Zen Blade - Review, Demo Play, Payout, Free Spins & Bonuses

Zen Blade review: introduction

Action adventure slots such as Zen Blade are always an exciting prospect. They usually have a movie-style quality, with Zen Blade no exception. Expect to find high-value bamboo, bonsai, tower, bridge, sword and lantern symbols at the top of the paytable.

A monk in a mediative pose, his master and two bowls of steaming soup make up the bottom end. Zen Blade has 25 paylines, five reels, and a collection of neat bonus features that increase its appeal considerably.

All free spins come with a multiplier of 2x, and you only need three free spin symbols to launch the rounds. A ninja wild can string new combinations together, but the bonus game is the highlight. Ninja symbols culminate in a magical journey through an enchanted Japanese garden.

Play this and other World Match slots right here at Slots Temple.

Theme, graphics & design

Zen Blade's hand-drawn watercolour style is stunning. Despite the presence of quite a few ninjas, the slot is nonetheless calming and lives up to its zen promise. The background shows a classic eastern landscape of bamboo and towering mountains framed by the rising sun.

The setting is gorgeous - even more so with Zen Blade’s unique graphical style. The lantern symbol shows dusky mountains in the background, while the monk meditates against a placid lake. It is all rather sumptuous, and the weaving pipe-based soundtrack that plays throughout is majestic.

The music, symbols, background and graphics feel like a giant exhalation of breath, so there is no better slot to play if you are feeling stressed! It stands to reason that there is no turbo spin option on a slot this relaxing, but some players may lament its omission.

Zen Blade RTP and variance

Zen Blade might look calm, but it has high volatility. This means the slot can be unpredictable at times. Its RTP isn’t the greatest at 94.43 per cent, but a top prize of 2,500x acts as some consolation. Always remember that top wins are the exception rather than the rule and won’t be easy to land.

How to play Zen Blade

Nestled amongst the mountains of the Ancient East, Zen Blade capitalises on thousands of years of martial arts lore. Fortunately, you don’t need to be a master to play:

1. Look for the volume settings first. These are in the game control menu, accessed through the cog to the left of the grid.
2. There’s also an information (i) button nearby that will display the paytable. If you scroll down, you will also find a guide to the bonuses.
3. Zen Blade uses 25 paylines as default, but you can adjust this by pressing ‘lines’ repeatedly.
4. Change the size of your stake with the bet level button. Keep tapping it until you have hit the total you want.
5. It might not be right for every player, but autoplay will spin the reels automatically for a set number of rounds. Use the autoplay button for up to 1,000 spins if this appeals.
6. Online slots should always be played responsibly, so decide on your budget before you begin.
7. Press play and watch the action unfold.

Bet & win sizes

Zen Blade is excellent for players who don’t want to risk high bets. Its minimum stake limit is just 0.01 and you can increase this up to 25. Bamboo fountains are the most lucrative symbols - landing five on a payline awards Zen Blade’s highest line win of 2,500x.

The watercolour paytable is a beautiful sight, so let’s explore it further. Here are all the payouts for five matching symbols:

• Bamboo fountain = 2,500x
• Bonsai = 1,500x
• Tower = 500x
• Bridge = 250x
• Sword, lantern = 150x
• Monk, master, free spin bonus, soup = 100x

Zen Blade uses 25 paylines, but these are adjustable.

Zen Blade bonus features

Well-trained ninjas will find plenty of rewards on Zen Blade. These come in the form of some great bonus games, one of which is particularly special:

Free spins

A bruised-looking martial arts master appears on the free spin symbol. If you can land three+ of these on a payline, you will be awarded 12 free spins for your troubles. Any winnings from the free rounds are multiplied by 2x.

Bonus game

The ninja bonus game is the beating heart of Zen Blade. Even the bonus symbol, which shows a ninja brandishing his blade, is exquisite. You require three+ of these symbols to launch the game. A large prize wheel, along with a map, will appear.

Every portion of the wheel corresponds to a different route through a gorgeously colourful Japanese garden, with each route leading to a different prize. Give the wheel a spin and watch as the ninja follows the selected path, eventually arriving at his prize.

Our verdict

Zen Blade puts beauty at the heart of its agenda. This is a jaw-droppingly good-looking slot. Its art style, soft palette of colours and dreamy music all play their part in conjuring a world with endless aesthetic appeal.

You will want to spend as much time here as possible, so it is a good thing that the gameplay is so strong. The wilds and free spins have a timeless appeal, but we were most impressed with the special bonus game. Wandering through the garden in search of prizes encapsulates everything good about Zen Blade. 

Turbo spin functionality is noticeably absent, but this only enhances the atmosphere of peace and tranquillity that World Match has so effectively crafted.

Ninjas can try their hand at the wonderful Fruit Zen slot, another classic game that is available to play here at Slots Temple.
 

Disclaimer: Zen Blade trademark / license is owned by World Match. This site is not endorsed by World Match.