CHINESE NEW YEAR 2 makes its free-game choice the feature rather than a side detail. Five firecrackers across the reels open a menu where the player chooses between a longer round with a lower starting multiplier and a shorter round with a higher one. The 243-way base game provides the setting for that trigger, but it is the menu and its retrigger behavior that distinguish this sequel. The choice changes the shape of the bonus, not the uncertainty of the spins that follow.
CHINESE NEW YEAR 2 at a glance
| Provider | FA CHAI Gaming |
|---|---|
| Genre / theme | Asian |
| Game type | Video slot |
| Reference RTP | 96.5% |
| Volatility | High |
| Payout mechanic | 243 ways |
| Maximum win | 16,800x the bet |
| Release date | 15 June 2022 |
| Main features | Five firecrackers trigger selectable Free Games; all five reels must show the Scatter, with five duration/multiplier choices and retriggers that add spins and raise the multiplier. |
RTP and stake limits can vary by version and market. Check the information screen in the game you open. Maximum win is a ceiling, not an expected result.
A five-reel ways game with one clear entry condition
The exact-title reviewer describes a five-reel, three-row layout with 243 ways. Wins form when matching symbols appear on at least three adjacent reels from the left. The Dragon Wild can substitute for paying symbols, but not Scatters. FA CHAI’s own introduction names five firecrackers as the Free Game trigger, and the exact-game guide confirms that firecracker Scatters must cover all five reels. A trigger therefore requires a particular spread rather than merely a total count anywhere on the screen.
The bonus menu offers five packages: 18 spins at 2x, 13 at 3x, 8 at 6x, 5 at 9x, or 3 at 18x. The design exchanges time for starting multiplier. More spins allow more evaluations, while fewer rounds place more weight on each qualifying win. Neither package guarantees a high total, because each still depends on the symbols that appear. The menu gives players a meaningful preference to express, not control over the random result.
Retriggers alter both duration and multiplier
The exact-title source says the same five-firecracker condition can retrigger during Free Games. A retrigger awards another set of the selected spin count and raises the multiplier along a defined ladder; the reported maximum is 100 additional spins and up to 72x. This is an important interaction: a retrigger is not just extra time, because it also strengthens the multiplier. The feature can therefore change its own value if the required Scatter arrangement returns, while a round without one continues at its current setting.
Extra Bet is reported as costing 1.5 times the ordinary stake and doubling the feature hit rate, but the exact probabilities are not published. The optional cost should be considered part of the wager, not a free enhancement. Bonus Buy is available only in some regions, with a reported 50x cost; availability and regulatory settings vary, so the live game’s menu is authoritative. Neither option makes a particular Free Game outcome certain.
A high-volatility festive profile
FA CHAI lists 96.5% RTP, High volatility, 243 ways, a 16,800x maximum and a 15 June 2022 release date. Lunar New Year firecrackers and the lion dance clearly fit the Asian theme. High volatility and a 16,800x ceiling describe the configuration, not a likely result. The key practical uncertainty is how often the five-reel trigger or retrigger occurs; published feature rules explain what happens after entry, not its frequency.
The strength is that the player can choose a bonus profile and understand the trade immediately. The limitation is that the aggressive three-spin option offers fewer chances to use its large starting multiplier, and retriggers remain contingent on the same demanding Scatter layout. Readers who enjoy choosing their risk shape may appreciate the structure, while anyone comparing the five packages should treat spin count and multiplier together rather than looking only at the largest number.
Strengths and weak points
Strengths
The five bonus packages create a transparent duration-versus-multiplier choice, and retriggers can increase both the selected spin allotment and the active multiplier.
Weaknesses
All five firecrackers must span the reels to trigger or retrigger, and the three-spin, 18x choice has little time to develop if no wins arrive quickly.
Our Editor’s View
CHINESE NEW YEAR 2 turns its five-firecracker trigger into a bonus choice: 18 spins at 2x down to three spins at 18x, with three intermediate options. Matching firecrackers across all five reels can retrigger the selected package and raise its multiplier, giving the feature a clear but conditional escalation. FA CHAI lists 243 ways, 96.5% RTP, High volatility and a 16,800x maximum. The defining appeal is the ability to choose the bonus’s shape; its main restraint is that neither the initial trigger nor the retrigger is assured.
