Chinese New Year 2 (Fa Chai Gaming) – Review & Demo Play

Rules and Gameplay in Chinese New Year 2

Chinese New Year 2 runs on a 5x3 grid with 243 ways to win. Wins land by matching symbols on at least three adjacent reels starting from the leftmost reel, which keeps the pace brisk. Premiums include envelopes, gold ingots, fish, and a golden pineapple as the top symbol, while royals handle the lower end. I found the flow familiar and tidy, with the cheerful dragon perched above the reels setting the scene as the sun dips behind the temple courtyard.

The Chinese dragon Wild substitutes for pay symbols to complete or improve wins, while firework scatters drive the feature game. The base game relies on steady wild help rather than stacked mechanics, which suits 243-ways maths. Bets start low and scale up for more committed sessions, and the interface is mobile-first. I settled in quickly, spinning for adjacent connections while eyeing scatters across all five reels for the feature trigger.

Bonus Features in Chinese New Year 2

Eligible players can activate the Extra Bet at 1.5x stake, which doubles the bonus round hit rate. There are no disclosed hit rate stats with or without the ante, but in practice I noticed shorter gaps between features. It’s a simple switch that suits those who want more shots at the main event without changing the base maths. If you prefer a purist run, just leave it off and chase the standard trigger.

The Bonus Round triggers by landing firecracker scatters on all five reels. You then pick from five options: 18 spins with x2, 13 with x3, 8 with x6, 5 with x9, or 3 with x18 as the starting win multiplier. Retriggers work the same way and do two things at once, adding the same number of extra spins and upgrading the multiplier along a fixed ladder. You can collect up to 100 extra spins if fortune plays along.

Bonus Buy is available in some regions (not UK) at 50x stake, guaranteeing five triggering scatters on the following spin and taking you straight to the choice screen. When it shows up, it’s a clean fast-track into the feature with full control over volatility via the menu. I kept flipping between medium picks and braver options, as retriggers can turn even the mid-range setups into proper sessions.

Symbols in Chinese New Year 2

On the reels, premiums are envelopes, gold ingots, fish, and a golden pineapple at the top, paying roughly 4.16x to 16.6x for five of a kind. Royals sit lower, in the 2.3x to 3.3x band for five. The Chinese dragon Wild substitutes for pay symbols, while the firework scatter is the key to features. The spread matches the festive theme, and I like how the premium set ties back to prosperity motifs without clutter.

Chinese New Year 2 Symbols and Paytable

Symbol	Quantity	Payout
	5	x16.6
	4	x5
	3	x1.6
	5	x6.6
	4	x2.6
	3	x1.3
	5	x5.8
	4	x2
	3	x1
	5	x4.1
	4	x1.3
	3	x0.8
	5	x3.3
	4	x0.6
	3	x0.3
	5	x3
	4	x0.5
	3	x0.2
	5	x2.6
	4	x0.4
	3	x0.2
	5	x2.3
	4	x0.3
	3	x0.1
	Scatter
	Wild

Payouts in Chinese New Year 2

The headline figures are solid: 96.5% RTP, high volatility, and a max win of up to 16,800x stake. This sequel leans harder on variance than the first outing, and the feature ladder adds meaningful ramp with retriggers. I saw stretches of quiet base play punctuated by sudden climbs when multipliers stepped up. That’s the trade here: swingy, but with real ceiling when the choice menu lines up and the scatters keep landing.

Picking a start multiplier shapes the ride. The generous 18 spins with x2 can snowball via upgrades, while the 3 spins with x18 is the pure high-risk shot. I favour the middle options, as they hold ground and still jump when upgrades arrive. Extra Bet helps compress the wait for features, though it does raise exposure. Overall pacing fits 243-ways high variance, with most of the value clustered in the bonus.

Paylines in Chinese New Year 2

It’s 243 ways to win rather than fixed lines. Payouts register for left-to-right combinations on adjacent reels starting from reel one, which means positions do not matter as much as presence. This format keeps small connects ticking over and gives wilds plenty of work to do. I find it pairs well with the feature-first design, as the base can carry you while you collect the five-scatter spread for the bonus.

Pros & Cons of Chinese New Year 2

Pros are clear: Extra Bet doubles free spins chances, the feature menu lets you pick your risk, and the top payout reaches 16,800x. The retrigger upgrade system adds proper excitement without overcomplication. On the downside, Bonus Buy and the ante are not available in all regions, and the high volatility will not suit every bankroll. For me, the choice-driven bonus offsets the heft, as you can moderate or go hard.

Summary of Chinese New Year 2

This sequel keeps the festive vibe intact, with the cheerful dragon above the reels and a sunset courtyard backdrop, and tightens the feature game in the right places. You now pick your starting multiplier and spin count rather than taking a random assignment, which gives genuine control over session shape. I like that upgrades arrive with retriggers, as it turns medium setups into live runners when the scatters keep pace.

My take is simple: I aim for the middle options, let upgrades do the heavy lifting, and flick on Extra Bet when I want a busier feature cycle. The base game wilds are there to keep you moving, but the bonus is where the game breathes. If you’re after a high-volatility 243-ways slot with clean choices and proper upside, Chinese New Year 2 lands the brief.