Soft The Cinder Clockmaker by Nocturn Play: Game Review
The Cinder Clockmaker is a cascading ways slot released by Nocturn Play on 4 October 2026. Reel heights change on every spin, and a brass pendulum multiplier climbs with each cascade and holds its position until a spin pays nothing.
| Studio | Nocturn Play |
|---|---|
| Game type | Video slot (variable ways, cascades) |
| Theme | Victorian clockmaker's workshop, brass and gears |
| Features | 6 reels of 2 to 7 rows, up to 117,649 ways · Cascading wins · Pendulum multiplier x1 to x10 that persists between winning spins · Golden gears add a pendulum step; golden pendulum wild on reels 2-6 · Free spins with the Grand Carillon: bonus total x2, x3, x5 or x10 on the 12th chime · Bonus buy, autoplay and turbo |
| Max win | 5,000x the bet |
Two things to watch at once
The Cinder Clockmaker asks you to read two places. The reels tell you what just paid. The brass pendulum above them tells you what the next win will be worth. Rain runs down a glass roof, and an old clockmaker bends over a pocket watch in the corner.
Restless reels
Six reels pick their own height on every spin, from 2 to 7 symbols. Multiply the heights and you get that spin’s ways, up to 117,649 with every reel at full stretch. A rolling drum counter does the sum for you. There are no lines. Low symbols such as cogs, hairsprings and tweezers need four reels; the loupe, pocket watch and ruby pay from three. The golden pendulum is the wild on reels 2 to 6.
Wins shatter into gears, survivors fall, new symbols drop. Every paying cascade moves the pendulum one notch: x1, x2, up to x10.
The memory that defines the game
Here is the design choice that sets it apart from most cascade slots. The pendulum does not reset at the end of a spin. It keeps its position into the next spin, and only a spin with no win at all swings it back down. A golden gear landing anywhere adds a free notch.
The effect on a session is noticeable. A run of small consecutive wins quietly builds a x5 or x6 into the next spin, so the base game has its own tension instead of being a waiting room for the bonus. Players start watching the pendulum the way blackjack players watch a shoe.
Midnight
Three winding keys on three different reels start the free spins. Inside, every symbol pays from three reels, the pendulum never drops, golden gears keep pushing it, and extra keys add spins.
The clock counts winning cascades, one chime each. On the twelfth, Midnight strikes and the Grand Carillon multiplies everything won so far in that bonus by 2, 3, 5 or 10. It happens once per bonus, so a long cascade late in the round is the best case. The cap is 5,000x the bet and the spin stops when it is reached. The bonus can be bought directly.
Lobby and audience
This suits players who enjoy cascades but get bored when the multiplier forgets everything between spins. The steampunk setting is less crowded than Egyptian or fruit themes, which helps it stand out in a new-releases row across Europe and Latin America alike.
The studio also states that an interrupted bonus resumes when the game is reopened, a small point that reduces support tickets. It is enabled for operators on SoftAggregator since its release day.
Where to get these games
Similar games from other studios
- Gonzo's Quest NetEnt
- Steam Tower NetEnt
- Jammin' Jars Push Gaming
Frequently asked questions
Does the pendulum reset after every spin?
No. After a winning spin it stays where it is. Only a spin with no win at all sends it back down. In the free spins it never goes back.
How many ways does The Cinder Clockmaker have?
It changes every spin. Each of the six reels picks a height between 2 and 7, and the product gives the ways, up to 117,649. A drum counter above the reels shows the number.
What triggers the Grand Carillon?
During the free spins the clock chimes once for each winning cascade. On the 12th chime Midnight strikes and the bonus total so far is multiplied by 2, 3, 5 or 10, once per bonus.
What happens if the connection drops mid-bonus?
According to the studio, reopening the game resumes the bonus where it stopped.