Chests of Cai Shen 2 (Pragmatic Play) Slot Review

Chests of Cai Shen 2: Slot Overview 

The Chinese god of wealth and prosperity, Cai Shen, returns in Chests of Cai Shen 2, a follow-up to Pragmatic Play’s popular 2024 release Chests of Cai Shen. Scheduled for release on October 9, 2025, this high-volatility sequel builds upon the charm of the original with updated chest modifiers, fresh visual polish, and a higher maximum win potential of 15,000x the bet. While it doesn’t radically alter the formula, it tightens the pacing and adds tension to the Chest Respin feature — now a central highlight of the gameplay. 

The setup remains familiar: a 5-reel, 3-row grid with 25 paylines and a 96.50% RTP at its highest configuration. True to Pragmatic Play tradition, Chests of Cai Shen 2 combines the vibrant flair of Chinese-themed wealth slots with mechanical precision and accessible volatility. Players can expect a hit frequency of 1 in 3.12 spins, ensuring regular base-game activity, while the bonus frequency (1 in 54.79 spins) keeps excitement building at a steady pace. 

At first glance, it feels like a continuation of the first game — but subtle tweaks to chest mechanics and the introduction of the Fulfillment Chest modifier inject new life into the format. With feature buys, multipliers up to x100, and jackpots reaching for the 15,000x ceiling, this sequel has the potential to outshine its predecessor.

Design and Graphics 

Visually, Chests of Cai Shen 2 retains the serene aesthetic of the original but with added depth and vibrancy. The setting unfolds beside a tranquil lakeside adorned with pagodas, cherry blossoms, and misty mountains fading into a soft blue sky. The art direction channels classic Chinese iconography — lush greens, royal reds, and shimmering golds — creating an atmosphere of calm prosperity.Atop the reels sit three ornate chests, each linked to a specific bonus modifier: 

The Blue Chest represents Fulfillment, offering random multipliers and zone-based enhancements. 

The Red Chest symbolizes Double, expanding the respin grid into dual 5×3 layouts. 

The Purple Chest stands for Longevity, extending respin rounds with extra spins. 

These chests not only frame the game’s main mechanics but also serve as thematic anchors, drawing players’ eyes upward whenever a Bonus Coin lands on the reels. The coins themselves are visually distinct — glowing blue, red, or purple depending on the modifier they correspond to — and their collection triggers one of the slot’s suspenseful bonus rounds. 

The symbols on the reels blend traditional Chinese motifs with Pragmatic’s glossy polish. The high-paying symbols feature Cai Shen himself, along with tigers, pandas, monkeys, and birds, while the low-paying royals (10–A) gleam in jade and gold. Wilds are adorned with fiery golden dragons, appearing on reels 2–5 and standing in for all regular symbols except coins and bonuses. 

Though the style borders on the familiar, it’s a step up from its predecessor, with improved lighting, smoother animations, and a more balanced color palette. The result is a slot that feels luxurious yet approachable — a hallmark of Pragmatic Play’s modern Asian-themed designs.

Gameplay Mechanics 

The game operates on a straightforward foundation of 5 reels, 3 rows, and 25 paylines. Winning combinations are formed by landing three or more matching symbols from left to right. The low symbols (10–A) pay 0.6x to 1.2x the bet for five-of-a-kind, while the high symbols (Cai Shen, tiger, panda, monkey, and bird) pay between 1.2x and 2x the bet. Wild symbols substitute for all regular icons except Bonus Coins and Money symbols, and they appear on every reel except the first. 

The base game is smooth and rhythmic, with a gentle balance between steady line hits and sudden surges of excitement whenever Bonus Coins appear. These coins are the gateway to the slot’s deeper mechanics — triggering the Chest Respin Feature, the Double Modifier, or the new Fulfillment Multiplier Zones. Pragmatic Play has fine-tuned the pacing to make these moments feel weighty but not overly rare. 

The game’s math model delivers on its high-volatility promise. While small wins are frequent enough to maintain engagement, the most significant payouts hinge on feature rounds, where the potential for zone multipliers and jackpot-level rewards comes into play.

Sound and Music 

Chests of Cai Shen 2 exudes elegance in its audio design. The soundtrack is a mix of traditional Chinese instrumentation and cinematic orchestration, weaving together strings, flutes, and chimes into a soothing but purposeful rhythm. The music evolves with the gameplay — gentle and melodic during the base game, then building into a more intense crescendo during the respin feature. 

