Chests of Cai Shen by Pragmatic Play is a feature-focused slot game where Bonus Coins take centre stage. The action builds as coloured coins feed into chests above the reels, each one linked to a different twist on the respin feature. Unlike most online slots that rely on regular line wins, this one encourages players to look beyond the base game and watch the meters fill. If you enjoy slot games with evolving features and anticipation-driven gameplay, there’s a lot to explore here.
The game takes place in a peaceful, Eastern-inspired setting with distant mountains, flowering trees, and still waters framing the reels. Three decorative chests sit at the top, marked Prosperity, Double and Longevity, helping to explain the bonus structure just by looking at the screen.
Reels are filled with traditional symbols like koi fish, turtles and frogs, along with Cai Shen, the god of wealth himself. Everything is animated with smooth transitions and glowing effects that draw attention when coins or wilds land. The colours are bright but not overwhelming, and the general layout is clean, making it easy to follow each spin.
The highest-paying symbol is Cai Shen, followed by the frog and a series of stylised animals and card royals. All wins below are based on a 10.00 total bet.
Symbol | 2 of a Kind | 3 of a Kind | 4 of a Kind | 5 of a Kind |
Cai Shen | 0.80 | 2.00 | 6.00 | 20.00 |
Green Frog | - | 2.00 | 4.00 | 20.00 |
Turtle | - | 2.00 | 4.00 | 12.00 |
Rooster | - | 2.00 | 4.00 | 12.00 |
Koi Fish | - | 2.00 | 4.00 | 12.00 |
Ace | - | 2.00 | 4.00 | 12.00 |
King | - | 0.80 | 2.00 | 6.00 |
Queen | - | 0.80 | 2.00 | 6.00 |
Jack | - | 0.80 | 2.00 | 6.00 |
10 | - | 0.80 | 2.00 | 6.00 |
The golden red symbol is the Wild. It substitutes for all symbols except Bonus Coins and Money symbols.
The main bonus in Chests of Cai Shen revolves around Bonus Coins. These come in green, red or purple and are collected in the matching chest above the reels. Once a chest is filled, it can randomly trigger the Chest Respin feature with one of three modifiers:
If more than one modifier is triggered at once, the Chest Respin feature includes all of them in the same round.
Money symbols only appear during the Chest Respin feature. When they land, they take on random values between 0.6x and 30x the total bet. Some also carry jackpot prizes:
Each respin starts with three (or four) spins and resets every time at least one new Money symbol lands. The feature ends when no spins remain or the grid is full.
Gameplay takes place on a 5-reel, 3-row layout with 25 fixed paylines. Wins are awarded for matching symbols left to right across adjacent reels. The base game is fairly straightforward, focusing on standard line wins and the gradual collection of Bonus Coins.
When the Chest Respin round begins, the regular symbols fade away and only blanks, coins and Money symbols remain. Spins continue as long as new Money symbols land. The twist is that each coloured coin changes how the feature plays, depending on which chest triggered it. If you manage to trigger all three at once, the round uses every modifier, which can lead to some exciting results.
Chests of Cai Shen builds its gameplay around anticipation rather than constant action. The bonus system gives the base game a sense of progress, and each chest feels like it could trigger something interesting at any moment. The three modifiers help keep the respin feature from feeling repetitive, especially when more than one is active.
This game will likely appeal to players who enjoy goal-based slot games with collection features and jackpot potential. The colourful visuals are easy to follow, and the bonus structure is clearly communicated through the visuals on screen. While the line wins are modest, the real excitement comes from the features that build over time.