Cygnus 5 Slot Review

The Cygnus 5 Slot Game

As has always been the case, ELK Studios has made this game playable on mobile, desktop, and tablet platforms. But since it’s online, you must connect your device to a reliable connection for uninterrupted game sessions. Otherwise, your game progress may be forfeited.

Cygnus 5 is the latest addition to a 5-part series (I wonder if there will be more instalments) debuted by the original Cygnus in 2019. The game takes players back to study the starry patterns under the night’s engulf somewhere in ancient Egypt.

This time, players are hosted in a temple-like space, with two towering statues placed against the walls on either side. The 6-reel platform sits at the centre of the screen below a small aperture on the roof.

The gap lets you enjoy the night sky while a culturally motivated soundtrack and thematic effects entertain your ears. Overall, the top of the standard design doesn’t look indifferent from its predecessors.

Try other games from the same series:

Symbols and Payouts

The game starts with 4 rows and dropping symbols but can expand upwards to 8 rows. Further, you only get 7 symbols as the slot’s regulars, helping you complete paying sequences.

For the payouts, all wins begin from the leftmost column and pay from left to right on consecutive reels without gaps. Only the longest sequence per win line pays out, and wins are evaluated based on the selected stake!

The Cygnus 5 symbols are in low or high-paying tiers. The former includes the Blue, Green, and Red Gemstones paying 0.05x, 0.1x, 0.15x, and 0.2x the bet.

Then, the high-ranking symbols include the following:

• Horus - 0.1x, 0.15x, 0.2x, 0.3x the stake.
• Serpent - 0.15x, 0.2x, 0.25x, 0.4x the bet.
• Bastet - 0.2x, 0.25x, 0.3x, 0.5x the bet.
• Sun - 1x, 2x, 3x, and 5x the stake.

While playing with the regulars hoping to secure wins, watch out for the wild, which can substitute for any regular symbol to complete a winning combo. The slot also has many special symbols to help trigger its features.

Cygnus 5 Slot Bonus Features

As alluded to, most of the features in this slot are replicated from the prequels. So, let’s check them out below.

Tumbles and Additional Rows

All wins in the current symbol drop are collected, and after that, all symbols that were part of a paying sequence explode from the Cygnus 5 reels. The remaining symbols repeatedly slide to the left and right until they reach a resting position.

An additional row appears at the top, and new symbols fill the empty spaces up to 8 rows. Consequently, the number of waysincreases progressively to 262,244! The avalanche continues as long as new paying sequences hit.

Prism Symbol

The Prism symbol is activated when it reaches the bottom of the grid. After the subsequent symbol drop or immediately if placed by a Meteor Strike, it transforms all symbols along lines in a random number of directions into the same payout symbol or wilds.

If a Prism symbol hits another prism with its light beam, it’ll trigger a chain reaction. In short, all symbols on the affected lines will convert into the same paying symbol or wild, while symbols in crossings turn into wild.

Further, the multipliers, bonus, and super bonus symbols in a direction turned by a prism temporarily turn into the selected icon. But they return after the win evaluation.

Multiplier Symbols

The multiplier symbol that reaches the bottom of the Cygnus 5 reels or the leftmost column increases the current active multiplier before becoming wild. The multiplier rises, and the symbol transition occurs before the payout.

The current active multiplier boosts all subsequent wins in the ongoing round. Immediately reaching the top of the multiplier pillar pays the remaining amount required to hit the win cap. The active multiplier resets before a new game round.

Meteor Strike

It starts after a symbol refill, replacing randomly selected payout symbols on the game grid. If both are activated concurrently, the multiplier symbols perform their act first before the Prism symbol.

Free Spins

A bonus or super bonus in the bottom row of columns 2 and 6 will be removed and, if possible, re-dropped in the column a step further to the left. The replacement happens after the current avalanche cycle and only once per cycle.

Any bonus or super bonus symbol that reaches the furthest left side in Cygnus 5 triggers the bonus mode with 7 free drops! The current active multiplier is carried into the bonus game, which starts when there aren’t more winning combos.

Meanwhile, the super bonus game guarantees a Meteor Strike per free drop. Further, a bonus symbol that reaches the leftmost column during the retriggers more drops. However, if a super bonus reaches the outermost left column, it upgrades the game to the super bonus. The active multiplier persists throughout the bonus.   

X-iter (Bonus Buy)

Typical of ELK slots, this game has the option to buy different game modes, as follows:

• Bonus Hunt - a drop thrice likely to trigger the bonus game for 3x bet.
• Meteors - guarantees a game with a Meteor Strike in the first drop for 10x the stake.
• Prisms - a drop with at least two prism symbols for 25x the selected bet.
• Bonus for 100x bet.
• Super Bonus for 500x the stake.

How to Win at Cygnus 5 Slot

Since the 6 reels with default 4 rows can expand to 8 rows, the ways to win can also grow from 4096 to 242,166!

As such, winning happens only when identical paying symbols land from the leftmost reel to the right on consecutive reels instead of specific paylines. Whether playing the base game or bonus modes, you can win up to 50,000 times the bet if you’re lucky enough! 

It’s also noteworthy how to play Cygnus 5, including the €0.20 to €100 bet range.

After setting a preferred bet, you can play every game round manually or several spins automatically through the Autoplay function. Finally, use the Menu button to access the game’s settings.

Cygnus 5 Slot RTP & Volatility

Anyone familiar with ELK slots should know the RTP is obviously below average at 94%. Regarding the volatility level of the game, it's set as an 8 out of 10. This indicates that the volatility is pretty high. 

The Final Thoughts

ELK Studios started 2024 on a high note with the Nitropolis franchise. It seems the company intends to wind up the year with a new installation for another popular series. So, it’s safe to assume this developer has fallen in love with good-performing franchises.

Usually, this developer doesn’t clone its previous games. However, Cygnus 5, albeit visually appealing, had a lot of borrowed mechanics and features. Maybe cloned slots are the new fan favourite, but I don’t know. But I’m sure that while it may impress some, it may not appeal to others.

On that note, keep in mind that you’ll be up against repeated aspects, including an avalanche feature, expanding reels and rows, several special symbols, and others. The features were fun but not as revolutionary as this developer has made in some of its other slots.

While I’m not sure whether the ELK team may progress the sequel with a 6th edition, I hope that if they do, they don’t hold back with the features. Nevertheless, this game is a good shot at potentially winning a staggering 50,000x the stake!