I’ve not been too keen on the software and games that come from the Merkur Gaming studios. Sure, this is a terrible way to open a review, but my opinions are honest. Nevertheless, I shall grin and bear the forthcoming pain as I present to you a review of Ghost Slider.

This slot review will detail how Ghost Slider performs, looking at the RTP and volatility setting. I discuss the gameplay, in-game features, bonuses, and jackpots. Is Ghost Slider a resurrection of any long-dead talent that Merkur may have had in a past life, or should this game have remained buried and forgotten?

It should be noted that Ghost Slider was released in 2022, but the chances of finding this in any top casino to date are slim.

As the name hints, yes, this is a horror-themed slot that plays out on a 3x5 grid layout. The game looks like it's supposed to be set on a tomb or headstone, given that other headstones can be seen in the background.

As with many Merkur games, the design graphics are very detailed and reduced in size. It’s like they do too much with their games and then not even present it very well. The slot comes with ten paylines, which are the basis of performing wins.

The symbols that feature include a mansion, a book on anatomy, a clock, and a candle holder. The lower-valued symbols are 9, 10, J, Q, K, and A. The Wild symbols are noblemen (ghosts) from three different eras.

When you play, remember to set your pricing, as the game will have a default value per spin. If you click on the coin stack icon, you can pick how much you want to pay per spin. Once ready, click the spin button to play.

To win, you need to land three, four, or five of the same symbols on the reels. These must coincide with one of the ten paylines. When you do hit a win, an animated skeleton will move one of the gravestones on top of the reels. There are three stones with R.I.P. on them; then there are numbered stones that represent the free spins they provide. Yes, this game is devoid of any bonus symbols. To make a bonus, you need to win more than three consecutive times. 

When a Wild is part of a win, the ghost will rise from the symbol and into the headstone above the reels. What this does isn’t all too clear. I even had to read the rules, but to no surprise, they were void of any helpful information. This doesn't happen with most slots, though. However, if you're having trouble understanding game rules, you can refer to our slot pay tables guide for help.

Back to the skeleton, when the headstone is pushed out to the reels, a timer will start, indicated by the music change. You are given three options, which are known as side games or gambles: the Ladder, the Card Gamble, and Collect.

The Ladder side game gives you a chance of hitting higher or lower the amount you won. The Card Gamble gives you a chance to increase your stake or lose it by guessing the color of the card. Collect simply refers to collecting your winnings, which means skipping past the gambling games and continuing with the base game. 

Ghost Slider does come with a free spins bonus game, but you need to make more than three repetitive wins. Up to 50 free spins can be won with this game. 

I don’t want to brag about having a superpower that makes me correctly know whether a game by Merkur is going to be bad or very bad. Everything about this game was fully expected. I hate to dump all over their work, but I don't think their releases will ever get into our top 10 slot games list. 

I experienced the game in its demo mode, which you can do so as well via this review. I played at the default settings across 50 spins. Boy-oh boy, what a mess this game is. Long story short, I won some, I lost some, and Merkur is still pants.

Ghost Slider comes with an RTP rating of 95.75%, which is the game’s theoretical payout. The slot comes with a medium volatility setting, which is about the only positive I can say about this game. When it comes to the ‘jackpot,’ the highest amount that can be won from Ghost Slider is $250,000.

What are the positives that come from playing Ghost Slider by Merkur Gaming? The volatility is set to medium, which gives players a somewhat fairer balance of play. I’ll admit that the animation of the ghosts leaving the symbol is cool, but that is seriously it. 

When looking at this older game, I can assess it against others that came before and after it. This is because you ultimately have to ask yourself, do I spend $100 on this game or $100 on some other game? Does the max cost of spins return something greater than the other game? By doing this, you will easily realize that games like Ghost Slider are so far behind that it is no wonder why you will not find this game inside any of the top online slot sites. 

Let me recommend three great horror-themed games so you understand what I mean when comparing them. Each one has better animation, gameplay, software, bonuses, and jackpots. And yes, you can play all of these inside the best casinos online — Blade & Fangs by Pragmatic Play, Fear the Zombies by Fugaso, and Bloodthirst from Hacksaw Gaming.