Finn and the Swirly Spin Slot Review – Free Play by NetEnt

Finn and the Swirly Spin Slot Facts

The Finn and the Swirly Spin slot from NetEnt pays up to 300 times the stake at a 96.62% RTP, built around a 5x5 grid where symbols swirl inward toward the centre with every Avalanche.

Released in 2017 as the first game in the series, it introduced a leprechaun theme and a spiral-fed grid that later Finn titles would build on. Medium volatility and four selectable Free Spins types give this one a genuine choose-your-own-path structure.

Finn and the Swirly Spin Theme & Design

NetEnt sets this one in a lucky, Irish-flavoured world built around its leprechaun, with the 5x5 grid arranged so symbols spiral toward the centre rather than falling straight down. That swirl motif carries through the whole game, from how wins clear positions to how a Free Spins Key symbol physically travels inward across the board. Card-suit symbols alongside dragon and magic-transform imagery hint at the four distinct Random Features waiting underneath, giving the board a sense that almost any spin could shift into something unexpected. It set the visual and mechanical template the rest of the series would later revisit.

How Finn and the Swirly Spin Plays

Symbols in each of the 25 positions behave independently, so a win clears specific spots and the remaining symbols slide inward along the spiral rather than dropping in straight columns. Wins involving a Wild symbol trigger an explosion that clears everything vertically and horizontally adjacent to it, while wins without a Wild leave one behind, keeping the board constantly shifting between spins. After the initial spin, a Random Feature can also fire before wins are counted, and it is one of four kinds: Starfall Wilds scattering extra wilds, Dragon Destroy clearing symbols on a no-win spin, Irish Luck adding a guaranteed line, or Magic Transform upgrading card symbols into higher payers. A Free Spins Key symbol starts in the bottom left and creeps toward the centre as wins clear the board, and reaching the middle position with no more wins pending locks in the Free Spins round tied to whichever Random Feature the player has chosen.

RTP, Volatility & Win Potential

A 96.62% RTP sits above the industry average of around 96%, though the brief’s own figures show the main game alone accounts for only 50.7% of that total, meaning a meaningful share of the return is weighted into the Free Spins round. Medium volatility points to a fairly balanced spread of wins rather than long dry spells, and a 22% hit frequency means a winning Avalanche lands on roughly one in five spins. The 300x maximum payout is modest by modern slot standards, reflecting an older, steadier math model built more around frequent Avalanches than a single explosive ceiling.

Our Verdict on Finn and the Swirly Spin

This Finn and the Swirly Spin slot review points to a game for players who like choice built into a bonus round rather than a fixed outcome. Being able to pick from four different Free Spins types genuinely changes how each session plays out, and Medium volatility keeps the 96.62% RTP arriving in a steady rhythm. The tradeoff is a 300x ceiling that will feel low next to newer high-volatility titles chasing bigger multipliers. Anyone curious can try the free demo on this page to see which of the four Free Spins paths suits them best.

Finn and the Swirly Spin RTP, Payout & Specs

Finn and the Swirly Spin Bonus Features & How They Work

Swirly Spin Mechanic

Each of the 25 positions on the 5x5 grid holds a symbol that behaves independently of its neighbours rather than sitting in a fixed reel column. When a win clears certain positions, the remaining symbols slide toward the next lowest numbered space along the spiral’s direction, refilling the grid from the outside in rather than from straight above.

Wilds and Avalanche

Two outcomes follow every winning combination. If a Wild symbol is part of the win, it explodes and clears every symbol directly adjacent to it, vertically and horizontally, opening extra space for the next Avalanche. If the win does not involve a Wild, one is created instead, seeding the board for a future explosive clear.

Random Features

After the first spin resolves, one of four Random Features can fire before wins are tallied. Starfall Wilds drops 2 to 5 or more wilds in a random pattern or line. Dragon Destroy only fires on a no-win spin and clears symbols to force another Avalanche. Irish Luck also needs a winless spin and adds a full line of one symbol for a guaranteed payout. Magic Transform upgrades spade and heart symbols into higher-paying types, chosen from 16 possible combinations.

Free Spins Key

A Free Spins Key symbol always starts in the bottom left position and works its way toward the centre as wins clear and the grid refills. It cannot vanish once it appears, and reaching dead centre with no more wins outstanding locks in a Free Spins round. Each time this happens, a key counter in the corner of the screen increases by one and persists between sessions.

Free Spins

Once the key reaches centre, the round offers a choice of four Free Spins types, each tied to one Random Feature, though only one is picked per triggered round. Star Bar needs 1 key for 7 spins built around Starfall Wilds. Lava Lair needs 4 keys for 3 spins with Dragon Destroy and a Sticky Wild replacing the key. Lucky Mug needs 9 keys for 4 spins with Irish Luck. Golden Pot needs 16 keys for 2 spins running Magic Transform throughout.

Finn and the Swirly Spin FAQ