Have you ever spun a reel and landed a winning combination, only to watch the symbols disappear and get replaced by a set of new ones? That was you watching cascading reels in action.
This is one of the most popular mechanics in slot games that players love. It can turn a single spin into a long sequence of consecutive wins. Depending on the slot, cascades can even work alongside multipliers, Free Spins, Wilds, and other bonus features.
But how exactly does a cascading reel work? And how does it interact with other slot features? We’ll answer all of that and more with this quick and easy guide.
What Are Cascading Reels and How Do They Work in Slot Games?
Cascading reels are an incredibly useful addition to both in-person and online slots. They’re an added feature that’s both exciting and keeps the player feeling the thrill of the spin more than usual.
When a slot has cascading reels, winning symbols are removed from the board and replaced with new ones. These new symbols drop into empty spaces on the reel and give you the opportunity to form even more winning combinations. If you get another combination, they disappear and the cascade continues.
This goes on until no new winning combinations are formed. Plus, this all happens from a single spin or bet. So, there’s no limit as to how far one spin can take you with the right symbols and just a bit of luck.
Cascading Reels vs Standard Slot Reels
So, what’s the difference between cascading reels and regular ones? Well, the biggest difference has to do with what happens after you land a winning combination.
With a standard reel slot, each spin ends once the reel stops and the game calculates any wins before you spin again. There are no additional symbols added to the grid, and you get to spin again with a new bet.
In slot games with cascades, a win has the potential to keep the action going. Any symbols in a winning combination disappear, leaving blank spaces behind. New reels fall into place to replace them, giving the player a chance to potentially create more combinations without needing to place a new bet.
Cascades don’t guarantee another payout, though. The sequence ends as soon as there are no symbols that qualify for a win.
Cascading Reels vs Tumbling and Avalanche Reels
Now, if you’ve seen other slot terms like tumbling reels, avalanche reels, or tumble features, don’t worry. These aren’t some new and exciting concepts you need to learn, because they all basically refer to the same mechanic.
Each of these is just a different variation of cascading reels. They may differ in terms of their animations, the style of the mechanic, or other bonus features accompanying them, but they all do the same thing.
Gonzo’s Quest, for example, has winning symbols explode before new symbols drop down. Pragmatic Play slots often use the term “tumble” in their most popular titles, like Sweet Bonanza and Gates of Olympus.
So, basically… they’re the same thing!
What Slot Features Can Work with Cascading Reels?
Cascading reels are rarely their own standalone feature. Games often include them alongside other mechanics to create a more exciting experience. Here are a few other features that are commonly found working with cascading reels.
Increasing Multipliers
Sometimes a slot can use cascading reels with a mechanic that increases multipliers after each consecutive cascade. The maximum multiplier differs depending on the slot you choose, but these can get incredibly high. This increasing multiplier just raises the bar for potential winnings, and who doesn’t want that?
Free Spins
You’ll also find that some slot games have cascading reels during Free Spins. In some cases, Free Spin rounds can combine cascades with even more powerful features. However, it all depends on the game you’re playing. Generally, the cascades in Free Spin rounds work the same way: winning combination → symbols disappear → new symbols appear → repeat (hopefully multiple times).
Persistent Symbols
Another amazing feature some games have is persistent symbols. This means that during cascading events, certain special symbols will remain locked in their position while others disappear around them. The reels continue to change for a predetermined number of spins, which can lead to greater rewards once the entire grid is filled.
How would this work, exactly? An example may be if a game requires you to fill the board with the special bonus symbol. If you fill the board with that symbol completely before you run out of spins, you could win a jackpot. So, it’s always best to look at a slot’s paytable before you play to see if it has this mechanic.
Play Cascading Reel Slots With playTSOGO
If you want to see cascading reels in action, we’ve got plenty of options for you to choose. Whether you want to play something based on goddesses and queens, or something themed around a sweet, sugary candy world. There’s plenty to keep you coming back for more time and time again. So, what are you waiting for? Visit playTSOGO today, register an account, and start exploring our cascading slot game selection today!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can you get multiple wins from one spin with cascading reels?
Absolutely! In fact, that’s one of the biggest perks of cascading reels. If you land the right combinations, you can win as many times as a game will allow.
What are the best slot games with cascading reels on playTSOGO?
We have a huge selection of slot games with cascades on playTSOGO. You can start by trying popular selections like Gates of Olympus (Pragmatic Play), Gonzo’s Quest MegaWays (NetEnd), and Big Bass Bonanza MegaWays (Pragmatic Play).
Do cascading reels give you more ways to win?
Cascading reels don’t guarantee another win, but they do give you more chances to land winning symbols from a single paid spin. The initial paylines and ways to win stay the same depending on the game.
Do cascading reels increase multipliers in slot games?
Playing a slot with cascading reels doesn’t automatically mean your multipliers increase. However, many slot games do have this as a feature, so if that’s something you’re looking for, then check out the slot features beforehand.
Do you pay for every cascade in a slot?
Nope. That’s the best part about cascading reels. Once you place your bet, any additional cascades that happen after that are automatic, so you don’t have to bet again.
What is the difference between cascading reels and scatter pays?
Cascading reels are basically what happens after a win, with winning symbols being removed and replaced by new ones. Scatter pays describe how winning combinations are formed, typically by landing enough Scatter symbols in eligible positions.
