Automat 5 Dragons

Game overview

5 Dragons is one of Aristocrat's best known Asian themed games. It draws on Chinese mythology, with dragons, koi, tigers, turtles and red envelopes on the reels and a traditional style soundtrack. The layout is five reels and three rows using a ways to win system rather than paylines.

The main appeal is the free spins menu, which lets you decide how much risk to take when the bonus arrives. Reviews do not agree on how volatile it is, but the large multipliers on offer mean results can swing a lot.

Rules and how wins are paid

There are 243 ways to win. Matching symbols on adjacent reels, starting from the far left, form a win wherever they sit on each reel. The wild substitutes for the regular symbols to help complete those ways.

Symbols

The higher value pictures include dragons, a tiger, a turtle, koi and a red envelope, while the lower values are card ranks from 9 to Ace. Gold coins are the scatter and also pay on their own when three or more land.

Special features

Wilds

Wild symbols appear on the middle three reels. On their own they simply substitute, but in the bonus they carry multipliers.

Red envelope

The red envelope can award an extra cash prize when it lands on the outer reels.

Free spins

Three or more gold coin scatters start the bonus, and you choose one of five options. Each one pairs a number of spins with a set of multipliers. The safest option gives the most spins with multipliers of 2x, 3x or 5x, while the next steps offer 3x, 5x or 8x, then 5x, 8x or 10x, then 8x, 10x or 15x. The riskiest option gives the fewest spins but multipliers of 10x, 15x or 30x. When a wild helps form a win, it applies one of the multipliers from your chosen option. The exact number of spins attached to each option differs between versions of the game.

Bet settings and RTP

The RTP quoted for 5 Dragons is 95.17 percent. Stake ranges vary by version and venue. Different versions of this game exist, and casinos may run a lower RTP setting, so check the help screen before you play.

How to play, step by step

1. Set your stake.
2. Spin and look for matching symbols on adjacent reels from the left.
3. Collect three or more gold coin scatters to start the bonus.
4. Pick the free spins option that matches how much risk you want.
5. Watch the wilds in the bonus, as they carry your multipliers.

Tips before you play

• The low spin, high multiplier options can finish with very little, so only choose them knowingly.
• Try the demo to get a feel for each of the five options.
• Set a budget and a time limit before you start, and stop when you reach either one.