- A vibrant and creative slot from Northern Lights
- A big win potential on offer up to 12,000x
- Unique win mechanic that uses clusters
ClusterBuck is a very creative 6×6 cluster-pays slot from Northern Lights Gaming. The game stands out with its unique win mechanic, where combinations of 5+ symbols contribute to progressive symbol meters, rather than triggering instant payouts. With medium volatility, an RTP of 96.05%, and a maximum win of 12,000x, the slot is packed with extras including Wilds, Bombs, Padlocks, a Jackpot Wheel, Free Spins, and Feature Buys.
RECOMMENDED CASINOS TO PLAY Clusterbuck Slot
Clusterbuck Slot Bonuses and Features
Wild Symbols. Wilds substitute for all standard symbols and may also appear as singles, doubles, or quads. Every time any tier is reached, 1 Wild is added randomly to the grid.
Cluster Chase & Cluster Bar. Symbols can land as singles, doubles (x2), or quads (x4), all of which count towards their respective meters. A cluster of 5+ adjacent tiles adds their count to the symbol’s meter. Meters have tiered thresholds, starting at 12 symbols and increasing gradually (e.g., +12, +14, +16… up to +25 for tier 8+). A fixed payout is awarded each time a tier is reached, with max values per symbol as follows:
- Banana: 300x
- Blueberry: 400x
- Plum: 500x
- Grape: 1,000x
- Pear: 2,000x
- Cherry: 3,000x
Padlocks. Landing a Padlock allows one active symbol meter to freeze and maintain its progress for the next spin. A max of 3 Padlocks can be held in the base game, but a max of 6 Padlocks can be held during Free Spins.
Bombs. Two types of Bombs can land:
- Standard Bomb: transforms adjacent symbols (up to 4 directions) into a single matching symbol.
- Wild Bomb: transforms affected symbols into Wilds, enabling major cascades.
Chest Bonus. Landing 2 Treasure Chests on the same spin awards one of the following:
- Wild Chest: randomly adds Wilds to the board.
- Jackpot Wheel: guarantees a spin for one of four fixed jackpots:
- Mini: 20x
- Minor: 50x
- Major: 500x
- Grand: 5,000x
Free Spins Bonus. Triggered by landing 3 Scatters, awarding 8 Free Spins. Wilds added during Free Spins can upgrade underlying tiles into doubles or quads. Padlocks can freeze up to 6 meters, increasing the chances of reaching higher tiers and payouts.
Bonus Buy. In some regions, you can buy the bonus outright for the following amounts:
- 100x the bet: Triggers Standard Free Spins.
- 200x the bet: Triggers Super Free Spins with more Wilds and higher win potential.
Conclusion
ClusterBuck slot from Northern Lights Gaming stands out as a pretty unique game thanks to its tiered meter-based payout system. Rather than receiving immediate wins from clusters, symbols must be collected over time to hit payout thresholds. The design is relatively simple though cute, but its features like Padlocks, Wilds, and Bombs that will draw you win. However, its unconventional payout structure may take time to get used to, especially when multiple clusters don’t lead to an immediate win which can sometimes feel frustrating. Still, with a high win potential of 12,000x and jackpot opportunities, you have to applaud the slot for doing something different and creative, and personally I wouldn’t mind seeing more of this sort of mechanic. For other games from this developer, you can always check out Bustin’ Beavers slot here too.
An Interesting And Unique Win Mechanic
Pros
- Unique win mechanic.
- Big win potential.
Cons
- Some may find payout mechanic frustrating.