Cascading Reels Slots Guide

Tumbling Reels Feature

The online casino industry is constantly evolving and consequently, so are we! Here at McLuck.com, we’re familiar with all the latest when it comes to slot lingo and exciting new mechanisms on the market. 

One of our beloved features is cascading/tumbling reels, which add another layer of immersion to some of the titles in our expansive online library.

Read on to learn more about exactly how cascading reels work as a slot machine mechanism. We also highlight some of the best games with tumbling reels that you can play right here at McLuck.com. 

What Are Cascading Reels in Slots?

If you’ve played slots before, you’ve probably heard of tumbling reels, avalanches, and cascading reels – these are all terms for the same slot machine mechanic. Essentially, symbols that form a winning combination are removed from the reels, and new symbols are dropped in their place. This creates a re-spin, which can result in additional wins and re-triggers if the new tumbling symbols form a winning combination.

The cascading reels mechanic first appeared in 2011 when NetEnt incorporated them into their smash-hit slot title, Gonzo’s Quest. Since then, they’ve taken over the slot industry and appeared in hundreds of games.

How the Feature Works 

Cascading reels slots start off like your standard game where you hit the spin button, and the reels spin. However, once you hit a winning combination, the symbols that formed the combination will suddenly fall off the reels. Then from above new symbols will fill their place. For example, if you hit a six-symbol winning combination, those six initial symbols will be replaced with six new symbols.

You can use the new symbols to form new winning combinations. The symbols keep tumbling as long as you keep hitting winning combinations. So from a single spin, you can win over and over again!

Popular Tumbling Reels Slots

McLuck Social Casino is home to 30+ cascading and tumbling reel slots from leading providers like Pragmatic Play, NetEnt, Booongo, Relax Gaming, Evoplay, and more. Picking exemplary titles from such a broad collection is certainly tough, but we’ve done our best to select some of our finest offerings with the tumbling reels mechanic.

Without further ado, here are our 10 most popular tumbling reel slots and a brief breakdown of how their avalanche feature works within the gameplay:

BOOM! BOOM! GOLD!

Collapsing Symbols in BOOM! BOOM! GOLD! Slot

In BOOM! BOOM! GOLD! by Booongo, cascading reels, or collapsing symbols, are triggered when you form a winning combination of eight or more symbols. These symbols don’t have to be consecutive or adjacent.

The winning symbols will then fall to the bottom, and new symbols will take their place, which effectively gives you a free re-spin.

Sticky Bees

Tumble Feature in Sticky Bees Slot

In Sticky Bees by Pragmatic Play, you need to hit five or more matching symbols horizontally or vertically to form a payline. Then the matching symbols will disappear and be replaced by random symbols.

If you hit another win, then these symbols will also disappear. The symbols will keep tumbling as long as you pair matching symbols.

Volatile Vikings 2

Volatile Vikings 2 Slot by Relax Gaming.

In Volatile Vikings 2 by Relax Gaming, tumbling reels are active on every spin. To unlock cascading reels, you need to land 8+ symbols on the board.

Adjacent reels aren’t necessary, as this game uses the scatter system. Once you hit a winning combination, new symbols will drop in, and you can form new wins without spinning the reels again.

Templar Tumble

Templar Tumble Slot by Relax Gaming.

In Templar Tumble by Relax Gaming, to trigger cascading reels, just hit 3+ matching symbols from left to right. Then new symbols will tumble and take their position. Templar Tumble also has blocking symbols that are left blank, and you need to form wins around them to remove them.

Space Miners

Space Miners Slot by Relax Gaming.

In Space Miners by Relax Gaming, cascading reels occur after you land 3+ matching symbols on adjacent reels starting from the left.

Following a win, the matched symbols will disappear, triggering a re-spin as new symbols fall into place and blocker tiles are removed.

Temple Tumble 2

Temple Tumble 2 Slot by Relax Gaming.

In Temple Tumble 2 by Relax Gaming, you need to hit 3+ symbols on adjacent reels. When this happens the matched symbols will explode and new ones will take their place.

Also, if there are blocker symbols nearby, they will explode, increasing the number of winlines.

Gates of Olympus

Tumble Feature in Gates of Olympus Slot by Pragmatic Play.

In Gates of Olympus by Pragmatic Play, you trigger cascading reels when you hit 8+ matching symbols anywhere on the reels. Then new symbols will fall from Mount Olympus and take their place, including multipliers up to 500x!

Candy Dreams: Sweet Planet

Candy Dreams: Sweet Planet Slot by Evoplay.

In Candy Dreams: Sweet Planet by Evoplay, you need to hit 8+ symbols to trigger tumbling symbols which come crashing down and replace the matched symbols. The tumbling symbols give you a free re-spin and can trigger additional wins.

TNT Tumble

TNT Tumble Slot by Relax Gaming.

In TNT Tumble by Relax Gaming, tumbling reels are available on every spin and occur when you hit 3+ matching symbols either horizontally or vertically.

If you hit a win next to a blocker symbol, it will also disappear from the reels, increasing your odds of hitting winning combos.

Milkshake XXXTREME

Milkshake XXXTREME Slot by NetEnt.

Milkshake XXXTREME by NetEnt follows a scatter system, so you unlock tumbling reels when you hit 8+ matching symbols anywhere on the reels.

Up to four Massive Milkshake Multipliers can drop down during cascading reels. The symbols will continue tumbling as long as you keep forming winning combinations.

Why Play Avalanche Slots?

Avalanche slots add a new thrilling twist to classic slot machines. You’ll be on the edge of your seat as the symbols come tumbling down. This slot mechanic also gives you additional ways to win via the re-spin feature.

Play the Best Avalanche, Cascade or Tumble Slots

Now you’re an avalanche slot expert, sign up here at McLuck.com and try your luck on a whopping collection of 30+ tumble slots, including all of the exciting games listed above!

McLuck is constantly adding new avalanche games from the likes of NetEnt and Pragmatic Play, so keep your eyes peeled for new releases!

McLuck is a free to play social casino where endless fun and luck go hand-in-hand. Explore 1,000+ thrilling games and stay ahead with our expert insights.
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