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Betsoft’s original Once Upon a Time clearly resonated with players enough to warrant a sequel, and Once Again Upon a Time delivers a fresh chapter in the medieval fantasy saga. The game returns players to a storybook kingdom filled with knights, princesses, dragons, and castles—classic fairytale imagery wrapped around modern Hold & Win mechanics.
The sequel builds on its predecessor’s foundation while adding the Boost symbol system that elevates the Hold & Win feature beyond standard implementations. Rather than simply collecting static coin values, the Boost mechanic creates escalation potential that transforms routine bonus rounds into something more compelling.
Betsoft’s signature cinematic presentation remains intact, with detailed character designs and an inviting fantasy world that feels more whimsical than dark. The very high volatility profile positions this as a game for players willing to weather extended base game sessions in pursuit of substantial Hold & Win payouts and the elusive 12,000x+ ceiling.
Once Again Upon a Time uses a 5×3 grid with 25 fixed paylines. Wins form when matching symbols land on adjacent reels from left to right along active paylines.
The symbol set includes card ranks as low pays alongside themed high-pay symbols featuring medieval characters—knights, princesses, and royalty. Wilds substitute for all regular symbols but cannot replace Bonus, Boost, or Scatter symbols.
Each reel contains Stacked Mystery Symbol positions that transform into a single random symbol before spins resolve, with all mystery positions on that reel filling with the same symbol. This creates potential for full-screen same-symbol coverage on favorable spins.
The Hold & Win Feature triggers when 6 Bonus symbols land, or when 5 Bonus symbols land alongside 1 Boost symbol. Free Spins activate when 3 Scatter symbols appear, awarding 8 spins with only high-paying symbols on the reels.
Betsoft delivers polished fairytale visuals with a bright, inviting color palette emphasizing greens, golds, and castle stone grays. The background features a medieval kingdom complete with turrets, a friendly dragon mascot, and cobblestone paths leading to distant castles. Symbol designs include detailed character portraits—a knight in armor, a princess, royalty—alongside treasure chests and gold coins.
The presentation leans cheerful rather than dramatic, creating an accessible atmosphere that suits the storybook framing. Animations remain smooth without cluttering the interface, and the Boost symbol effects during Hold & Win rounds provide satisfying visual feedback as values increase.
The soundtrack maintains a pleasant fantasy tone with orchestral elements appropriate to the medieval setting. Mobile optimization preserves visual quality while keeping touch controls responsive across screen sizes.
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| Target Markets: | Canada, India, International, South Africa |
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| Software: | AMATIC Industries, Apricot, Aristocrat, Betgames, Betsoft, Booongo, EGT Interactive, Endorphina, Evolution, Ezugi, Fazi, GameArt, Igrosoft, Inbet Gaming, LuckyStreak, NetEnt, Novomatic, Play'n GO, Playtech, Portomaso Gaming, Pragmatic Play, Red Rake Gaming, SA Gaming, Tom Horn, VIVO Gaming, XPro Gaming, Zeus Play |
| Games: | 3,000+ |
| Cash Out Time: | 24H |
New players only. 18+. First deposit bonus is a 100% match up to 120 EUR/ USD. Bonus followed by second deposit bonus 50% up to 100 EUR/USD and 50 Free Spins. Min deposit 10 EUR. Max bonus 120 EUR and 120 Free Spins. Free Spins given in increments of 30 spins after sign up. 40x wagering requirements on bonus and FS.
| Target Markets: | Canada, International |
|---|---|
| Software: | 2 By 2 Gaming, Apricot, Betsoft, BGaming, Blueprint Gaming, Booming Games, Booongo, Endorphina, Evolution, Ezugi, Games Global, Habanero, Leander Games, NetEnt, Nolimit City, Play'n GO, Playson, Playtech, Pragmatic Play, Quickspin, Red Tiger Gaming, Yggdrasil Gaming |
| Games: | 5,000+ |
| Cash Out Time: | 0-2 Days |
New players only. 18+. First deposit bonus is a 100% match up to €300. The minimum deposit required to get the bonus is €1. The maximum casino bonus is €300. The wagering requirement is 50x the bonus amount. Bets wagered in 22Games will be counted twice.
