Merge Up 2 is the highly anticipated follow-up to BGaming's breakout slot hit from 2023, this time co-developed with Strmlytics, a live streaming analytics platform. The two studios have previously collaborated on standout titles including Aztec Clusters, Snoop Dogg Dollars, and the more recent Wild Wick. Now, they've turned their attention back to one of the most distinctive games in BGaming's catalogue, refining and enhancing it for a new generation of players. Billed as "even more dynamic, visually stunning, and rewarding" than its predecessor, Merge Up 2 arrives with serious expectations — and in this slot review, we put it to the test.
Merge Up 2 is the highly anticipated follow-up to BGaming's breakout slot hit from 2023, co-developed alongside Strmlytics, a live streaming analytics platform. The pair have already joined forces on a number of successful titles — Aztec Clusters, Snoop Dogg Dollars, and the more recent Wild Wick among them. Now, the collaboration has circled back to one of BGaming's most recognisable releases and given it a thorough upgrade. The game is positioned as "even more dynamic, visually stunning, and rewarding", and this Merge Up 2 review explores exactly how well it delivers on that promise.
"We are delighted to work alongside BGaming again, and we are excited to see how players react to Merge Up 2. Our data, expertise, and research identified key areas of improvement of the original gaming experience focusing on improving the overall player experience, and we believe the final product addresses all of them, both for the fans of the original and also new players. Data-driven insights and player research are going to play a key role in gaming development in the coming years, and titles like Merge Up 2 are an excellent example of what they are capable of helping to produce." — Sebastian Khalighy, CEO, Strmlytics
This philosophy aligns closely with TwentyOne's broader approach at https://www.21.com. Just as TwentyOne values data-led thinking when it comes to content curation and player experience, watching game studios embrace analytics platforms like Strmlytics to inform design decisions is genuinely encouraging. Collaborations that are shaped by real community feedback and factual research — as seen in releases like Uncrossable Rush for Evoplay — demonstrate how powerful data can be in driving innovation and delivering refined, player-first experiences. It's a compelling direction for the industry.
With that context in mind, let's break down exactly what Merge Up 2 brings to the table — and what both fans of the original and newcomers can expect from this upgraded slot experience.
BGaming is a Malta-based iGaming content studio that officially launched its brand in 2018, though the team's roots in online game development stretch back considerably further. The studio produces a diverse portfolio of casino products — from video slots and crash games to scratchcards and casual formats — distributing titles to thousands of online platforms worldwide. BGaming has earned strong industry recognition for being the first studio to adopt Provably Fair technology, as well as for its highly collaborative approach to working with operators, streamers, and platform partners.
Like its predecessor, Merge Up 2 fully embraces a mobile-game aesthetic that sets it well apart from the traditional slot landscape. This is not a conventional slot machine by any stretch — it presents itself more as a casual puzzle experience than a reel-spinning title. BGaming describes the concept as being 'inspired by mobile match-3 titles', wrapped in an 'eye-pleasing pastel colour palette', and that description fits remarkably well.
Visually, the sequel takes an even more minimalist approach compared to the original Merge Up. Where the first game had slightly more depth and textural richness in its presentation, Merge Up 2 goes all-in on clean, stripped-back design. Whether that represents an improvement is largely a matter of personal taste — the original's visuals carry a certain warmth and depth that the sequel trades for deliberate simplicity. That said, Merge Up 2 has its own understated charm, and its minimal aesthetic feels intentional rather than lazy.
The Merge Up 2 slot plays out on a 6x6 grid and operates on a Cluster Pays mechanic rather than traditional fixed paylines. There are no lines to follow — instead, symbols pay anywhere across the board as long as at least 4 matching icons connect horizontally and/or vertically. The larger the connected cluster, the greater the reward, with groups of 12+ symbols delivering the most lucrative payouts on the grid.
The Cluster Pays format keeps every spin dynamic and open-ended, with potential for cascading action and symbol merges that can rapidly reshape the board mid-spin.
Merge Up 2 features 8 regular symbols, each represented by a distinct colourful shape. Payouts are determined by cluster size, starting from a minimum of 4 connected symbols and scaling all the way up to clusters of 12 or more. The Purple Gem is the highest-paying symbol, capable of delivering up to 80.00x your bet for a cluster of 12+, while the Purple Leaf sits at the lower end with a maximum of 4.00x for the same cluster size.
Here's a full breakdown of all symbol payouts across cluster sizes:
Consult the full paytable below for all cluster payout values:
At its core, Merge Up 2 stays faithful to the innovative mechanic that made the original such a compelling spin — the way symbols merge and transform into something more powerful. However, the Merge Up 2 online slot introduces several meaningful refinements that inject more momentum and energy into every spin. The result is a game that feels noticeably sharper and more reactive than its predecessor. Here's a detailed breakdown of every bonus and special feature you'll encounter:
One of the most significant upgrades in Merge Up 2 is how the multiplier grid has been expanded. In the original Merge Up, this mechanic was exclusive to the free spins round. In Merge Up 2, it has been integrated directly into the base game, making it a constant presence from the very first spin.
Here's how it works:
This creates a compelling snowball effect where wins can compound significantly within a single spin sequence.
The Merge Up mechanic is the defining feature that gives this slot series its identity. The system works as follows:
This cascading upgrade system creates a sense of genuine progression with every winning spin, as lower-value symbols climb the ranks toward the game's most powerful icons.
Bomb symbols are created when clusters form using 8th-level symbols — the highest tier of regular icons. When triggered, the Bomb delivers a powerful chain of effects:
There's an additional layer to this mechanic that adds serious win-building potential:
This makes Bomb explosions one of the most exciting and rewarding moments in the entire game.
The Free Spins feature can be triggered in two ways: Scatter symbols can appear directly on the grid, or they can be generated by an exploding Bomb. Landing 3 or more Scatters in a single spin activates the Merge Up 2 free spins round, with the number of awarded spins scaling based on how many Scatters you collect:
The free spins bonus round plays out on the same core mechanics as the base game, with one major and crucial difference: the grid is persistent. Multipliers accumulated during the feature stay in place and continue growing throughout the remaining free spins — they don't reset between rounds.
Additionally, if 3 or more Scatters land again during the free games, 5 extra spins are added to the total count, with no upper limit on how many times this can retrigger.
For players who prefer to skip the base game grind and head straight to the action, Merge Up 2 includes a Buy Bonus option offering three distinct entry points. Each variant provides a different starting configuration, giving players the flexibility to choose between a standard entry or a boosted version with multipliers already active:
The tiered structure makes the Buy Bonus genuinely flexible, catering to different player preferences and risk appetites.
Chance x2 is an optional side bet mechanic designed to improve your odds of hitting the Free Spins bonus during regular gameplay. Here's what it offers:
It's a straightforward add-on for players who want a better shot at the bonus without committing to a full Buy Bonus purchase.
Volatility in Merge Up 2 is rated very high, which means the game is geared towards delivering larger, more impactful wins rather than frequent smaller payouts. The hit rate is listed at 29.41%, meaning something will land on the grid with reasonable regularity — but that frequency doesn't diminish the rarity of the truly big moments. On average, it takes around 409 spins to trigger the free games naturally.
In terms of raw winning potential, the Merge Up 2 max win is capped at 10,000x the bet — a significant upgrade over the original Merge Up, where the ceiling sat at just half that figure. For players chasing those headline payouts, that increase in ceiling makes a meaningful difference.
Before spinning the reels, here's a quick summary of where Merge Up 2 excels and where it may give some players pause:
Pros:
Cons:
