With a unique way of building winning combinations of symbols, Cluster Pays are a thrilling alternative to payline slots. For those new to this type of game, or those looking to find a new favourite to try, our slots writer, Dominic Field, picks out his top 10 and tells you what makes them tick.

Cluster Pays slots have been around since 2016 when NetEnt produced the ground-breaking Aloha! Cluster Pays game. Since then, numerous developers have hopped on the bandwagon and there are now 100s of Cluster Pays games to choose from.

Before I get into picking my favourites, here’s a bit more about Cluster Pays and why so many players love it.

How Do Cluster Pays Slots Work?

Cluster Pays is a simple alternative to paylines. Instead of triggering wins by landing identical symbols across a line formed between adjacent reels, instead players must land identical symbols on adjacent positions anywhere on the grid to form ‘clusters’. You can see how that works in this screenshot from Jammin’ Jars 2 from Push Gaming.

Typically, a winning cluster is made up of 5 or more identical symbols joined horizontally, vertically or diagonally. The more symbols in a cluster, the higher the payout. For example, in a grid of 6×6 you can have clusters of 30 or more symbols which trigger huge wins.

Why is Cluster Pays so popular? For these reasons:

• The thrill of chasing big clusters – you can build huge clusters in these games, as many as 20 or even 30 symbols in one group, to trigger huge wins.
• Clusters combine with other features – it gets even more exciting when Cluster Pays mixes with other classic features like Avalanche Wins or even expanding reels, like in Big Time Gaming’s Star Clusters, featured in our top 10.
• Super cool themes – in the best of these slots, Cluster Pays weaves brilliantly into the gameplay and features, as you see in games like Play n Go’s Honey Rush with its hexagonal grid that mirrors a honeycomb.
• Big win potential – developers do not shy away from offering the big prizes in Cluster Pays games. Just check out Push Gaming’s Jammin’ Jars 2 with a 50,000x top win for example.

Huge payouts, fun themes and exciting gameplay – that’s Cluster Pays for you!

Where can you play Cluster Pays slots? 

I’ve recommended a few slot sites on this page where you can play Cluster Pays games. My favourite of the lot is Casumo Casino, it has ALL the games on this page amongst a list of more than 3,500!

Visit Casumo Casino For a 100% Match Bonus | Read Our Review of Casumo

Top 10 Cluster Pays Slots

In the table below, I’ve picked out 10 of my favourite Cluster Pays slots. Each one is unique in its own right with its own reasons to appear in the list and I’ve covered a range of variance, RTP and maximum payout levels so there is something for everyone. For each game I have also recommended a licensed slot site where you can play too. 

Let’s take a closer look at our top 10 Cluster Pays slots and discover why we’re recommending them for you to try.

Why We Love Aloha! Cluster Pays

• The original Cluster Pays slot from the masters
• Low-medium variance makes this very playable
• Fun, light-hearted theme with vibrant design
• Nice 96.42% RTP

Suitable For

• Those new to Cluster Pays and who want low-risk slots play

About This Game

Industry giant NetEnt first introduced the slots community to the Cluster Pays concept back in March 2016. As the name implies, Aloha! Cluster Pays adopts a Hawaiian theme with bright coconuts, seashells and pineapples appearing on the game’s 6×5 grid. 

Standing next to the reels is a guitar-playing, sunglasses-wearing, animated Tiki, who’ll keep you entertained with his antics as the action unfolds. In fact, what I love about this game is its upbeat style – it is bursting with fun, colour and vibrancy. At the same time, despite the light-hearted nature, it can still be potentially rewarding and comes with a solid 96.42% RTP which is generous enough.  

Although the maximum win of 2,000x is not exactly huge, it’s worth remembering that this pioneering slot was produced long before the trend for massive maximum payouts kicked off. Suitable for all bankrolls, you can play from just £0.10 up to a maximum of £200. And finally, the game isn’t too volatile either, slipping nicely into the low to medium range. 

Why We Love Jammin’ Jars 2 by Push Gaming 

• Funky design and animations
• Wild Jars with progressive multipliers  in free spins
• Collect Gold Vinyls to increase the RTP up to 96.4%
• Highly volatile with a 50,000x maximum win

Suitable For

• Those. who love high energy, high risk slots with big potential

About This Game

The original version of this Push Gaming slot became an instant classic upon its release in September 2018. So there was little surprise when a sequel was announced which eventually dropped in June 2021. 

