Rules walkthrough
Gates of Hades: Rules and How to Play
How the 6x6 cluster grid, tumbles and wild multipliers actually work in Gates of Hades.
Spin at partner casino- Return to player
- 96.52%
- Max payout
- 10000x
- Lines
- Cluster Pays
- Number of reels
- 6x6 grid
Gates of Hades pays on connected clusters of five or more matching symbols across a 6x6 grid, not on paylines. Winning symbols vanish and new ones tumble in, wild multiplier symbols stack value on that chain, and landing three or more scatters starts a free spins round with persistent multipliers.
- No paylines are involved: clusters resolve horizontally or vertically.
- Multiplier wilds carry a random value that boosts whatever cluster they touch.
- Scatters only trigger the bonus; they do not form ordinary winning clusters.
How the ruleset compares to other Pragmatic Play titles
| Gates of Olympus | Uses a similar tumble concept but does not carry the same 6x6 cluster-pays structure or the Super Free Spins minimum-multiplier rule found in Gates of Hades. |
|---|---|
| Gates of Olympus Super Scatter | Leans on a scatter-pay mechanic across the whole board rather than the cluster-size scatter tiers that trigger the bonus here. |
| Other Pragmatic Play "Gates of" titles | Generally apply simpler multiplier drops without a persistent above-reel meter that survives across an entire free spins round. |
What the ruleset gets right, and where it bites
- Cluster tumbles can chain several payouts from a single spin.
- High volatility means long stretches with no meaningful cluster before a feature changes the balance.
- Persistent multiplier meter in free spins rewards long cascades rather than resetting each tumble.
- The win cap ends the free spins round immediately once it is hit, forfeiting any remaining spins.
- Retrigger tiers keep the bonus round extendable instead of a flat fixed length.
- No nudge, respin or line-based side mechanic in the base game beyond the tumble loop.
Return to player
96.52%
Gates of Hades ships with multiple RTP configurations rather than a single fixed figure, so the number an operator serves can differ depending on which build it runs. The figure shown here reflects the most commonly reported configuration across independent sources.
Playing Gates of Hades from spin to bonus round
The grid is six columns by six rows, and every spin resolves without any fixed payline structure. A win exists whenever five or more identical symbols touch each other horizontally or vertically anywhere on the board. Once that cluster is identified, the matching symbols clear and the tiles above fall to fill the gaps, which can immediately create a new cluster and continue the sequence.
Wild symbols carry a random multiplier value in the base game, and each time one lands it adds to a meter displayed above the reels. That collected value applies to the cluster wins produced during the same tumble sequence, so a chain that includes several multiplier wilds can turn a modest cluster into a much larger payout by the time the cascade finishes.
Scatters play no part in forming clusters. Their only function is to trigger the free spins feature, and the number that land at once decides how many spins are awarded: three scatters give ten spins, four give twelve, five give fifteen, and six or more give twenty. Landing six or more scatters at the trigger also switches the round into a Super Free Spins version, where every wild that lands carries a minimum multiplier rather than a fully random one.
Inside the free spins round the collected multiplier meter behaves differently than in the base game: it does not reset between tumbles. Every wild multiplier that lands stays on the board for the rest of the round, so the total can climb steadily as spins progress rather than starting over each time. Landing further scatters during the bonus adds more spins on the same tiered basis, five through twelve depending on the count, keeping the round open rather than cutting it off at a fixed length.
There is a hard ceiling on how much a single round can pay, and the rules state plainly that reaching it ends the free spins immediately, with any unused spins forfeited. Players who prefer to skip the base game path entirely can buy directly into the feature, with a separate, higher-cost option available for the Super Free Spins version rather than the standard bonus.
Questions about the rules
How does a cluster win form on the 6x6 grid in Gates of Hades?
A win requires five or more identical symbols connected horizontally or vertically anywhere on the board; there are no fixed paylines to track.
What happens to the wild multiplier meter during a tumble sequence?
Each multiplier wild that lands adds its value to a meter above the reels, and that total applies to the cluster wins produced within the same cascade before it resets for the next spin.
How many scatters are needed to trigger the free spins round?
Three scatters are the minimum trigger, awarding ten free spins; four, five, and six or more scatters award twelve, fifteen, and twenty spins respectively.
What changes when six or more scatters trigger the bonus?
That count starts a Super Free Spins version where every wild lands with at least a ten-times multiplier instead of a fully random value.
Can the free spins round be retriggered, and how many extra spins does it add?
Yes, landing three, four, five, or six or more scatters during the bonus adds five, seven, ten, or twelve additional spins.
Does reaching the maximum win cap end the free spins round early?
Yes, the round stops immediately once the cap is reached, and any spins left unplayed are forfeited.
Is there a way to buy directly into the Super Free Spins mode?
Yes, a separate bonus buy option exists for the Super Free Spins version, priced higher than the standard free spins purchase.