Here is a comparison of ELK Cygnus slot versions alongside an explanation of Australian online gambling law: the mechanics of the original, the changes introduced in each of the five sequels, and which released numbers are actually from ELK Studios. Most pages about Cygnus agree on the basics. It has a six-column, four-row starting grid, symbols that tumble or drop, multipliers, and a free-drops bonus. Where they differ is on the numbers and the extent to which the sequels diverge from the initial game.
Australian law comes first
Australian or offshore operators may not offer online slots to individuals physically located in Australia, nor may they advertise them in that location. This is according to the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (Cth), s 15, which ACMA enforces. No version of Cygnus can be legally offered for real money to any person in Australia.
A few practical points follow:
- Providers commit the offences. The operator, rather than the player, commits the offence under the Act. ACMA blocks the websites of illegal offshore providers.
- No RTP minimum or Australian stake cap exists. Since no online casino can be licensed in Australia, no local regulation determines either. The stake range listed below is as shipped by ELK. Australian law does not permit or cap it.
- These games aren't covered by BetStop. Only licensed phone and online wagering is covered by the national self-exclusion register. It lacks any setting that applies to an online slot.
If you gamble in a way that is lawful in your location, set your limits before you start.
How the original Cygnus works
Circular marble symbols appear in six columns in the first game. Gravity moves them to the left or right. Winning combinations explode, allowing surrounding marbles to slide into the vacancies, which can lead to further wins. New symbols fall from the top once wins cease. Each drop can add a row, up to eight.
This expansion alters the total winning ways. Six columns with four rows provide 4,096 ways, while eight rows provide 262,144. ELK's data sheet for the game lists "262 114" in one section. The game page and the product text both state 262,144, which is the result of eight rows across six columns.
Multiplier scatters can appear during any drop and trigger upon hitting the bottom row. Every scatter carries a factor of two, meaning each additional one doubles the current multiplier. A single round can see up to six land, raising the multiplier to x64.
Free Drops begin if one bonus symbol hits the left pillar. Current avalanche cycles must finish first. You then receive seven free drops where all eight rows are active. Multiplier scatters are sticky during this round, so the multiplier can only increase from one drop to the next. This bonus can be retriggered.
Several guides claim the original gives up to 14 free spins. Both the product sheet and ELK's page state seven free drops initially, plus retriggers, and the provider's number is the one to trust.
The figures ELK publishes for the original
The original Cygnus product sheet from ELK specifies:
- RTP: 96.1%
- Volatility: 8 of 10
- Hit frequency: 23.0%
- Exposure (maximum win): 5,000x bet
- Bet levels: 0.20–100 EUR, or the equivalent in other currencies
These details are specifications from the provider, not estimates from third parties.
What changed in Cygnus 2 to 6
| Version | ELK's stated maximum | Bonus trigger | Signature change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cygnus | 5,000x | Bonus symbol reaches left pillar: 7 Free Drops | Gravity marbles; doubling scatters to x64 |
| Cygnus 2 | 50,000x | Bonus symbol reaches leftmost column | Each extra bonus symbol adds 3 free drops; multipliers turn wild |
| Cygnus 3 | 10,000x | Cygnus symbol reaches left pillar: Cygnus Wheel | Wheel awards coin wins, free drops (up to 10) or fixed jackpots |
| Cygnus 4 | 50,000x | Bonus symbol reaches leftmost column | Multiplier pillar with level-up symbols |
| Cygnus 5 | 50,000x | Bonus symbol reaches leftmost column | Prism transformations and Meteor Strike |
| Cygnus 6 | 50,000x | Bonus symbol reaches leftmost column: 7 bonus drops | Constellations, Cygnus Realm, instant max-win symbol |
The initial six-by-four grid remains in every sequel.
Cygnus 2
Doubling scatters aren't here anymore. A multiplier that reaches the leftmost column raises the active multiplier and then becomes a wild. You get three extra drops for every further bonus symbol triggered during Free Drops.
Cygnus 3
This version differs from the others. It features a reduced ceiling of 10,000x and three set jackpots of €1,000, €10,000 and €100,000. Instead of a direct entry into free drops, it uses the Cygnus Wheel. Multipliers are summed instead of being doubled, and they remain sticky during the free drops.
Cygnus 4
Multiplier symbols that reach the leftmost column or the bottom row raise the active multiplier, after which they become wild. A multiplier pillar moves to a higher scale via level-up symbols. The 50,000x maximum is paid when the top of the third-level pillar is reached. The bonus retains the active multiplier.
Cygnus 5
Symbols on one or more lines change into wilds or the same payout symbol when a prism hits the bottom. Prisms can chain together. Meteor Strike replaces payout symbols with feature symbols at random, and the top of the multiplier pillar awards the 50,000x maximum.
"Exploding Wins" is listed for Cygnus 5 on one retailer page. ELK's own feature list doesn't mention it.
Cygnus 6
Activating every star in the current constellation triggers three drops in Cygnus Realm. Mystery symbols are gathered there, and the drop count resets when premium mystery symbols appear. Starlight changes one or more constellation lines into a single payout symbol if two or more stars are active. A max-win symbol pays the maximum immediately upon reaching the leftmost column.
Treat review figures for the sequels with care
Maximum wins are listed on ELK's pages for Cygnus 2 through 6, but no RTP, volatility, or stake limits are provided. Data found in reviews are the source of the figures currently circulating. One review assigns Cygnus 4 a 94% RTP, mentions that it varies, and gives volatility a 7/10 rating. A different review lists a 94.0% RTP and stakes from €0.20–€100 for Cygnus 6. This same review claims volatility details weren't available, later labels the game as high-volatility, and describes a fishing theme. ELK's page describes a celestial setting near Machu Picchu.
Regard these as third-party reports rather than specifications. The RTP that applies is the one displayed on the game's own information screen for the build in front of you.
The numerical order of the sequels isn't a confirmed release chronology either. ELK's pages provide no launch dates. Listings from non-providers place Cygnus 5 in 2024 and Cygnus 6 in January 2026.