Step inside the House of Dragons: The fiery oriental slot by Microgaming
House of Dragons is based on the Chinese theme. Imagine red and gold columns, decorative latticework, paper fans, coins, lanterns, and a grand dragon flying overhead. The design is not the latest thing, but that's part of its charm - you know exactly what you're getting. It feels like stepping into an old temple with reels in the middle.
It's very calm. The background sounds are minimal, the spins are quick, and the animations are useful but not too fancy. It doesn't try to distract you; it helps you to focus and enjoy yourself.
What makes it special?
- It's simple and clear. You see two Wild, pick-and-win bonuses, and understand everything within seconds.
- Two Wilds mechanic. One Wild can be used in place of any other symbol, and the other can be used to double the line win when it helps complete a combination. This extra Double Wild makes the game more exciting.
- Two pick bonuses. Instead of having lots of bonus modes, this game gives you the "Archery" and "Chinese Fan" pick games. They are fast, punchy and fun bursts between spins.
- Classic charm. This isn't a newest mega slot. It's from an older part of Microgaming slots collection, so it's more of a "veteran favourite" than a new hit. This means lower overhead in features and a more relaxed pace.
House of Dragons slot mechanics: Master the reels, paylines and betting basics
- Layout and paylines:
- It has 5 reels and 3 rows.
- There are 20 fixed paylines, which means you can't change them.
- Pays from left to right, as long as the symbols match.
- The highest winning combination on each payline is the only one that counts, but you can win on more than one payline at the same time.
- Betting basics:
You choose how much your coin is worth (for example, between $0.01 and maybe $5 or more) and this is then multiplied by the number of coins per line and the total number of lines (20). The exact minimum and maximum amounts depend on the online casino and the value of the coin you choose. - Wilds & substitutions:
- Standard Wild: substitutes for other symbols to form or complete line wins.
- Multiplier Wild: replaces other symbols and doubles any line win it helps complete.
- You can also win with these Wilds if you get more than one.
- Scatter and Bonus symbols:
Scatter symbols can land anywhere (off-line). When enough scatters and bonus symbols appear, they trigger the pick bonuses (Archery or Chinese Fan), no matter where they land.
House of Dragons paytable - symbols, values and big wins explained
House of Dragons is a slot from Microgaming's classic era, so most payouts are shown in coins per line bet. The general ranking stays the same - the more symbols you get, the more the combination pays out.
Here's a simple overview of what to expect when you get 3, 4, or 5 matching symbols on a payline:
| Symbol | 5 of a kind | 4 of a kind | 3 of a kind | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dragon | 10,000 | 2,000 | 200 | High-value premium symbol. Delivers the biggest line wins and is used as Multiplier Wild doubling the line win. |
| Emperor / Master | 5,000 | 1,000 | 100 | Top-paying symbol. Also substitutes for others. |
| Gold coin | 300 | 100 | 15 | A solid mid-range payout. |
| Lantern | 200 | 50 | 10 | Medium-paying themed symbol. |
| A / K (High Cards) | 150 / 125 | 35 / 25 | 5 / 4 | Standard lower-paying symbols. |
| Q / J / 10 (Low Cards) | 100 / 75 / 50 | 20 / 15 / 15 | 3 / 3 / 2 | Frequent small hits that keep balance stable. |
When the Multiplier Wild substitutes in a winning combination, the payout for that line is doubled.
House of Dragons bonus features - Wilds, Multipliers and pick games
House of Dragons doesn't have as many bonus features as some other slots games, but it's still fun. Microgaming has added some exciting features without making the gameplay too complicated. The great thing about it is that each feature feels simple and satisfying once you understand how it works.
Let's look at them one by one:
Two Wilds - The heart of the game
There are two different Wild symbols, and together they are the most important part of the game.
Standard Wild
This symbol (Emperor / Master) works exactly as you would expect — it can be used in place of any other symbol (except Scatters and Multiplier Wilds) to complete or extend winning combinations. It's one of the symbols that pays more, so getting multiple Wilds on a line can be a good way to win a nice payout even without any extra help.Multiplier Wild
This is the exciting one. When the Multiplier Wild (Dragon) appears on a line win, it doubles the payout for that line straight away. So if you were due a 1,000-coin win, you're now looking at 2,000 instead. The game's mechanics are simple, but the doubling effect makes every spin exciting. You'll be cheering when they land in the middle reels.
