Merge Up 2 Slot Real Money Review – Bonuses, RTP and How to Play

Introduction to Merge Up 2

Merge Up 2 is a casino slot developed by BGaming, presenting a straightforward and engaging gaming experience. Players interact with clusters of vibrant gems that connect, merge, transform, and yield rewarding multipliers. This game results from a collaboration between BGaming and Strmlytics, a company specializing in data analysis for the iGaming industry. The two firms previously teamed up to create the original Merge Up, which introduced appealing mechanics alongside sleek visuals. In this sequel, the creators opted for a more 2D graphical style, reminiscent of popular mobile games like Candy Crush Saga, while enhancing the gameplay with additional symbols and position multipliers in the base game.

If you are interested in how Merge Up 2 compares to its predecessor, you can try the demo at the top of this page risk-free.

Theme, Gameplay & Payouts

Merge Up 2 features a video slot layout with 6 reels, 6 rows, and a cluster-pays win system, where wins are achieved by landing 4 or more adjacent symbols either horizontally or vertically. Players can select a stake ranging from a minimum bet of 0.25 to a maximum bet of 25. The game boasts a remarkably high default RTP of 98.00%, a rarity in online slots. It has a high volatility profile, favoring less frequent but substantial wins, with a maximum win capped at 10,000 times the bet. The base game has a hit frequency of 29.41%, while bonus rounds can be triggered on average every 409 spins.

The game’s design prioritizes clarity, allowing players to easily comprehend the gameplay by glancing at the main screen. The clean turquoise background minimizes distractions, centering attention on the gem-filled grid. The simplistic graphics are well-organized, with a symbol hierarchy displayed above the grid, indicating how symbols upgrade after wins. The left side presents two Feature Buy options, while the right showcases the win history for the current spin. This meticulous organization ensures a seamless gaming experience, and the game is optimized for use on various modern devices, including desktops, smartphones, and tablets.

The paytable includes two sets of 8 regular symbols, all represented as gems of various shapes and colors. The hierarchy can be traced by the number of angles each symbol contains, from a 2-corner tear-shaped icon to a 3D-esque purple diamond. Payouts range from 0.08x to 0.8x the bet for the smallest clusters of 4 symbols, and from 4x to 80x the bet for larger clusters of 12 or more matching symbols. Additionally, special symbols include a Bomb and a Scatter depicted as a patterned star.

Special Features & Slot Mechanics

What is the max win in the slot Merge Up 2?

You can win up to 10,000 times the bet.

What features are available in the slot Merge Up 2?

The slot includes features such as Cascading & Merging, Position Multiplier, Bomb & Scatter Symbols, Free Spins, and Feature Buy options.

Cascading & Merging

Merge Up 2 employs a cascading mechanism that diverges slightly from traditional formats. Winning symbols within the clusters do not disappear; instead, they merge and transform into the next symbol type within the hierarchy. Following this, a cascade occurs where remaining symbols fall into available positions, supplemented by new ones to complete the grid. This process continues as long as new clusters are formed.

The number of new symbols generated after a cluster is scored corresponds to its size:

• 4 or 5 = 2 new symbols
• 6 or 7 = 3 new symbols
• 8 or 9 = 4 new symbols
• 10 or 11 = 5 new symbols
• 12 or more = 6 new symbols

Position Multiplier

Winning clusters highlight their positions with a faint white glow. Any successive combinations formed in these marked spots will cause the multiplier to increase to x2. Each subsequent cluster will double this multiplier value, up to a maximum of x128 per position. Payouts from clusters that cover multiple positions with multipliers will be totaled for increased rewards.

Bomb & Scatter Symbols

When a winning cluster forms with the highest-paying regular symbol, it morphs into a Bomb. The Bomb then detonates, destroying 8 surrounding symbols and enhancing the multipliers in those locations by one step. Eventually, it transforms into a Scatter, which can also appear naturally on the reels during any spin.

Free Spins

If there are 3, 4, 5, or 6 Scatters on the grid at the end of a spin, players receive 12, 15, 20, or 30 free spins, respectively. During the free spins, any generated Position Multipliers remain persistent, allowing players to continuously increase them as long as the bonus continues or until the cap of x128 is reached. Landing 3 or more Scatters during this round awards an additional 5 spins.

Feature Buy

While observing clusters merge in the base game is enjoyable, players may wish to expedite the process and reach the bonus rounds more swiftly through the Feature Buy options.

• 1.2 = Chance x2, increasing the likelihood of triggering the bonus round from the base game.
• 100x = Bonus 1 – a standard free spins bonus.
• 250x = Bonus 2 – an enhanced version with all positions beginning with an x2 multiplier.
• 500x = Bonus 3 – commences with 3-9 Bombs randomly positioned on the grid, which will explode to generate starting multipliers.

Final Thoughts on Merge Up 2

The original Merge Up, released in October 2023, was a genuinely entertaining game that reimagined the cluster-pays system by introducing a progressive element while integrating popular Position Multipliers, similar to those found in Pragmatic Play’s hit slot Sugar Rush. Although it featured an elegant mechanism, multipliers were restricted to the bonus round. The sequel addresses this limitation by implementing these multipliers in the base game, providing a more consistent and rewarding experience. Moreover, a new symbol, the Bomb, is introduced when forming a cluster with high-paying symbols, allowing for an explosion that affects eight positions and raises their multipliers by one step before transforming into a Scatter.

After lining up 3 or more colorful stars, the bonus round ensures that all position values remain persistent, which is a common feature in games of this type. Notably, the game offers a striking RTP of 98.00%, a rarity in online slots. Ultimately, Merge Up 2 successfully fulfills the role of a competent sequel by improving upon the key gameplay aspects.

From an audiovisual perspective, the 2D design may appear less sophisticated than the polished 3D visuals of the original; however, it harmoniously suits the game, aligning it with mobile gaming aesthetics. While the first installment felt more conventional, the sequel gives off a contemporary vibe due to its simplified artwork.

Merge Up 2 skillfully enhances the original gem-merging experience with significant improvements in crucial gameplay elements.