| Target Markets: | Australia, Canada, Europe, International, New Zealand |
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| Software: | 1X2gaming, AdoptIt Publishing, AMATIC Industries, Apollo Games, Arrow’s Edge, Asia Gaming, Betgames, Betixon, Betsoft, BGaming, Big Time Gaming, Blueprint Gaming, Booming Games, Booongo, ELK Studios, Endorphina, Espresso, Evolution, Ezugi, Fazi, Fugaso, Games Global, Genesis Gaming, Habanero, Hacksaw Gaming, High5 Gaming, Igrosoft, KA Gaming, Leap Gaming, Lightning Box, LuckyStreak, Mr Slotty, NetEnt, Play'n GO, Playtech, Pragmatic Play, Quickspin, Red Tiger Gaming, Spinomenal, Stormcraft Studios, Synot, Thunderkick, Toptrend Gaming, VIVO Gaming, Wazdan, WMS, XPG, Yggdrasil Gaming, Zeus Play |
| Games: | 5000+ |
| Cash Out Time: | 0-7 Days |
Betting spans €0.25 to €30 per spin, positioning the game for casual to mid-stakes players rather than high rollers. The 96.11% default RTP sits above industry average, with operator-selectable variants at 94.11% and 92.10% available.
Very high volatility means extended base game sessions between significant hits. The maximum win reaches 12,095x stake through standard play or 12,285x through the Buy Bonus option.
The Buy Bonus feature provides direct Hold & Win access with slightly improved RTP (96.30%) and marginally higher max win potential compared to organic triggering.
High-Pay Symbols (5 of a Kind):
Low-Pay Symbols (5 of a Kind):
Jackpot Tiers
Landing 6 Bonus symbols, or 5 Bonus symbols plus 1 Boost symbol, triggers the Hold & Win Feature with 3 respins.
Mechanics:
Boost Symbol Function: When a Boost symbol triggers the feature or lands during respins, it increases the values of all Bonus symbols currently on the reels. This escalation mechanic creates compound growth potential that standard Hold & Win implementations lack.
During the Hold & Win Feature, Mystery Bonus symbols can appear on the reels. Each Mystery Bonus transforms into one of five outcomes: Mini jackpot, Minor jackpot, Major jackpot, Mega jackpot, or a Boost symbol that further increases existing Bonus values.
The Mystery Bonus triggers approximately once every 19 respins during the Hold & Win Feature, adding unpredictability and jackpot access to bonus rounds.
In base game and Free Spins, any Bonus symbol landing on the reels provides a chance to trigger the Hold & Win Feature directly, even without meeting the standard 6-symbol threshold. This random trigger occurs approximately once every 375 spins, creating unexpected bonus access during regular play.
Landing 3 Scatter symbols awards 8 Free Spins with a significant modifier: only high-paying symbols appear on the reels during the feature. The removal of low-pay card ranks concentrates wins on premium symbols, improving average spin value.
The hit rate increases from 23.67% in base game to 26.61% during Free Spins, reflecting the higher-value symbol pool.
Each reel contains Stacked Mystery Symbol positions that transform before spins resolve. All Mystery positions on a single reel fill with the same randomly selected symbol, creating potential for large same-symbol clusters or even full-screen coverage when multiple reels align.
The Buy Bonus option provides instant access to the Hold & Win Feature with 3 respins. The feature triggers randomly with either 6+ Bonus symbols or at least 5 Bonus symbols plus 1 Boost symbol, mirroring organic trigger conditions.
Buy Bonus RTP (96.30%) slightly exceeds standard play RTP (96.11%), with marginally higher maximum win potential (12,285x vs 12,095x).
The 96.11% default RTP ranks above the 96% industry standard, with the Buy Bonus option offering slightly improved 96.30% return. Operators can select lower RTP variants (94.11% or 92.10%), so players should verify settings at their chosen casino.
