The largest game genre currently in the online gambling industry is, without a doubt, video slots. In particular, 5-reel titles have become the undisputed king, and it is not uncommon for gambling websites to feature hundreds of unique games within their gaming selections. But what makes this type of game so popular, and how has it risen to the top of the online casino world? To find the answer to that question, read on as we cover the basics of 5-reel slots and provide you with some examples of top-tier games that you should certainly play.
5 Reel Slots in the Online Gambling Industry
When it comes to the modern online gambling industry, there is no other game type that can surpass 5-reel slots in terms of popularity and scope. The current slots scene is made up mostly of this subgenre, and it also dominates the overall gambling industry. However, this popularity is rightfully earned, as present-day video slots have never been better.
With software providers in fierce competition, the online gambling community reaps all the benefits and is treated to a steady stream of diverse games. Modern 5-reel games come with interesting gameplay features, such as bonus rounds and free spins, as well as generous pay tables for the symbols. Not only that, but software providers are making their games much fairer than before, with most new releases featuring RTP values of around 95%.
5 Reel Slots in the Online Gambling Industry Additional TipsAs far as presentation is concerned, computers have come to a point where they can easily render beautiful graphics on your screen even with affordable hardware, and this is reflected in the slots currently featured in the online casino scene. New games come with high-definition graphics, complemented by smooth animations to make for a great experience. A well-designed slot game is a feast for the eyes, and software providers like Microgaming and NetEnt have certainly mastered their craft.
All in all, modern slots come with the full package, and you can spend days on end playing the latest releases. But if by some chance you become tired of them, you can always fall back on the tried-and-tested 5-reel games that we have come to love.
Popular 5 Reel Slots
With the basic aspects of 5-reel slots covered, we would like to give you some pointers as to which games to play once you register at an online casino. While there are thousands of options to choose from, we feel that we have narrowed our list to some of the best and most worthwhile titles on the market, and we are sure you will not regret picking them. All the games listed below have been tested by us to ensure that they are entirely entertaining and worth your time.
Mega Fortune
Mega Fortune ranks among the most popular titles in the online gambling industry and is the perfect 5-reel slot for anyone looking for a great betting experience. Brought to us by NetEnt, Mega Fortune has consistently remained one of the most played games in the online casino scene, primarily thanks to its excellent gameplay and enticing progressive jackpot, known to climb to eight-figure sums. As for aesthetics, Mega Fortune deals with the finer things in life, portraying various luxury items you might acquire if you win the progressive jackpot. There are 25 paylines laid across the 5 reels, and you can bet up to 4 coins on each line, with coin values ranging between $0.01 and $0.50. As a result, you can bet up to $50 per spin if you so choose.
When it comes to gameplay, Mega Fortune uses a dozen different symbols. From the basic category, the Limousine is the highest-paying symbol with its 1,000x reward for a 5-symbol combination. It is followed by the Wad of Cash, which pays 500x for five on a single payline. The Wild takes the form of a yacht and will award 10,000x the line bet if you manage to line up five of these symbols. Moreover, it will also substitute for basic symbols on the reels. Other important symbols include the Bonus and Scatter, both of which have special functions during gameplay.
| Mega Fortune | |
|---|---|
| Software | NetEnt |
| Release Date | 2012 |
| RTP | 96.00% |
| Bet Limits | $0.25 – $50 |
| Reel Grid | 5×3 |
| Paylines | 25 fixed lines |
| Wilds | Yes |
| Scatters | Yes |
| Bonus Games | Yes |
| Free Spins | 10 free spins with 5x multipliers |
| Progressive Jackpot | Yes, with 3 tiers |
| Max Payout | Progressive Mega Jackpot |
| Gamble Feature | N/A |
Watch Mega Fortune Gameplay
Mega Fortune Additional TipsSpinning three or more Scatter symbols awards a number of free spins. When this happens, you will get to reveal one of the Scatters and see the number of spins you will receive, as well as the win multiplier applied to the round. During the free spins, you can increase your winnings by spinning two or more Scatters again. This will grant you additional free spins or multipliers of up to x5.
When you spin three or more Bonus symbols on a single payline, you trigger the bonus round. Once it begins, a wheel appears on your screen, and you get to spin it. Two outcomes are possible: you either win a cash prize or progress to the next section of the wheel. This process can repeat up to three times, and if you reach the center of the wheel, you win the progressive jackpot. Even if you do not, you will still walk away with some cash.
