The term cluster*uck was coined by, who else, the U.S. military. Originally coined to describe operations where every layer of command somehow managed to screw things up in perfect synchrony, it’s the poetic mashup of “cluster,” meaning group, and, well, *uck, meaning exactly what you think.

The term paints a vivid picture of multiple people piling into a situation and collectively making it worse, like a group project led by raccoons on meth. Over time, civilians borrowed it for everything from disastrous weddings to tech startups run by LinkedIn influencers.

Now, there is some ambiguity in the Cluster*uck name that TrueLab used for its newest slot. While it could be Clusterluck, which would fit the slot’s mechanics, the use of the asterisk makes it seem like they want us to read a bit more into the name.

It’s all gone to sh*t!

The Cluster*uck slot from TrueLab features a Cluster Pays mechanic instead of traditional paylines. Betting starts at just $0.20, with a maximum limit of $15. If you’re betting at the upper limit, you could win up to $375,000, thanks to the 25,000x maximum multiplier. The slot has medium to high volatility, meaning wins may not come frequently, but can still be substantial. The RTP is 96.16%.

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A win is formed when five or more matching symbols appear in a cluster, connected vertically or horizontally. It’s possible to land several winning clusters simultaneously, although a cluster cannot be composed entirely of Wild symbols. After a win, the Shrink Shift Clusters mechanic takes effect. The winning symbols are removed and replaced with smaller versions of the regular symbols, which are a quarter of the original size. These mini symbols create more space and more potential for forming new clusters. The process continues as long as additional wins occur. Each new spin resets the field to its original configuration.

Wild Scatter symbols may appear during the main game. Each one charges the Scatter Collector. If five or more Wild Scatter symbols are collected during a spin, you will unlock five free spins. Every additional Wild Scatter symbol grants one extra free spin. The Scatter Collector resets at the end of each spin or when free spins begin.

Free spins take place on an 8×8 grid that can expand to a maximum of 16×16. These spins are played using the same bet as the spin that triggered the feature. During free spins, you benefit from a progressive multiplier that increases whenever a Wild Multiplier symbol appears in a winning cluster. At least one Wild Multiplier symbol is guaranteed to land in each free spin. When the multiplier reaches specific thresholds—x7, x10, x50, x100, x250, and x500—you are awarded additional spins. Reaching x7 grants one extra spin, while each of the other thresholds awards two additional spins. If a multiplier was already charged during the base game, its value carries over into the free spins. Once the free spins round ends, the multiplier resets. Wild Scatter symbols are not active during this feature.

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The Mystery Box feature can appear at any point in the game. This special symbol reveals itself as one of the standard symbols on the field. All matching symbols are then transformed into higher-value symbols. While a win isn’t guaranteed, this mechanic increases the likelihood of triggering new cluster combinations.

At random moments during both the base and bonus games, the Random Wild feature can activate. When triggered, up to 16 Wild or Wild Multiplier symbols drop onto the field, depending on the current grid size. This significantly increases your chances of forming a winning cluster, although it does not guarantee a win.

Once the field reaches near-maximum size, the Reshuffle feature can be activated following a win. It only triggers once per spin and applies in both the base and bonus games. Any large-sized symbols are broken down into standard-sized ones. All gaps are filled with random symbols, excluding Wild Scatter and Mystery Box. The entire field is then reshuffled to offer another chance at forming clusters.

The game’s multiplier system is driven by Wild Multiplier symbols. Every time one of these appears in a winning combination, the progressive multiplier increases and applies to subsequent wins within the same spin. In the main game, the multiplier resets between spins. During free spins, the multiplier continues to accumulate throughout the entire bonus round, potentially reaching up to x500.

Is the Cluster*uck slot ready for action?

With a name like the Cluster*uck slot, there were definitely some expectations of insanity when I launched the game. And for the most part, it delivered. The shrinking cluster cascade wins are a unique touch, and the design of the characters adds a fun, playful energy to the action. There’s also a huge number of bonus features that keep things moving and the gameplay feeling fresh. All in all, this is a great little slot. I give it a solid nine out of ten.

If you’re looking for a few other solid slots from TrueLab that I recommend checking out, try Guns, Love & Therapy and Dr. Rock & the Riff Reactor.