Cluster pays slots use a ‘cluster' mechanic to determine wins, removing the need to land match symbols across fixed paylines. Instead, groups of the same symbol that are connected horizontally or vertically will contribute to a winning combination. Developed by NetEnt in 2016, the mechanic is now widely used across the slots space and is popular with players due to its puzzle game-style format. Below, we explore how Cluster Pays slots work and point you towards some of the best titles that use the reel mechanic.
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Play Cluster Pays games for free: Before we breakdown the mechanic in more detail, you can check out hundreds of Cluster Pays slots on our free demo slots page. jus search the names of some of the titles we recommend on this page and you can play for free without risking real money.
How do Cluster Pays Slots Create Symbol Combinations?
If you've played mobile puzzle games like Candy Crush, you'll instantly see the similarities when playing Cluster Pays slots. Winning combinations are created when matching symbols land in connected groups. Typically, you'll need a minimum of four, five or sometimes more symbols connected to each other vertically or horizontally to earn a payout.
Where Another big difference compared to regular paylines, is that these clusters can form in any position on the reels. They do not have to start on the first reel or follow across consecutive reels a certain number of times. As long as the symbols are the same, connected, and there are enough of them as per the pay table, you win a payout.
Other common characteristics of Cluster Pays slots:
- 6×6, 7×7 or 8×8 grids are used for Cluster Pays slots, rather than the smaller 5×3 or 6×4 reel configurations used alongside other mechanics.
- Many software providers combine the reel mechanic with other mechanics and features on their slots, such as cascading reels and progressive win multipliers.
- More symbols can be involved in winning combinations than on regular slots, with some titles allowing combinations featuring 8 or more matching symbols.
Aloha! Cluster Pays – Where it All Began
While several other titles experimented with cluster-like mechanics, NetEnt's Aloha! Cluster Pays is widely acknowledged as the first mainstream Cluster Pays slot machine. It is not only one of the studio's most successful slots of all time, but is the title that truly popularised the Cluster Pays mechanic.
More about NetEnt: As one of the longest-running online slot providers in iGaming, it isn't a surprise that NetEnt has helped shape the future of slot machines by developing new mechanics and bonus features. If you want to learn more about the studio, have a read through our dedicated NetEnt software provider guide.
Award Winning Cluster Pays Slots
As further evidence of the popularity of the Cluster Pays mechanic, many slots using it have won iGaming awards over the years. Examples include Sugar Rush from Pragmatic Play, which won Online Slot of the Year at the 2023 Global Gaming Awards, while Push Gaming's Jammin' Jars 2 scooped Game of the Year at the 2021 EGR Operator Awards.
Cluster Pays Slots with Progressive Jackpots
While most progressive jackpot slots use the traditional payline mechanic, there have been a few Cluster Pays titles that could land you a life-changing jackpot win worth millions. We've listed several examples below, each of which uses clusters to calculate wins alongside cascading reels, multipliers and a variety of other bonus features to help to create an engaging gameplay experience.
Progressive Jackpots: You can find numerous other jackpot slots to play on our dedicated major progressive jackpot networks overview here.
Other Popular Cluster Pays Slot Machines
Honestly, we could reel off dozens of popular Cluster Pays slot machines, as there are so many of them out there. However, if we had to pick three that we feel are among the very best, it would have to be the following titles.
Cluster Pays Slot and Pokie Bonus Deals
If you've played the demos of some of the Cluster Pays slots we've recommended above and are now ready to give them a try with real money bets, you'll first need to find a trustworthy online casino that offers exciting bonus deals that give you more funds to play with in return for your deposits. At the top of the screen, you'll see we have dedicated sections for free spins, no deposit and real money casino bonuses. Alternatively, you can just click the images below to find what you're looking for. Read through those sections and you'll find plenty of top platforms that reward new players with fair and enjoyable bonuses.
Are Clusters Pays Slots for Me?
Everybody has their own preferences and opinions, so some will enjoy Cluster Pays slots while others may prefer other reel mechanics, whether that's traditional paylines, the popular Megaways mechanic or pay anywhere slots. Ultimately, you'll not know until you play a few Cluster Pays slots for yourself.
However, Cluster Slots have proven popular with a good portion of players over the years, with many games that use the mechanic even going on to win industry awards. There are many reasons for this, including the mechanic usually being used in collaboration with the cascading reels mechanic. Winning combinations are removed from the reels and more fall into the playing grid.
As you can imagine, that means the potential to land additional wins on the same spin. Many slots even add additional modifiers like progressive win multipliers that boost winnings for consecutive wins.
We recommend giving some of the slots above a try, as we're confident the cluster pays mechanic will appeal to the majority of you.
Alternative reel mechanics: Whether you become a fan of cluster pays or not, there's plenty of other reel mechanics to try out. We have them all covered in our slot machine reel mechanics overview, which explains how they all work and recommends the best slots that use them.
| Software Provider Demo Games | Licensing Certificates Held | Countries Available |
|---|---|---|
| Big Time Gaming Megaways Demo Slots | UKGC / MGA | UK, IE, CA, NZ, SA, IN |
| Red Tiger Megaways Demo Slots | UKGC / MGA | UK, IE, CA, NZ, SA, IN |
| Blueprint Gaming All Demo Slots | UKGC / MGA / AGCO | UK, IE, CA, NZ, SA, IN |
| Pragmatic Play All Demo Slots | UKGC / MGA / AGCO | UK, IE, CA, NZ, SA, IN |
| Relax Gaming All Demo Slots | UKGC / MGA | UK, IE, CA, NZ, SA, IN |
Cluster Pays Slot Machine FAQ
Will I win more when playing Cluster Pays slots compared to others?
No, Cluster Pays is simply a reel mechanic that produces results differently from others and does not necessarily payout any more than any other mechanic. Your results still come down to other factors, such as the slot's return-to-player percentage (RTP), volatility and maximum win.
How to win playing Cluster Pays slot machines?
The mechanic might seem confusing at first if you're not used to it, but it's actually quite simple. When you land a specific number of matching symbols in clusters, which is when they're all connected vertically or horizontally, you win a payout. Obviously, the number and type of symbol involved determines the size of your win.
Can I play Cluster Pays slots for free?
Yes, most slot developers will make a demo version of their Cluster Pays slots available. You play using a virtual currency that holds no real-world value. You can experience some of these demos via the links we've provided in our guide above.
Can I use casino bonus spins on Cluster Pays slot machines?
Yes, many online casino free spins bonus deals are linked to popular Cluster Pays slots. One example is Sugar Rush from Pragmatic Play. Many platforms give you free spins on that award-winning slot when you claim bonuses. Take a look at our free spins casino bonus page to find bonuses that could give you spins on cluster slot machines.
Who invented Cluster Pays slots?
NetEnt is widely believed to be the creator of the Cluster Pays mechanic, with it first coming to mainstream popularity in the Aloha! Cluster Pays slot that is still one of the studio's most successful games to date.
