Floating Dragon New Year Festival Ultra Megaways Hold & Spin (Pragmatic Play) Slot Review

Floating Dragon New Year Festival Ultra Megaways Hold & Spin: Slot Overview 

Pragmatic Play and Reel Kingdom deliver another addition to the Floating Dragon range with Floating Dragon New Year Festival Ultra Megaways Hold & Spin. Known for crafting Asian-inspired games, the studios revisit their popular franchise, bringing along slight tweaks and improved visuals. Released in December 2023, this slot follows its predecessors, featuring a Megaways reel setup, Hold & Spin functionality, and a 20,000x max win potential. Despite being a reiteration, the festive tone adds charm, aligning perfectly with the Lunar New Year celebrations. 

On the surface, the gameplay remains mostly the same as earlier installments, offering high volatility and a staggering 147,456 ways to win. While the ante bet and feature buys add versatility, the star features—free spins and Hold & Spin—retain their prominence. With a 96.70% RTP and vibrant aesthetics, Floating Dragon New Year Festival Ultra Megaways aims to keep fans of the original engaged.

Design and Graphics 

The game’s aesthetic seamlessly blends traditional Chinese elements with modern Megaways innovation. Set against a serene nighttime backdrop, the reels are framed by glowing pagodas and twinkling lanterns, creating a calming yet festive vibe. The dragon, a recurring theme in the franchise, takes center stage once again, symbolizing luck and wealth. Symbols on the reels include fish, lanterns, and traditional red envelopes, all rendered in vibrant hues. The animated dragon occasionally swoops across the screen during big wins, adding dynamism. The cascading reels amplify the visual appeal, as winning combinations explode and new symbols drop, creating a rhythmic motion that’s as satisfying as it is visually striking. While not groundbreaking, the updated visuals bring a refreshing polish to the familiar setup.

Gameplay Mechanics 

Floating Dragon New Year Festival Ultra Megaways employs the Megaways engine, where each spin randomizes the number of symbols on its six reels, creating up to 147,456 paylines. This variability keeps each spin unpredictable, amplifying excitement. The slot incorporates the classic tumble mechanic: winning symbols disappear, making way for new ones to potentially form additional wins in the same spin. 

Key gameplay elements: 

• Paylines: Wins are formed by landing matching symbols on consecutive reels from left to right, regardless of position. 

• Symbols: Low-paying symbols consist of card values (10 to Ace), while high-paying ones include fish, red envelopes, and other Lunar New Year-themed items. 

• Wilds: Found only on the topmost reel, wilds substitute for all symbols except scatters, aiding in winning combinations. 

The game’s mechanics remain accessible to both casual and seasoned players, thanks to its intuitive interface and consistent flow. 

Sound and Music 

The audio in Floating Dragon New Year Festival Ultra Megaways is an atmospheric highlight. Traditional Chinese instruments, such as the guzheng and pipa, set a melodic foundation, complemented by festive drum beats that punctuate wins. When significant events occur, like triggering free spins, the music intensifies, heightening player engagement. 

Sound effects such as cascading symbols, dragon roars, and celebratory chimes add layers to the immersive experience. Despite the repetitive nature of slot soundtracks, the music here feels festive and thematic, fitting well within the Lunar New Year setting.

Bonus Features 

The game’s features are where it shines, offering a mix of free spins, Hold & Spin bonuses, and special symbols. Fish Money Symbol 

During the free spins round, fish money symbols carry random values ranging from 2x to 5,000x the bet. These symbols can only be won in free spins, where they tumble to the bottom of the screen without being removed, potentially creating massive payouts. 

Mystery Symbols 

Mystery symbols appear both in the base game and free spins. These symbols transform into the same type of pay symbol when they land, increasing the likelihood of significant payouts. 

Free Spins 

Triggered by landing 3-6 dragon scatter symbols, the free spins round awards 10 to 25 spins, depending on the number of scatters. Unique mechanics enhance this feature: 

• Lady Symbols: These symbols collect the value of any fish money symbols in view. 

• Multipliers: With every set of 4 lady symbols collected, a multiplier is applied to fish money symbols, starting at x2 and increasing with each retrigger. 

• Random Fish Additions: Occasionally, fish money symbols are added to the reels during free spins, maximizing win potential. 

Hold & Spin Bonus 

The Hold & Spin feature is triggered by landing at least three coin money symbols. These coins carry values ranging from 1x to 2,000x the bet. Once triggered, players receive three respins, and any new coin symbols reset the counter. At the end of the round, the total coin value is added to the player’s winnings. This feature serves as a lucrative alternative to the free spins round. 

Feature Buys 

For players who prefer instant access to bonuses, the feature buy option is available: Free Spins: Buy for 100x the bet. 

Hold & Spin: Buy for 120x the bet. These options enhance accessibility, letting players skip the grind and dive straight into the game’s highlights.

Betting Options and Payouts 

With a betting range of €0.20 to €240, the game accommodates both casual and high-stakes players. The max win of 20,000x the bet is impressive, though the probability of hitting it is a daunting 1 in 1,496,522 spins. Here’s how the payouts break down: 

• RTP: The default RTP is 96.70%, but it can drop to 95.69% or 94.62%, depending on the operator’s configuration. 

• Volatility: As a high-volatility game, Floating Dragon New Year Festival Ultra Megaways may feature long stretches without significant wins, but the potential for large payouts makes the risk worthwhile. 

• Hit Frequency: The free spins feature is triggered roughly every 320 spins, aligning with the game’s volatile nature. 

The broad betting range and massive potential payouts make the game appealing to a wide audience, though its high volatility may deter risk-averse players.

Conclusion 

Floating Dragon New Year Festival Ultra Megaways Hold & Spin is a solid addition to Pragmatic Play’s portfolio, blending familiar mechanics with refreshed visuals and festive flair. While it doesn’t reinvent the wheel, its engaging features, high RTP, and substantial win potential ensure it remains a competitive choice in the crowded Megaways market. 

The game excels in its design and audio, immersing players in a Lunar New Year celebration. Features like free spins, multipliers, and Hold & Spin add depth, while the feature buy options cater to impatient players. However, its high volatility and reliance on familiar mechanics may leave some players craving more innovation. 

Ultimately, if you’re a fan of the Floating Dragon series or Asian-themed slots, this installment is worth a spin. Its combination of festive atmosphere and lucrative features makes it a fitting tribute to the Lunar New Year.