Once Again Upon a Time

Once Again Upon a Time is a medieval fantasy slot developed by Betsoft and released on February 12, 2026. This game serves as a sequel to the popular Once Upon a Time slot, returning players to a kingdom filled with heroic quests and hidden treasures. The slot features a 5-reel, 3-row layout with 25 paylines and offers an RTP of 96.11%. With very high volatility and a maximum win potential of up to 12,285x the bet, this slot delivers substantial reward possibilities. The game centers around the engaging Hold & Win Feature, which includes respins, multipliers, and progressive jackpots that can transform any spin into a memorable win.

Once Again Upon a Time presents a vibrant medieval fantasy setting that transports players into a storybook kingdom. The game screen is framed by stone pillars with a scenic backdrop featuring rolling green hills, a winding river, and a majestic castle with blue-topped towers. The reels are set against a parchment-colored background, reinforcing the storybook aesthetic.

Symbols include richly detailed characters such as knights in shining armor, elegant princesses, and bags of gold coins, alongside colorful royal card symbols (A, K, Q, J) adorned with ornate decorations. The Wild symbol features a blue and gold shield with crossed swords, while the Scatter displays a detailed castle fortress. Special symbols like the golden coin BONUS and the sword BOOST symbol add to the theme. The game's animations are smooth, and the medieval-inspired soundtrack complements the fairytale atmosphere, creating an immersive experience for players seeking adventure and treasure.

Playing Once Again Upon a Time is straightforward. Players begin by selecting their bet amount using the minus and plus buttons at the bottom of the screen, with bets ranging from 0.25 to 30. Once the bet is set, press the spin button to start the reels. The game features 25 fixed paylines, and wins are awarded when matching symbols land on adjacent reels from left to right.

The user interface includes several controls: the information button provides access to the paytable and game rules, the settings menu allows adjustments to sound and graphics, and the autoplay feature enables continuous spins without manual input. Players can also access the Buy Bonus option to instantly trigger the Hold & Win Feature. The game is optimized for desktop and mobile devices, ensuring smooth gameplay across all platforms.

Hold & Win Feature

The Hold & Win Feature activates when 6 or more BONUS symbols land on the reels, or when 5 BONUS symbols appear alongside 1 BOOST symbol. Once triggered, players receive 3 respins on a special grid featuring 15 positions. BONUS symbols that land during the feature lock in place and display prize values ranging from 1.00 to 15.00 times the triggering bet. Each time a new BONUS, BOOST, or MYSTERY BONUS symbol appears, it locks in position and resets the respin counter to 3.

The feature includes four fixed jackpots: MINI (20.00), MINOR (50.00), MAJOR (150.00), and MEGA (2,000.00). Filling all 15 positions awards the GRAND Prize of 10,000.00. The BOOST symbol increases values on existing BONUS symbols, excluding the MEGA prize. If a BOOST symbol appears during the feature, it enhances all values for the remainder of the round.

Bonus Buy Option: Yes (Cost: 65.00 times the bet)

Mystery Bonus

The Mystery Bonus symbol, represented by a joker character, can appear during the Hold & Win Feature. When it lands, it locks into position and transforms at the end of the feature into a random prize: MINI, MINOR, MAJOR, MEGA, or BOOST. If the Mystery Bonus transforms into a BOOST symbol, all values on existing BONUS symbols increase for the remainder of the feature, adding an element of unpredictability and potentially boosting overall winnings.

Bonus Buy Option: No (appears only during Hold & Win Feature)

Royal Fortune

Royal Fortune is a special trigger mechanism available in both the base game and Free Spins mode. When any BONUS symbol lands on the reels, there's a chance it will activate the Royal Fortune feature, which scatters additional symbols randomly across the reels until the Hold & Win Feature requirements are met (6 BONUS symbols, or 5 BONUS symbols and 1 BOOST symbol). This feature provides an alternative path to triggering the Hold & Win Feature without waiting for the required symbols to land naturally.

