Ask Genie: What is a Cascading Reel?

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The popularity of cascading reels has led a wide range of software developers to embrace them as a regular slot feature, and if you’ve played a slot or two, you’ve probably come across slot games which use cascading reels. Put simply, when a player wins, symbols in a cascading reel slot game explode and can be replaced by fresher symbols that fall from above the reels. It's well-liked since it gives players the chance to raise their profits and make their bankroll endure for a lot longer despite the original symbols practically dissipating. Cascading reels also allow for the potential for multiple wins from a single spin, which certainly increases the excitement of the gameplay.

In today’s Ask Genie article, we’ll be taking a closer look at the Cascading Reel feature, which is now a vital part of many slot games.

How do Cascading Reels work?

A cascading reel slot, also known as avalanching or tumbling reels, sees winning symbols vanish and new ones arise in their place. The new symbols give you a second chance to win without having to place an additional wager, which is what they all have in common.

Avalanching or cascading wins are most frequently used in games like Grid slots with cluster pays that are not 5-reel video slots. These occur when identical symbols line up horizontally, vertically, or diagonally to produce a winning combination. The symbols will vanish after a winning combination is created, making room for other symbols to fall into position and raise players' chances of winning.

The multiplier on cascade reels with multipliers grows with each spin and may typically reach up to 5x and 10x the initial payoff, which is their finest feature. But it can also start any other function, such as adding wilds in the Incinerator slot machine after a predetermined amount of cascading wins.

These exploding reels have been used by Megaways online slots in recent years to both make winning symbols disappear and to award multipliers for each win during the free spin bonus round.

Why are Cascading Reels popular?

Cascading reels are so popular because of the renewed excitement created by each spin. When the reels come to a stop the round isn’t over; it can be just the beginning. With the possibility for multiple payouts from a single spin and additional elements such as increased in multipliers or expanding reels, cascading reel slots are popular with modern slot players who are looking for a more dynamic slot experience. 

List of Games with Cascading Reels

Gonzo’s Quest

Net Ent created the online slot machine Gonzo’s Quest, which is based in the pre-Columbian Mayan culture. There are 20 fixed paylines and 5 reels and 3 rows in this game. The game contains five bet levels, a free spins bonus, a 25,000 coin jackpot, and five different bet levels.

Da Vinci Diamonds

IGT developed the online slot machine Da Vinci Diamonds, which features a tumbling reels mechanism. It has a medium level of volatility, a free spins bonus, an RTP of 94.94%, and a maximum payout of 5000 times.

Raging Rhino

WMS Gaming's exciting Raging Rhino slot machine features African animals as its theme. When it was first released in August 2015, it gave you up to an incredible 4096 ways to win on each spin. Raging Rhino slot deviates from the "traditional" video slot setup of 5 reels and instead gives you a large 6 reel and 4 row layout to search for the big rewards. It is situated in the stunning African savannah.

Big Bad Wolf

In the prestigious Big Bad Wolf slot from Quickspin, which has a remarkable RTP of 97.34%% and an eye-catching Free Spins bonus that pays up to 1,225x the stake, blow off the house and capture the three small pigs.

Fruit Warp

Fruit Warp is an online slot made by Thunderkick that doesn’t have any reels or rows; instead, 9 symbols appear on the screen. Matching five or more symbols triggers a bonus where multipliers and extra lives can be awarded.

Play Online Slots at Spin Genie

Despite being relatively recent (in terms of slot games’ long history) the cascading reels feature is a staple part of many new online slot games and is certainly here to stay. If you’ve never tried out a cascading reels slot, this might just be  the time to try playing it. Sign up and play today at Spin Genie.

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