Indian Dreaming pokies have been spinning in Aussie clubs since the late 1990s, and plenty of players still seek them out. Part of the reason is history: Indian Dreaming was one of Aristocrat's earliest 243-ways games, the format later sold under the Reel Power name. Part of it is a free games feature that is simple to follow and can still surprise you.
Land three or more Dream Catchers and you get up to 20 free games, where Tepee wilds multiply wins by 3 or 5, or by 15 when both help the same win. Below we cover how the Indian Dreaming Aristocrat original plays, what the Reel Power claim really means, and where you can play it free.
How Indian Dreaming pokies play
The original Indian Dreaming does not use paylines. Instead, you choose how many ways to play, and the more you buy, the more of the screen counts. According to the arcade-history archive, the bet buttons on the original cabinet were:
| Button | Cost |
|---|---|
| 3 ways | 1 credit |
| 9 ways | 3 credits |
| 27 ways | 7 credits |
| 81 ways | 15 credits |
| 243 ways | 25 credits |
With all 243 ways active, any matching symbols on adjacent reels from the left pay, no matter which row they sit on. Each credit cost is then multiplied by your bet per credit.
The wild is the Tepee, which appears on reels 2 and 4 only. In the base game it simply substitutes for all symbols except the scatter. Our Reel Power guide explains why ways games feel so different from line games.
The Dream Catcher free games
- Spin up 3, 4 or 5 Dream Catcher scatters anywhere for 10, 15 or 20 free games.
- During free games, a Tepee wild on reel 2 multiplies any win it helps make by 3.
- A Tepee on reel 4 multiplies by 5.
- If both Tepees substitute in the same win, it is multiplied by 15.
- More Dream Catchers during the feature can win more free games.
Because the wilds only sit on two reels, the ×15 moments are rare, but with 243 ways in play a single double-Tepee spin can pay several combinations at once. That is the moment regulars wait for.
Symbols and pays
- Tepee: wild, reels 2 and 4 only, multiplies in free games.
- Dream Catcher: scatter, pays anywhere and triggers the feature.
- Chief: the top symbol, paying up to 2,500 credits for five on the original pay table.
- Buffalo and Totem Pole: the next tier, up to 2,000 and 1,000 credits for five.
- Hatchet and card values: the lower pays.
Pay tables differ across versions and denominations, so check the one on your machine.
History and trivia
You will often see Indian Dreaming dated 1999, but the arcade-history archive lists the original as released in December 1998 on Aristocrat's MKV series 2 hardware, in an MVP cabinet with 14 buttons. It was later released on MKVI hardware too.
Was it really an early Reel Power game? Yes, with a footnote. The original used 243 ways from day one, but its side graphics described a Way Bet. According to the same archive, later MKVI versions swapped those graphics for the Reel Power logo, so the name came along after the mechanic. It sits in a family of early ways games that includes Reelin-n-Rockin and Pompeii.
Aristocrat also built a 20-line multi-line version around 2000, plus Lady Luck, 2nd Chance and Cash Express variants. The original feature sound mixes drums, a dance rhythm and a buffalo horn. For where it fits in the bigger picture, see our history of Aristocrat.
What to expect when you play
With 243 ways, small wins come often, many of them less than your total bet. The free games are frequent enough to keep things moving, and how they pay comes down to whether the Tepees show up. A feature with no wilds can be quiet; a feature with a couple of ×15 hits is the stuff of club legend.
Plenty of websites quote a very high RTP for Indian Dreaming. We do not repeat it, because return to player is set by the venue within state limits and varies between machines. Set a budget and enjoy the nostalgia. If it stops being fun, see our play-safely page.
Where to play Indian Dreaming free
We could not confirm Indian Dreaming in the current game lists of Heart of Vegas, Cashman Casino or Lightning Link Casino, so we do not list an app here. Official app line-ups change often, so check our free Aristocrat pokies page for updates.
Original Aristocrat titles like Indian Dreaming are generally not available at online casinos. If a site claims to have it, be cautious.
Can't find it online?
Look for 243-ways pokies with a Native American theme and wilds that multiply wins during free spins. We explain the honest situation, and which mechanics to look for, on our can you play Aristocrat pokies online page.
If it stops being fun, read our play-safely page.
