What are cluster pays slots?

A coin mascot sliding on a pile of coins. A slot machine is giving out coins.
2 min read

Cluster Pays slots pay out when the reels cluster symbols on adjacent positions on the reels. Most online slots that use this real mechanic will need a minimum of six to eight symbols clustered together to trigger a combination win.

Typically, you’ll find that these slot games come on a large grid, some that are 5×5, 6×6, 7×7, 8×8 or 9×9. There are no pay lines and no rules whereby symbols have to land on the first reel and subsequent reels. As long as the cluster lands anywhere in the grid, you get paid.

One of the reasons cluster pays slots have become so popular it’s that they are full of action, thanks to an army of additional features.

Some of the features you’ll typically find on cluster pays slots are as follows:

  • Cascades: Cascading reels  that give you a chance to land multiple clusters from a single spin
  • Symbol Modifiers: modifiers that explode or spread across the rules
  • Wild Modifiers: The substitute wild symbol modifiers that span reels, explode on the reels, remain sticky, and more
  • Giant Symbols: These symbols can cover multiple positions, and can guarantee or help to create cluster wins

Some of the most popular examples include Reactoonz by Play’n GO and Aztec Clusters by BGaming.

Cluster pays slots give you an excellent alternative to payline and no payline slots that require symbols to line up from left to right across adjacent reels.. You can check out our top cluster pays slots or compare them with alternative payout styles before you spin.

Key takeaway: Cluster pays slots break away from traditional lines, rewarding you for groups of matching symbols and often adding features that ramp up the action.

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