- Exploding Symbols
- Gravalanche
- Free spins
- Reliable volatility
- RTP under 96.50%
- No turbo spin
Contents
The Dark Art Review—Introduction
Few online slot experiences compare to the thrill of Exploding Symbols. The feature is all too rare, but it means that any symbols forming winning combinations explode after payout, leaving space for new symbols to appear. Those new additions can form combinations too, so it’s possible to land several wins in a single round!
The Dark Art ratchets the tension up even higher by awarding an extra multiplier for every consecutive exploding win, so the slot is never short on suspense. Alchemical symbols abound, the highest value of which are the red, green and blue potion bottles. Earth, wind, fire and water symbols also appear.
There are 20 paylines and some amazing bonus features. Free spins put in a most welcome appearance and they’re joined by a glowing crystal wild. The Dark Art bubbles with potential, and its mix of bonus features and base game enhancements make it an especially intriguing proposition.
The game is available as a Netgaming slot demo, so you can sample its alchemical delights for free.
Theme, Graphics & Design
The Dark Art features a truly immersive setting. Everything is geared towards maximum absorption into the slot’s magical world, and Netgaming doesn’t hold back. A stunningly detailed alchemist’s workshop forms the backdrop, complete with test tubes, crammed bookshelves and mysterious, luminescent potions.
The background isn’t merely decoration though and serves an important role in gameplay. A bubbling beaker sits on a bunsen burner next to the reels. Every winning combination boils the liquid and causes an alchemical reaction, which makes it rise. The higher you climb, the more multipliers you earn, so the experiment has a genuine feeling of progression.
Atmospheric touches like the glowing green dust that drifts on the air and the slow, brooding music ensure that The Dark Art is much more than just aesthetically pleasing. It’s a fully immersive experience and you’ll come away feeling like you’ve been working in the laboratory for real! Turbo spin would have been a useful addition, but with Exploding Symbols and the slow burner style of the slot, it’s understandable that Netgaming chose to omit it.

The Dark Art RTP and Variance
The Dark Art is a medium volatility slot, so it can be counted on to payout slightly more regularly than its more volatility counterparts. Its RTP of 96.06% is a little under average, however.
How to Play The Dark Art
Laboratories are notoriously fraught places, but our guide should help you master the potions.
- Use the + icon to launch a small sub-menu on the left of the reels.
- Start with the spanner button to adjust volume and animation settings.
- Use “i” to open game instructions, where you’ll be able to read about the paytable, the bonus features and other important information.
- Use the green arrows just underneath “coin value” to adjust the size of your bet, all the while keeping an eye on the neighbouring “cash bet” box to see your total.
- Autospin is positioned next to spin and you can set loss/win limits for up to 100 spins.
- Decide what your budget will be.
- Give the glowing green spin button a tap to get playing!
Bet & Win Sizes
Bets begin at 0.20 and can be increased up to 50. The red potion is worth double its nearest rival and pays out the top single line win of x1000 for 5.
The other alchemical combinations payout as follows:
Five red potions = x 1000
Five green potions = x 500
Five blue potions = x 300
Five wind elements = x 200
Five earth elements = x 200
Five fire elements = x 200
Five water elements = x 200
Five scatters = x 50
The Dark Art comes with 20 paylines, which is more than enough to keep you going.
The Dark Art Bonus Features
The Dark Art is full of magical creations and simmering concoctions—so it’s no surprise to find some quality bonus games being cooked up too.
Gravalanche
It’s difficult to miss the Exploding Symbols—they’re live on every round and make a big impression! Each winning combination vanishes in a flurry of sparks and new symbols drop down from above to take their place. Gravalanche takes this mechanic and throws in special bonuses for every consecutive line win. There are 6 levels in total, awarding a mix of wilds, multipliers and special symbols.
Free spins
Free spins are simpler to win. Special compass scatters appear on all the reels, and landing 3+ will trigger 10 free rounds. The grid shrinks to a 5x4 configuration to make winning combinations slightly easier.
Final thoughts
The alchemist’s laboratory is an intriguing and visually appealing setting that's ripe with wonder. Magic themed slots always have a special way of capturing the imagination, but The Dark Art excels.
This slot’s setting is uniquely absorbing, and the mix of detailed graphics, subtle animations and brooding music establishes a world like no other. Gravalanche (accompanied by the spectacle of Exploding Symbols) makes every spin hugely exciting. There’s always the potential for chains of wins, which is all the better with new prizes to accompany each level.
Free spins mix things up still further (especially since they take place on a smaller grid), but Exploding Symbols will always steal the show. They set every single spin on fire and make The Dark Art an experience like no other.
If The Dark Art has left you well versed in the ways of magic, the Jade Magician online slot is a great place to test your new skills.
Disclaimer: The Dark Art trademark / license is owned by NetGaming. This site is not endorsed by NetGaming.
| Slot Name: | The Dark Art |
|---|---|
| Software: | NetGaming |
| RTP: | 96.09% |
| Paylines: | 20 |
| Reels: | 5 |
| Min Bet (all lines covered): | $0.20 (USD) |
| Max Bet: | $50 (USD) |
| Top Win: | 1000 |
| Features: | Wild Symbol, Scatter Symbol, Multiplier, Free Spins, 5 Reels, Cascading |
| Themes: | Alchemy |
| Last Update: | 16/10/2023 |
FAQs
How many levels are there on Gravalanche?
Gravalanche has 6 levels, after which the count will reset to zero.
Does The Dark Art offer free spins?
Yes, the Dark Art awards up to 10 free spins.
What is the highest single line payment on The Dark Art?
Red potions payout the maximum line win of x1000 on The Dark Art.
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