Cygnus 4

Cygnus 4

8 / 10
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

In the Cygnus 4 pokie by ELK Studios, players will be taken to a different setting as this time it’s London you’ll be heading to. The fourth and newest instalment of the popular Cygnus-series is played with an expandable 6×4 grid and 4,096 ways to win. As this game comes with avalanches this can eventually go up to a total 262,144 ways to win. Make sure to pay attention to the Multiplier and Level Up symbols as well as reaching the top of the third level will help you achieve the game’s top win of 50,000x the bet. There are also free spins and a Bonus Buy element for players from New Zealand and most other countries. Find out more about the game with our full Cygnus 4 review, including a demo.

Cygnus 4 Review

Welcome to a new setting in Cygnus 4, the latest addition to ELK Studios’ cosmic-inspired game series. Immerse yourself in a thrilling gaming experience as the top-tier design transports you to a dreamlike atmosphere. This won’t come as a surprise to most players familiar with ELK Studios which is why the outstanding visuals, a fitting soundtrack, smoothened with meditation music, are likely to improve one’s overall satisfaction. At the same time, the Cygnus 4 online pokie’s user interface embraces a minimalist design philosophy, featuring only a handful of easy to understand controls – a characteristic trait in games crafted by this leading developer. In this review we will talk you through all the details of this game and what it has to offer to gambling enthusiasts from New Zealand.

Nice to know

Launched 2 January 2023
RTP 94.0%
Volatility High
Software ELK Studios
Features Avalanche / Cascading wins, Buy Feature, Free Spins, Level Up, Multiway (+1024), Scatter symbols, Wild, Wilds with multipliers
Theme London
Paylines 4096 up to 262,144
Grid Layout 6x4 up to 6x8
Min. bet/line $ 0.20
Max win x50,000
Jackpot NA

Positive points

  • ✅ Max Payout of 50,000x The Stake (10,000x in Cygnus 3)
  • ✅ One RTP Only
  • ✅ 5 Bonus Features
  • ✅ X-iter Feature

Negative points

  • ❌ Low 94% RTP
  • ❌ High Variance
  • ❌ No Jackpot Anymore

Review Cygnus 4

Launched in 2019, the first Cygnus pokie took players to Egypt, whilst the sequel, Cygnus 2 (2022), took place in an advanced observatory. Last year, in 2023, Cygnus 3 was released which saw players in Rome’s Colosseum, and Cygnus 4 stays in Europe as this looks like an ancient version of London. The reason why we believe this is London, despite it not being explicitly mentioned, is that the four towered building sitting behind the grid reminds us of the White Tower at the Tower of London. Above this you will see the Cygnus constellation, which is meant to connect the four different parts of the game. The real question now is how well Cygnus 4 performs in comparison to the other online pokies.

How to Play

Cygnus 4 is readily available in the best online casinos in NZ, but it requires some extra attention for first timers as this game is different from most other pokies. Every round in Cygnus 4 starts with 6 columns, 4 rows, and dropping symbols. These columns can expand up to 8 rows, which can boost the ways to win from 4096 to 262,144 per round.

  • This pokie starts with a 6×4 grid, working with the avalanche mechanism. The reels can expand to an impressive 8 rows, resulting in a shift of 4,096 ways to win to an impressive 262,144 per spin.
  • The above explains why we recommend you try out the game first in the free demo version before you move on to make your next spin.
  • Once you’re ready to make your real money bet, go ahead and choose your bet, ranging from $ 0.20 to $ 100.
  • Go for the Spin button to start with your game round. The Autoplay button is also available for those that prefer to sit back.
  • For information about the paytable and the rest of the game rules, click on the Menu icon.

Symbol Wins

Graphically, this game looks like other parts in the series with some of the gems being the same as in part III. To make a winning combination, you will need 3 or more similar symbols. The values indicated in the paytable are multiplied by the total bet to form your total win. The low value symbols are worth 0.05x to 0.2x the bet from 3+ of the Blue, Green, and Red Gemstones. Then, the premium symbols consist of the Serpent, Unicorn, Gryphon, and Eye of Ra Pyramid. These come with values of 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, and 10x the bet. The “W” wild substitutes for other symbols in this game. We encourage all of our visitors to check out the Cygnus 4 paytable for a full overview of the symbols, their winning combinations, and the rules that come with them. The information below should help you on your way.

