Return to Player
95.07%
Minimum bet
0.30
Game type
Video Slots
Volatility
High
Reels
5
Progressive jackpot
Yes
Popularity
Maximum bet
12
Game Provider
Microgaming
Bonus features
Yes
Paylines
243
Theme
Christmas
A Tale of Elves: Microgaming Slot Review
Microgaming released its Christmas slot, A Tale of Elves, on the 26th of November. Players enter a festive setting and can pursue prizes and bonus features. Its top advertised win is 20,000x the amount wagered.
A Christmas Theme and Story
A Tale of Elves is a mobile-friendly video slot with a straightforward premise. Christmas slots can take many forms, and casino game developers often put their own distinctive spin on the holiday setting.
For example, Aloha! Christmas gives Yule a sunny, summery feel. A Tale of Elves takes a different approach, with snow, mistletoe, and mince pies.
Visuals, Sound, and Animation
Flash technology powers the slot’s many 3D animations. Santa Claus and moving bells evoke a snow-covered winter woodland, while Christmas trees and decorative lights frame the reels.
During the Free Spins feature in A Tale of Elves, an animation shows figures making wooden toys, such as trains, in the elves’ workshop. The scene evokes childhood holiday memories and hope for better days ahead.
Top Casinos to Play A Tale of Elves:
How the Slot Plays
This video slot has 5 reels, 3 rows, and 243 ways to win. It has high variance and several features, including bonus rounds that can award random cash prizes and different Free Spins modes.
Players can choose an option with more spins and a smaller multiplier, or fewer spins and a larger multiplier. The choice gives the bonus a gift-selection feel, like an early visit from Santa on a cold Christmas Eve.
A Tale of Elves is available at online casinos. Higher-paying symbols include the blue, green, orange, and yellow Elves, a plum in the pudding for Free Spins, and Santa as the scatter. The Ace, Jack, King, and Queen card symbols pay less.
Cash Bonuses and Free Spins
Cash Prizes: This random feature may trigger when two Santa symbols land in adjacent positions on the reels during a spin. It awards a coin prize of up to 50x the amount staked.
Free Spins: Landing a cluster of more than two Santa scatter symbols starts the main bonus. Wins can reach 200x, and players choose from four Free Spins options:
- Blue Elf Spins — 18 Free Spins, a 2x Win Multiplier, and Blue Elf symbols
- Green Elf Spins — 14 Free Spins, a 3x Win Multiplier, and Green Elf symbols
- Orange Elf Spins — 10 Free Spins, a 4x Win Multiplier, and Orange Elf symbols
- Yellow Elf Spins — 8 Free Spins, a 5x Win Multiplier, stacked Yellow symbols, and the option to retrigger
Bet Range, RTP, and Variance
A Tale of Elves is a high-volatility video slot with a stated RTP of 95.07%. That return is on the low side, though the slot’s paylines and jackpot prizes are notable. Bets per spin range from £0.30 to £12.
Final thoughts
Compared with other slots, A Tale of Elves has limited winning potential. Its bonus features may be hard to trigger, and large multipliers are described as rare. Volatility also varies with the Free Spins mode you select.
The festive Yuletide setting may make some of the game’s drawbacks less apparent, but they remain. This slot is presented as an entertainment option, with only a slim chance of a large win.
Evan Carrington brings more than 12 years of experience in the iGaming industry, specializing in online casino reviews, slot game analysis, and player safety assessments. Their expertise includes casino licensing, RTP, volatility, bonus terms, and withdrawal policies. Combining hands-on reviews with independent research, Evan provides clear, evidence-based coverage to help players understand gambling platforms, their features, and possible risks.
