Hocus Pocus Slot Review

Spread a little magic and witchcraft with Hocus Pocus, the online video slot from developer Merkur.

Take a tour of the mystic world of wizardry and you could be surprised at what you could win as you spin the reels for instant cash prizes.

But do you have a spell or two up your sleeve to bank you a big prize? Here’s a review of Hocus Pocus by Merkur with the lowdown on what you need to know.

Magical Play

With a name like Hocus Pocus, it’s not difficult to guess the theme of the game and you’ll find lots of symbols relating to magic on the reels.

A wizard’s hat, wand, spell book, crystal ball and even a glimpse of the great man himself can be found on the reels and in the paytable. Completing the set of symbols are a series of geometric shapes. A rather unusual choice for inclusion in a slot of any genre, these symbols are at the lower value end of the table.

The background to the gameboard is a sepia toned night scene, complete with trees silhouetted in a misty forest. This sets a decidedly spooky tone so you’ll need every ounce of your magical ability to protect yourself against whatever lies ahead….

What to Expect

Hocus Pocus is an online slot which is played on five reels and potentially up to 20 paylines. These can be reduced if you prefer to play on fewer by clicking on the on-screen toggle buttons.

You will also be able to set the coin value from the minimum of 0.01 to 1.00 per line. This provides a total min bet of 0.20 and a max bet of 20.00.

With medium volatility being offered, there’s a theoretical RTP of 95.53%.

Wizarding Extras

You never quite know what a wizard is up to, and in Hocus Pocus this can only be a good thing as there’s lots of magical extras just waiting to be won.

As well as matching up the regular symbols on the reels keep your eyes peeled for one of the special images that could help you rack of a bigger win.

The pair of hands weaving a spell is the wild and substitutes for nearly every symbols on the board. If it lands in its place on the board you can still create a winning combination and claim a prize.

The only exception to the wild’s powers is the scatter; this is the only symbol the wild can’t substitute for. The scatter is represented by the mystical crystal ball and if you land three along an active payline you’ll be able to claim six  free games.

Be Brave

As well as lining up the combinations for an instant win, you can also take your chances with the high-risk Gamble feature.

This play is unlocked every time you rack up a win on the reels and is a totally voluntary option. You could win a bigger prize but you could also lose your cash entirely so it’s not a game that will suit everyone.

Regular slots players will be very familiar with the concept of a Gamble as it’s a feature that’s included with many titles. Merkur have chosen to go a slightly different route than the majority however, as they offer players the choice between two separate games.

There’s the card gamble which is based on the game of double or quits where players just have to guess the colour of the next card to be revealed. There’s also the ladder gamble where the aim of the game is to click on the button at the right time to advance up the ladder of cash. You’ll have the option to collect half your prize and gamble with the remainder which is a great half measure for those who are more cautious.

Of course, with both the gamble features you could end up losing everything so think carefully before diving in!

Bewitching Entertainment

Not to be mixed up with the Deluxe version of this game, Hocus Pocus by Merkur is an online video slot which offers a popular magical theme. Easy to play with extra chances to win, the structure is still relatively simple so it can be enjoyed by players of all levels of experience, including complete beginners.