Systems and methods for playing an electronic game including merge and unmerge operations

A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon, which when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to at least:

• initiate display of an initial game instance outcome, the initial game instance outcome including a plurality of symbols from a plurality of reel strips displayed in a matrix of symbol display positions;
• evaluate a first combination of adjacent symbol display positions in the matrix of symbol display positions and a second combination of adjacent symbol display positions in the matrix of symbol display positions, the first combination of adjacent symbol display positions being associated with a first game award and the second combination of adjacent symbol display positions being associated with a second game award;
• and
• initiate display of a merging of one of:
• i) the first combination of adjacent symbol display positions where the first game award is greater than the second game award or ii) the second combination of adjacent symbol display positions where the second game award is greater than the first game award.

An electronic gaming system comprising:

• a mobile device including a display;
• a memory;
• and
• at least one processor configured to execute instructions stored on the memory, which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:
• cause the display of the mobile device to display of an initial game instance outcome, the initial game instance outcome including a plurality of symbols from a plurality of reel strips displayed in a matrix of symbol display positions;
• identify a first combination of adjacent symbol display positions in the matrix of symbol display positions and a second combination of adjacent symbol display positions in the matrix of symbol display positions, the first combination of adjacent symbol display positions being associated with a first game award and the second combination of adjacent symbol display positions being associated with a second game award;
• and
• cause the display of the mobile device to display of a merging of one of:
• i) the first combination of adjacent symbol display positions where the first game award is greater than the second game award or ii) the second combination of adjacent symbol display positions where the second game award is greater than the first game award.