Sugar Merge Up

Sugar Merge Up is a cluster pays slot developed by BGaming, released on March 31, 2026. It builds directly on the Merge Up™ 2 engine – BGaming's own merging mechanic – and introduces a candy-themed setting alongside two new Booster modes that can load the grid with cell multipliers from the very first spin.

The game runs on a 6×6 grid with no traditional paylines. Instead, wins form when four or more identical symbols connect vertically or horizontally. Matched symbols don't simply disappear – part of the cluster upgrades to a higher symbol level, keeping the grid in motion and creating opportunities for chain reactions within a single spin.

Key elements that define Sugar Merge Up:

• Merge Up™ 2 symbol progression across 9 levels
• Cell multipliers that grow up to ×128 per cell
• Bubblegum symbols that clear surrounding cells and convert into Scatters
• Free Spins with persistent and growing multipliers
• Booster modes: Random Booster (multipliers up to ×128) and Booster ×16

With a 97% RTP, very high volatility, and a maximum win of 10,000x the bet, Sugar Merge Up targets players who enjoy grid-based mechanics and progressive win structures.

Sugar Merge Up is set in a pastel candy world with frosted green hills, soft clouds, and oversized gummy bears positioned around the grid. The color palette is bright but not harsh – blues, pinks, yellows, and greens give it an approachable, playful look.

The symbols themselves are glossy candy shapes: gummy bears, flower candies, stars, teardrops, and pentagons, each rendered with a soft gel texture. As they merge and upgrade through the nine levels, the visuals shift – colors deepen and shapes become more refined, giving each progression a clear visual identity.

Animations are satisfying without being distracting. Clusters pulse before paying out, Bubblegum symbols pop with a burst effect, and new symbols drop in smoothly from above. The sound design leans into ASMR territory – soft pops, light chimes, and a relaxed background track that fits the candy theme without becoming repetitive. Overall, the visual and audio presentation works well together and reinforces the light, accessible tone of the game.

Sugar Merge Up uses a straightforward control layout at the bottom of the screen.

• Total Bet: Use the arrow buttons or click the bet field directly to adjust your stake. Stakes range from 0.25 to 25.00.
• Spin: Click the Spin button to start a round, or use the spacebar as a shortcut.
• Autoplay: Open the Autospin settings to choose the number of automatic rounds. You can set stop conditions including win limits, loss limits, or bonus triggers.
• Settings: Adjust game speed (Quick Spin), volume, music, and sound effects independently.
• Information: The Info (I) button opens the paytable and feature explanations, including payout values for each symbol level.
• Buy Bonus: The cart icon on the right side opens the Bonus Buy panel.

A win occurs when four or more identical symbols form a connected cluster. The cluster pays out, some symbols disappear, and the remaining ones upgrade to the next level. There are nine symbol levels in total, with Scatter acting as level ten.

Merge Up™

Four or more identical symbols that are vertically or horizontally adjacent form a winning cluster. After the win is paid, part of the cluster disappears and the remaining symbols upgrade to the next level. There are nine symbol levels in total. Larger clusters produce more upgraded symbols, which increases the chances of further merges within the same spin.

The number of new symbols produced after a merge depends on cluster size:

• 4–5 symbols → 2 new symbols
• 6–7 symbols → 3 new symbols
• 8–9 symbols → 4 new symbols
• 10–11 symbols → 5 new symbols
• 12+ symbols → 6 new symbols

Cell Multipliers

When a winning cluster forms in a cell that has already won during the same spin, that cell is marked and receives a ×2 multiplier. Each additional win in the same marked cell doubles the multiplier. Multiple multipliers within a single cluster are added together. The maximum multiplier per cell is ×128. Marked cells reset at the end of the spin (except during Free Spins).

Bubblegum Symbol

When a winning cluster forms from level 8 symbols, one Bubblegum symbol is created. It then pops, removing eight surrounding symbols. Empty spaces are filled with new symbols. If any of the destroyed cells had multipliers, those multipliers increase by one stage – for example, ×2 becomes ×4. After popping, the Bubblegum converts into a Scatter symbol.