Every element is designed to heighten immersion. Coins land with satisfying metallic clinks; chests creak open with a resonant thud; and when a modifier activates, there’s a rising swell of percussion and temple bells. Pragmatic Play’s sound team has clearly aimed for a tone that feels celebratory yet reverent, perfectly matching the slot’s wealth and fortune motif. 

During respins, the background hushes slightly, replaced by tense, echoing drumbeats. It’s a subtle but effective cue that shifts the mood from serenity to suspense — capturing the anticipation of seeing whether a Grand prize will finally be unlocked.

Bonus Features 

Bonus Coins and Chest ModifiersThe true depth of Chests of Cai Shen 2 lies in its trio of chest modifiers, each triggered by collecting their corresponding colored Bonus Coins. These coins can appear at any time during the base game, and when collected, they may activate one of three distinct versions of the Chest Respin Feature. 

Blue Bonus Coin – Fulfillment Modifier:
This introduces four colored zones on the grid, each assigned a random multiplier between x2 and x100. When money symbols land in one of these zones, their value is multiplied by the zone’s assigned multiplier. If multiple zones are filled, the combined multipliers can create explosive outcomes. 

Red Bonus Coin – Double Modifier:
Triggers a dual-grid respin round, expanding the play area to two 5×3 setups. Both grids spin simultaneously, effectively doubling win potential and tension. 

Purple Bonus Coin – Longevity Modifier:
Grants extra respins — up to a maximum of four additional spins — which reset each time new money symbols appear. This creates extended rounds and higher accumulation potential. 

The collection of coins occurs at the end of each base spin, and sometimes, the Chest Respin Feature can be randomly triggered, with one, two, or all three modifiers active simultaneously.

Chest Respin Feature 

When the feature activates, all regular symbols vanish, leaving only blanks and money symbols on the reels. The triggering Bonus Coins transform into sticky money symbols, each carrying a value between 0.6x and 30x the bet or displaying a jackpot label: 

Mini (10x) 

Minor (20x) 

Major (150x) 

Players start with 3 respins, which reset every time a new money symbol lands. The Longevity modifier can extend the number of respins, while the Double modifier duplicates the grid for even greater winning potential. 

If all 15 positions are filled with money symbols, the Grand Prize of 5,000x the bet is awarded — and with multipliers from the Fulfillment zones, total payouts can climb dramatically. The feature concludes when no spins remain or all positions are filled, awarding the total coin value and any jackpots triggered.

Feature Buy 

For those eager to skip the base game, Chests of Cai Shen 2 includes two buy options:100x the bet – Triggers the Chest Respin Feature with the Fulfillment modifier and up to two additional random modifiers. 

500x the bet – Guarantees the same, but with at least one x100 multiplier zone active on the grid. 

This gives risk-takers a fast track to high-volatility gameplay and the thrill of the respin mechanics at their most rewarding.

Betting Options and Payouts 

The betting range in Chests of Cai Shen 2 spans from $0.25 to $250 per spin, accommodating both casual players and high-rollers. The RTP of 96.50% remains stable across standard and feature-buy modes. 

With its high volatility, the slot can swing between long dry spells and bursts of big wins. The hit frequency of 1 in 3.12 spins provides a sense of momentum, while the free spins/feature frequency of 1 in 54.79 ensures fairly regular bonus activity. 

The maximum payout potential — 15,000x the bet — marks a significant increase from the first game, though the probability of achieving it (1 in 34,359,343) underscores its rarity. Still, multipliers, jackpots, and dual-grid setups provide ample mid- to high-level win opportunities along the way.

Conclusion 

Chests of Cai Shen 2 doesn’t reinvent Pragmatic Play’s Chinese-wealth slot formula, but it refines it elegantly. The visuals are vibrant, the soundtrack immersive, and the respin mechanics more dynamic than before. The introduction of the Fulfillment Chest brings a layer of strategic anticipation — players now hope for specific coin colors, not just bonus triggers. 

The enhanced 15,000x max win, paired with the tension of multiplier zones and dual grids, keeps players engaged, especially during extended respin streaks. While the core gameplay remains familiar, the sequel adds enough novelty to justify its existence and appeal to both fans of the original and newcomers to Pragmatic’s expanding portfolio.