Fulong 88 is a slot by Play’n GO that’s based on the Chinese concept of wealth and prosperity. As such, it’s not the most innovative slot I’ve seen. However, thanks to the studio behind it, it has a great story paired with fantastic graphics and some truly exciting features.

The slot’s medium volatile math model is paired with an RTP of 96.2%, which has become somewhat of a trademark for Play’n GO’s slots. Instead of a fixed number of paylines, it has 243 winning ways that go up to 576. While most Asian slots follow a classic math model, Fulong88 has a collection feature, symbol upgrades, and a bonus round.

The slot's name is an amalgam of a mythical dragon, Fulong, and the number 88, which symbolizes fortune and good luck. Fulong reflects in the collection as the dragon that collects the coins. The 88 is there to bring you good fortunes. My impression was that the slot was created to the highest of Play’n GO’s standards, and with a winning potential set at 5,000x the bet, it’s no wonder why it’s such a big hit. Read my Fulong 88 review below and see if it’s right for you.

Fulong 88 doesn’t reinvent the wheel in terms of design. Not that it needs to. It uses a classic 5x3 setup with 15 symbols on the screen. It’s your typical Play’n GO release with all the familiar controls beneath the grid, symbol upgrades and payouts on the left, and jackpots above the reels. Playing the slot is a breeze, thanks to the familiar set of controls.

The symbols are all Chinese in design, as expected. You have Fulong the dragon, some crystal orbs, lanterns, and coins on the reels, so it’s the usual. The golden symbols that can be upgraded include bunnies and other animals that hold a special spot in this Far East culture. The great visuals are accompanied by top-notch audio and sound effects, which are in perfect harmony with the theme.

Playing the Fulong 88 slot is very easy. You only need to set a bet and hit the spin button. Choose between $0.08 and $880 per spin (smart!) and hit the spin button to start. Alternatively, you can set up to 100 automatic spins if you don’t want to mash your mouse or keyboard all the time.

To score a win, you’ll need to land three identical symbols on adjacent reels. The golden symbols pay more than their colored variants, with the phoenix paying the most – 150x for five on a line. Right in the center above the reels, you’ll see the dragon Fulong holding a ball. He collects coins from the reels and may randomly trigger a bonus game. More coins means more gold symbols on the reels. Each coin that’s collected reveals a wild. These wilds may be split by the dragon for more winning ways.

From the left of the reels, you can activate two or more golden symbols. Simply click on the number you want to activate, and your bet size will be automatically increased. This adds more than the default one golden symbol to the reels, and some of them may land with the jackpots above the reels. The golden symbols also pay much more, even if you have to pay to get those returns.

The bonus game Fulong can randomly trigger when he collects coins is a pick round. You’ll be presented with a red scroll with coins. Pick three of them to reveal the prizes below. This is how you can win the fixed jackpots. If you click on spin, the coins will be picked randomly.

Three or more scatters trigger the free spins bonus. You receive ten free spins to start with. During the bonus round, only high-paying symbols can land on the reels. All coins guarantee the Fulong Fortune pick bonus, which may come into play during the free spins.

A bit unexpectedly, Fulong 88 doesn’t have a slots bonus buy feature. It may take a while to trigger the bonus round, so it would have been better for the developer to add that option.

From my experience playing slots at top casinos, Fulong 88 is a decent slot. I initially started playing at $1.20, which allowed one golden symbol to appear on the reels. It didn’t take long before I realized that I’d benefit from a few more, choosing a total of three. They produced some great wins over my session, and thanks to Fulong’s random pick game, I was able to hit a big win before reaching the free spins round.

During the free spins, things were even better. With several golden symbols and a pick bonus in the middle of it all, I was able to win back my investment from the base game for the golden symbols. It was unfortunate that there are no retriggers or a bonus buy feature. But, overall, the slot pays well.

Fulong 88 has an RTP of 96.2% paired with medium-high variance. The maximum projected win is 5,000x the bet.

Fulong 88 is another excellent slot in Play’n GO’s lobby. It relies heavily on the coin collection feature, which can unleash a pick bonus. The symbol upgrades must be paid for, which some players won’t like, but their golden versions are more than worth spending extra on. There’s also a bonus round and a free spins round in addition to jackpots, which can be won during the pick bonus or by landing the corresponding golden symbols.

If you like what you’re seeing, there are plenty of alternatives at top casinos based on the wealth and prosperity the number 88 brings. 88 Frenzy Fortune by Betsoft springs to mind first. You can also try 88 Fortunes by Light & Wonder or Aristocrat’s Lucky 88.