Set in a disco with a jazzy soundtrack, the premise remains the same as the original. There’s a variety of fruits to be found on the game’s 8×8 grid, and matching at least five in a cluster earns you a prize. Fruit Blasts trigger the arrival of new symbols, potentially leading to rewarding chain reactions. While the dancing jam jars return in the Giga Jar free spins feature where extra wilds are dropped onto the reels.

Although the RTP of Jammin’ Jars 2 is a little lower than the original, 96.40% is still comfortably above average. However, the sequel’s maximum win potential of 50,000x is a significant upgrade on the first game, both of which are highly volatile. Spin the reels from as little as £0.10 up to a maximum of £200.

Why We Love Hand of Anubis by Hacksaw Gaming

• Dark and sinister atmosphere and monstrous Anubis
• High volatility for thrilling gameplay
• Stunning bonus round with huge multipliers
• Solid 96.24% RTP

Suitable For

• Those looking for dark, atmospheric slots stacked with multipliers

About This Game

As soon as you see the name Anubis in the title, you know we’re dealing with an Ancient-Egyptian theme. However, this dark April 2022 release from Hacksaw Gaming puts an interesting twist on things, avoiding the clichés of hieroglyphs, Sphinx symbols and gold everywhere in sight.

Instead, we’re presented with a predominantly black five reel slot, with two fierce-looking Anubis statues either side of the grid. The cinematic soundtrack also adds to the grim and slightly menacing feel, reminiscent of adventure video games. Even the names of the bonus rounds are somewhat sinister: Underworld and Judgement. 

If the overall theme is a little unpleasant, the game itself is really quite playable. A solid RTP of 96.24% underpins the highly volatile action, which starts from £0.10 per play with a maximum bet of £100. Watch out for the progressive multipliers at the foot of the grid to help you along the way to the top payout of 10,000x.

Why We Love Temple Tumble Megaways by Relax Gaming

• Awesome production with epic explorer theme
• Thrilling gameplay setting out to unblock the grid to release free spins
• 20,000x maximum win
• Highly volatile with tons of multipliers in the bonus round

Suitable For

• Those who like adventure slots with great visuals, as well as high payouts

About This Game

This November 2021 release from Relax Gaming is part of a series of slots featuring two intrepid explorers seeking out long lost treasures.  In this case, one of the explorers has gone missing. So it’s up to his equally adventurous wife to track him down and save the day. 

The reels are filled with valuable gemstones, plus what looks like some kind of tribal mask, a scarab beetle and a dragon. However, there are also blocker stones found on the grid, which can only be removed by forming clusters adjacent to them. To do this, our heroine, who has a distinctly Cat Wilde vibe, must connect at least four symbols horizontally or vertically. Removing all the blockers is your ultimate goal to reach the free spins bonus round.

Cluster Tumble adopts an 8×8 reel layout, which is fairly standard for Cluster Pays slots. The game is highly volatility scale, which is not uncommon for Relax Gaming, but the maximum payout of 20,000x is enticing. A competitive RTP of 96.40% is generous enough, too.

Why We Love StarClusters MegaClusters by Big Time Gaming

• Unique expanding-grid version of Cluster Pays
• Created by the kings of expanding reels gaming
• Excellent 23,000x top payout
• Generous 96.54% RTP

Suitable For

• Those who enjoy expanding reels slots

About This Game

Big Time Gaming is well-known for its innovation, especially the famous Megaways engine, which changed the way we view paylines forever. With the Megaclusters mechanic, the developer has once again found a creative way to improve our enjoyment, this time for Cluster Pays slots.

The reels of this June 2020 release are configured in a simple 4×4 layout, with various brightly-coloured gemstones appearing. To form a win, match five in a cluster, either horizontally or vertically. However, that’s when the twist of Star Clusters Megaclusters kicks in. After receiving your reward, every position containing a winning symbol splits into a smaller 4×4 grid, potentially leading to further combinations. 

This will keep occurring until no more clusters can be made, creating a maximum of 64 possible spaces on the reels. Secure at least five consecutive combinations to earn free spins, which play out on an enhanced 8×8 grid. The volatility level is in the medium to high range, but this slot still offers a chunky potential maximum win of 23,000x.