Very high volatility translates to significant variance between sessions. The 23.67% base game hit rate means roughly one in four spins produces a win, though most will be modest. Feature triggers occur approximately once every 143 spins for Free Spins and once every 144 spins for Hold & Win—expect substantial base game grinding between bonus rounds.
The Stacked Mystery Symbols created genuinely exciting moments during base game testing—watching multiple reels fill with the same premium symbol delivers satisfying visual and payout results when alignments connect. The 23.67% hit rate felt accurate, with regular small wins maintaining engagement between features.
The Hold & Win Feature’s Boost mechanic differentiated this from standard implementations. When Boost symbols appeared during respins, watching existing Bonus values climb created escalating tension that static coin collection lacks. Mystery Bonus appearances added welcome unpredictability, with jackpot transformations providing aspirational moments.
Free Spins with high-pay symbols only delivered noticeably improved win frequency compared to base game, though the 8-spin allocation felt modest. The Royal Fortune random trigger occurred once during extended testing, providing unexpected Hold & Win access from a single Bonus symbol landing.
Pros:
Cons:
Once Again Upon a Time succeeds as a sequel by building meaningfully on its predecessor rather than simply reskinning. The Boost mechanic transforms the Hold & Win feature from passive coin collection into active escalation, creating genuine tension as values climb during bonus rounds. Combined with Mystery Bonus jackpot potential and the Royal Fortune random trigger, the feature set offers more depth than typical Hold & Win implementations.
The fairytale presentation delivers Betsoft’s expected polish, with detailed character designs and an inviting fantasy atmosphere. Stacked Mystery Symbols add base game excitement through same-symbol cluster potential, while Free Spins with high-pay symbols only provide meaningful feature differentiation.
Very high volatility and feature trigger rates averaging 143-144 spins demand appropriate bankroll management and patience. The €30 betting cap and 12,095x ceiling may underwhelm players seeking higher stakes or larger maximum potential. But for those drawn to Hold & Win mechanics with meaningful twist and charming storybook presentation, Once Again Upon a Time delivers a fresh chapter worth exploring.
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| Software: | Betsoft |
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| Reels: | 5 |
| Paylines: | 20 |
| RTP: | 96.15% |
| Jackpot: | $10,311x |
| Software: | Betsoft |
|---|---|
| Reels: | 5 |
| Paylines: | 20 |
| RTP: | 96.06% |
| Jackpot: | $5,000x |
| Software: | Betsoft |
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| Reels: | 3 |
| Paylines: | 5 |
| RTP: | 96.32% |
| Jackpot: | $3,500x |
| Software: | Betsoft |
|---|---|
| Reels: | 3 |
| Paylines: | 5 |
| RTP: | 96.14% |
| Jackpot: | $10,425x |
| Software: | Betsoft |
|---|---|
| Reels: | 5 |
| Paylines: | 243 |
| RTP: | 95.95% |
| Jackpot: | $4,860x |
| Software: | Betsoft |
|---|---|
| Reels: | 5 |
| Paylines: | 20 |
| RTP: | 96.06% |
| Jackpot: | $5,000x |
| Software: | Betsoft |
|---|---|
| Reels: | 3 |
| Paylines: | 5 |
| RTP: | 96.18% |
| Jackpot: | $3,600x |
| Software: | Betsoft |
|---|---|
| Reels: | 5 |
| Paylines: | 243 |
| RTP: | 96.58% |
| Jackpot: | $2,584x |
| Software: | Betsoft |
|---|---|
| Reels: | 3 |
| Paylines: | 5 |
| RTP: | 96.18% |
| Jackpot: | $3,600x |
| Software: | Betsoft |
|---|---|
| Reels: | 6 |
| Paylines: | Scatter Pays |
| RTP: | 96.62% |
| Jackpot: | $10,101x |
| Software: | Betsoft |
|---|---|
| Reels: | 5 |
| Paylines: | Scatter Pays |
| RTP: | 96.55% |
| Jackpot: | $5,673.45x |
| Software: | Betsoft |
|---|---|
| Reels: | 5 |
| Paylines: | 75 |
| RTP: | 95.14% |
| Jackpot: | $360x |
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