5 Lions Slots —
The Complete Series Guide
Six games, one franchise — from the 2018 original to the newest 2025 releases. Every slot reviewed, tested and compared in one place.
All 6 Slots in the Series
The original. Wild multipliers up to 40×, 7 free spins modes to choose from, and a grid that expands to 576 ways during the bonus. The one that started it all.
Adds three fixed jackpots (Minor 15×, Major 150×, Grand 2,000×) and the Golden Reels mechanic to the classic formula. Max win 7,342× — the highest jackpot ceiling in the series outside the Megaways entries.
The festive entry built on a 1,024-way grid (5×4). Has two separate bonus triggers: the instant Lion Reel Bonus (5×–200× your bet) and free spins with symbol transformation. Medium volatility — the smoothest ride in the series.
Up to 117,649 dynamic ways to win with the BTG Megaways engine. First entry in the series to introduce Bonus Buy (100× stake) and Ante Bet. Tumble mechanic: winning symbols vanish and new ones drop in. For players who don't like to wait for the bonus.
Up to 262,144 ways to win (6 reels × up to 8 symbols). Adds Level Up Coin — collect 3 during free spins to strip away the lowest multiplier and add +3 spins. Wild multiplier up to 100×. Highest max win in the series.
243 ways, maximum volatility. Central mechanic: a growing Wild multiplier that climbs every time the Lion Wild hits in a winning combination. Features Super Free Spins and two Feature Buy tiers (80× or 500× stake).
The 5 Lions series is one of Pragmatic Play's longest-running slot franchises — six games released between 2018 and 2025, all built around the same Asian-mythology theme and sharing a standard 96.5% RTP. The series has generated steady player discussion on YouTube and X (formerly Twitter) across its entire lifespan — a rare staying power for a slot franchise running since 2018.
Every slot in the series is free to play as a demo on this site — no account, no deposit, no download required. If you're deciding which version to try first, start with the original: it has the most manageable mechanics and the 7-mode free spins selection that gives you real control over your risk. If you prefer faster-paced play with bigger swings, go straight to the Megaways entries.
The Series at a Glance — All 6 Slots
Six entries, one shared RTP. Here's the full series in release order. The numbers below come directly from Pragmatic Play's official documentation and are verifiable in each game's rules screen.
| Slot | Year | Max Win | Ways to Win | Volatility | Buy Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Lions | 2018 | 3,520× | 243 → 576 | High | No |
| 5 Lions Gold | 2019 | 7,342× | 243 | Very High | No |
| 5 Lions Dance | 2020 | 2,700× | 1,024 | Medium | No |
| 5 Lions Megaways | 2021 | 5,000× | Up to 117,649 | High | Yes (100×) |
| 5 Lions Megaways 2 | 2025 | 8,000× | Up to 262,144 | High | Yes (100× / 150× / 500×) |
| 5 Lions Reborn | 2025 | 5,000× | 243 | Maximum | Yes (80× / 500×) |
All figures from official Pragmatic Play documentation. RTP is 96.50% across all six slots (standard configuration). Casinos may apply a reduced RTP variant; always check the in-game rules screen before playing.
Full Series Comparison — Stats Side by Side
Every key metric side by side. Use this to pick the right slot for your playing style before you click through to read the full review.
| Slot | RTP | Max Win | Ways | Bonus Buy | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Lions | 96.50% | 3,520× | 243 → 576 | No | 7 FS modes · Wild ×40 |
| 5 Lions Gold | 96.50% | 7,342× | 243 | No | 3 Jackpots · Golden Reels |
| 5 Lions Dance | 96.50% | 2,700× | 1,024 | No | Lion Reel · Symbol Transform |
| 5 Lions Megaways | 96.50% | 5,000× | Up to 117,649 | Yes | Megaways · Bonus Buy |
| 5 Lions Megaways 2 | 96.50% | 8,000× | Up to 262,144 | Yes | Level Up Coins · Wild ×100 |
| 5 Lions Reborn | 96.50% | 5,000× | 243 | Yes* | Super Free Spins · Growing Wild |
All RTP values are the standard (non-reduced) version. * 5 Lions Reborn uses "Feature Buy" (80× or 500× stake), functionally equivalent to Bonus Buy. 5 Lions Megaways 2 Bonus Buy has three tiers: Regular 100×, Super 150×, Mystery 500× stake.
Which 5 Lions Slot Is Right for You?
