Dragon Dance is a compact, fixed-ways slot with an unusual decision after the reels stop: a player may pay to respin an individual reel. That optional intervention sits beside a familiar bonus structure—three or more Scatters award 15 Free Spins, and wins during the feature are tripled. The contrast between the two is the game’s central design choice. The base game invites selective correction at an extra cost; the bonus removes that option and instead amplifies wins through a fixed multiplier.
Dragon Dance at a glance
| Provider | Microgaming |
|---|---|
| Genre / theme | Asian |
| Game type | Video slot |
| Reels / grid | 5 reels × 3 rows |
| Reference RTP | 97.49% |
| Volatility | Low |
| Payout mechanic | 243 ways, permanently enabled |
| Release date | 3 February 2016 |
| Main features | A player may respin any reel after a spin for an additional cost; 3+ Scatters award 15 Free Spins with all wins tripled and retriggers possible. |
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 fixed 243-way base
The official page describes a five-reel, three-row arrangement, and the exact rules confirm that all 243 ways remain enabled. Regular combinations form when matching symbols appear adjacent to one another, with one of those symbols on the first reel. Wilds substitute for other symbols but do not substitute for Scatters or create their own winning combination. Scatters, in turn, can pay anywhere and do not need to line up on a way.
That fixed configuration keeps the basic evaluation consistent from spin to spin. Instead of buying or activating a subset of ways, the player knows the full 243 are in play. Its unusual feature does not change that underlying layout; it offers a paid second look at one reel after the initial result. The rules specify that only new winning combinations formed by the respin are paid, which prevents the feature from simply paying the original win twice.
The optional reel respin
After any spin, the player may choose to respin a reel for an additional cost. Each reel’s cost is calculated separately, and a reel can be respun more than once. The cost does not indicate a better or worse chance of winning. Changing coin size after a spin disables the option until another ordinary spin occurs. These conditions turn the feature into a paid decision rather than an automatic bonus: the player can target one reel, but must weigh its separate cost against the possibility that only a new winning combination will pay.
This is where Dragon Dance differs from a standard free respin. It is not described as a random feature with free attempts, and no source guarantees a win from using it. It also cannot be used during Free Spins. That restriction separates the base-game choice from the bonus round and prevents the triple-win feature from being paired with repeated paid reel changes. The lack of respins during Free Spins is a useful counterweight to the stronger multiplier there.
Fifteen spins, triple wins
Three or more Scatter symbols trigger 15 Free Spins. During the feature, every win is tripled; another set of three or more Scatters can reactivate the round and add 15 more spins to the remaining count. The bet used for the feature is the last bet placed in the game. Scatter and bonus payouts are added to regular wins according to the rules, while ordinary wins still follow the same adjacency and first-reel conditions.
The bonus therefore modifies payout rather than replacing the core ways model. A winning combination is still evaluated under the regular rules, but the resulting award is multiplied by three. Retriggers extend the remaining count, while the same source does not allow the paid reel-respin feature during the bonus. The official description says wins can reach 60,000 in currency terms, but its max-exposure field is also a separate amount; neither can safely be converted into a stake-multiplier maximum without a verified denomination context.
A strong return figure, with limits
Microgaming lists 97.49% RTP and Low volatility, with a release date of 3 February 2016. These are official figures for the listed title. The page’s stated win ceiling is cash-denominated, so the max_win multiplier remains unknown in this review. That distinction matters when comparing games: a large cash amount depends on bet size and currency and is not itself a maximum expressed as times stake.
Dragon Dance’s appeal is the combination of a transparent fixed-ways base and an optional one-reel intervention. The weakness is that the respin carries an additional, reel-specific charge and offers no better-odds guarantee; it can also invite repeated spending after an otherwise settled result. The bonus is easy to understand, but its 3x factor cannot be treated as a prediction of total return. Players who appreciate a choice between accepting a spin and paying to alter one reel will find a clear hook; those who prefer all feature actions to be free may regard the respin cost as a poor fit.
Strengths and weak points
Strengths
All 243 ways remain active, and the paid respin lets a player target one reel after seeing the result instead of changing the base layout or its win rules.
Weaknesses
Each reel respin has an additional cost without improved-odds assurance, and the option is disabled during Free Spins; the maximum-win figure is not verified as a multiplier.
Our Editor’s View
Dragon Dance keeps its standard play model stable—five by three, 243 ways and adjacent wins—then adds a deliberate cost decision after a spin. A player may respin one reel, but only newly formed combinations pay, each reel has its own cost, and the option disappears during the Free Spins feature. The bonus takes the opposite approach: no reel intervention, but 15 spins with every win tripled and a chance to retrigger. That contrast is more distinctive than the festive theme alone. The rules are clear enough to explain, though the respin’s price should be considered carefully because the rules do not promise improved odds. The official RTP and volatility are listed, but the stated maximum win is a cash amount rather than a verified multiplier. Players who enjoy controlled, paid adjustments may find the base feature interesting; those seeking a cost-free bonus loop may prefer a simpler design.
