Aloha! Cluster Pays

Aloha! Cluster Pays Slot Review

Slot Provider: NetEnt

RTP: 96.42% | Variance: Low-Medium | Maximum Win: 2,000x

Our Score: 7.4

Play at Grand Ivy Casino
QUICK LINKS: Game Information | Where To Play | Full Review | Testing Notes | Tips For Players | About The Developer

WHY YOU CAN TRUST THIS REVIEW: The information and opinions on this page are the result of an comprehensive process of information gathering and live game testing by the gambling experts who work at allslotsites.com. Find out more here.

About Aloha! Cluster Pays

Reviewed by:

Published Date: 18th July 2024

How We Review Slot Games

We test and rate all slot games across 5 criteria, assigning a score out of 10 for each and an overall score that is an average of the 5. To build an accurate assessment of each game we gather information from the supplier and play in real play or demo mode. Find out more.

With a generous RTP of 96.42% and low to medium variance, Aloha! Cluster Pays by Netent is a great introduction to this fun pay mechanic. Instead of making wins on fixed paylines, you just need to make clusters of at least 9 identical symbols to win. With its bright and colourful Hawaiian theme, ample features including symbol stacks, free spins and wilds, and max win of 2,000x your bet, this slot is a joy to play.

Aloha! Cluster Pays Game Information

  • Release Date: 25.03.16
  • RTP: 96.42%
  • Variance: Low-Medium
  • Maximum Win: 2,000x
  • Progressive Jackpot: No
  • Reels: 6
  • Rows: 5
  • Minimum Stake: £0.10
  • Theme: Tiki
  • Features: Free SpinsSticky ClustersSymbol StacksWilds
  • Format: Cluster Pays

Testing Notes: Here’s What Happened When We Played Aloha! Cluster Pays

IMPORTANT: To give you an accurate assessment of the games we review our writers play 200 spins. Whilst this is a useful tool to help us review games and to give an example of what might happen when you play, keep in mind that 200 spins is only a very small sample and cannot be used to accurately predict what might happen over another 200 spins. The outcome of all slots play is always random.

Boom Or Bust? Our Session By The Numbers

Test spins and results analysis by Mark Wadie.

Results from 100 spins with real money on Aloha! Cluster Pays at Casumo.

  • Stake Size: £0.1
  • Start balance: £1,030.65
  • End balance: £1,025.60
  • Win Rate: 18% (27 winning spins in 150)
  • Biggest Win: 26.5x
  • Free Spins Round: 1

Aloha! Cluster Pays is certainly a classic but it does look dated now. The gameplay has inspired 100s of other slots since, but they have moved the game on a bit. Still, its fun to play, and you can hit some nice wins even in the base game through the Re-Spins feature.

Symbols Stacks in Aloha! Cluster Pays
Symbols Stacks in the free spins round

I played 150 spins at 10p per spin. The win rate was surprisingly low for a low-mid variance game, with just 18% of spins producing a win. That sticky clusters / re-spins feature showed up just twice, landing me a 10x win at best. But I did get into the free spins round once, where a few stacked symbols helped produce a total payout of 26.5x.

Free spins win in Aloha! Cluster Pays
26.5x win (10p stake) from free spins

Take aways? Aloha! Cluster Pays will always be a fun game thanks to holiday vibes and the amusing animated statue, and for some casual, low stakes spins, it makes a good choice.

What We Liked

  • An all time classic slot with fun cluster pays format
  • Random re-spin feature with sticky clusters helps build big wins
  • Low-medium variance gives a regular distribution of wins
  • Nice 96.42% RTP

What We Didn't like

  • 2,000x max win is low by today's standards
  • There are many more sophisticated cluster pays games by now

Aloha! Cluster Pays Review Scores

  • Theme and Design 8
  • RTP and Variance 8
  • Maximum Win 6
  • Symbols and Paytable 7
  • Features and Gameplay

What Our Reviewer Says ...

"A NetEnt classic that looks a little dated now but remains a hugely popular cluster pays slot"

Overall Score: 7.4

Theme & Design

Our Score 8

Sights and Sounds of Hawaiian Beach Life

NetEnt delivers a vibrant game with a colourful Hawaiian Tiki theme. From the giant Tiki head next to the reels (who comes alive with animations, even playing guitar) to the bright, beautiful flowers on the play grid, this game exudes that island energy. 

Aloha! Cluster Pays by NetEnt
Aloha! Cluster Pays – the original Tiki slot with total Hawaiian vibes!

The volcano bubbles away in the background, against a captivating pink and orange sky, beside that unmistakeable Hawaiian-blue ocean. It’s a tropical escape, one that fans of relaxing slots will enjoy.

RTP and Variance

Our Score 8

What is RTP?

RTP (Return to Player) refers to the amount a game will pay out in cash prizes expressed as a percentage of all the money wagered on that game. For example, a 96% RTP means a game will pay out £96 for every £100 wagered. This is an average number and will vary from one session to the next.  Read more here.

What is Variance?

