Mermaids

NetEnt's Mermaids is a high volatility slot with 5 reels, 3 rows, and 20 paylines. Released on July 4, 2024, the game offers an RTP of 96.09% or 94.10%, depending on the operator's choice. With a hit frequency of 3/5 and a maximum win potential of 1,974x the bet, Mermaids allows players to wager between 0.10 and 40 per spin.

Mermaids immerses players in an underwater world filled with mythical sea creatures. The game's background depicts a deep-sea environment with submerged ruins, hidden treasures, and gently swaying marine flora. The main characters are four mermaid symbols, each with distinct colors: turquoise, purple, red, and golden. These alluring creatures are accompanied by the standard royal symbols (9 to A) as lower-paying icons.

Core Game Mechanics

Mermaids uses a standard 5×3 grid with 20 fixed paylines. Winning combinations form from left to right on adjacent reels, starting from the leftmost reel. The game features four types of Wild symbols, which are central to its mechanics and bonus features.

The paytable is divided into low-paying royal symbols and high-paying mermaid characters. A line of five matching royals pays between 3x and 20x the bet, while five identical mermaid symbols award 30x to 100x the stake. Notably, the two highest-value mermaid symbols pay out for combinations of just two symbols.

The game's core mechanic revolves around collecting Wild symbols to fill Progress Globes, which in turn trigger various bonus features. This collection system adds a layer of anticipation to the base game, as players work towards unlocking more lucrative bonus rounds.

Bonus Features

Mermaids offers three main bonus features, each tied to a specific type of Wild symbol:

1. Picker Bonus: Triggered by collecting 15 Purple Progress Globes, this feature grants players three picks from a selection of hidden prizes. Rewards include bet multipliers ranging from 2x to 50x, as well as entries into the other bonus features. The Picker Bonus adds an element of choice and instant gratification to the game.
2. Wild Spins: Activated by accumulating 30 Green Progress Globes, this feature awards 10 free spins. During these spins, the Random Wilds feature comes into play, adding 2 to 6 wild symbols to the reels on each spin. This significantly increases the potential for multiple winning combinations.
3. Mermaid Spins: The most coveted feature, triggered by collecting 60 White Progress Globes, also awards 10 free spins. Similar to Wild Spins, it incorporates the Random Wilds feature. However, Mermaid Spins remove all royal symbols from the reels, leaving only the higher-paying mermaid symbols in play. This dramatically increases the potential for substantial wins during the feature.

All three bonus features can also be triggered through the Picker Bonus, adding an extra layer of excitement to that feature.

The Wild symbols themselves deserve special mention. In addition to the three Progress Wilds (Purple, Green, and White), there's a regular Wild that only appears during the Random Wilds feature. All Wild symbols substitute for other symbols and can form their own winning combinations, paying a substantial 100x the bet for a line of five.

Interesting Feature

One of the most intriguing aspects of Mermaids is its Progressive Wild system. By tying each bonus feature to a specific Wild symbol and Progress Globe, NetEnt has created a game that constantly gives players something to aim for. This system effectively turns every spin into a dual-purpose action – players are not only hoping for immediate wins but also working towards triggering more substantial bonus features. This mechanic adds depth to the base game and helps maintain player engagement over longer sessions.