Once Upon a Time Slot Review

Once Upon a Time online slot is arguably one of the earliest prototypes of what would become Betsoft Gaming’s unmistakable signature style. Released in 2012 and offering low-volatility gameplay, this 95.28% RTP online slot machine is one of the most recognized names by software providers more than a decade after its original release.

The game will have you set out on a quest to save a princess and become a hero yourself, facing off all sorts of fairy tale foes and proving your worth and honor. The game features second-screen games, great gameplay mechanics, and a determined knight who will have to defeat a fire-breathing green drake!

Theme, Storyline, and Graphics: A Quest for Saving the Princess

Once Upon a Time is a fairy tale-inspired real money slot machine that will put you in the role of the knight in shining armor determined to save the princess who is locked away in a tower guarded by a fire-breathing green drake. The terrifying foe will be defeated as part of the game, and the knight will eventually free the princess, unlocking untold riches in the process.

The great cut of cinematic scenes during the game elevates the overall gameplay and makes the theme more vivid and memorable. Every spin of the reels has a chance to have the drake breathe out a bellow of fire across the reels and transform a column into a Wild Symbol. The knight himself may grow to a 4×4 square size and dash into a tower where his betrothed is locked away.

Oh, and yes. This is a love story, as the knight intends to marry the princess after slaying the drake. The graphics may have been developed over 15 years ago, but they are still very crisp, and the fact that there are so many animations built into the gameplay does the studio credit.

Once Upon a Time Symbols and Payouts: A Drake, a Knight, and a Love Story

As is usually the case, Betsoft Gaming’s symbols are designed to complete the story of the slot and help flesh out details about the theme. Once Upon a Time is no exception. Players will have the opportunity to explore a variety of symbols, whether this is a Greedy Goblin, the Knight-Questor himself, or perhaps the Dragon’s Lair.

The payouts are really good, too, especially for five of a kind. The Queen pays 4,500, followed by the Drake which pays 3,600 for five of a kind. There is the announcer with his trumpet who pays 2,700 for five of a kind, and a Cooked Turkey symbol which pays another 2,250 for five.

There is a sword in a stone ground that the knight is trying to take out. This symbol will pay out 1,800 for five of a kind, and then there is the catapult that is poised to hurl slabs of stone towards the castle wall. This one pays 1,350 for five. Not least, there is the axe that is wedged into the trunk of a cut-off tree for 900 payout and then there is a coat of arms that pays 720 for five of a kind.

The Drake itself will award you 540 for three of a kind on any position, and you can further use the Drake to trigger the Wild Symbols. The rest of the symbols are tied to the specific bonus gameplay features that the game comes with, and we will cover them in a bit.

Sounds and Animations: Step into a World of Goblins

The fairy tale world of Once Upon a Time is enhanced by the presence of all sorts of different audiovisual aids. The soundtrack of the game, and the small sounds that accompany the spinning of the reels, the second-screen bonus games, and animations, are all designed to help elevate the experience.

There are small details about the game that will help it stand out and those include the way the Knight and Princess interact, the Drake who breathes out gusts of fire, and the sneaky goblins who surreptitiously appear the reels and go about their own business.

Once Upon a Time Gameplay: Easy, Fast, and Simple

Once Upon a Time plays very simply and it’s very intuitive. Players will have absolutely no trouble finding their way around the game. For starters, the max payout you can win is 1388x, which is great.

The betting range across the 30 paylines will range from $0.01 to $270, and you can toggle a fast play feature or have autoplay to preload betting rounds, as well as adjust how many paylines you want to play with.

The slot also brings adjustable paylines and a decent overall 95.28% RTP. The rather big difference between the minimum and maximum bets can also be fun, allowing you to scale up if and when you feel like it.

Once Upon a Time Features: All About the Goblins

There are tons of excellent additional gameplay features in Once Upon a Time and they all feel great. The goblins will indeed play a central role in the way the slot presents some of its juicier payouts, too, so stay sharp!

How She Loved the Knight: This bonus feature is an instant payout and will depend on the surrounding symbols. The bonus is triggered when the Knight and Princess Symbols are next to each other, and they become animated, kissing each other for a brief moment before the cashout is granted.

Those Crazy Goblins: Those Crazy Goblins is a bonus round in which you can trigger free spins and get instant wins, while also keep on stacking up more free spins, stacking up your reels with free rounds to make the most out of!

Greedy Goblins Click Me: Ah, these goblins simply know no limit! The next bonus feature in Once Upon a Time online slot has to do with a cool point-and-click feature. Once you have enough Click Me Symbols on the reels, a bonus level activates in which you will click on bags of coins and seek the Collect Symbol which will award the final sum.

Goblin’s Treasure Bonus Round: This may as well be the simplest of the goblin bonuses. You just need to get 3 goblin symbols on any active payline on reels 1,2, and 3 to enter the Goblins ’Treasure Bonus Round and have a shot at winning something extra!

Save the Princess Bonus Round: The bonus round you have all been waiting to see and experience first-person, though, is the one where you get to lambast the dragon with your sword and send him back from whence it came! You will also save the princess from a cage and earn fame and riches in the process! To trigger the bonus round, you need 3 knight symbols on any paying position on reel 1, 2, or 3.

Final Thoughts: A True Fairy Tale

Once Upon a Time online slot is a true fairy tale and it offers everything you would expect from such a slot. The game comes with plotting goblins, a princess in distress, and a fearsome fire-breathing drake. You, the knight in shining armor, set out to try and do your best to overcome the odds, slay the drake, and be reunited with your betrothed. All of this is introduced in the unique and highly remarkable gameplay that has become customary for Betsot Gaming and that your discerning eye will recognize on the spot!