The Multiplier Wild is also key to reaching the game's top line wins, as it is the symbol that pays the most.
Pro tip: Watch reels 2, 3 and 4 — they tend to host most of the Multiplier Wild action.
Archery Bonus - Get ready for action!
The Archery Bonus is the first of two pick-style features. The bonus game is triggered when three or more of the bonus symbols (the archer pulling the bow) appear on the reels.
The more bonus symbols that trigger the bonus round, the better.
- 5 symbols will give you 1600 coins
- 4 symbols = 480 coins
- 3 symbols = 160 coins
Once the bonus money has been awarded, you will be taken to a separate bonus screen filled with colourful archery targets. Here, you can either gamble or collect your bonus money. If you decide to gamble, you pick one target out of four (x4, x2, x3 and x0.5, x2 and x1) and wait until the archer will shoot this target. The higher the multiplier, the higher the risk. Where the arrow lands decides if you win the bonus multiplier or lose the bonus money.
The best part is that this bonus is not too long. It's quick, clean, and gives you a satisfying shot of reward between base game spins. You'll usually see it pop up fairly often, which keeps the game lively without interrupting your flow.
Chinese Fan Bonus - Elegant and rewarding
The Chinese Fan Bonus is similar to the Archery Bonus. You'll trigger the bonus game when 3 or more of the Fan Scatter symbols appear on the reels.
You'll enter a second screen filled with ornate fans, and each one is hiding a multiplier or nothing. You can pick from them to try and reveal a bonus multiplier. The more symbols that trigger the bonus, the more picks you get.
- For 3 symbols, the multiplier starts at 2x and can go up to 16x.
- 4 symbols = from 10x up to 160x.
- And 5 symbols is 25x - 800x.
Can you imagine winning 800 times your total bet?
Gamble Feature (Optional)
Wherever you play, you might see an old-school Gamble button light up after you have won a spin. This feature lets you risk your latest win for a chance to double (or sometimes even quadruple) it. It usually takes the form of a red/black card guess or a simple ladder game.
It's up to you, and it's fun in small amounts. The gamble feature adds some risk, but it's designed for players who like that extra adrenaline hit. Remember, it's a 50/50 chance, and you could lose your win right away if you guess wrong. Most experienced players use it carefully, maybe only for smaller wins they're willing to risk.
The flow of features
The great thing about House of Dragons is that these features don't make the original game too complicated. You'll keep spinning the reels, winning small amounts regularly, and every so often — BAM! — you'll hit a Scatter set and get taken to a pick game. These quick bursts of interactivity keep it from feeling repetitive.
The RTP (around 94.8%) and volatility (low-to-medium) indicate that returns will be steady. This means you won't have to wait a long time for a large win. The features appear regularly, which is exactly why so many players still play this slot even now, over a decade later.
House of Dragons slot strategies: Make the most of every spin
- Accept volatility. This slot doesn't usually pay out a million times its value, at least not reliably. Imagine a slot machine that always pays out, with regular wins and extra surprises.
- Plan your bankroll to make sure you get the bonuses. The pick bonuses don't come up every round. A bankroll that gives you 150-250 base game spins gives you a chance at multiple bonuses and less frustration.
- Keep an eye out for Multiplier Wilds. If you notice which reels usually host them, you can get excited when the reels stop and think, "Ooh, did that Wild land in place to double this premium line?"
- Use the gamble feature sparingly. It can be tempting to chase a double, but you could lose everything. If you gamble, start with small wins or set a limit, like "only gamble wins up to $5" or "only gamble once in 20 wins".
- Always check the paytable inside the game. With older games, the version you see at that casino is the one that matters. Don't just rely on third-party sites for the exact rules or top payouts.
House of Dragons: Classic charm, smooth gameplay and lasting appeal
House of Dragons is a classic slot game. It doesn't have any unnecessary extras, but it has a solid structure, exciting Wild features, and enough bonus features to keep you interested. It might not give you the biggest payouts, but it's a fun, easy-going ride with some exciting moments, especially when theMultiplier Wild is active.
If you like big, exciting shows, this might not be for you. But if you just want to play games and hear the occasional pop, House of Dragons is still great. Add it to your collection, try it out, and see how your dragons behave.House of Dragons slot FAQs
What is the RTP of House of Dragons?
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