Reactoonz vs Reactoonz 2

Reactoonz vs Reactoonz 2 in brief

If you want the higher published return, the original Reactoonz edges it. If you want the refreshed feature set and a slightly higher ceiling, Reactoonz 2 is the pick. The core experience is the same: symbols drop onto a 7×7 grid, clusters of five or more pay and disappear, new symbols fall in, and meters fill towards bigger grid-changing features.

Both games use cartoon alien artwork, but they are real-money gambling products for adults aged 18 and over, with the same house edge as any other slot. This page compares the mechanics, the maths in pounds and the UK rules that apply to both. Our compare hub has more slot pairings.

Reactoonz slot vs Reactoonz 2: comparison table

Play'n GO, based in Växjö, Sweden, is independent and privately held, and is also behind Book of Dead. Both Reactoonz games may be offered in lower RTP settings; the help screen of the copy you open shows the one that applies.

How cluster pays works on a 7×7 Reactoonz grid

Neither game uses paylines. A win is a group of five or more identical symbols touching horizontally or vertically, anywhere on the 49-position grid. Diagonals don't count. The paytable sets a prize for each symbol by cluster size, so larger groups pay progressively more. Our page on cluster pays slot machines covers the system across other games.

Worked example

Imagine five green aliens in an L-shape: three across the bottom row and two stacked above the left-hand one. That's one cluster of five. A sixth green alien touching any of them diagonally only would not join the cluster; one touching an edge would, making it a cluster of six with a higher prize. The winning symbols are then removed and the grid refills from above.

Cluster systems don't make a game more generous. The prize values are set so the overall return matches the published RTP, whatever pay system is used. Our cluster pays vs paylines comparison explains the trade-offs.

Cascades and charge meters: the shared engine

After every win, the paying symbols vanish and new ones drop into the gaps. This is the cascading reels idea, sometimes called a tumble: one paid spin can chain into several wins at no extra stake. The chain ends when a refill produces no new cluster.

On top of that, both games use a charge meter that fills as winning symbols are cleared. As it charges, it triggers random grid-changing effects, and filling it completely brings in the giant Gargantoon wild. These random features are where most of the large results come from, which is why both games are rated high volatility even though small clusters are common.

Neither title has a conventional scatter-triggered free spins round. That sets the series apart from most modern high-volatility slots and means there is no single "bonus" to wait for; the big moments come from long cascade chains and full meters.

What Reactoonz 2 changes

The sequel keeps the grid, the cluster rule, cascades, the charge meter and the Gargantoon, then reworks the features that sit around them. The help screen lists each reworked feature and what triggers it, so it is the place to check what is new. Because the published ceiling rose to 5,083x while the RTP fell slightly, more of the sequel's return sits in its rarer outcomes.

The practical effect is subtle. Players who know the original will recognise the rhythm immediately; the differences show up in how features chain and how far a good sequence can go. If you're deciding between the two, reading both help screens side by side is the quickest way to see the changes. Our slot sequels guide looks at how follow-up games usually adjust the maths.

Reactoonz vs Reactoonz 2 RTP: the gap in pounds

The 0.31-point RTP gap is small per spin but adds up. Here is the long-run average cost of 100 spins at each game's top setting:

That difference is minor next to the normal swing of a high-volatility session, which can run to the full stake in either direction. It is also smaller than the gap you'd face if a casino ran a lower RTP setting; our guide on RTP explains why the setting you get matters more than which title you choose.

Max win at UK stake limits

Under the Gambling Commission's online slots stake limits (opens in a new tab), players aged 25 and over can stake up to £5 a spin (since 9 April 2025) and 18–24s up to £2 (since 21 May 2025):

The two ceilings are close compared with many sequels, and both are reached only rarely. Play'n GO does not publish the odds. Read our max win entry for what a ceiling does and doesn't include.

Which Reactoonz slot suits which player?

If you prioritise return, the original is marginally better on paper. If you've played the original and want something familiar but different, the sequel fits. If you want a cluster game with a much higher ceiling, compare Push Gaming's Jammin' Jars, covered in our Jammin' Jars vs Jammin' Jars 2 page. If high volatility doesn't suit your budget, neither game is a good fit.

Reactoonz myths

• "A nearly full meter means the Gargantoon is close." Meter progress within a spin is part of that spin's random result; it doesn't carry a promise into the next spin.
• "Long cascades come in streaks." Each paid spin is independent of the last.
• "Newer games are programmed to be more generous." Reactoonz 2 actually has the lower top RTP, and both games' outcomes are checked for randomness before UK release.
• "Lower stakes make features more likely." Stake size scales prizes, not the chance of features.

The Commission's technical standard on random outcomes (opens in a new tab) requires results to be unpredictable and independent, which is why none of these beliefs holds.

UK rules that apply to both Reactoonz games

Since 31 October 2021, online slots in Great Britain can't offer autoplay, turbo or slam-stop, must take at least 2.5 seconds per spin and can't celebrate a return equal to or below the stake. The Commission's announcement of the rules (opens in a new tab) explains the thinking. A long cascade chain is still part of one paid spin, and the on-screen balance and net position must stay visible. Our losses disguised as wins rule page explains why a small cluster that returns less than your stake no longer gets a celebration.

Free demo play, after age verification, has been the rule at UK-licensed sites since May 2019, so under-18s can't use demos either.

Before you play Reactoonz: a short checklist

1. Open the help screen and confirm the RTP setting in use.
2. Read the section on the charge meter and features so you know what the grid is doing.
3. Decide your stake and total budget, and set a deposit limit in your account.
4. Turn on a reality check reminder if the casino offers one.
5. Stop at your limit, win or lose.

Our guide on how to set a limit on slots walks through the tools UK casinos provide.

Where to play Reactoonz and Reactoonz 2 in the UK

Play'n GO games are widely carried, but lobbies change, so search for each title at the casino rather than assume it's there. Our Coral review, Ladbrokes review and PlayOJO slots guide explain how each site's games are organised.

For new customers aged 18+ (terms apply): Coral's offer gives 100 spins at 10p each on selected games after you deposit and bet £10 on slots; accept within 48 hours, use within 7 days, no wagering on winnings, certain payment methods excluded, available 1 October 2026 to 1 February 2027. Ladbrokes gives 50 spins a day for 10 days (up to 500) at 10p each after a £10 deposit and £10 of slot play, with no wagering and a 23:59 daily claim deadline. PlayOJO's 80 no-wagering spins at 10p are played on Big Bass Bonanza, for a first deposit of £10 or more (not Northern Ireland). The same company operates Coral and Ladbrokes, so the welcome terms are worth reading before you join both. To block yourself from UK-licensed gambling sites, use GAMSTOP (opens in a new tab); the National Gambling Helpline is on 0808 8020 133.

18+. Gambling should be entertainment that costs money, not a way to make it. Decide a budget before you play: plan a slot budget. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.