If you haven’t played cluster slots before, this might sound a bit odd to you. Don’t worry — we’ll set the record straight through this article.
Read on to find out more and learn the pros and cons of playing these pokies.
What Are Cluster Pokies?
Cluster pokies are a unique take on traditional pokie games since they offer the chance to activate wins in clusters.
NetEnt was the first software developer to introduce this pokie type through its trendy game Aloha! Cluster Pays. By playing this game, players learned about the cluster system and forgot all about the left to right and vice versa payout mechanisms.
The mechanism of cluster pokies allows matching symbols left to right and top to bottom, and the other way around, not taking into account the reels, lines, and location of symbols.
The one unofficial rule is that symbols must land next to each other and touch at least one corner of the reel grid.
Cluster pokies are extremely exciting and innovative, allowing players to completely immerse themselves in the game, not knowing the outcome.
After all, the bigger the cluster, the larger the prize, and who wouldn’t want that?
Most Popular Cluster Pokies
Although highly engaging and attention-grabbing, cluster pokies are not as popular as one would think. This is mainly due to a lack of initiative from software providers worldwide.
However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t enough cluster titles to go around. We’ve still compiled a list of the top pokies we think you’d enjoy.
Take a look at the list at the top of this page and pick out a favourite.
Features of Cluster Pokies
As you might already guess, cluster pokies bring some unique features aside from the cluster itself. The cluster mechanics is the main feature and something that attracts all players to these titles.
However, some games come with a range of other features, like:
- Avalanche reels — This feature makes more symbols fall into place of old symbols when you hit a cluster.
- Free spins — You can expect a couple of free spins to come your way in certain cluster pokies.
- Cluster pays — This feature depends on the game and provider, but it brings additional winning possibilities based on the grid, symbols, and other features.
Note that you might come across other perks, like wilds, multipliers, random features, etc.
In contrast, progressive jackpots are not typically associated with clusters.
Since many players want to give cluster pokies a try, we should let you know about a few things. Namely, it’s hard to determine how much money you can win by playing these titles, as the possibilities are endless. That’s why you should check the game’s RTP and understand its volatility (low, medium or high) since these two might give you an idea of what to expect.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Playing Cluster Pokies
Like any other pokies, clusters also come with their own sets of pros and cons.
Players who have already tried these pokies understand the reasoning behind the list, but if you haven’t had the chance to try them out, take a look below.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Higher payout chances | No progressive jackpots |
| Massive wins | Bigger learning curve |
| Cool features | |
| Range of themes |
Final Thoughts
Clusters represent a different variant of pokie games — one that’s definitely worth the spin.
If you’re unsure where to start, we suggest going through our list and picking one that catches your eye.
Note that clusters take a bit more time to get the hang of, so brace yourselves first. Once you figure it out, the fun will be never-ending!