The Five Dragons slot machine is a popular game developed by Aristocrat Gaming Technology. It has been around for quite some time now, but its charm and thrill have managed to captivate players worldwide. In this in-depth review, we will take you through the various aspects of the game, from its theme and design to its payouts and bonus features.
Theme and Design
The Five Dragons slot machine is set against a backdrop of ancient Chinese culture, with vibrant dragons, lanterns, and pagodas adorning 5 Dragons available at 5dragonsplay.com the reels. The game’s developers have done an excellent job in recreating the mystique of Eastern Asia, transporting players to a world of rich history and mythology.
Upon loading the game, you will notice that it features five reels, with three rows stacked on top of each other. The gameplay takes place against a scenic landscape, complete with towering mountains and serene water features. At the bottom of the screen, you’ll find the standard control panel, where you can adjust your bets and explore the various game modes.
Symbols
The Five Dragons slot machine features an array of symbols, each representing different values on the paytable. Here’s a breakdown of what you can expect to see:
- Numbered cards: 9-10, Jack, Queen, King, Ace
- Dragon symbols (five types): Blue, Red, Green, Gold, and Yellow
- Lantern symbol (scatter)
- Pagoda symbol (wild)
The game also features two special symbols that play a significant role in its gameplay.
Payouts
In terms of payouts, the Five Dragons slot machine offers a fixed jackpot win of 5000 coins. While this is not an enormous sum, the real magic happens when you trigger one or more bonus rounds. Here’s what to expect:
- Scatter pays: 2-5 lantern symbols award between 10x and 100x your total bet
- Wild combinations pay up to 250x your line bet for five consecutive wilds on a payline
While the payouts themselves are modest, it is essential to note that the game offers multiple bonus rounds, which significantly increase the potential earnings.
Wilds
The Pagoda symbol serves as a substitute for all other regular symbols except scatters. It can appear stacked across reels 1-5 and replace any standard icon to help create winning combinations.
While wilds themselves are not particularly special in Five Dragons, their appearance often triggers additional features or bonus rounds, which significantly boost the excitement factor.
Scatters
Lantern symbols function as scatter icons, triggering two bonus games: Free Spins Bonus and Dragon Link Bonus. The game’s developers have implemented a sophisticated system to make scatters appear on both reels 1-3 or all five reels at once.
Here are the payouts for two-scatter combinations:
- Two lanterns anywhere in view award between 10x to 20x your total bet
- Three scatter symbols anywhere reward between 30x and 50x your total stake
Bonus Features
As we mentioned earlier, scatters can unlock several bonus games. Here’s what you can expect from the two main features:
- Free Spins Bonus : Landing three or more lanterns in a row will trigger eight free spins at tripled payouts.
During this round, the Pagoda symbol transforms into an exploding Dragon that replaces standard icons to help form winning combinations. Free spin wins are indeed highly volatile and offer tremendous value.
- Dragon Link Bonus : This feature is activated when three or more dragon symbols appear on adjacent reels. During the game, dragons collect up their winnings, leading to four different bonus outcomes:
- Blue Dragon : Awards 10-50x total bet
- Green Dragon : Provides a selection of five additional games with guaranteed wins ranging from 1000:1 and above
- Yellow Dragon : Payouts range from 5-20x the player’s total stake
Each bonus outcome features unique gameplay mechanics, and it is not uncommon for multiple dragons to appear simultaneously.
RTP
The theoretical Return-to-Player (RTP) percentage of Five Dragons slot machine stands at around 97%. However, since this figure can vary depending on your gaming session and the game’s state, actual returns may differ.
Players should note that Aristocrat Gaming does not provide official statistics for their slots. It is essential to consult a review site or use available online tools for an accurate RTP estimate.
Volatility
While Five Dragons offers plenty of winning opportunities, it also has its fair share of losing sessions. Considering the presence of two bonus games, additional features like wilds and scatters, combined with an excellent payout ratio, we would classify this game as high to very-high in terms of volatility.
We must stress that Aristocrat slots are known for their rewarding gameplay experience and substantial maximum winnings potential (around 100x your initial stake). Consequently, the slot’s high risk can pay off significantly more frequently compared to other games within the genre.