Why We Love Sweet Bonanza by Pragmatic Play

• Lots of random multiplier in the bonus round
• Top win of 21,000x
• Simple gameplay and easy to follow
• Bright, colorful interface

Suitable For

• Those looking for simple gameplay but still huge payouts

About This Game

This sickly sweet 6×5 slot is a true classic of the genre, which has led to multiple spin-offs, including a live game show. Released in June 2019, it features a healthy 96.48% RTP and a highly volatile model, with a maximum payout of 21,100x. Suitable for all bankrolls, you can spin the Sweet Bonanza reels from a minimum of £0.20 through to £100 per play.

As its name suggests, sugary treats are the focus of this Pragmatic Play title. The game’s regular symbols are made up of various delicious fruits and hard candies. Matching at least eight earns you a prize, as well as triggering the Tumble feature. Here, winning symbols disappear, allowing new snacks to fall onto the grid and form extra combinations.

The game’s star attraction is its free spins round, which is triggered by the lollipop scatter. Collect four, five or six of these to activate the bonus with ten free spins. The more triggering scatters you collect, the bigger the accompanying cash prize, with 3x, 5x and 100x up for grabs.

Why We Love King Carrot by Hacksaw Gaming

• Funny gameplay where King Carrot eats up other symbols
• Massive multiplier of up to 100x
• Well balanced medium variance gameplay from Hacksaw
• Still a nice 10,000x max win

Suitable For

• Those who like quirky and humorous slots with regular payouts

About This Game

A cute and colourful title, as is so often the case with Hacksaw Gaming releases, King Carrot features several charming fruit and vegetable cartoon characters. And as the name of this January 2022 release implies, the carrot is the star of the show. 

The idea is to collect clusters of at least 14 of any of the adorable-looking symbols, which include pears, grapes, apples and watermelons. However, should a King Carrot symbol appear – the one wearing a crown – something magical happens. A different symbol is randomly selected and the regular buck-toothed carrot scoffs any of the chosen characters appearing on the 7×7 grid. Once the symbols are replaced, new rewards are paid out accordingly.

Whenever these symbol transformations have occurred, there’s a chance for an Epic King Carrot to randomly appear. This triggers multipliers ranging from 2x to a mighty 100x, leading to potential wins of up to 10,000x. The game’s RTP clocks in at 96.30% and the volatility level is well-balanced, at 3/5.mas

Why We Love Dragons Clusterbuster by Red Tiger

• Clever gameplay unhatches features via the middle positions
• Green hatchling adds up to 20 extra wilds
• Up to 100x multipliers added via purple hatchling
• Plays on big 9×9 grid

Suitable For

• Those who like epic games with lots of features to unlock and progress through

About This Game

The 9×9 reel grid of Dragons Clusterbuster is a little larger than most Cluster Pays slots. However, many other features of this game, which seems to be aimed at more casual players, tend to be on the smaller size. For instance, the maximum bet limit is just £20, with spins beginning from as little as £0.10.

Similarly, the game’s maximum potential win is not the biggest at 5,250x, while the RTP is a perfectly average 96.00%. However, the main reason we love this April 2022 release from Red Tiger is the unusual approach to accessing its bonus. Much like a role playing video game, you must first unlock features before they can be used.

At the start of the game, the Clusterbuster – a giant 3×3 egg symbol – sits in the middle of the grid. However, it is inaccessible until you smash the eight outer symbols of the egg. You’ll need to hatch three different eggs in order – blue, green and purple – to earn your free spins.

Why We Love Templar Tumble 2 by Relax Gaming

• Huge multi million GBP jackpot available
• Superb production with giant Templar Knights
• Progressive multipliers in free spins round
• Includes 20,000x non progressive jackpot

Suitable For

• Those who like progressive multipliers and jackpots

About This Game

Relax Gaming just loves to produce Cluster Plays slots with the Tumble feature, so this November 2022 release was an unsurprising addition to the series. Not to be confused with Temple Tumble 2 Dream Drop, this particular game takes its name from the knights, two of whom can be found either side of the slot’s 6×7 reel grid.

Unlike traditional Cluster Pays slots, Templar Tumble 2 Dream Drop only requires you to find symbols on consecutive reels. That is, they don’t necessarily have to be touching. Symbols in the game include stylised playing card icons and various heraldic images, including a lion and an eagle. The knight’s helmet is the highest-paying symbol.

