disclosed
Max Win: Around 30,000x
Bet Range: 0.10 to 100
Key Features: Grimoire wild-scatter symbol, splitting symbols, 10 free spins, expanding symbol in bonus, up to 7,776 ways

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How to Play Merlin’s Grimoire Slot – Bonus & Gameplay Explained

Merlin’s Grimoire is a 5×3 Play’n GO slot that starts with 243 ways to win. Wins land from left to right on adjacent reels, but the big hook is that symbols can split, which pushes the game up to 7,776 ways when the feature is fully active. Bet range usually runs from 0.10 to 100.

The base game is cleaner than it first sounds. You spin for ways wins, and any time the splitting mechanic kicks in, symbols can divide to create more winning routes. In the base game, splitting symbols can appear on reels 2, 3, and 4. That already gives the reels more life than a standard 243-ways setup.

The Grimoire symbol is the key one. It acts as both wild and scatter. As a wild, it helps connect winning combinations. As a scatter, 3, 4, or 5 of them trigger the bonus and award 10 free spins. That gives the slot a proper bonus-led shape without making the base game completely dead.

Before free spins begins, one regular symbol is chosen as the expanding symbol for the round. During free spins, that symbol expands to fill the reel whenever it lands in a winning setup. At the same time, splitting symbols can appear on all 5 reels in the bonus, which is how the game reaches its full 7,776-ways state.

There is no player choice once the bonus starts. This is a direct slot: trigger the feature, hope the selected symbol is premium enough, and then let the splitting reels and expanding symbols do the work.

How Merlin’s Grimoire Slot Plays – Volatility, Hit Frequency & Bonus Behavior

Merlin’s Grimoire is a very high-volatility slot. It feels sharper than a lot of older Play’n GO bonus games because the ceiling is much higher and the splitting ways system can make a good round escalate fast.

Hit frequency is not publicly disclosed. Bonus frequency is also not officially disclosed in a clean developer stat. In practical play, the base game is more watchable than a plain expanding-symbol slot because the splitting reels can still create useful movement, but the stronger returns are still tied to the free spins round.

This is a streaky slot. Weak sessions can feel fairly thin, especially if the bonus stays away or lands with a low-value symbol pick. Stronger sessions usually come when the selected symbol is premium and the splitting reels keep adding ways while there are still enough spins left to exploit them.

Bankroll impact is fairly serious. The max win is most commonly reported around 30,000x, with some reporting slightly above that depending on version tracking. Either way, this is a proper high-risk feature chase. It suits players who are comfortable with dry spells and want a bonus with real upside.

The best fit is someone who likes expanding-symbol slots but wants more reel action and a stronger top end than the old 10-line formula usually offers.

Merlin’s Grimoire Bonus Features – Free Spins, Jackpots & Special Symbols

The main special symbol is the Grimoire. It acts as both wild and scatter. In the base game, it substitutes for normal symbols to help connect ways wins. Land 3, 4, or 5 of them, and you trigger 10 free spins.

At the start of free spins, one regular symbol is selected as the expanding symbol. That selected symbol expands to fill the reel when it lands as part of a win. If it is a premium symbol, the round becomes much more dangerous. If it is a low-value symbol, the feature usually needs more reel splitting support to stay interesting.

The splitting symbol mechanic is what makes the slot different. In the base game, only reels 2, 3, and 4 can split. In free spins, all 5 reels can split. That matters because every split increases the number of ways to win, and the full setup can reach 7,776 ways.

What affects payouts most is the combination of these two systems. An expanding symbol on its own is fine. Splitting reels on their own are useful. When both happen together, especially with a premium selected symbol, the bonus can pay much harder. That is the difference between an average feature and the kind of round that justifies the slot’s ceiling.

There are no progressive jackpots here. The top payout is around 30,000x the bet, and the practical route to it is a strong free spins round with a premium expanding symbol and enough splitting reels to open the board up properly.

Final Verdict – Is Merlin’s Grimoire a Good Slot?

Yes, if you want a high-volatility Play’n GO slot with more going on than a standard expanding-symbol bonus game. The splitting reels genuinely improve the formula, and the 30,000x ceiling gives the whole setup real purpose.

The downside is that it is still a bonus-led slot. If the selected symbol is weak or the free spins round does not build enough reel splits, the session can feel hard work. But for players who like classic feature-chasing slots with better upside and a stronger reel mechanic, this is one of the better Merlin games.