Slots Bonus Features explained

All you need to know about slots bonus features: Some would argue that all slot machines are the same, and up to a point, you could say so, since many elements of the game stay more or less the same.

Something that can make a slot stand out, aside from graphics and soundtrack, or maybe the size of the payouts, are game’s special features, which include different kinds of wilds, free spins with or without multiplier wins, scatter payouts and other bonus games, all there to make a game more appealing and to give players a chance to win more.

It is important to know about this features – what they mean, what bonuses will they bring and, most importantly, what is in it for you.

The Basics about Slots Bonus Features

Maybe the easiest type of slot to play, or possible the most boring ones, are classic slot games, which do not offer any sort of features and bonuses. Place your wager, hit the spin button and…well, that’s everything you can do.

Bonus Features

Almost all of the modern slot games will have a bonus feature or two, and you don’t have to be a casino veteran to know you’ll have to get the most out of them if you want to win big. If you’re a novice when it comes to slot, don’t be afraid to risk it a bit, since the reward is worth it.

Free Spins

This feature is pretty much self-explanatory, though there are variations in terms of the number of free spins awarded, and whether the feature can be retriggered or not. It’s triggered by 3 or more scatter symbols – in the majority of cases –  appearing anywhere on the reels.

The free spins mode is often accompanied by another bonus feature, such as multiplier or stacking wilds, which results in even more cash prizes.

In many games, this is the feature that gives huge payouts, but in fact sometimes makes it very hard to trigger and there will be time when not even 100 or 200 spins will be enough.

Quite a lucrative free spins mode can be found in Microgaming’s Thunderstruck 2. Gonzo’s Quest offers up to 15x multipliers, while shifting wilds will double or triple your winning in Dragon Island.

Scatters

Sometimes referred to as a slot player’s best friend, they are the key for unlocking lucrative bonus rounds, and they only need to appear on the reels in twos or threes to do their thing.

There are three types (so to speak) of scatters you’re most likely to encounter, and although many will argue there is more than one type of scatter, it is what happens after they land which makes the difference.

Normal or regular scatters offer wins and activate free spins bonus game and in most cases a minimum of three is needed to do so. In some games, there are multiplier wins, increasing the payouts up to 5x, but this can differ depending on the type of game you’re playing.

Scatters can trigger another bonus feature. Land a minimum of three to activate free spins, but that’s not all. You’ll be given a choice of three options, and depending on the way you choose, you’ll be awarded with a different number of free spins. Definitely a win-win situation.

A good example of this can be found in video slots such as iSoftBet’s Illusions 2 and NetEnt’s Dragon Island.

Wilds

In most paytables you’ll find the information the Wild substitutes for all other symbols, except the scatter, but there is a lot more.

For example, an expanding wild will cover the entire reel – hence the name – and sometimes can even be progressive, increasing the payout with each new appearing on the reels. Random wilds, as their name implies, are random or a special symbol can trigger them.

You can find random wilds in another NetEnt title, Drive Multiplier Mayhem, available at BitStarz Casino.

Multiple wild symbols are maybe the most complicated, since they come with a form of triggering mechanism, and often enough they are found during the free spins round.

Mini Bonus Games

Remember what we said about classic slots? Well, this is their opposite and is much more than a typical free spins game. They can be found in many releases of the leading developers, such as NetEnt, Microgaming and Yggdrasil, and while some claim they’re making the game to complex, others accept them as the result of the inevitable progress. Anyway, they are an entertaining feature with lots of cash to win.

Yggdrasil’s Super Heroes is a good illustration of what can a game offer in terms of mini games, since it features 7 bonus modes.

Collapsing Reels

Also known as tumbling or cascading reels, there is a very popular feature, which is available in many of the leading developer’s games. They offer extra winning combos and multipliers, so it’s easy to understand why many find them very appealing. In the end, it’s all about winning big.

Betsoft’s Rook’s Revenge and NetEnt’s Gonzo’s Quest have collapsing reels, the lower ones explode after a win and they get replaced by those on the top.

Summary: Slots Bonus Features

Bonus features are your friends, no matter if you pushed your first spin button, or you’re a seasoned player, if you’re playing for fun or you’re a daredevil high roller. If anything, they can give you hours of entertaining playtime, so be sure to use the most out of them.

Making a proper strategy can be very useful. But, again, it is advisable to read the game paytable where you’ll find all the info on game’s features and what exactly they offer.

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