Slot games have come a long way from the humble, one-armed bandits where the only ‘bonus feature’ was a nudge! Today’s video slots are rich in bonus features that enhance the game and increase the potential for significant rewards. As technology advanced, so did the innovation in slot design, with developers creating layers of complex, interactive bonus rounds.
Slot Bonus Features
Wild Symbols
Wild symbols have been a staple of slot games for many years. A Wild symbol serves as a kind of “joker” or “substitute” that replaces other symbols (usually with the exception of bonus or scatter symbols) to help create winning combinations. The basic concept is simple yet powerful, increasing your chances of hitting a winning line. However, while the function of a Wild remains, modern slot games have expanded on this concept, incorporating various types of Wilds, each with unique properties which can dramatically impact the game.
Expanding Wilds, for instance, cover entire reels when they land, significantly increasing the likelihood of forming multiple winning combinations. This is particularly exciting in games with multiple paylines, where a reel full of Wilds results in massive payouts. Stacked Wilds operate similarly but appear stacked on top of each other across the reels. Stacked Wilds increase the chances of landing multiple Wilds simultaneously, creating opportunities for bigger wins.
Another variation is the Sticky Wild. Sticky Wilds lock on the reel for several spins or respins. Multiple Sticky Wilds can accumulate, leading to more lucrative winning opportunities.
Finally, Walking Wilds adds a dynamic element to the game by moving across the reels on each spin. For example, after landing, a Walking Wild moves one reel to the left with each spin until it disappears off the screen. The longer the Walking Wild remains on the reels, the more chance it has of creating winning combinations. Each Wild variation increases the win potential and introduces an element of strategy.
Scatter Symbols
Scatter symbols are another fundamental feature of modern slots, typically associated with triggering special features like free spins, bonus games, or multipliers. Unlike most symbols that land on a specific payline to form winning combinations, Scatters appear anywhere on the reels and trigger bonus features.
One of the most common roles of the Scatter symbol is triggering a Free Spins feature. Free Spins are a fundamental factor in many slot games, usually triggered when three or more scatter land on a spin, awarding a set of free spins. The number of free spins awarded often depends on how many Scatters triggered the feature. Moreover, landing additional Scatters retriggers the free spins feature.
Special Symbols
Beyond Wilds and Scatters, many modern slot games have additional special symbols that serve unique functions. These symbols are often tied to the game’s story and unlock special bonuses or mini-games. For example, Bonus Symbols can trigger an additional bonus game within your game. Bonus games can include a pick-and-win or a wheel-of-fortune-style game. Bonus games often boast much higher payouts and include tiered jackpot systems or other significant rewards.
Often, Special Symbols are tied to progressive jackpots. Landing a specific combination of symbols could unlock one of the many jackpot prizes associated with the slot game.
Free Spins
Free Spins are arguably the most popular feature in slot games. These Free spins do precisely what it says on the tin: winning a round of free spins at no additional cost. Free Spins are typically triggered by landing several Scatter symbols.
Often, Free spins are enhanced by features such as Multipliers. After a win, the value is multiplied by the stimulated multiplier. Multipliers can transform a small win into a more substantial payout. Combining multipliers with Sticky or Expanding Wilds makes them more lucrative and appealing.
In most slot games, it is possible to retrigger free spins. After the free spins bonus ends, landing additional scatters retriggers the feature, and you start again. Free spins are central to the excitement and profitability of slot games and are a key component in modern-day slot design.
Cascading Reels
Cascading Reels (Tumbling or Avalanche Reels) are an exciting and relatively new feature in slot games. Unlike traditional spinning reels, in a Cascading Reels slot, the symbols involved in a winning combination explode and are replaced with new symbols falling from above. A cascade can potentially create multiple wins from a single spin.
Cascading Reels may include Multipliers, which increase with each subsequent cascade. For example, after the first win, the multiplier would start at 1x, but after a second cascade, it increases to 2x, and so on. Increasing multipliers can lead to thrilling chain reactions with an increasing multiplier, and each additional win becomes more lucrative than the last.
Cash and Collect Symbols
Cash and Collect symbols are popular in modern slots and add excitement to the game. They create instant prizes and access to special bonus features.
Traditionally, Cash and Collect symbols work in unison. Cash Symbols display cash values, which are either pre-set or determined by the bet size. The values are prizes but are not awarded immediately. Instead, they are collected once the Collect symbol lands. The prizes are either paid out immediately or collected in a meter.
The Collect Symbol is self-explanatory, collecting all the Cash Symbol values on the reels. Often, a Collect Symbol must land on a specific reel, although in some slots, it works across the entire grid. The player is awarded the combined cash values if a Collect Symbol lands on the required reel. However, if no Collect Symbol appears, the Cash Symbol values are not paid on that spin.
Many slot developers have introduced various Cash and Collect mechanics. For example, some include Multiplier Collect Symbols that collect the cash values and then multiply the total value by 1x, 2x, 5x, 10x and so on.
Multipliers
Multipliers are a versatile and powerful bonus feature in many modern slot games. They can be applied to a base game win, the free spins round, or a cascading reel sequence. Multipliers multiply a win by a specific number.
Multipliers often appear during free spins or cascading reel features, where each successive win increases the multiplier. In other instances, multipliers might be tied to specific symbols or triggered by landing a combination of Wilds or Scatters.
Over the years, slot games have evolved massively, often including many intricate and rewarding bonus features. Understanding how bonus features work is essential to unlocking the game’s full potential. Many developers provide their slot games in demo mode, allowing players to familiarise themselves with the bonus features before wagering cash. Modern slot games are designed to attract players with innovative mechanics and bonus features, transforming every spin into a thrilling opportunity for big wins.