BGaming’s latest release wraps its Merge Up formula in a bright candy shell, pairing cluster pays, symbol upgrades and a generous 97% RTP with plenty of ways for players to crank up the action.
Sugar-Coated Chaos on a 6×6 Grid
BGaming has rolled out Sugar Merge Up, a candy-themed online slot that drops players into a world of oversized sweets, bright colours and a jelly bear mascot that looks far too pleased with itself.
The game runs on a 6×6 cluster-pay grid and joins the supplier’s #Entertainment line-up. Wins land by forming clusters of four or more matching symbols connected anywhere on the board, which keeps the pace lively and gives each spin a bit more room to snowball.
At the centre of the game is BGaming’s Merge Up mechanic, a feature players will already know from Merge Up 2. When a winning cluster lands, part of it disappears and the remaining symbols upgrade into higher-value versions. That can trigger fresh wins on the same spin, giving the slot a rolling, chain-reaction feel rather than a one-and-done result.
Main Features at a Glance
| Feature | Details |
| Provider | BGaming |
| Slot Name | Sugar Merge Up |
| Theme | Candy-themed |
| Grid | 6×6 |
| Pay Style | Cluster pays |
| Core Mechanic | Merge Up symbol upgrades after wins |
| RTP | 97% |
| Max Win | 10,000x bet |
| Betting Range | $/€0.25 to $/€25 |
| Special Symbol | Bubblegum symbol |
| Free Spins Trigger | 3 or more Scatters |
| Max Free Spins | Up to 30, with retriggers available |
| Boosters | Chance x2, Random Booster, Booster x16 |
| Bonus Buy | Six options in total, from 100x to 500x bet |
Bubblegum Brings the Bang
Sugar Merge Up does not just recycle the old formula with a new paint job. The fresh twist comes from the Bubblegum symbol, which appears at higher symbol levels and can detonate when formed.
When it goes off, it clears up to eight surrounding symbols, opens space for more drops and adds multipliers to the affected positions. After that, it turns into a Scatter, which gives the symbol a double job and makes those late-spin upgrades a lot more interesting than they first appear.
For players, that means the grid can get hotter as a spin develops. A decent-looking cluster can quickly turn into something much more useful once upgraded symbols start feeding into Bubblegum explosions and extra cascades.
Free Spins Keep the Pressure On
Free Spins are triggered by landing three or more Scatter symbols, with up to 30 spins available. The base Merge Up system stays in place during the feature, but the real hook is what happens to multipliers.
Any positions that gain multipliers in the bonus remain active for the whole round rather than resetting after each spin. That gives the feature more of a build-and-hold rhythm, where one strong hit can lay the groundwork for an even better one a few spins later.
Players can also add extra spins by landing three or more additional Scatters during the feature, so the round has a fair shot at stretching out if the board starts cooperating.
Plenty of Ways to Push the Bet
BGaming has also loaded the game with optional enhancements for players who prefer less waiting around.
The Chance x2 amplifier can be activated for 1.2x the stake, giving players better odds of hitting the bonus. The Random Booster costs 10x the bet and can apply multipliers of up to x128. For those in no mood for subtlety, Booster x16 places x16 multipliers across the full grid for 40x the stake.
On top of that, Sugar Merge Up includes six Buy Bonus options in total, with Free Spins entries priced from 100x to 500x the base bet. That is a wide spread, and it gives players a few different ways to tailor the volatility to their budget and appetite.
What It Means for Players
From a player’s point of view, Sugar Merge Up looks built for those who enjoy slots that evolve mid-spin rather than just flash and move on. The 97% RTP will catch the eye straight away, while the 10,000x max win gives the game a solid ceiling without pretending to be something wildly outlandish.
Julia Alekseeva, CPO at BGaming, said the new release takes what players liked about Merge Up 2 and makes it “even sweeter,” adding that the extra bonus tools and candy setting were a natural fit for the mechanic.
That feels about right. Candy slots are hardly rare, but BGaming has at least given this one a bit of personality. For the average online casino player, Sugar Merge Up’s appeal is simple: it is bright, fast-moving and packed with enough modifiers to keep spins from feeling flat.
