Magic Portals: a sorceress, a spellbook and doorways on the reels

A world of spells

Magic Portals takes place in a wizard's study: candlelight, shelves of potions, a crystal ball and a sorceress at the centre of the story. The art is rich and detailed, in deep purples and golds, and the symbols include magical artefacts and creatures alongside the lower-paying gems. NetEnt clearly enjoyed the theme; even the spin button has a glow to it.

What the portals do

The game is named after its main feature. Portal symbols can appear on the reels, and when they open they trigger an effect on the screen that changes how the spin plays out. Rather than a single static bonus, the portals bring a moment of transformation in the base game, and they give the free spins round its own twist too.

Since the exact behaviour of each portal is explained in the paytable, it's worth having a look before you start. Knowing what to expect turns the opening animation from a bit of noise into a signal you'll start waiting for.

Free spins

Scatter symbols start the free spins, and the portals play a bigger role during the round. This is where the bigger swings of the game come from.

Trying Magic Portals in free play

The demo opens with 1,000 virtual credits, without sign-up or download. A practical approach:

• Play 200 spins at a stake equivalent to £0.20.
• Note each time a portal opens and what it did to the reels.
• Compare base-game spins with portals to those without, then see how the free spins round compares to both.

Magic Portals suits players who enjoy fantasy themes and like features that alter the grid rather than simply add a multiplier. It plays nicely on a phone, though the detailed art looks best on a larger screen. The same game is available for real money at the casinos below.