Slots are one of the most popular gaming options out there, with their relatively simple gameplay helping them stand out from more complex table games like Blackjack or Baccarat. Thanks to the online revolution, there are now even more varieties of Slots available than ever before.
There are some core features that you’ll find in any online slot game, and some that are more specific to a particular variety or brand. Let’s dive into some of those major mechanics that define the genre of slot games – from stripped-back classic Slots to themed modern creations like the Gates of Olympus 1000 slot.
Paylines
One of the most common features you’ll find in a slot game isthe paylines. These are the lines that determine whether a spin has resulted in a winning combination, depending on how the symbols line up.
While the oldest slot machines only featured a single horizontal payline you’ll typically see far more in modern designs. These days games can feature hundreds of potential paylines, with the number that are active on a spin depending on the player’s wager.
Paylines don’t even have to be straight lines in the modern slot designs, with vertical and diagonal lines joined by zig-zags and other patterns.
Symbols
The symbols that feature in a slot game will largely depend on the theming. There are still plenty of games that use classic symbols such as fruits and playing card suits, but even more games use their own designs.
Themed Slots based on popular culture properties like The Walking Dead or Gladiator will feature actual images of the actors as symbols on the reels, as well as themed images like zombie hoards or lions.
Many slot games also feature wilds, which are symbols that can stand in for others to create winning combinations. These add an extra layer to the gameplay, with other wilds also having the potential to add multipliers or extra elements to the game.
Cascading reels
These are a slightly newer mechanic that came about once slot games moved away from physical reels. Thanks to the digital reels games can clear away winning combinations once they are locked in, with fresh symbols then falling down to fill in the empty spaces.
This changeability allows for more potential winning combinations to occur, which could trigger further cascades, all on a single spin. It offers a very different gameplay experience compared to slot games with static reels.
Clusters
Not all slot games utilise paylines, even with the number of possible lines having increased so much from the earlier days of Slots. Some games do away with paylines in favour of a different system known as clusters.
With clusters, winning combinations are determined based on whether symbols appear in a group of three or more on adjoining spaces. This allows for even more potential combinations, going into the thousands depending on how many different symbols are in play.
Of course, these are just a few of the major mechanics that you can find in online slot games today. From mini games to jackpots, there’s even more to explore when it comes to understanding the mechanics of Slots.
