Definition
Cascading Reels
Also known as Tumbling Reels, Avalanche, Cascade, Rolling Reels
By Abhinav VasudevanReviewed Editorial policy
In short
Cascading reels remove winning symbols and drop new ones into the gaps, allowing chains of consecutive wins from a single spin. Rising multipliers during a cascade are where the largest wins usually come from.
After a win, the symbols that formed it disappear. Remaining symbols fall to fill the gaps, and new symbols drop in from above. If the new arrangement forms another win, it happens again.
Studios brand it variously. Avalanche (NetEnt), Tumbling Reels (Playtech), Rolling Reels (Microgaming), Cascading Wins, but the mechanic is the same.
The multiplier is the point
On its own, cascading is just a presentation of consecutive wins. What makes it matter is that almost every implementation attaches a progressive multiplier that increases with each step in the chain.
A typical structure:
| Cascade | Multiplier |
|---|---|
| 1st win | 1x |
| 2nd | 2x |
| 3rd | 3x |
| 4th | 5x |
| 5th+ | 10x or higher |
In free spins rounds, many games make the multiplier unlimited and non-resetting, it carries across spins for the whole feature. This is where Megaways and cluster games produce their headline outcomes: a long chain late in a bonus round with a multiplier already in the twenties.
What it does to the feel of the game
Cascading raises apparent hit frequency considerably, because one spin can register several separate wins.
It also stretches out the resolution of a spin. A five-step cascade takes several seconds and delivers its result in instalments, each with its own sound and animation. This is more engaging than a single settled outcome, and it is a substantial part of why the mechanic became standard.
The same caution applies as elsewhere: many cascade wins are sub-stake returns presented with full celebration, the losses-disguised-as-wins pattern described under hit frequency.
Where it is essential
Cluster pays games are almost unplayable without cascading, since clusters need to be cleared for new ones to form. In those games the chain is the entire mechanic rather than an enhancement.
Common questions
What are cascading reels?
Winning symbols are removed, remaining symbols drop to fill the gaps, and new ones fall in. If the new arrangement forms another win it happens again, chaining wins from a single spin.
Why do cascades matter so much?
Because nearly every implementation attaches a multiplier that rises with each step. In free spins many games make it unlimited and non-resetting, which is where Megaways and cluster games produce their headline outcomes.