All six slots share the same RTP. So the right choice comes down to what kind of player you are, and what kind of session you're after. Here's a quick guide based on playing style.
Seven free spins modes, Wild multipliers up to 40× in the base game, and grid expansion to 576 ways. The original is still the most complete package, and the only one with this exact mechanic.
Review & Demo →5 Lions Gold adds three fixed jackpots (Minor 15×, Major 150×, Grand 2,000×) and the Golden Reels mechanic to the classic 243-way formula. Max win 7,342×, the highest jackpot ceiling on the non-Megaways side of the series.
Review & Demo →5 Lions Megaways has Bonus Buy (100× stake), Ante Bet, and up to 117,649 dynamic ways to win. Skip straight to the free spins whenever your bankroll allows it.
Review & Demo →5 Lions Megaways 2 tops the series at 8,000× max win. Level Up Coins strip away lower multipliers as you progress, Wild reaches 100×. Three free spins modes including the locked-multiplier MAX Free Spins.
Review & Demo →5 Lions Dance is the only medium-volatility slot in the series: the smoothest session rhythm of all six. The instant Lion Reel Bonus pays 5×–200× your bet. 1,024 ways on a 5×4 grid. Max win 2,700×.
Review & Demo →Maximum volatility, Wild multiplier that grows with every winning hit. Feature Buy in two tiers: Regular FS at 80× stake, or Super FS at 500× (starts at 15× multiplier immediately).
Review & Demo →The 5 Lions Series — How It Evolved
Most slot franchises are cosmetic — same mechanics, different skin. This series isn't that. Each entry made a deliberate structural change: new reel architecture, new trigger mechanics, new bonus systems. The shared DNA (Lion Wild, Yin Yang Scatter, 96.5% RTP) is the constant. Everything else has moved.
Launched the franchise with Wild multipliers active in the base game, unusual for its time. The 7-mode free spins selection screen was a first in iGaming. Grid expansion to 576 ways during free spins remains exclusive to this entry. Set the template every sequel builds on.
Kept the original's 243-way structure but bolted on three fixed jackpots (Minor 15×, Major 150×, Grand 2,000×) and the Golden Reels mechanic. The most complex bonus system of the non-Megaways entries and the highest max win of the classic side of the series at 7,342×. Popular with players who want jackpot exposure alongside the classic Wild mechanic.
Rebuilt the reel structure to 1,024 ways on a 5×4 grid and introduced two separate bonus triggers: the instant Lion Reel Bonus (5×–200× your bet) and free spins with symbol transformation. Softer variance (medium volatility) and a max win of 2,700×. A different rhythm from the original, aimed at players who prefer more frequent wins.
Licensed the BTG Megaways engine and rebuilt the slot from up to 117,649 ways. First entry in the series with Bonus Buy and Ante Bet. A fundamental shift in target audience. Players who prefer control over session pacing finally had a 5 Lions option built for them.
Upgraded the Megaways engine to 262,144 ways (6 reels × up to 8 symbols) and added Level Up Coin: collect 3 during free spins to strip the lowest Wild multiplier and gain +3 spins. Wild multiplier up to 100×. Three free spins modes (Regular, Super, MAX). Highest max win in the entire series at 8,000×.
Back to 243 ways and maximum volatility. The central mechanic is a growing Wild multiplier: it starts at your chosen value and climbs every time the Lion Wild hits in a winning combination. Features Super Free Spins (20 spins, 15× starting multiplier, triggered by Super Scatter or Feature Buy for 500× stake) and regular 7-option free spins (Feature Buy 80× stake). The series returned to its roots, but with new mechanical depth.
6 Features Every 5 Lions Slot Shares
Lion Wild with Multiplier
Every slot uses the Lion as a multiplying Wild, not just a substituting one. The range differs per entry: up to 40× in the original, Gold and Megaways; up to 100× in Megaways 2; growing dynamically in Reborn. It's the common thread across all six games and what gives the series its identity.
Yin Yang Scatter — Non-Standard Trigger
Each entry uses a different Scatter placement: in the original and Reborn, three or more adjacent Scatters starting from reel 1 trigger the bonus. In Gold, the Scatter is restricted to reels 2, 3 and 4. Three landing simultaneously open free spins. In Megaways and Megaways 2, the Scatter can land on any of the six reels. Dance uses reels 1–2–3 only. Megaways 2 also adds a Super Scatter for enhanced bonus modes.
