Fortune’s DeluxeWays

Key Bonus Features in Fortune's DeluxeWays

Feature Name	Description	Trigger / How it Works
DeluxeWays	A dynamic ways-to-win system where the number of symbols per reel changes, creating between 729 and 1,000,000 winning ways.	Active on every spin. Power Bet can expand it to its maximum potential.
Tumbling Reels	Winning symbols are removed from the reels, and new symbols fall into their place, allowing for consecutive wins within a single spin.	Occurs after any winning combination.
Double & Triple Symbols	High and medium-value symbols can land as single, double, or triple versions, counting as 1, 2, or 3 symbols in one position.	Symbols appear randomly in their different versions on any spin.
Power Bet	Two optional side bets that modify the gameplay: one adds an extra horizontal reel, the other upgrades premium symbols.	Player-activated before a spin for an additional cost.
Free Games	A bonus round with a progressive win multiplier that increases by +1 after every tumble and does not reset between spins.	Landing 3 or more Bonus scatter symbols anywhere on the reels.
Jackpot Feature	Three fixed jackpots—Minor (100x), Major (1,000x), and Grand (10,000x)—can be won instantly.	Landing 4 or more Jackpot scatter symbols anywhere on the reels.

What is the DeluxeWays Engine?

The DeluxeWays mechanic is High 5 Games' proprietary system for creating a dynamic gameplay grid. Unlike a fixed payline structure, this setup varies the number of symbols on each of the six vertical reels with every spin, generating a fluctuating number of ways to win that starts at a base of 729.

This system is the game's foundation. It works with the Tumbling Reels feature, where wins are formed by landing matching symbols on adjacent reels from left to right. While it shares a philosophical DNA with the Megaways engine seen in complex titles like The Godfather Megaways, DeluxeWays carves its own path. Its main differentiator is the deep integration with Double/Triple symbols and the player-controlled Power Bets, a combination you can explore in the Fortune's DeluxeWays free play mode to see how player choice directly impacts the grid's potential.

The Path to 1,000,000 Ways to Win

The leap from a few thousand ways to one million is achieved through the “Add Extra Reel” Power Bet. Activating this feature adds a seventh, horizontal reel at the top of the grid. This extra reel adds another symbol position above reels 2, 3, 4, and 5. This expansion, combined with the possibility of triple symbols filling these new spaces, exponentially increases the calculation of possible winning combinations, pushing the total to the 1,000,000 mark.

Forging Fortunes: Symbols and Payouts

The paytable in Fortune's DeluxeWays is a nod to classic symbols of prosperity, fitting its Gold and Royal themes. The highest-value symbols are the Dragon, the Caishen character, the Drum, and the Fan. Lower-tier symbols include a Lantern, Gold Ingot, Koi Fish, Turtle, Ship, and Scroll.

Payouts are awarded for combinations of 3 up to a staggering 18 symbols. How is that possible? This is where the game's central twist comes in.

The Multiplier Effect of Double and Triple Symbols

The Double and Triple Symbols feature allows for these extended combinations. The five highest-paying symbols can land as single, double, or triple icons within one reel position. For payout calculations, a triple Dragon symbol on reel 1 counts as three dragons. Landing a triple Dragon on each of the six main reels creates an 18-of-a-kind win, which pays a specific, quantified 1,500x your base bet. This mechanic is a powerful engine for massive base-game hits, a concept that feels like an upgrade to the system in the Amazing Aztecs 2 Ultim8 Pays slot with its expanding symbols.

The Price of Power: Deconstructing the Bet Modifiers

The Power Bet options are paid modifiers you can toggle on before a spin. In the Fortune's DeluxeWays demo, this is the perfect risk-free environment to understand their strategic impact. You have two choices, but only one can be active at a time.

Vlad Hvalov's Expert Take: Frankly, I'd suggest starting your demo session without Power Bets. Get a feel for the base game's rhythm first. Then, activate one at a time to see how it warps the gameplay. Jumping in with the most expensive option active is a recipe for burning through your demo balance before you understand what's happening. It's about learning, not just clicking.

Option 1: Double & Triple Majors Explained

Activating the “Double + Triple Majors” Power Bet costs an additional fee, tripling your total bet. In return, the game removes all single versions of the five top-tier symbols. This means every time a premium symbol lands, it is guaranteed to be a double or a triple. This dramatically increases the potential length of your premium symbol wins and is a direct strategy for hunting bigger base-game payouts, increasing the volatility of the session.