Bonus Buy Option: No (randomly triggered)

Free Spins

Landing 3 Scatter symbols on reels 2, 3, and 4 triggers the Free Spins feature, awarding 8 free spins. During this mode, all low-paying royal symbols (A, K, Q, J) are removed from the reels, leaving only premium symbols such as the knight, princess, gold bag, and sword. This increases the potential for higher-value wins. Free Spins can be retriggered by landing 3 additional Scatter symbols during the feature, extending the bonus round. The Hold & Win Feature can also be triggered during Free Spins, offering combined bonus opportunities.

Bonus Buy Option: No (triggered by Scatter symbols)

Stacked Mystery Symbols

The base game includes Stacked Mystery Symbol positions on each reel. Before every spin, these positions are replaced with one randomly selected symbol, and all Mystery Symbol positions on the reels display the same symbol for that spin. The Mystery Symbol can transform into any standard symbol except BONUS, BOOST, MYSTERY BONUS, SCATTER, and WILD symbols. This feature can create significant wins when multiple reels fill with matching high-value symbols.

Bonus Buy Option: No (active in base game)

Symbols in Once Again Upon a Time are categorized into premium symbols, mid-value symbols, and low-value symbols. The Wild symbol substitutes for all symbols except BONUS, BOOST, and SCATTER. Special symbols including BONUS, BOOST, MYSTERY BONUS, and SCATTER trigger various features. Wins are calculated by landing matching symbols on adjacent reels from left to right across the 25 paylines.

The Wild symbol appears on all reels and substitutes for standard symbols to complete winning combinations. The Scatter (castle) appears only on reels 2, 3, and 4 and triggers Free Spins when 3 land simultaneously. BONUS and BOOST symbols activate the Hold & Win Feature and display their own prize values rather than standard payline wins.

Wins in Once Again Upon a Time are achieved by landing matching symbols on adjacent reels from left to right across the 25 paylines. A minimum of three matching symbols must appear starting from the leftmost reel to form a winning combination. The game's very high volatility means wins may occur less frequently but can be substantial when they do.

The Hold & Win Feature offers the most significant winning potential through its progressive jackpots and multiplier mechanics. During this feature, collected BONUS symbols display prize values that accumulate, with the BOOST symbol increasing these values. The maximum win of 12,285x can be achieved through a combination of the GRAND Prize in the Hold & Win Feature and boosted values from multiple BOOST symbols.

Free Spins enhance winning potential by removing low-value symbols from the reels, increasing the frequency of premium symbol combinations. The Stacked Mystery Symbols can create substantial wins in the base game when multiple reels fill with matching high-value symbols, particularly when Wild symbols appear to complete additional combinations.

Once Again Upon a Time is a direct sequel to Betsoft's original Once Upon a Time slot. While both games share a medieval fantasy theme and similar visual styles, Once Again Upon a Time introduces several enhanced features including the Hold & Win mechanic with respins, the BOOST symbol that increases prize values, and the Mystery Bonus symbol. The original Once Upon a Time focused more on traditional Free Spins features without the progressive jackpot system.

Players who enjoy Once Again Upon a Time may also be interested in other Betsoft medieval-themed slots such as Miles Bellhouse and the Gears of Time or Good Girl Bad Girl, which offer similar high-quality graphics and engaging bonus features with varying volatility levels and mechanics.

Once Again Upon a Time delivers a well-crafted medieval slot experience with substantial winning potential and engaging bonus features. The game's very high volatility suits players who prefer less frequent but potentially larger wins, with the maximum payout of 12,285x offering significant reward opportunities. The 96.11% RTP falls within industry standards and provides fair long-term value.

The Hold & Win Feature stands as the game's primary strength, combining respins, progressive jackpots, and the unique BOOST mechanic that increases prize values. The Free Spins feature complements this by removing low-value symbols and focusing on premium wins. The Stacked Mystery Symbols add variety to the base game, preventing repetitive gameplay between bonus triggers.

The main drawback is the very high volatility, which requires a substantial bankroll to weather potential dry spells between significant wins. Additionally, the Buy Bonus feature at 65x the bet represents a considerable investment. Once Again Upon a Time is ideal for players who appreciate medieval themes, enjoy feature-rich gameplay, and have the patience and bankroll to pursue substantial wins through volatile gameplay.