A 20,000x maximum win potential awaits lucky players in this highly volatile game. And if you’re wondering why the RTP seems so low at just 94.00%, that’s due to the Dream Drop progressive jackpot element. Collect six DD symbols to play a side game that gives you a shot at one of the five different prize pools.

Why We Love Honey Rush by Play n Go

• Unusual grid layout makes for interesting gameplay
• Charge up the Rush Meter to unlock new features
• Sticky Wilds trigger as you unlock new levels
• Gameplay interwoven with the theme

Suitable For

• Unusual game designs and progressive features

About This Game

Released in October 2019, Honey Rush differs from most Cluster Pays slots thanks to its unusual design. Since the theme of this game is bees, the layout takes the form of a hexagonal honeycomb. This effectively means seven rows tilted at an angle, in an unorthodox 4-5-6-7-6-5-4 setup.

The underlying premise remains the same as any other Cluster Pays slot, however. Match at least five symbols in a cluster to earn a reward. The four flowers serve as the game’s low-paying symbols, while coins and diamonds offer greater rewards. Speaking of which, the RTP here is a fairly decent 96.50%, with a maximum potential win of 9,000x.

Like many Cluster Pays slots, Honey Rush is extremely volatile. It’s possible to spin from just £0.10 per play, with a maximum bet size of £100.

There are 10 great Cluster Pays games to try here and many more available at your favourite online casinos. So which should you choose? Here are a few pointers to help you.

• Theme – one thing I love about the selection of games on this page is the diverse themes from light and cheerful – Honey Rush – to dark and sinister – Hand of Aubis. Pick a theme to suit your mood.
• Volatility – this is in indicator of the risk level of a slot. High volatility slots offer the chance of bigger wins but less frequently. They are high risk for high reward. Low and medium variance slots offer less risk but lower payouts. Which do you prefer?
• RTP – look for slots with a high RTP (Return to Player). That means on average the game pays back in prizes more of the money you wagered. I’ve listed the RTP of each game in the table at the top of this page. Ideally, every slot you play should have an RTP of at least 96%.
• Gameplay – find Cluster Pays slots with your favourite features like multipliers, free spins or mystery symbols for example. These are walk take an ordinary game to the next level of fun.

For more help choosing the right game for you, check out this guide.

Now you’re ready to start enjoying the Cluster Pays experience. And to help you, here is a selection of three online slot sites where you can test your luck. I’ve picked these for their wide choice of games – including Cluster Pays of course, great customer experience and good value bonuses.

Casumo Casino

Best For: Big game selection from more than 100 game providers
Cluster Pays Games: Jammin Jars 2, Blazing Clusters, Reactoonz 2
Sign Up Deal: 100% up to £25 and 20 Free Spins on Sahara Riches
More About This Site: Casumo is a superb all-rounder that will suit slots players of all shapes and sizes. It’s huge game catalogue is stacked with over 3,200 games from all the big providers and many smaller, lesser-known ones. And of course, you can spin all the best Cluster Pays slots here too.

Play At Casumo | Read Our Review

Play OJO

Best For: ‘No Wager’ free spins deals – all winnings in cash
Cluster Pays Games: Aloha! Cluster Pays, Sweet Bonanza, King Carrot
Sign Up Deal: 80 Wager Free Spins on Book of Dead – Winnings In Cash
More About This Site: Play OJO, on the Skill on Net platform, has more than 4,500 slots to spin, and a really useful search and filter menu that will allow you to locate your favourite Cluster Pays games in no time. They are also famous for their ‘no bullshit’ promo policy where ALL free spins deals pay out in cash!

Play At Play OJO | Read Our Review

Barz Casino

Best For: High value welcome bonus matching up to £300
Cluster Pays Games: Honey Rush, Dragons Clusterbuster, Hand of Anubis
Sign Up Deal: 100% up to £300 and 50 spins on Starburst
More About This Site: If you want to make a sizeable first deposit to play your favourite Cluster Pays slots then Barz is the slot site for you. They will match the first £300 you put into your account. Barz also has a sizeable slots catalgoue featuring more than 2,000 games.

Play At Barz Casino | Read Our Review

And it’s over to you … Good luck!