The gameplay of classic slot machines and older video slots was very simple. All players had to do was spin the slot reels and see if they managed to land a winning combination of symbols. Today, however, online slot games rarely rely on spinning reels and matching symbols alone.
From wild symbols to fully-fledged minigames, today’s slots and online slot games have features that add variety to slot gameplay and help each title stand out. This guide explores some of the most common and innovative mechanics and how they work.
What are Slot Bonus Features?
For players wondering what slot bonus features in different types of online slots are, here’s a quick explanation. Slot bonus features are any feature that adds to the standard slot-spinning experience, where players spin the reels and hope to land matching slot symbols.
Why Slot Bonus Features Matter
The biggest advantage of slot bonus features is that they enhance the player’s experience. Rather than just spinning slot reels and hoping for a win, modern slot games offer much more variety and interactivity.
The Different Types of Modern Slot Bonus Features
There are many different types of slot features that developers have created for their games. Here’s a look at some of the most common bonus features that players will find in modern games, regardless of whether the slot has the best odds or average odds.
Wild Symbols
The wild symbol has been a part of digital slots for many years. Its appearance may change, but its ability to substitute for other symbols and boost the player’s odds of winning remains the same.
That said, regular wilds have evolved into new forms that enhance their potential to complete wins. These new types of wilds are:
- Expanding wilds: This special wild can stretch to cover an entire reel.
- Sticky wilds: Sticky wilds land on the reels and remain in the same symbol position for several rounds.
- Walking or shifting wilds: Unlike sticky wilds, these unique wilds move one reel per spin, creating new win opportunities with every spin. Some also leave wilds in their wake, increasing the chances of a win each time it moves from one reel to the next.
Scatters and Extra Spins
Scatter symbols are special symbols that usually unlock extra spin rounds when players land three or more of them. In some games, players might also get a cash payout for landing three or more of these symbols, while some extra spin modes can be extended if players land scatters while the feature is active.
Cascading Reels or Avalanche Wins
Cascading reels make winning symbols disappear, causing symbols in corresponding positions above the empty reel to fall into place, potentially triggering an additional win. If fortune is on the player’s side, this feature can unlock multiple cascading wins from a single lucky combination. Depending on the game, each additional cascade can also cause a multiplier to grow, enhancing the final payout of cascading wins.
Megaways
Developed by Big Time Gaming, the Megaways feature randomises the number of rows that appear on reels with (typically) six columns, offering up to 117,649 ways to win on any spin. These shapeshifting reels create games with more potential, but also with more volatility. This feature is often licensed out to other slot developers who want to take advantage of this game mechanic.
Expanding Reels
Similar to but separate from Megaways, some slots have reels that grow vertically, horizontally, or both, under specific conditions. For example, a mining-style game might have explosives that unlock new slot reel positions, or reels may expand during extra spin bonuses. Again, similar to Megaways, each extra row or reel adds new paylines, increasing maximum win potential while also increasing slot volatility.
Cluster Pays and Cluster Wins
Instead of paylines, Cluster Pays is a game mechanic from NetEnt that rewards the player when groups of matching symbols appear on the reels and touch other identical symbols, either horizontally or vertically. This feature is often paired with cascading reels or a similar mechanic, triggering cascades of wins that make these types of online slots feel like classic symbol-matching mobile games.
Hold & Win Respins
Hold & win respins offer the player additional spins, but with a twist. A hold & win round starts with three respins and a few sticky bonus symbols. All other symbols are removed from the reels. When the reels spin, only the designated bonus symbols may appear, and each time one does, it locks into place on the reels and the number of remaining spins resets to 3.
Typically, when this feature ends, the symbols are added up and their total value is paid out. In some games, jackpot symbols can appear during this feature, and filling every position will trigger the top jackpot prize.
Pick’Em Bonus
The last common bonus feature on this list is the pick’em-style bonus feature. When this feature is activated, the reels disappear and players must choose from a set number of mystery symbols set out in a grid formation. Each time they select a mystery symbol, a prize symbol is revealed. Once three of the same symbol appear, the player is awarded the symbol’s associated prize and the feature comes to an end.
A Few Examples of Slots with these Features
Here are a few examples of slots that offer some of these features:
- Bison Fury Megaways
- CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
- Dancing Drums Prosperity
- Red Hot BBQ
- Sweet Bonanza
The Untapped Potential of Features
While these features may be a staple in modern slot titles, there’s still the potential for new and exciting slot minigames to be developed that will add even more variety to the reel-spinning experience. For example, future releases may introduce personalised bonus features with skill-based mini-games, or slots may combine with other games of chance, the way slots were combined with Bingo to create Slingo. Ultimately, fresh ways for players to enjoy slots with bonus features could appear on reels in the future, much to the delight of slot machine fans.
