Dragon Hopper (Push Gaming) Slot Review

Dragon Hopper: Slot Overview 

Push Gaming’s Dragon Hopper takes players on a mystical journey to an Asian-inspired dreamlike world, featuring floating lanterns, mythical dragons, and glowing symbols. Following in the footsteps of Fire Hopper and taking inspiration from Crystal Catcher, this slot continues Push Gaming’s expertise in grid-based gameplay while introducing new, innovative features. 

Operating on a 7×7 grid, Dragon Hopper uses the Cluster Pays mechanic, where wins occur by landing clusters of five or more matching symbols. Wins trigger cascading reactions, clearing successful clusters and allowing new symbols to fall into place for chain-winning sequences. 

A medium-volatility slot, Dragon Hopper balances consistent payouts with large win potential, thanks to a max win of 10,000x the bet and an RTP of 96.33%. With a minimum bet of €0.10 and a maximum bet of €100, the game is accessible to both casual players and high rollers. 

Design and Graphics

The visual presentation of Dragon Hopper is stunning, featuring a serene, dreamlike aesthetic. The floating temple and soft lantern glow in the background create a tranquil atmosphere, evoking a sense of mysticism. 

The symbols include ornate lanterns in red, gold, and pink, which serve as the high-paying symbols, while blue, green, and purple lanterns represent the low-paying ones. Special symbols include Dragon Wilds, Fire Clouds, and Bubble symbols, all contributing to the unique features of the game. 

The animations are smooth, especially during the Dragon Feature, where the dragon soars across the reels, leaving behind Golden Dragon symbols that enhance multipliers. The Bubble Feature also adds a dynamic element, making gameplay visually engaging. 

Gameplay Mechanics

Cluster Pays and Cascading Wins 

• Wins occur when five or more matching symbols land adjacent to each other. 

• Winning clusters disappear, allowing new symbols to drop down, creating opportunities for chain reactions and multiple wins per spin. 

Dragon Feature 

• Dragon Wilds and Golden Dragon symbols substitute for all regular symbols. 

• These wilds start with a random multiplier (x1 to x10), which increases by +1 whenever the Dragon moves. 

• The Dragon moves when appearing alongside a Fire Cloud symbol, activating the Dragon Feature, where the Dragon soars to the nearest Fire Cloud, leaving a Golden Dragon Wild behind. 

Mystic Flare Feature 

• This feature randomly triggers on non-winning cascades. 

• Mystic symbols appear in 2×2 to 4×4 sizes and break down into 1×1 symbols, potentially transforming into Wilds, Instant Prizes, or Bonus Symbols. 

Sound and Music

The soundtrack of Dragon Hopper is a perfect match for its theme, with soft Asian-inspired melodies, gentle wind chimes, and calming atmospheric effects. 

When cascades occur, the tempo increases slightly, enhancing excitement without being overly dramatic. The Dragon Feature is accompanied by swooping sound effects and mystical chimes, making it a satisfying moment every time it activates. 

Bonus Features

Instant Prize Symbols 

• These symbols serve as bet multipliers, ranging from x1 to x1,000. 

• Clusters of five or more Instant Prizes trigger immediate payouts. 

• Available in both base game and free spins. 

Free Spins Feature 

Triggered by landing 3, 4, or 5 Bonus Symbols, awarding: 

• 3 scatters = 6 free spins 

• 4 scatters = 9 free spins 

• 5 scatters = 12 free spins 

During free spins: 

Dragons, Fire Clouds, and Instant Prize symbols remain in position. 

Each empty symbol position spins again to reveal Fire Cloud, Instant Prize, or Blank symbols. 

Bubble Feature 

• During Free Spins, Bubble symbols appear randomly on the grid. 

• They remain in place until the next spin, moving one space per spin. 

• If a Bubble lands on a Golden Dragon, Fire Cloud, or Instant Prize, it transfers its assigned value (1, 2, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, or 500) to that symbol. 

Betting Options and Payouts 

• Minimum Bet: €0.10 

• Maximum Bet: €100 

• Max Win: 10,000x the bet 

• Volatility: Medium 

• RTP: 96.33% 

The medium volatility makes Dragon Hopper ideal for balanced play, with frequent small-to-medium wins and the potential for massive payouts through its features. 

Conclusion

Dragon Hopper is a visually stunning and engaging slot, combining classic Push Gaming elements like cascading wins and Instant Prizes with new mechanics such as the Dragon and Bubble Features. 

While not a revolutionary departure from other titles, it still provides an exciting and immersive experience. For fans of Push Gaming’s cluster slots, Dragon Hopper is a must-try, offering balanced volatility, frequent action, and impressive payout potential. 

For those seeking a groundbreaking innovation, Dragon Hopper may feel familiar, but its polished gameplay and rewarding mechanics make it a worthwhile addition to Push Gaming’s portfolio.