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 launched its Christmas release, A Tale of Elves, on the 26th of November. The slot sets a festive scene as players chase 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 built around a simple idea. Christmas games come in many forms, and casino game developers often put their own distinctive spin on the holiday setting.
For example, Aloha! Christmas gives Yuletide a sunny, summery twist. A Tale of Elves takes a different approach, bringing together snow, mistletoe and mince pies.
Visuals, sound and animation
Flash technology powers the slot’s many 3D animations. Santa Claus and moving bells conjure a snowy winter woodland, while Christmas trees and decorative lights frame the reels.
In A Tale of Elves, the Free Spins feature comes with an animation of figures making wooden toys, such as trains, in the elves’ workshop. The scene recalls childhood holiday memories and suggests hope for brighter 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 is highly volatile and offers several features, including bonus rounds with randomly appearing cash prizes and a choice of Free Spins modes.
Players can choose a mode with more spins and a smaller multiplier, or fewer spins and a larger one. The choice gives the bonus a gift-picking 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 begin 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 wagered.
Free Spins: Land a cluster of more than two Santa scatter symbols to trigger the main bonus. Wins can reach 200x, and players can 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%. The review considers that return a little low, while pointing to its paylines and jackpot prizes. Bets per spin range from £0.30 to £12.
Final thoughts
The game’s winning potential is described as limited compared with other slots. Its bonus features may be hard to trigger, and large multipliers are said to be rare. Volatility also changes depending on the Free Spins mode selected.
The festive Yuletide setting may make the game’s drawbacks less apparent, but they remain. This slot is presented as an entertainment option with only a slim chance of a big win.
Evan Carrington brings more than 12 years of experience in the iGaming industry, with a focus on reviewing online casinos, assessing slot games and examining player safety. Their work covers casino licensing, RTP, volatility, bonus terms and withdrawal policies. Drawing on practical testing and independent research, Evan provides clear, evidence-based reviews to help players understand gambling platforms, their features and possible risks.