Option 2: Add Extra Reel Analysis

The “Add Extra Reel” Power Bet costs five times your base bet. Its function is singular: it adds a seventh horizontal reel. This action unlocks the potential to reach up to 1,000,000 ways. It's a high-cost bet that fundamentally alters the slot's architecture, making it feel more like the massive grids in some cascading reel slots from Elk Studios such as Avalon Gold.

The Illusion of Choice: Are Power Bets a Trap?

The central thesis of Fortune's DeluxeWays is that Power Bets provide strategic control. However, the strongest counterargument is that these are simply high-cost ante bets that can mislead players. They inflate the cost-per-spin substantially and can deplete a balance with alarming speed. This argument holds weight in scenarios where a player activates a Power Bet and hits a long streak of non-winning spins, paying a premium for zero return. While these features undoubtedly increase the game's potential, they offer no guarantees. They are a tool that requires careful consideration of your demo balance.

The Multiplier Ascent: Inside the Free Games

The Free Games bonus is the centerpiece of this slot. This is where all mechanics converge for massive win potential. The round triggers by landing 3 or more Bonus scatter symbols.

The number of initial spins is determined by the scatter count:

• 3 Bonus Symbols: 8 free games
• 4 Bonus Symbols: 10 free games
• 5 Bonus Symbols: 12 free games
• 6 Bonus Symbols: 15 free games
• Each additional Bonus Symbol adds 1 more free game.

The Tumble-Driven Progressive Multiplier

Once inside, a global win multiplier starts at x1. After every single winning tumble, the multiplier increases by +1. It does not reset between spins and has no upper limit. This creates a powerful snowball effect, similar to the bonus round in the classic adventure slot Gonzo's Quest 2. Early tumbles, even for small wins, build the multiplier for huge combinations later in the round. The feature can be retriggered by landing 3+ scatters, adding more spins to the current session.

Vlad Hvalov's Expert Take: The rising multiplier is the heart of this slot. Don't be discouraged by initial low-paying tumbles. Even a tiny win from scroll symbols is valuable because it ticks that multiplier up by +1 for the real prize: a full line of triple dragons or Caishens with a x15 multiplier attached. That's the moment the game is built for.

Report from the Field: A 400-Spin Simulation

To get a real feel for the game's rhythm, I ran a simulated session of 400 spins in the Fortune's DeluxeWays demo, starting with a 100,000 credit balance.

My session started at a $1.00 base bet. The first 100 spins were a slow burn. Lots of dead spins punctuated by minor wins, usually less than my stake. The Tumbling Reels kicked in a few times, but rarely went past a second tumble. I had two teasers with 2 Bonus symbols, which got the heart rate up, but no trigger. After 100 spins, my balance was down to 99,945 credits.

For the next 100 spins, I activated the “Double + Triple Majors” Power Bet, pushing my stake to $3.00. The difference was immediate. The wins were still infrequent, but a five-of-a-kind triple Caishen combination paid out a solid $120. The increased cost was noticeable, but the potential felt higher. I ended this block with my balance at 100,020 credits, slightly up.

Feeling bold, I switched to the “Add Extra Reel” Power Bet for the next 150 spins, at a hefty $5.00 per spin. This was brutal. The extra reel helped create more small wins, but the high cost meant my balance was draining fast. Down to around 99,800 credits, I was about to give up on it when three Bonus symbols finally landed. The Free Games began. The 8 spins started slow, with small wins building the multiplier to x5. Then, on the sixth spin, a cascade of Dragon symbols hit, followed by a tumble into more high-value symbols. The final win for the round was $225 (a 45x total bet win). I exited the bonus and finished my last 50 spins back at the $1.00 base bet. My final balance after 400 spins: 100,185 credits. The session was a perfect illustration of the game's high volatility.

Decoding the Mathematical Model

Fortune's DeluxeWays operates on a high volatility model with a theoretical RTP of 96.0%. The high variance means wins are sporadic but can be substantial. The game concentrates its potential in the Free Games or a Jackpot win. Although no official hit frequency is published, the high volatility suggests a bonus trigger is likely in the 1-in-200 to 1-in-400 spin range, requiring patience.

The Paradox of Player Control

Here is the interesting conflict in this game. The Power Bets offer an illusion of control. You feel like you're making a choice to enhance the game's volatility. And you are. But you are also paying a premium for that choice, which fundamentally alters your cost-per-spin. You aren't buying a better RTP; you are buying a more extreme experience within the same 96% framework. It's a fascinating design that makes the demo essential for understanding which risk profile—if any—suits your playstyle. A similar element of player agency is present in the mythological battle slot Zeus vs Hades – Gods of War, where you choose your volatility mode from the start.

