Cluster Pays Slots Explained

You might have seen this mechanic on a few games and wondered what is meant by a “Cluster Pays slot”. Let’s take a look.

What are Cluster Pays Slots?

Slot games that fall into this category include some of the biggest games online, such as Sweet Bonanza, Honey Rush and Shangri-La. These games look familiar and have the usual bonus features and symbols. The main difference is the Cluster Pays game mechanic, which triggers payouts without using pay-lines.

How do Cluster Pays slots work?

The Cluster Pays mechanic is an alternative to the classic fixed pay-lines that are used in many games. Instead of landing winning symbols across a fixed pay-line across the reels, you trigger pay outs with clusters of 9 or more symbols anywhere across the grid. This could be a group of 9 symbols across the first 3 reels, or 30 of the same symbols filling the entire grid.

A bonus that is included in many Cluster Pays slots is the re-spin feature. Randomly triggered from any winning spin, this gives you the chance to trigger another win. You’ll see the winning symbols remain frozen in place whilst those around them are replaced; if this leads to a bigger cluster, the feature repeats. If you trigger this with high-value symbols in play, you can see how this bonus feature can lead to some exciting payouts.

Popular Cluster Pays slots

Aloha Cluster Pays

Set on a Hawaiian island, you aim to land clusters of flowers, shells, fruit or tribal Tiki masks across the grid in this NetEnt slot.

With clusters falling across a 6-reel grid in front of a beautiful beach-front scene, this release is a firm favourite of many players.

Aloha Cluster Pays caters for slot players of all types. Fans of bonus features won’t be disappointed here with its re-triggerable Free Spins round. Low-paying symbols are removed from the grid on each spin. Try and fill the reels with the valuable Tiki masks.

If you want to learn how to play Aloha Cluster Pays you can read our article for a more detailed explanation.

Sweet Bonanza

Players with a sweet tooth will enjoy this candy-filled Sweet Bonanza cluster pays slot from Pragmatic Play.

With a 30-symbol grid filled with bright sweets that can land in clusters of 8 or more alongside multipliers and a classic Free Spins bonus, there is a lot to get excited about. The popular cascading reels mechanic removes winning clusters from the grid, providing another chance to bag a return.

All this sweet talk has got this Wombat’s tummy rumbling!

The Legend of Shangri-La Cluster Pays

Based on animal monks in the mountains of Asia, this NetEnt title was launched with the Cluster Pays slot mechanic. In The Legend of Shangri-La Cluster Pays, you will see Wild symbols, stacked symbols and a helpful monk bringing bonus features to life during play.

This mysterious slot also features Free Spins: a Shangri-La for gamers who like their bonus features.

Summary

So that’s how Cluster Pays slots work. Test a Cluster Pays free demo game at Wombat Casino before betting for real.