Jurassic World
Microgaming has long been active in the online gambling industry and is responsible for some of the best titles on the market. Among them, we find Jurassic World, inspired by the Jurassic Park movie franchise, which was released to the public in mid-2017. Since then, Jurassic World has become one of the most popular titles and has a presence at every Microgaming casino. With good reviews from critics and beloved by the player base, it is only natural to take a look at this title and provide you with our feedback. Like any other slot on this list, Jurassic World comes with five reels and incorporates the 243-ways-to-win system rather than paylines. Betting limits are rather tight, allowing for wagers between $0.30 and $7.20 per spin. This might not suit high rollers, though casual players and mid-rollers should be satisfied.
The symbols featured in Jurassic World are all inspired by the original movies, taking the form of various dinosaurs or characters. With the current system, winning combinations are formed whenever you spin three or more matching symbols on adjacent reels, starting from the leftmost reel. There are two special symbols in Jurassic World: the Wild and the Scatter. The Wild is the game’s logo, and it will substitute for other symbols on the reels. Moreover, it can appear stacked on the reels. The Scatter has some special interactions in the base game and is also the highest-paying symbol in Jurassic World. If you spin two Scatters during the base game, they will turn into Wilds.
| Jurassic World | |
|---|---|
| Software | Microgaming |
| Release Date | 2017 |
| RTP | 95.45% |
| Bet Limits | $0.30 – $18 (may vary) |
| Reel Grid | 5×3 |
| Paylines | 243 ways to win |
| Wilds | Yes, stacked wilds |
| Scatters | Yes, 2 scatters turn wild in the base game |
| Bonus Games | N/A |
| Free Spins | 10 free spins with multipliers, rolling reels, or wild scatters |
| Progressive Jackpot | N/A |
| Max Payout | Up to 255,000 credits |
| Gamble Feature | N/A |
Watch Jurassic World Gameplay
Jurassic World Additional TipsAs for special features, spinning three or more Scatters will trigger free spins. There are three different rounds that can take place. The Gyrosphere Valley will reward multipliers, the Creation Lab comes with Rolling Reels and semi-Sticky Wilds, while the Raptor Den will treat all Scatters as Wilds and hold them until you gain enough to receive more free spins. These features are triggered at random, until the 15th trigger, at which point you can choose which one to activate.
Of course, we also have to take into account the Indominus feature, which can appear randomly during the base game. Once it does, it can boost your winnings from that spin by up to 1,000x your total bet and make your day in the process.
Game of Thrones 243 Lines
Game of Thrones is one of the most popular television shows of all time, and it enjoys an incredibly large fan base. As a result, there have been many adaptations of this franchise, and among them, we find the Game of Thrones slot game. Granted, there are two different titles with the same name, but we will focus on the 243-ways-to-win version. Developed by Microgaming, this title has received plenty of praise from the online gambling community and enjoys a place at every online casino powered by that software provider. It comes with the standard five reels and, as we have already mentioned, the 243-ways-to-win system. As such, this game does away with traditional paylines and instead allows you to form combinations simply by lining up symbols on adjacent reels, starting from the leftmost reel, regardless of their positions. The betting limits in Game of Thrones are somewhat limited, allowing for bets of up to $6.00 per spin, with a minimum of $0.30.
There are several symbols of interest in this game that you will want to know about. The Baratheon symbol pays the best among the basic symbols, followed closely by the Lannister one. The Wild symbol takes the form of the game’s logo, and it will substitute for basic symbols on the reels. Moreover, it also has its own pay table, able to form combinations with three or more of the same symbol. There is also a Scatter symbol in Game of Thrones, represented by the Iron Throne. In terms of payout, it is the most rewarding symbol overall, offering 200x your total bet. Moreover, spinning a certain number of Scatters will allow you to benefit from a round of free spins.
| Game of Thrones 243 Ways to Win | |
|---|---|
| Software | Microgaming |
| Release Date | 2015 |
| RTP | 95.00% |
| Bet Limits | $0.30 – $15 (may vary) |
| Reel Grid | 5×3 |
| Paylines | 243 ways to win |
| Wilds | Yes, stacked wilds |
| Scatters | Yes, awards random cash prize |
| Bonus Games | N/A |
| Free Spins | 8, 10, 14, or 18 free spins with multipliers |
| Progressive Jackpot | N/A |
| Max Payout | Up to 121,000 credits |
| Gamble Feature | N/A |
Watch Game of Thrones 243 Lines Gameplay
Game of Thrones 243 Lines Additional TipsWhenever you spin three or more Scatters, the game will reward you with free spins. There are four different options when it comes to this round. You will be able to choose one of the four different Houses to align with and, depending on your choice, you will receive different benefits. The Baratheon option grants you eight free spins with a x5 multiplier, while the Lannister option will allow you to claim ten free spins with a x4 multiplier. If you choose Stark free spins, you will receive 14 free spins with an x3 multiplier, while the final Targaryen option grants you 18 free spins with a x2 multiplier. Not only does the game allow you to pick the type of free spins you receive, but it also lets you retrigger the feature by spinning three or more Scatters at once.
