Finn and the Swirly Spin: Online Slot Game Review
While slots aren’t the usual fare for review on this site, an exception might be made for NetEnt’s Finn and the Swirly Spin. Why? It’s such an unusual game, both in terms of its design and gameplay, that it merits a closer look.
Overview
Finn and the Swirly Spin was released by NetEnt in 2017. It can take casino games a while to ‘take off’ in popularity, but Finn and the Swirly Spin pretty much hit the ground running and has remained a big hit with players ever since. You’ll find it at online casinos with a decent selection of NetEnt games – a definitive guide to NetEnt casinos and their bonuses can be found at https://newcasinouk.com/ – and, for many operators, it has become one of the signature games.
Design
First of all, forget what you think a slot looks like. Most people wouldn’t think the game is a slot – it looks more like an arcade game – as there aren’t any traditional reels. The game, in fact is designed like a maze, which leads to a ‘magic key’ (more on that later). As for its theme, it goes for that traditional slot angle of a leprechaun and Irish ‘luck’. That leprechaun is the eponymous “Finn”, a 3D character who guides you through a magic kingdom.
Gameplay
The game is designed as a maze, so there aren’t any reels as such. Instead, when you spin, the maze fills up with symbols. Matching three symbols anywhere on the maze causes them to explode and be replaced with new ones. The process is repeated until no new winning combinations occur. Explosions can cause star symbols to appear, which will substitute for any other symbol like – like a joker card. With any spin, Finn can spring into action and add certain modifiers that can help your winnings. For example, Finn can release a dragon to explode more symbols, or add extra shooting stars as wild symbols.
Special Features
At the starting point of the maze is a special key symbol, which does not explode with the others. The key will move through to the maze as you explode the symbols: if you explode enough symbols, then the key will move to the end of the maze and unlock “the magical free spins world”. Here, you will get access to features like the Star Bar or Lava Lair. In short, you will get to play free spins with special enhancements. Some of the features are locked, and will it only be unlocked once you trigger free spins a certain number of times (the software records your progress, so you can pick up from where you left off after days or weeks).
Criticism
No game is perfect, and we can of course find some faults with Finn and the Swirly Spin. For a start, it will take you a long while to unlock all the features, so be prepared to come back to continue your journey. The game doesn’t have a signature jackpot like many other slots, instead relying on repeating small wins rather than a climactic payout, something that can define many NetEnt releases. In light of that, the slot is arguably a better choice for casual players rather than high rollers.
Summary
Is this the closest a casino game has come to resembling a video game? Finn and the Swirly Spin certainly makes a case. Above all, it shows you don’t have to follow any previous formula to create a top casino game.
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