Rocket Reels slot review

About the Rocket Reels slot

Rocket Reels is a 2021 cluster game from Hacksaw Gaming, the studio launched in Malta in September 2018. It uses a square 7x7 board, so 49 symbols are in view on every spin, and pays for groups of five or more matching symbols linked together. Each win clears away and new symbols drop in, keeping the spin going.

The space theme is built into the main feature. Rockets that land during a cascade sequence wait until the cascading has stopped, then launch upwards, clearing everything above them and leaving multipliers behind. Those multipliers then boost any cluster that forms on top of them. For more cluster titles and everything else we cover, start at our slots hub or the space slots collection.

Rocket Reels RTP, volatility and grid

The 96.3% RTP is the only setting in our checked data for this game. It means the game is designed to return £96.30 of every £100 staked over a very long run, leaving a 3.70% house edge.

How a Rocket Reels spin unfolds

The order of events matters in this game, because the rockets only act once the normal cascades have finished. Here is the sequence on a base game spin.

1. Symbols fill the 7x7 grid.
2. Any cluster of five or more matching symbols pays, using wilds where they help.
3. Winning symbols clear and new ones cascade down; this repeats while new clusters form.
4. When no more wins appear, if three or more rockets are on the grid, they launch.
5. Each launch clears the symbols above the rocket and leaves multipliers in its path.
6. A UFO may appear at random after a launch and remove symbols.
7. New symbols fall in, and any winning cluster formed over multipliers has them added together.

How the features work in Rocket Reels

Cluster wins, cascades and wilds

Five or more matching symbols connected on the grid make a win. Wilds substitute to help build clusters. After each payout the winning symbols are removed and others fall in from above, the mechanic explained in our cascading reels guide.

Rocket launches and multipliers

In the base game, three or more rockets on the grid launch once the cascade sequence ends. A launching rocket clears the symbols above it and leaves multipliers behind. When a new winning cluster covers those multipliers, their values are added together and applied to the win. The help screen shows the multiplier values, which we do not quote because they are not in our checked developer figures.

The UFO

After a launch, a UFO can turn up at random and remove symbols from the grid. Removing symbols makes room for new ones to fall in, giving the multipliers left by the rockets another chance to sit under a winning cluster.

Free spins: every rocket launches

Three astronaut scatters within a single cascade sequence award eight free spins. The key change in the round is that every rocket that lands launches, without waiting for three of them. More launches mean more multipliers on the grid, which is where the game's larger results tend to come from.

Why it matters that Rocket Reels multipliers add

Slots combine multipliers in two ways. Some, like Hand of Anubis from the same studio, multiply them together when they share a cluster. Rocket Reels adds them. The table uses hypothetical values to show the difference; they are not the game's actual multipliers.

Adding grows more slowly than multiplying once three or more values combine, so individual combinations tend to be less explosive. In this design, bigger results depend more on how many launches pile multipliers onto the grid, which is why free spins, where every rocket launches, matter so much. For more on how these systems work, see our slot multipliers page.

Rocket Reels RTP and your budget

High volatility means the game holds back much of its return for free spins with lots of launches. Expect many base game spins to return little, and treat the average cost as a long-run guide rather than a forecast for one session. Our answer on how much to budget for a session helps you set a sensible limit.

UK rules for the Rocket Reels slot

Under the Gambling Commission's stake limit guidance for online slots (opens in a new tab), players aged 25 and over can stake up to £5 a spin and those aged 18 to 24 up to £2. Our UK slot stake limits page covers the details, including how the cap works across a game cycle.

• Minimum 2.5 seconds per spin, with no turbo, quick spin or slam-stop, under RTS 14 (opens in a new tab).
• No autoplay; each spin must be started by hand.
• No sounds or animations celebrating a return that doesn't beat your stake.
• Since a Gambling Commission warning in January 2020, feature buy-ins are not offered to British players, so free spins come only from astronaut scatters.
• Age and identity checks before any play, including demos.

Rocket Reels alternatives: similar cluster slots

Reactoonz is the closest match on grid size, while Le Bandit is a medium-volatility Hacksaw option for players who want a gentler ride. Our cluster pays guide explains the mechanic across all of them.

Common questions people get wrong about Rocket Reels

• Rockets on the grid don't make the next spin more likely to win. Every spin is decided independently by the game's random number generator; see our page on random number generators.
• A long run without free spins doesn't mean they are due.
• Raising the stake raises the cost in pounds, not the percentage returned.
• The UFO is random and can't be timed or predicted.

Rocket Reels verdict: who it suits

Rocket Reels suits players who enjoy cluster grids and want a feature they can follow at a glance. If you want something calmer, look at our low volatility slots. Remember that slots are a paid pastime: over time the house edge means you should expect to lose.

Where to play Rocket Reels in the UK

Our three partner welcome offers below are for slots, but the spins are set to particular or selected games, not Rocket Reels, and we cannot confirm which casinos list it, so check the lobby. Each is for new customers aged 18+ and subject to terms.

• PlayOJO: 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza at 10p each on a first deposit of £10 or more, with no wagering and winnings paid in cash. New UK customers (not Northern Ireland), designated offer link only, not with other offers.
• Coral: 100 free spins at 10p on selected games once you deposit and bet £10 or more on slots; accept within 48 hours, use within 7 days, no wagering on winnings. Runs 1 October 2026 to 1 February 2027. Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, prepaid cards and certain debit cards don't qualify.
• Ladbrokes: 50 free spins a day for 10 days (up to 500) at 10p on selected games after you deposit and spend £10 or more on slots; claim before 23:59 daily, valid 7 days, no wagering. Deposits via prepaid cards, PayPal, Paysafe, Neteller, Skrill or Moneybookers are not eligible.

Coral and Ladbrokes share the same operator, LC International Limited, so new accounts at both may not be possible. See Coral's slots for what that casino lists.

18+. Every casino game has a built-in house edge, so over time you should expect to lose what you stake. Set a budget before you play and stop when it’s gone: safer gambling tools and support. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.