Mythic Link: Monkey King Launches ICONIC21’s New Slot Series

ICONIC21 is creating a new brand image around one of the most popular forms of bonuses found in online slots with the launch of Mythic Link: Monkey King. The launch of this new icon took place on 8 September 2026. It was released as the first entry into the new Mythic Link series, which brings together Asian mythology with Hold & Win mechanics, Free Spins, and four jackpot tiers. The press release about the launch of Monkey King (part of ICONIC21's Mythic Link) can be viewed at the official website of ICONIC21. Rather than viewing Monkey King as just another single slot machine, ICONIC21 is establishing a common template that can be reused throughout subsequent Mythic Link titles.

Mythic Link establishes consistency in Hold & Win slots

Consistency is the primary concept behind Mythic Link. Future games in the Mythic Link series will have a consistent base of mechanics, including Hold & Win or link-style mechanics. However, future games will use different characters and storytelling styles within the context of Asian mythology. As such, Monkey King is establishing the precedent for the formula used throughout the mythic link series. ICONIC21 stated that future entries into the series would follow the formula.

Creating a recognizable series of games has significant business advantages. The sheer volume of unique titles currently found in online casinos makes finding recognizable series increasingly valuable. Recognizable series provide returning players with an opportunity to know what type of game they are opening before actually launching the game. Additionally, a recognizable series of games provides ICONIC21 with a greater sense of accomplishment than releasing a single successful title. An ongoing series of games allows ICONIC21 to create awareness throughout several games while providing opportunities for each individual title to include unique features.

Hold & Win mechanics may be triggers within free spins

The major feature in Mythic Link: Monkey King is the inclusion of a bonus within a bonus structure. Rather than separating Free Spins and Hold & Win as entirely independent features, the Hold & Win feature may activate during active free spins. While many elements of how these features operate are familiar to slot players, how they interact with each other is somewhat different. ICONIC21 does not plan to add a complex system that requires lengthy explanations. Instead, the company will modify the interaction between two existing systems.

Additionally, four jackpot tiers are integrated into the gameplay in addition to the link-based structure. According to independently maintained game data, Mythic Link: Monkey King uses a 5×3 reel configuration, includes 25 pay lines and offers a max win equal to 5,000 times the player bet. Data also indicates that an RTP (return to player) rate of 94.03% exists along with a minimum/maximum betting range from 0.10-50. Technical details regarding this game were not contained in ICONIC21’s original release. Players wishing to determine if these technical specifications apply to their version should contact their respective online casino.

A familiar character provides recognition

By selecting Monkey King as the first game in the Mythic Link series, ICONIC21 provides itself with an instantly recognizable character from Chinese mythology. The use of Monkey King as the first game in the series also provides ICONIC21 with a great deal of flexibility when designing future titles. Future games may draw upon similar visuals while avoiding repetition of the same storyline.

ICONIC21’s game producer Serhii Nilov described this title as a significant milestone for ICONIC21 stating that the inclusion of well-established Free Spins and Hold & Win mechanics combined with detailed artwork inspired by Asian mythology helped produce a balanced blend of familiarity and difference. The core concept here is clearly balance – Hold & Win is hardly new; however, placing it inside another bonus gives ICONIC21 a simple method of creating a feeling of unpredictability around the format.

ICONIC21 is focusing on structured slot machine families

As far as trends related to New Zealand iGaming are concerned, there are larger implications surrounding ICONIC21’s transition from developing standalone slot machines toward developing slot machine families. ICONIC21 has developed over 20 slot machines covering all types: three-reelers, five reel video slots, cascade games and jackpot games. Mythic link now provides ICONIC21 with a model for producing multiple slot machine versions rather than having to recreate aspects of each game individually. The move toward structuring slot machine families coincides with ICONIC21 expanding their distribution capabilities.

Recently, ICONIC21 entered into an agreement with aggregator Alea that will provide access to nearly ninety percent of their slot machine offerings via Alea’s platform. With ICONIC21’s catalog growing rapidly, the agreement will enable ICONIC21 to reach out to additional operators through their aggregated content. Therefore, while Mythic Link: Monkey King is important as an end product it holds equally significant importance due to its ability to serve as a template for future slot machine development.