Cluster Pay Online Slots

Cluster pay slots drop paylines. You get paid when matching symbols touch each other in a group, usually five or more, on a grid such as 7×7. Below we explain how clusters work and list eleven cluster slots we have reviewed, with provider and RTP where we have one.

Most video slots pay along fixed lines. Cluster pays work differently, and the difference changes how a spin plays out. This guide is written for South African players who want to know what they are looking at before they open a cluster slot.

How Cluster Pay Slots Work

A traditional payline slot pays when symbols land on a set line, from the left. A cluster pay slot has no such lines. It pays when a group of identical symbols touch each other, either side by side or one above the other.

Here is the usual sequence, as our reviews describe it:

  • A grid, not a row of reels. Cluster slots are typically played on a large square-ish grid. Our reviews cover 7×7 (for example Crystal Clusters and Dublin Your Dough: Rainbow Clusters), 8×8 (Cluster Tumble) and 6×8 (Aztec Clusters).
  • A minimum cluster size. In the slots below, a win needs at least five matching symbols touching horizontally or vertically.
  • Winning symbols disappear. Once a cluster is paid, those symbols vanish and the symbols above fall into the gaps. Crystal Catcher, Gravity Bonanza and Honey Rush all work this way.
  • New wins can follow in the same spin. If the fresh symbols form another cluster, it pays too, and the process repeats until nothing more connects. A spin can therefore contain several wins, or none.

The result of each spin is still decided by the game’s random number generator, like any other slot. If you want the background, see our guide to how RNGs work. Clusters change the way wins are counted, not the fact that outcomes are random.

What Cluster Pays Do Well

Cluster slots are not “better” than payline slots. They are different, and some players enjoy them more. These are the points that stand out in our reviews:

  • Chain reactions. Because winning symbols clear and new ones drop in, a single spin can run through several wins in a row. Some cluster slots add multipliers; Dublin Your Dough: Rainbow Clusters, for instance, is built around a Ride the Rainbow multiplier feature.
  • Easy to read. You look for groups of the same symbol. There are no lines to count, which makes cluster slots simple to follow on a phone screen.
  • Flexible stakes. Cluster slots normally let you change your bet level, so you can play at a size that suits your budget. Dublin Your Dough: Rainbow Clusters, for example, accepts bets from 0.10 up to 30 credits per spin.

The flip side is that a cluster slot can also go several spins without a connected group. Nothing about the format guarantees wins, so set a budget before you start and keep to it.

Cluster Pays Slots We’ve Reviewed

We only list a slot here when our own review says that slot pays in clusters. Providers and RTPs come from our slot database. RTP is the theoretical return over a very long run, not what you will get in a session. Read what RTP means if you are not sure.

  • Aztec Clusters (BGaming): a 6×8 grid with a cluster pays system, where five or more identical icons touching horizontally or vertically form a win. Wilds, multipliers, scatters, free spins and cascading reels are all in the mix. No RTP in our database.
  • Crystal Catcher (Push Gaming, RTP 96.3%): a mining theme where a winning cluster triggers a cave-in and symbols slide into the empty spaces. You need at least five matching icons touching.
  • Crystal Clusters (BGaming): a gem-themed 7×7 slot that uses a cluster-pays format instead of paylines, with cascading reactions after cluster wins.
  • Dublin Your Dough: Rainbow Clusters (Rival, RTP 94.01%): a 7×7 grid where at least five identical icons form a cluster. Our reviewer called the 94.01% RTP “a bit on the lower side”. See our page on Rival-powered casinos.
  • Gravity Bonanza (Pragmatic Play, RTP 96.09%): five or more matching symbols connected horizontally or vertically make a cluster, and winners disappear to leave room for new icons.
  • Sugar Rush (Pragmatic Play, RTP 96.52%): a 7×7 grid of sweets, with cluster wins replacing standard paylines. Clusters need at least five matching symbols.
  • Fruit Party (Pragmatic Play, RTP 96.47%): a familiar fruit theme on a 7×7 layout with cluster-based wins instead of standard reels and paylines.
  • Jammin’ Jars 2 (Push Gaming, RTP 90.8%): symbols connect to form clusters, and a Jar Wild raises its multiplier every time it takes part in a winning cluster. The RTP in our database is lower than most slots on this page, so compare before you play.
  • Reactoonz 2 (Play’n GO, RTP 96.2%): you need five or more symbols together in a cluster to progress.
  • Honey Rush (Play’n GO, RTP 96.5%): winning clusters are made of at least five identical, adjacent symbols, and special features can create cluster patterns of their own.
  • Cluster Tumble (Relax Gaming, RTP 96.4%): an 8×8 cascading video slot where wins are determined by symbol clusters.

Looking for the highest-paying slots in general, not just cluster games? Our lists of high RTP slots and low RTP slots show the range.

Before You Play a Cluster Slot

  • Check the paytable. The minimum cluster size and the value of each symbol are listed there. Do not assume every game uses five.
  • Check the RTP. Look at the game’s info screen as well as our figure, and compare it with similar slots.
  • Try a demo first. Many cluster slots look simple but have extra features, such as multipliers or special symbols. A free round shows you how they behave. Our free casino games page is a good starting point.
  • Learn the jargon. Words like cascade, tumble, scatter and multiplier come up constantly. Our slot terminologies guide explains them.
  • Know your other options. Cluster pays are one of several formats. See our overview of the favorite types of slots to compare.

In short, cluster pay slots replace paylines with groups of touching symbols, and cascades can chain wins together within one spin. They are a fun alternative to payline slots, but they are still slots: results are random, and you should only play with money you can afford to lose.

18+ only. Gamble responsibly: SA Responsible Gambling Foundation counselling line 0800 006 008 (24/7).