Symbol Payout for 3 Payout for 4 Payout for 5 Payout for 6
Blue Gem 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2x  the bet
Green Gem 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2x  the bet
Red Gem 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2x  the bet
Gold Serpent 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.3x the bet
Gold Unicorn 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.5x the bet
Gold Gryphon 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.5x the bet
Eye of Ra Pyramid 1 2 5 10x the bet
Wild Substitutes for all symbols above
Multiplier Increases active multiplier when reaching leftmost column/bottom of grid
Level Up Multiplier Pillar level increases when reaching leftmost column/bottom of grid
Bonus Scatter Triggers Free Drops feature when reaching leftmost column

Bonus Features

The Cygnus 4 pokie comes with a total of 5 bonus features which should be enough to find the thrill and prizes you’re looking for. Very important in this game are the Avalanches which help players by adding rows and boosting the ways to win up to 262,144. There are also Multiplier symbols that are meant to increase the multiplier on the Multiplier Pillar. Level Up symbols will see the Multiplier Pillar rotate and reach a new level that comes with bigger multipliers. There is also a free spins feature with the other good news that the spins can come with a Multiplier Pillar in the base game. Here is more about the features:

Avalanche Feature

The Avalanche feature is activated when winning combinations are made. Winning symbols disappear and the gravity mechanism will see the new symbols rolling left or right. In this case, the number of rows will increase by 1+ payline. Avalanches will go on as long as new winning combinations are made. With 8 rows, you’ll get 262,144 ways to win. This is what this adds up to:

  • 4 rows: 4,096 ways to win.
  • 5 rows: 15,625 ways to win.
  • 6 rows: 46,656 ways to win.
  • 7 rows: 117,649 ways to win.
  • 8 rows: 262,144 ways to win.

Multiplier Feature

On the left side of the reels, behold the Multiplier Pillar, which displays the active multiplier. Witness the magic unfold as a Multiplier symbol graces the reels and traverses its way to either the leftmost column or the bottom of the playing field. With each successful spin, the active multiplier ascends by 1 level along the Multiplier Pillar, transforming the Multiplier symbol into a wild in the process. This will then be applied to winning combinations it is part of.

Level Up Feature

When a Level Up symbol reaches the leftmost column or the bottom of the playing field, a Level Up on the Multiplier Pillar is triggered and it transforms into a Wild. In this case, the Multiplier Pillar rotates and increases the multiplier values on the pillar.

With 3 levels on the Multiplier Pillar, the remaining amount required to reach the max win is paid. This is done when you reach the top of the third level. When this happens, you will win 50,000x the bet. If both the Level Up and Multiplier symbols land at the same time, the Multiplier Pillar levels up first after which the active multiplier advances 1 step as well along the Multiplier Pillar.

Free Drops Feature

The Free Drops feature is activated when a Bonus Scatter gets to the leftmost column. With 7 free spins awarded, the current level of the Multiplier Pillar and active multiplier are taken to the feature. Every new free spin begins with 4 rows which stands for 4,096 paylines. When a Bonus Scatter symbol gets to the leftmost column, extra free spins will be won. This will happen with 3 each time.

X-iter Feature

The X-iter feature gives players the chance to make the shortcut by paying what we’d call an admission fee. Readily available for players in New Zealand, there are 5 different options which are discussed below:

 

Bonus Feature Cost Description
Bonus Hunt 3x the stake Double the chance of activating the Free Drops feature
Level 3 Multiplier Pillar 10x the stake 1 spin, Multiplier Pillar begins on level 3
Multiplier Wilds 25x the stake Multiplier Wilds
Bonus 100x the stake Entry to Free Drops feature
Super Bonus 500x the stake Entry to Free Drops feature, wild Multiplier symbols

Payout Metrics

ELK Studios pokies tend to come with an RTP of 94% which is true for Cygnus 4 as well. This is a low percentage and a major drawback, although players will know what they’re getting themselves into when they play a pokie by this studio. There is only one RTP which saves you some time as you won’t have to worry about checking out the paytable.

Cygnus 4 also comes with a 27% hit frequency rate with winning combination landing every 3.7 spins on average. The volatility level is high, but not extreme as it’s labelled as 7 out of 10). Also, Cygnus 4 comes with top wins that go up to 50,000x the stake. This is the same stat found in Cygnus 2 and 5x higher than the 1st and 3rd Cygnus game.

Summary

Cygnus 4 boasts a visually stunning design. For most players it’ll be about making significant wins and in order to achieve substantial winnings one should focus on advancing the Multiplier Pillar for enhanced multipliers. Whilst this may resonate well with enthusiasts of the original online pokies, those seeking a new experience might find the remaining elements somewhat familiar to the ones found in previous instalments.

All together, ELK Studios returns to a more recognisable setting with the Cygnus 4 pokie game. Featuring Avalanches and a staggering 262,144 ways to win, tie together all four instalments of the Cygnus series. Including multipliers is yet another shared characteristic across all games. In comparison with part III, ELK Studios shifts its emphasis to the Level Up feature in Cygnus 4. This is why it is recommended to keep an eye out for the Level Up symbol, as it triggers the rotation of the Multiplier Pillar, escalating the multiplier values. Reaching the pinnacle of the third level guarantees the maximum win.

The thrills continue with the inclusion of free spins, during which the prevailing Multiplier Pillar level and multipliers persist. With a remarkable 50,000x bet maximum payout, Cygnus 4 comes with a simpler approach than its predecessor, Cygnus 4, yet delivers an impressive fivefold increase in winning potential in comparison to Cygnus 3. This should be a valid reason for players familiar with part III to now try out the fourth edition.