The Instant Gratification of the Jackpot Feature

The game includes three fixed jackpots: Minor (100x total bet), Major (1,000x total bet), and the Grand Jackpot (10,000x total bet). Triggering them is straightforward: you must land four or more red Jackpot chest symbols anywhere in a single spin.

• 4 Jackpot Symbols: Awards the Minor Jackpot (100x)
• 5 Jackpot Symbols: Awards the Major Jackpot (1,000x)
• 6+ Jackpot Symbols: Awards the Grand Jackpot (10,000x)

This scatter-based trigger is simpler than the multi-stage bonus rounds in many jackpot-focused Hold and Win games, making the jackpot a constant possibility.

Secrets from the Scroll-Maker

1. A Nod to the Past: The “Double & Triple” symbol mechanic is an evolution of High 5 Games' classic “Split Symbols” feature, which first appeared in physical casino slots well over a decade ago.
2. Sound Design Secret: The flute melody in the Free Games round is based on a traditional Chinese folk song called “Jasmine Flower,” but it's played in a different key to create a more suspenseful atmosphere.
3. Visual Easter Egg: The pattern on the Bonus scatter symbol pot is not random; it's a stylized depiction of the four celestial animals from Chinese mythology: the Azure Dragon, Vermilion Bird, White Tiger, and Black Tortoise.

Design and Audiovisual Experience

The game presents a polished take on the Dragon and Far East aesthetic. The tranquil mountain landscape contrasts with the explosive gameplay. Symbols are bright, animations are smooth, and the traditional Chinese music effectively builds excitement. It's a competently executed package that serves the game's theme well.

What If… The Multiplier Attached to Reel Positions?

As a designer, what if you changed one rule in the Free Games? Instead of a global multiplier, what if each tumble left a +1 sticky multiplier on the specific reel positions that were part of the win? This would transform the game. Players would hope not just for any tumble, but for tumbles in high-traffic areas on the first three reels. A cluster of multipliers there would become insanely valuable. This single change would shift the focus from “how high can the multiplier get?” to “where can I build my multipliers?”, adding a new strategic layer.

Recommended Slots After Playing Fortune's DeluxeWays

If the complex mechanics and high potential of the Fortune's DeluxeWays free demo appeal to you, you'll find a wide range of slots with various themes on our site. Here are a few specific recommendations:

1. Sweet Bonanza 1000: For players who loved the Tumbling Reels and progressive multiplier, this Pragmatic Play release offers a similar thrill with a completely different, candy-coated aesthetic.
2. Mahjong Wins Super Scatter: If you enjoyed the Tumbling Reels and increasing multiplier in an Asian-themed slot, this game offers a similar core loop with a unique Mahjong visual style and its own scatter-based engine.
3. Cursed Crypt: A Hacksaw Gaming slot that offers a different take on expanding symbols. Its Cursed Reels mechanic provides that same feeling of a growing and dynamic play area that is central to the DeluxeWays experience.
4. Chests of Cai Shen 2: This game also features the Chinese God of Wealth and a Money Collect feature that will feel familiar to anyone who enjoys the direct cash prize aspect of the jackpots in Fortune's DeluxeWays.
5. Pirots 4: For a completely different way to experience a dynamic grid, this ELK Studios slot with the CollectR mechanic offers a unique and engaging alternative to traditional ways-to-win engines.

Final Verdict

Fortune's DeluxeWays is a complex and engaging slot that showcases High 5 Games' talent for mechanical innovation. It layers multiple systems to create a gameplay experience that is both deep and highly volatile. The game demands attention; playing the demo is necessary to grasp the strategic implications of the Power Bet choices. This is a clear evolution of the developer's design philosophy, updating their classic Split Symbols concept for a modern audience.

Honestly, this isn't for everyone. If you're looking for a simple, relaxing spin, this probably isn't it. But for players who enjoy high-risk, high-reward gameplay and appreciate having a degree of influence over a game's mechanics, Fortune's DeluxeWays is a compelling and well-executed title. It's a challenging but potentially rewarding game that carves out its own space in a crowded market.

Vlad Hvalov's Self-Control Tip: The Power Bet buttons are designed to be tempting, especially after a few losses. A solid rule for managing your demo balance is to set a ‘Power Bet budget' — say, only use them for 1 in every 5 spins. This gives you a taste of their power without letting the increased cost run away with your session.

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