Avalon II
Avalon II is one of the most iconic games in the Microgaming games library, and you should certainly try it out. Based on the classic Arthurian mythos, Avalon II is the sequel to the original Avalon title, which saw great success when it was first released. The follow-up in the series builds upon the original game and presents us with a unique slot that will certainly pique your interest. With five reels and 243 ways to win, Avalon II is the epitome of a modern video slot. The betting limits may not be the most permissive, but they are certainly acceptable, with the maximum going as high as $7.50 per spin.
There are several symbols in the game that you should take note of. From the basic symbols, Arthur is the best-paying, followed closely by Merlin. As for the special ones, there are Wilds, Expanding Wilds, and a Bonus symbol. The Wild takes the form of the game’s logo and has its own payout. The Holy Grail is the Bonus symbol, and once you spin a certain number of them at once, you get to trigger the Grail Bonus. Finally, the Expanding Wilds are represented by the Lady of the Lake, who will expand to cover all three positions when she lands on the third reel.
| Avalon II | |
|---|---|
| Software | Microgaming |
| Release Date | 2014 |
| RTP | 95.92% |
| Bet Limits | $0.30 – $7.50 |
| Reel Grid | 5×3 |
| Paylines | 243 ways to win |
| Wilds | Yes |
| Scatters | Yes |
| Bonus Games | Yes |
| Free Spins | 15 or 20 free spins |
| Progressive Jackpot | N/A |
| Max Payout | 120,000 coins |
| Gamble Feature | N/A |
Watch Avalon II Gameplay
Avalon II Additional TipsThe Grail Bonus is triggered once you spin three or more Holy Grail symbols. The Grail Bonus will take you on an adventure to retrieve Excalibur. There are multiple stages of this bonus round, and once you clear one stage, you will be taken to the next when you trigger the round again. There are eight different stages, though choosing some will exclude you from others, so you need to choose carefully. Each stage offers a different mini-game, including pick-and-choose rounds, free spins with multipliers, and more. They are too complex to cover in a few words, but all of them are worth playing.
A minor but interesting feature of Avalon II is the Merlin feature. During the base gameplay, Merlin can appear on the reels to reward you with cash prizes or apply a multiplier to your winnings.
Twin Spin
Twin Spin is one of the greatest NetEnt classics currently available in the online gambling industry, and it is a game that should always be on your radar. As far as 5-reel titles go, this is one of the best. With a classic aesthetic and robust gameplay, Twin Spin hits all the right notes and has the capacity to provide you with a great gambling experience. Like some other games on this list, Twin Spin does not utilize the typical payline system, replacing it with a 243-ways-to-win format. As far as betting limits are concerned, the minimum wager starts at $0.25 per spin and can go up to $125 if you are interested. This allows both casual players and high rollers to enjoy this title fully, thereby fulfilling their needs.
The symbols featured in Twin Spin are inspired by old fruit machines, including Diamonds, Sevens, Cherries, Bells, and more. There are also high-card symbols, though these are low paying and not worthy of attention. The most rewarding symbol in the game is the Diamond, offering a 1,000x payout if you manage to line up five at once. The Seven stands in second place, with a 500x payout, followed by the BAR with its 400x reward. The only special symbol in Twin Spin is the Wild, which has the ability to substitute for other symbols in the game.
| Twin Spin | |
|---|---|
| Software | NetEnt |
| Release Date | 2013 |
| RTP | 96.55% |
| Bet Limits | $0.25 – $125 |
| Reel Grid | 5×3 |
| Paylines | 243 ways to win |
| Wilds | Yes |
| Scatters | N/A |
| Bonus Games | N/A |
| Free Spins | N/A |
| Progressive Jackpot | N/A |
| Max Payout | 270,000 coins |
| Gamble Feature | N/A |
Watch Twin Spin Gameplay
Twin Spin Additional TipsThe Twin Spin feature is the namesake of this title and it has a great effect on the overall gameplay. Basically, at the beginning of a spin, two adjacent reels will stick together and spin identical symbols. By itself, this is a powerful feature that can lead to plenty of nice wins, but it does not end there. During the spin, there is a chance for the number of identical reels to expand to include additional adjacent reels. Thus, you can have all five reels share the same symbols, which will significantly boost your odds of winning. The affected reels are chosen randomly, and it can be any two or more.
That is all there is to Twin Spin. The game sounds simplistic, and it absolutely is, but that is by no means a bad thing. Twin Spin delivers a stellar gambling experience with just the base gameplay, without the need to rely on bonus rounds or free spins. Not many slots can boast this, while Twin Spin does it with ease.