Lord Merlin and the Lady of the Lake (Play'n Go) Slot Review

Lord Merlin and the Lady of the Lake: Slot Overview 

Lord Merlin and the Lady of the Lake is a mystical and high-volatility online slot by Play’n GO, released on January 28, 2021. As a direct follow-up to the studio’s popular Rise of Merlin, this title returns to Arthurian legend and blends it with the well-loved mechanics of the ‘Book of’ genre. This time, however, it’s not just Merlin in focus—the enigmatic Lady of the Lake plays a prominent role, bringing with her enhanced free spins, special symbols, and wild surprises hidden in the depths of her watery realm. 

At its core, the game uses the same foundation as most ‘Book of’ slots—5 reels, 3 rows, and 10 paylines, with an RTP of 96.20%. What sets it apart is the way free spins play out, with changing special expanding symbols on each spin and the addition of Excalibur Spins, which can be retriggered indefinitely. With a maximum payout of 10,000x the bet, this is a slot that offers legendary potential alongside its magical theme.

Design and Graphics 

Visually, Lord Merlin and the Lady of the Lake is beautifully rendered, immersing players in a tranquil yet mysterious lakeside setting. The reels are framed by ancient tree roots and glowing symbols that pulse with arcane energy, while the background shows a crystal-clear body of water surrounded by lush greenery and misty twilight skies. It’s a clear contrast from the snowy temples of Rise of Merlin, offering a serene and elegant visual tone. The symbols are sharply designed, featuring traditional card royals (10–A) as the low-paying icons, while the premiums include a lion crest, Merlin’s staff, a wizard’s hat, and Merlin himself, glowing with magical intensity. The Lady of the Lake appears as a wild symbol, shimmering with silver and blue hues, perfectly capturing her role as the magical guardian of Excalibur. 

Overall, the game’s design strikes a harmonious balance between classic fantasy and modern elegance, with clean animations and a consistent visual theme throughout.

Gameplay Mechanics 

Lord Merlin and the Lady of the Lake operates on a classic 5×3 grid with 10 fixed or selectable paylines, depending on the player’s preference. Like most ‘Book of’ titles, it’s all about the high-risk, high-reward cycle, and wins are formed by matching at least three low-paying symbols or two premium ones from left to right on active paylines. 

The wild Lady of the Lake substitutes for all other symbols and is also the key to unlocking the bonus round. Wins with premium symbols are significant—Merlin, the top-paying symbol, awards up to 1,000x the bet for five of a kind, making it the holy grail of base game hits. 

The inclusion of adjustable paylines from 1 to 10 offers a retro feel for players who prefer more control over their risk level, while modern players will likely opt for the default 10-line configuration to maximize win potential.

Sound and Music 

In terms of audio, the game leans into the mythical and ethereal. A soft, ambient background track features delicate harp melodies and low, haunting choral undertones, reinforcing the game’s mysterious setting. Reels spin with a smooth, watery sound, and winning combinations are met with shimmering, magical tones that grow more dramatic as payouts increase. 

During free spins, the tempo intensifies slightly, adding suspense and excitement, especially when multiple wild scatters or premium expanding symbols appear. The overall sound design is elegant and non-intrusive, complementing the visual elements without becoming repetitive or distracting.

Bonus Features 

The free spins feature is where Lord Merlin and the Lady of the Lake flexes its unique twist on the traditional ‘Book of’ mechanic. Triggering 3, 4, or 5 wild scatters awards players with a win multiplier (1x, 10x, or 100x) and 8 free spins. 

Unlike most similar slots that assign one expanding symbol for the entire bonus round, this game introduces a new randomly selected special expanding symbol on each free spin. This injects variety and unpredictability into the feature, allowing for multiple symbols to have their moment of glory. If enough instances of the chosen symbol land, they expand to cover their entire reel, paying on all active paylines from any position—regardless of adjacency. 

In addition to the base free spins, players can unlock Excalibur Spins. This happens when 2 or more sword wilds land during free spins, converting into wild scatter symbols. Each sword awards 1 Excalibur Spin, and the best part? The special expanding symbol that triggered the Excalibur feature remains locked in for all remaining Excalibur spins. Moreover, 2+ sword scatters can retrigger Excalibur Spins indefinitely, offering nearly limitless win potential. 

Lastly, the game includes a Gamble Feature. After any winning spin, players can choose to guess the color or suit of a face-down card. A correct color doubles the win, while a correct suit quadruples it. This can be repeated up to five times, with a maximum win cap of 2,500 coins. It’s a risky but potentially rewarding mini-game for those chasing even bigger wins.

Betting Options and Payouts 

Lord Merlin and the Lady of the Lake offers a broad betting range from €0.10 to €100 per spin, catering to both casual players and high rollers. Players can also choose to play with anywhere from 1 to 10 paylines, adding further control over their strategy. 

The maximum possible payout is 10,000x the bet, achievable through a full screen of top-paying symbols—particularly Merlin—during free spins or Excalibur Spins. According to published stats, this top prize occurs approximately once every 2.37 million spins, making it rare, but not out of reach for dedicated or lucky players. 

Despite its high volatility, the RTP remains solid at 96.20%, offering reasonable theoretical returns over time. While the game doesn’t advertise a fixed hit frequency, its free spins feature and retriggers can create long gameplay sessions with big swings—perfect for fans of the genre.

Conclusion 

Lord Merlin and the Lady of the Lake is a powerful addition to Play’n GO’s long list of ‘Book of’ style slots. While it remains faithful to the formula that made games like Book of Dead and Rise of Merlin so successful, it manages to stand out through its upgraded free spins system, the inclusion of Excalibur Spins, and a fluid, well-themed presentation. 

This game is perfect for those who love high volatility gameplay with massive win potential, but also want a bit more dynamism than a single expanding symbol for an entire bonus round. The rotating expanding symbols, retriggering mechanics, and dual wild/scatter functionality of the Lady of the Lake all combine to offer a rich and layered experience. 

Whether you’re enchanted by the Arthurian legends or just enjoy slot games with epic potential, Lord Merlin and the Lady of the Lake is a game worth diving into. With its immersive visuals, elegant sound design, and lucrative feature set, it holds its own as one of the standout entries in Play’n GO’s already stacked fantasy roster.