Floating Dragon Slots

The first game in the series, Floating Dragon Hold and Spin, came out in April 2021. It uses a standard 5x3 grid and stands out because it has two very different bonus rounds. You get regular free spins that pay out through wilds and multipliers, but there is also a separate Hold and Spin feature. This second bonus locks money symbols in place and gives you three respins to land more. If you fill the screen, you win the Grand Jackpot. It is a familiar setup if you have played Lightning Link games, just with a Chinese dragon theme. The original is still a strong choice with a 96.71% RTP, a 5,000x max win, and a solid rating of 8 out of 10. The variety between the two bonus rounds keeps things interesting.

Dragon Boat Festival is a step backward

Released in June 2023, the Dragon Boat Festival edition keeps the same 5x3 board but adds options to pay for a better chance at the bonus or buy it outright. The maximum win goes up to 10,000x. The problem is the math. The RTP drops to 96.07%, which is noticeably worse than the first game. Since the actual gameplay barely changed, the lower return makes this the weakest game in the series. It dropped to a rating of 6.

Try Ultra Megaways for a bigger, busier game

Floating Dragon New Year Festival Ultra Megaways Hold & Spin has a ridiculous name and a completely different style of play. Released in December 2023, it ditches the small grid for a massive 6x9 Megaways setup with cascading symbols and up to 200,704 ways to win. It keeps the Hold and Spin bonus but stretches it across the much larger board. The math is great here, offering a 20,000x max win with a 96.70% RTP. If you found the first game too basic, this is the one to open next. It mixes tumbling wins with the classic collection mechanic and earns an 8 out of 10 rating.

Year of the Snake changes how the bonus works

The January 2025 release, Year of the Snake, goes back to the smaller 5x3 grid and the original 96.71% RTP. It includes the bonus buy features, but it removes the signature Hold and Spin round entirely. Instead, you collect symbols to fill meters during regular free spins. This changes the whole rhythm of the game. If you liked the series for its locking respins, you will probably be disappointed here. It scored a 6 out of 10.

If you are deciding which games in this series are worth your time, you only really need to look at two of them. Play the 2021 original for the classic two-bonus setup, or load up the Ultra Megaways version if you prefer cascading wins and a higher maximum payout. The other two are just seasonal releases that fail to improve on the original formula.