Finn and the Swirly Spin

Finn and the Swirly Spin Slot Review

Our Finn and the Swirly Spin review assesses a feature-rich slot set in an enchanting part of the Emerald Isle. 

This 5×5 NetEnt game, which adopts an unusual, spiraling layout, also makes use of a cluster paying mechanic.

The story centers on Finn, a leprechaun with incredible magical powers. Keep reading our review and discover how he uses these to help you win.

Finn and the Swirly Spin Details, RTP and Volatility

This NetEnt slot uses a 5×5 grid. However, the developer adopts an exciting “swirly spin” mechanic, where symbols appear in a clockwise spiral form, instead of falling from above. To form wins, create clusters of three or more, in a horizontal or vertical line.

Sadly, the slot features a meager maximum payout of 840x per spin. However, with bet limits ranging from $0.10 to $200, high rollers can at least walk away with something fairly substantial. 

The volatility is rated low-medium, suggesting wins are paid fairly often. Finally, the RTP is 96.62%, slightly above-average for new slots in the industry. 

Theme & Graphics in Finn and the Swirly Spin

Finn the leprechaun is arguably the most significant attraction in this slot. The eponymous character sits to the left of the reels playing a tin whistle, except when he stands occasionally to trigger a bonus. His music also forms the slot’s soundtrack. 

NetEnt has placed the stone wall grid within a lush landscape, somewhere in a fictional part of the Emerald Isle. Symbols like the four-leaf clover and lucky horseshoes further underline the Irish theme. 

During the free spins round, we are moved from the green countryside to the purplish Star Bar, and then a dragon’s lair. If you’re lucky, the bonus continues further, with a mug-shaped pub and eventually, a golden pot. Each venue has its own unique features.

Finn and the Swirly Spin Slot Features

This next section of our Finn and the Swirly Spin review is dedicated to the game’s features and mechanics.

Regular Symbols

Wooden spade and heart symbols are the slot’s lower-paying icons. Next are the four-leaf clovers, horseshoes and acorns. A ruby gemstone is the highest-paying icon, and landing three, four or five of these pays 20, 100 and 500 coins.

Wilds

The regular wild symbol is a star, which substitutes for all regular icons except the scatter. If a win is created with a wild, it explodes, destroying all vertically and horizontally adjacent symbols.

There is also a gold coin featuring the letter “W”, which is a sticky wild. However, this only appears during the Lava Lair bonus.

Free Spins Keys

Every spin starts with a key in the bottom-left space. As wins form, the symbols involved vanish, replaced by new ones. This moves the key around the swirly spin’s 24 positions, towards the center of the grid. If it reaches the keyhole, the free spins bonus begins.

Random Features

After any spin, one of the following four bonus features may randomly trigger:

• Starfall Wilds: Two or more wilds appear, remaining until they form part of a winning combination.
• Dragon Destroy: A random number of symbols will be destroyed, triggering at least one guaranteed win. 
• Irish Luck: All symbols in a randomly-chosen reel or row, that doesn’t contain the free spins key, will transform into the same base game symbol. 
• Magic Transform: Every lower-paying symbol transforms into a randomly-selected higher-paying icon.

Free Spins

When the free spins bonus triggers, you can choose from four possible options. However, some of these features can only be accessed if you have collected enough key symbols.

• Star Bar: The first free spins feature requires only one key, awarding seven spins.
• Lava Lair: Four keys grant access, and players receive three spins. The Dragon Destroy feature occurs once per spin. 
• Lucky Mug: At least nine keys are required, while four free spins are awarded. The Irish Luck feature is found here.
• Golden Pot: This requires at least 16 keys and awards just two free spins. At the start of each, the Magic Transform feature will trigger. 

How to Play Finn and the Swirly Spin Online

This NetEnt game is quite unlike most real money slots. Land three or more matching symbols in a horizontal or vertical line to win and trigger an avalanche. These symbols disappear, while new ones appear in a clockwise spiral pattern.

To set your bet, adjust your coin value and level. Afterwards, click on the spiral button at the bottom center of the reels to start playing.

Try the Finn and the Swirly Spin Demo for Free before playing for real money

We strongly recommend trying our free Finn and the Swirly Spin demo, before heading to real money casinos. That way, you can practice and learn the game’s features, without risking a cent.

Finn and the Swirly Spin Review – Our Final Verdict

I really enjoyed NetEnt’s Finn and the Swirly Spin. There’s so much going on, I totally forgot about the extremely low maximum potential payout and just got lost in the gameplay.

Although I’m not usually a fan of Irish-themed slots, this is pretty far removed from the usual fare that’s served up. Yes, the alcohol cliché remains, and of course there’s a leprechaun playing a tin whistle. But I can’t recall ever seeing a spiraling grid like this, while the four different free spins games all offer their own unique features.

What’s more, you have to earn your way into the bonus levels, much like a roleplaying game. That adds an extra layer of intrigue, and it certainly kept me coming back, trying to unlock each game and enjoy the different features within.

Although it may not appeal to complete newcomers, the low minimum bet means you can try without much risk. Of course, you can also learn how it all works with our free demo.

Similar Slot Games

If you enjoyed Finn and the Swirly Spin, here are some similar slots.

• Finn’s Golden Tavern: This game’s sequel features an improved maximum win of 1,000x, but a lower RTP of 96.10%.
• Finn and the Candy Spin: The third slot in this trilogy offers unique random features, but a maximum reward of just 336x per spin.
• Larry the Leprechaun: A 4×4 Wazdan slot with low-medium volatility and a gamble feature