What is Cluster pays?
Cluster pays is a slot mechanic that awards wins for groups of matching symbols touching each other horizontally or vertically, rather than for symbols on paylines.
Cluster games are usually played on a larger grid, such as 6 by 6 or 7 by 7. A typical rule requires five or more identical symbols connected side by side or above and below one another. Diagonal contact usually does not count.
Most cluster slots use cascades, sometimes called tumbles or avalanches. After a win, the clustered symbols are removed and new ones fall into the gaps, which can form further clusters from a single paid spin. Multipliers that increase with each cascade are common.
As with any mechanic, the format changes how wins appear rather than the long-run cost of play, which depends on the game's RTP. Because cascades can chain several wins from one stake, cluster games often show a long animated sequence for a single paid round. The total return of that sequence is still governed by the same random outcome determined at the start of the spin.