Cluster Pay Slots

? What Are Cluster Pay Slots?

To win cash playing slots, you need to spin the reels and land combinations of identical symbols through the paylines, right? What if I told you that there’s another way? Let me introduce you to the Cluster Pay Slots!

Compared to regular slot games, cluster pay slots add more fun and possibilities of winning thanks to its new mechanic. Introduced by NetEnt in 2016 on its game Aloha! Cluster Pay, this new mechanic does not count your winnings by aligning the same symbol in one payline, but having a number of matching symbols next to each other. The cluster system replaces the traditional Payline system from the regular slots, where you need to align the symbols along predefined paylines in order to win.

The symbols need to touch horizontally or vertically, and the minimum size of the cluster needed to trigger a win usually is 5 or 6. Still, it can vary depending on the game you are playing. Mobile casinos offer Cluster Pays slots on apps or your browser, so you can also enjoy this game on the go.

?? Cluster Pay Mechanic Analysis

Despite having the same foundations as regular slots – this is landing combinations of the same element – the mechanics have a twist that improves the gaming experience.

When you first start playing a Cluster Pay slot, you will surely realize right away that the game differs from your regular slots – there’s a grid, hence why many call this game also grid slots. In appearance, you could even think you are playing some arcade game, like Candy Crush, instead of a slot game.

As you start playing, you’ll see no spinning reels but a square grid with symbols dropping into it. The key to winning, as I mentioned, is to cluster a minimum amount of the same element – usually 4 or 5 – with the help of the cascading or tumbling reels mechanic. Afterwards, the winning symbols will disappear, with ones from above falling and filling the holes they left on the grid. When the new symbols fall, there’s always a chance that you win again, generating consecutive wins from just one spin.

Special Symbols and Features

Compared to the regular slot, cluster pay slots have more symbols, yet this keeps the same characteristics:

• High-paying symbols: These symbols will get you the highest winnings if you land them.
• Low-paying symbols: You’ll win a lower sum with them.
• Wild Symbols: Wild symbols can replace any symbol but scatter ones.
• Scatter symbols: These are special symbols that can trigger free spins or all sorts of bonuses.

?? Types of Cluster Pay Slots

Below are some of the different types of cluster pay slots:

Avalanche Slots

 
One of the most prevalent features in cluster pay slots is the avalanche mechanic, also known as cascading. This feature makes the winning symbols disappear from the reels, creating gaps that are filled by new symbols falling from above. This can trigger a chain reaction of wins, as new clusters can form from the fresh symbols. Some avalanche slots also have multipliers that increase with each consecutive win, adding more potential to your payouts. Avalanche slots are a trademark of NetEnt, a leading provider of cluster pay games.

Random Wilds

 
Another exciting feature to spice up your cluster are Random Wilds. These are special symbols that you can substitute for any other symbol to help you create or extend clusters. Random wilds can appear at any given time during the base game or the bonus game, depending on the slot. Some slots may have more than one type of random wild, each with different properties or functions. For example, some random wilds may expand, move, multiply, or stick to the reels.

Megacluster Slots

 
If you are looking for a more advanced and thrilling type of cluster pay slots, you might want to try megacluster slots. These are a new invention by the provider Big Time Gaming. Megacluster slots take the cluster pay concept to the next level by splitting the symbols in the winning clusters into smaller symbols, creating a larger grid with more chances of winning. The process can repeat itself until no more wins are possible, resulting in massive payouts. Megacluster slots also have bonus rounds and modifiers that can enhance your gameplay.

Best Casinos with Cluster Pay Slots

Given that this game mechanic was developed so recently, there portfolio of games you can find are limited at the moment. However, its growing popularity is pushing developers to invest more resources in developing more Cluster Pay Slots games in the near future.

In the table below I listed my favourite casinos for playing Cluster Pay, as well as some extra info about their welcome bonuses in case you haven’t played in them earlier:

??? Winning at Cluster Pay Slots

At this point, you already know what Cluster Pay Slots are and where to find the best casinos that provide this exciting mechanic, yet you may be wondering: What do I have to do to win on Cluster Pay Slots?

Unfortunately, it is impossible to anticipate the result of a spin in advance. As it applies to all certified online slots, Cluster Pay slots also function under a Random Number Generator (RNG) tech, which randomizes the result of every single spin. The RNG engine generates a random value in a fraction of a second, having over 4 billion variables.

There is no strategy that can work against an RNG game, and its engaging nature can captivate players to keep playing without noticing how much they bid on the game. For this reason, my personal recommendation when playing these kinds of games is that you set a budget to use when playing and stop your gaming session when there are no more funds.

?? Top 3 Cluster Pay Slots

Albeit the amount of Cluster Pay slots is growing nowadays more than ever, I decided to make a list with my three favourite games as of August 2024:

1. Aloha! Cluster Pay: The game that started it all back in 2016. With its Hawaiian thematic and low volatility, this game is the sure choice to make if you’re getting into Cluster Pay Slots. Given its popularity I’m certain that nearly every casino will include this game, but at least you can find it at SpinsBro Casino and Wildz Casino.
2. Candy Jar Clusters: Played on a 7×7 grid, Candy Jar Clusters is Pragmatic Play’s bet on Cluster Pay slots. The Candy tematic shouldn’t come either as a surprise, having titles like Sweet Bonanza and Sugar Rush among its lines. The RTP on this game is 96.08%, so it’s a bit higher than the average in Ireland. If you want to give it a try, you can find it on Flappy Casino.
3. Gonzo’s Gold: Another NetEnt hit. Gonzalo Pizzaro goes on a search for El Dorado on a 5×5 grid slot with a Cluster Pay engine. Landing a cluster of 25 Gonzo’s can get you winnings of 5,000x your stake! Head off to BetMGM Casino to play this game.

?? Final Thoughts

Cluster Pay slots new mechanic is unique in slot games. Its unpredictability and greater chances of big winnings make these games the preferred ones for a lot of players.
It is true that, at this moment, the number of players is somewhat limited, especially when compared to regular online slots or progressive jackpots that have been around for ages. However, online casinos vow to expand their libraries of Cluster Pay Slots due to its increasing popularity and demand by the players.

All in all, if you fancy online slots but you’re longing for something more, Cluster Pay games are for you. Its cluster mechanic makes playing a lot more enjoyable and improves your chances of winning with every spin in comparison with a regular slot with a limited number of paylines.

Last updated: 26/04/2024