Scatter and Free Spins

Scatters can drop naturally onto the grid or form when a Bubblegum pops. Landing three or more Scatters triggers Free Spins:

• 3 Scatters → 12 Free Spins
• 4 Scatters → 15 Free Spins
• 5 Scatters → 20 Free Spins
• 6+ Scatters → 30 Free Spins

During Free Spins, cells where winning clusters formed stay highlighted and their multipliers continue growing throughout the entire round – they do not reset between spins. If 3 or more Scatters appear in a single spin during the round, 5 additional Free Spins are awarded.

Bonus Buy Option: Yes

Chance ×2

This feature slightly increases the bet and raises the probability of triggering the Free Spins round. It is automatically disabled if Buy Bonus or a Booster mode is active.

Bonus Buy Option: Yes (cost: approximately 1.2× the base bet)

Buy Bonus

Allows direct purchase of one of the following:

• Sugar Joy – activates Free Spins directly
• Sugar Euphoria – activates Free Spins with a starting ×2 multiplier in all cells
• Sugar Boom – starts with 3 to 9 Bubblegum symbols on the grid, which pop and generate multipliers that carry into Free Spins. In this mode, Bubblegum symbols do not turn into Scatters – they pop purely to build multipliers.

Random Booster

Each spin, the grid receives randomly placed multipliers, with values reaching up to ×128 per cell. Active from the first spin, this mode adds multiplier potential to every round without requiring a trigger.

Bonus Buy Option: Yes (cost: approximately 10× the base bet)

Booster ×16

All cells on the grid start with a ×16 multiplier from the first spin. This is the higher-cost Booster option and provides the most structured multiplier setup from the outset.

Bonus Buy Option: Yes (cost: approximately 40× the base bet)

Wins in Sugar Merge Up depend on cluster size and symbol level. The more symbols in a cluster and the higher their level, the greater the payout. The table below shows payouts for the four highest-value symbols (Gummy Bear, Flower Candy, Star, Pentagon) and the four lower-value symbols (Yellow Diamond, Green Triangle, Blue Teardrop, Purple Oval) as multiples of the total bet.

High-Value Symbols

Low-Value Symbols

Special Symbols:

• Scatter (Lollipop): Triggers Free Spins when 3 or more land. Can drop naturally or form after a Bubblegum pops. Does not pay a direct amount – its value comes from activating the bonus round.
• Bubblegum: Created when a level 8 cluster forms. Pops to clear 8 surrounding symbols, boosts nearby multipliers, then converts into a Scatter.

Wins form when four or more identical symbols connect vertically or horizontally on the 6×6 grid. Diagonal connections do not count. After a cluster pays, the remaining symbols upgrade to the next level and the grid refills from above, which can trigger further clusters in the same spin.

The win amount depends on two factors: symbol level and cluster size. Higher-level symbols pay more, and larger clusters produce bigger payouts as well as more upgraded symbols for the next merge.

Cell multipliers add a second layer to wins. Each time a cell is part of a winning cluster within the same spin, it picks up a multiplier that doubles with every subsequent win in that cell. Multiple multipliers within one cluster are summed. In Free Spins, multipliers persist across all spins in the round and continue to grow.

The Bubblegum mechanic introduces a third element – clearing space and escalating multipliers simultaneously – which can extend a chain reaction and push wins considerably higher.

Sugar Merge Up is the candy-themed extension of BGaming's Merge Up™ series. The original Merge Up™ uses the same 6×6 cluster mechanic with a gem theme and offers a 97.25% RTP with a 5,000x max win. Merge Up™ 2 introduced updated mechanics that Sugar Merge Up builds directly upon.

Players who enjoy the cluster and upgrade format may also find Sugar Rush by Pragmatic Play comparable – it uses a similar grid structure with sticky multipliers during Free Spins, though without the symbol progression system.

Sugar Merge Up delivers a well-constructed slot built around a layered mechanic that connects merging, cascades, multipliers, and bonus triggers into a coherent system. The 97% RTP is notably high, and the 10,000x maximum win gives it meaningful upside for very high volatility play.

The game suits players who are comfortable with infrequent base game wins in exchange for chain reaction potential and growing multipliers. The Booster modes add flexibility for those willing to increase the stake in pursuit of stronger starting conditions.

The main drawback is the pacing – long sessions between significant wins are expected given the volatility level. Players seeking consistent returns or frequent small wins may find Sugar Merge Up frustrating. For those who enjoy grid-based progression gameplay, it is a technically solid release.