Variance refers to how far a game will deviate from its RTP over time. High variance games deviate a lot and produce uneven win distributions and unexpected windfalls. Low variance games provide a more stable and even distribution of wins. Read more here.

When it comes to online slots that are beginner-friendly, it doesn’t get much better than Aloha! Cluster Pays. This slot has a solid RTP of 96.42% and a low to medium volatility. This means you’ll get a fairly even win distribution with a mixture of smaller wins and some larger ones, with few dry spells. It’s nice to be able to play a game of this quality without expecting to burn through your bankroll.

Maximum Win

Our Score 6

What Is Maximum Win?

Maximum win refers to the maximum amount a player can win from one spin. It is expressed as a multiple of the stake. For example, where the maximum win is 100,000x, from a £1 stake, the maximum win would be £100,000.  

The top payout of 2,000x your stake is a little underwhelming. However, this game was released back in 2016. Nowadays, NetEnt has a catalogue of huge max payout slots, including some that reach up to 200,000x your bet. However, you’ve got to take a hit on RTP and usually play a much higher volatility game to reach those kinds of numbers.

For big jackpot chasers, it might not be the perfect choice, but it’s still a solid prize that most players wouldn’t mind netting!

Symbols and Paytable

Our Score 7

Played on a 6 reels and 5 rows, this game uses a cluster pays mechanic. This means that you don’t need to land symbols on specific paylines, but rather you make wins by landing at least 9 symbols touching each other.

Aloha! Cluster Pays Paytable
The paytable with 1,000x for 30 or more top paying premium symbols

There are 7 pay symbols in total, plus a scatter and a wild. The low paying symbols are the flowers and fruit, these pay from 0.5x your bet for 9x symbols, up to 200x your bet for 30 symbols. The premium symbols are the different coloured tiki masks. These pay from 2x your bet for 9x symbols up to 1000x your bet for 30 red tiki masks.

Features and Gameplay

Our Score

Aloha! Cluster Pays has a good selection of features that make the gameplay even more exciting. Let’s take an in-depth work at how they all work.

Substitution Symbols Represented by the ‘?’

Aloha! Cluster Pay’s substitution – the ‘?’ – is like a wild. It can replace any symbol at all, except for the scatter symbol. When it lands on the grid it will help to complete or improve winning clusters.

Sticky Cluster Symbols

At random times, when you make a cluster, you can trigger the sticky clusters feature. The cluster that you make will stay in place and the other symbols will spin again. If you manage to add to your original then you get to spin again for free until the cluster doesn’t grow. You’re then awarded the full amount for the final cluster.

Sticky Cluster Re-Spins Win
A 10x win from a sticky cluster with re-spins

Free Spins Bonus Round

The free spins bonus round can be triggered by getting between 3 and 6 scatter symbols. 3 symbols gets 9 spins, 4 gets 10, 5 gets 11, and 6 gets you 12. Within the free spins round itself, you can also land additional free spins by landing more scatters, land 3, 4, 5, or 6 scatters for 1, 2, 3 or 4 additional free spins.

Plus, if you don’t land a win on the last free spin, you keep getting additional free spins until one wins! 

Symbol Drop Feature

This free spins round also includes a ‘Symbol Drop’ feature. This removes some of the lower paying symbols from the grid. This means you can hopefully make better winning combinations.

Stacked Symbols

Within the free spins round you can also benefit from stacked symbols. These are tiki masks in various colours and will stretch to fill several spaces. They’re worth double the usual amount.

The Final Verdict

Aloha! Cluster Pays is one of the pioneers of the cluster pay mechanic. With its relatively generous RTP and low to medium volatility, it’s a sound choice even for players on a budget. The max win of 2,000x your bet is a little low, but the plethora of features makes the excitement on offer more than worth that trade off. Plus, you can get started for as little as £0.10!

Useful Tips When Playing Aloha! Cluster Pays

Remember, online slots are games of chance, there is NO strategy that can improve your odds of winning. However, reading our review and following these tips will help you get the most out of your time playing this slot game.

1. Look For Substitution Symbols

The ? can be useful in helping to build out your clusters. It will substitute for any pay symbol to increase the size of an adjacent cluster.

2. Play With The Sound On

One of the best parts about Aloha! Cluster Pays is the Hawaiian soundtrack that puts you in the mood for a cocktail and sun lounger!

3. Look For Those Free Spins Symbols

The post card with Free Spins on it is needed to unlock the bonus feature. Look for 3 or more landing on one spin in the base game.

4. Play At Our Recommended Slot Sites

We have chosen the sites on this page because they all scored high in our reviews and they are licensed by the UK Gambling Commission. That makes them fair and safe places to play slots.

Who Made Aloha! Cluster Pays?

  • Name: NetEnt
  • Established: 1996
  • UK License: 39861 (Under Evolution Gaming)
  • Total Games: 500 +
  • Known For: Massive range of games, branded slots, big progressives, low to high variance
  • Popular Slots: Starburst, Dead or Alive, Gonzo's Quest, Aloha! Cluster Pays
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