Candy Crush is among the most popular video games ever devised. Famously satisfying and compulsive, it’s provided a model for other developers to strive toward.
One of its core mechanics has emerged in the online slot machine world, albeit in a slightly altered form. ‘Cluster Pays’ revolve around matching groups of symbols in order to create deeply satisfying chain reactions. But exactly how do they work?
What Are Cluster Pays and How Do They Work?
A ‘cluster pay’ slot machine lacks a traditional payline. Instead, players are expected to bring symbols together into groups of adjacent, identical symbols. The larger the group, the greater the payout. In many cases, the formation of one group can lead directly to the creation of another, which is where you get the satisfying ‘cascade’, reminiscent of the best puzzle games.
The Candy Crush Effect: Puzzle Mechanics in Casino Play
Of course, it isn’t just the mechanic itself that makes this particular style of game so compulsive. The best games will also need the right visuals and sounds. A cascade should be accompanied by a reward, in the form not just of points and prizes, but also of flashing lights and a crescendo of chimes. The greater the cascade, the more exciting the visual and auditory impact should be.
Why Players Prefer Cluster Pays Over Traditional Paylines
The traditional slot machine still has a place in a modern casino. After all, the market for these games is solid and resilient. However, it’s easy to see why so many prefer the latest spin on the formula. Cluster Pays provides more frequent wins, and the gameplay is far more open-ended. The possibilities are limitless, and so too is the excitement – if you understand how to play the game effectively.
Cluster Pays vs. Megaways: A Strategic Comparison
At around the same time that Cluster Pays was beginning to attract attention in the mid-2010s, another digital variation on the slot machine theme was just coming to prominence: the Megaways casino machine. The latter also sets aside the traditional slot machine rules, but it does it by adding additional reels and offering more than a hundred thousand different ways to win with every spin.
Typically, Megaways is a more volatile game, which can lead to greater excitement. Cluster Pays, by contrast, is steadier, with puzzle-based mechanics that might appeal more strongly to casual gamblers.
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