Free Spins with Player Agency
The original's 7-mode selection screen set a standard: give the player a meaningful choice about risk. Later entries simplified or modified this, but all six include some form of free spins decision, even if it's just retrigger frequency vs. multiplier range.
Chinese Mythology Iconography
Dragon, Phoenix, Turtle, Frog, Carp — all carry specific meaning in Chinese culture. The number five (五, wǔ) is sacred: Five Elements, Five Directions, Five Virtues. The franchise name isn't arbitrary. It's built on a symbolic system that predates the slot by millennia.
96.5% RTP — Certified, Not Claimed
The standard RTP is MGA-certified, audited by third-party testing labs, not a self-reported figure. SlotTracker community data from hundreds of thousands of real-money spins backs up the number across the series. Casinos may run a reduced-RTP variant. Always verify in the game's rules screen before playing.
Full Mobile Optimisation
Every entry runs natively in mobile browsers on iOS and Android. No download required, no quality loss on smaller screens. Pragmatic Play's engine scales layouts automatically to both portrait and landscape orientation.
Why Are 5 Lions Slots So Popular?
There are hundreds of Asian-themed slots. Most look nearly identical. So what makes these six games the ones players keep returning to — and keep searching for — since 2018?
1. The original mechanic was actually new
In 2018, most high-multiplier Wilds were locked behind the bonus round. The 5 Lions Wild appearing on reels 2–4 with multipliers up to 40× in normal play was different. Players noticed. Community discussions on Reddit and YouTube spread the word before Pragmatic Play even had an established global marketing presence. The game did the work itself.
2. The 7 free spins modes created a community argument
Ask ten players which free spins option is best and you'll get ten different answers. That conversation has been running since 2018 and hasn't stopped. Every forum thread, every YouTube video with "5 Lions strategy" in the title, every Reddit post asking which mode to pick — all of it drives sustained organic interest. The slot designed a debate into itself.
3. The RTP is verifiable and holds up in large samples
96.5% sits noticeably above the industry average of 95–96%. More importantly, SlotTracker community data from tracked real-money sessions consistently confirms the figure across the series. When players can independently verify an RTP claim at scale, trust builds, and that trust translates to continued play and recommendations.
4. Each sequel served a different player type without replacing the last
Gold added jackpots without removing the classic mechanic. Megaways added Bonus Buy without eliminating the Scatter-triggered version. Reborn added Super Free Spins and a growing Wild multiplier without abandoning the familiar 243-way grid. None of the sequels made the original redundant — which means the entire library stays in active rotation at casinos rather than being sunsetted. Six games. Six audiences. One ecosystem.
5. The Chinese theme has real depth
Most Asian-themed slots use the aesthetic superficially — dragons and gold coins as visual decoration. The 5 Lions series uses real Chinese symbolism: the number five, the guardian lion (shíshī), the Yin Yang as a selection mechanic, the five traditional lucky animals. Players who know the iconography recognise it as authentic. Players who don't learn something. Both groups engage more deeply.
About Pragmatic Play — Studio Behind 5 Lions
Pragmatic Play is one of the largest slot studios by casino adoption. Their games appear in virtually every regulated online casino globally. They're the studio behind Gates of Olympus, Sweet Bonanza, Big Bass Bonanza, and the 5 Lions franchise. Most content is built in-house; the Megaways mechanic used in 5 Lions Megaways and Megaways 2 is licensed from Big Time Gaming, a licence Pragmatic also uses across many other titles like The Dog House Megaways and Buffalo King Megaways.
RTP Certification — What It Actually Means
Pragmatic's MGA licence (Malta Gaming Authority) requires independent RTP audits by certified testing labs, primarily BMM Testlabs and Gaming Laboratories International (GLI). The 96.5% figure you see across the 5 Lions series isn't a theoretical estimate in a marketing document: it's a certified number that casino operators must honour in the standard game configuration. Casinos can choose to run a reduced-RTP version (typically 95.51%), but both versions are disclosed in the in-game rules. Always check before you play.
Where to Find Official Documentation
Every 5 Lions game has an official page on pragmaticplay.com with paytables, RTP certificates, and full game rules in multiple languages. We reference these documents directly in every review on this site. If a mechanic is described in our pages, it's sourced from official documentation or verified play data, not secondary sources.
Frequently Asked Questions
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