One of the biggest appeals of playing online video slots is their bonus rounds. From random reel respins and multipliers to free-spin features and elaborate bonus games, hundreds of innovations have made slots the most popular type of casino game both online and in land-based casinos. Nothing compares to the excitement of triggering a bonus game and winning prize after prize. But which games have the best bonus features?
There is no simple answer to this question, since even the most basic online slots can sometimes offer extremely profitable free spins or other special features. Some players believe they should choose slots based on their average return, the Return to Player (RTP) percentage displayed in most online casinos. Others look for games with huge progressive jackpots. All of these can be great indicators of whether a slot game is worth playing, and we discuss them in separate sections of this guide. Another important aspect of online slots is learning how to trigger the bonus round as frequently as possible so that your playing sessions are not only profitable but also enjoyable.
Unlocking Bonus Games
At Random
Bonus and Scatter Symbols
Reel Respins
Tumbling or Cascading Reels
One of the most frustrating moments for slot players is spending an hour or more on their favorite game without triggering a single bonus feature. While this is unlikely, it is possible because all slots offered by legitimate, respected online casinos rely on random number generators (RNGs). As a result, each spin is completely random and independent of past or future outcomes. RNG software is also crucial for bonus games, especially those that are triggered at random.
Many slot machines offer randomly activated bonus games, a preferred option for players who have experienced the following situation: you place a bet, click Spin, and watch two bonus symbols line up, only to realize that you need a third matching icon to start the free spins round. This happens frequently, but it can be avoided by choosing a game whose bonus feature triggers randomly.
Depending on the slot’s rules and mechanics, a random bonus may occur once every 10 to 15 spins or after more than 300 spins. Because slots differ significantly, players should review the rules and information displayed within the game itself. Many developers disclose the average return, volatility, or hit frequency of their games.
The paytable also provides valuable information. Typically, slots with huge jackpots and more generous payouts have a low hit frequency and bonus games that are difficult to trigger. Games with smaller prizes for completing combos, on the other hand, tend to activate their special features more often. This may vary greatly from one slot to the next, and sometimes the best way to learn how a game plays is to spend a little time (and money) testing it.
View more...The other common way to unlock bonus rounds in slot games is by landing a specific number of special symbols on the reels. These are often scatter symbols, which usually (though not always) activate a free spins round. To trigger it, players must land 3 or more scatters anywhere on the reels, which explains the term “scatter.” In some video slots, the number of free spins awarded depends on how many scatters appear. For example, 3 scatters may grant 5 free spins, 4 scatters may grant 10 spins, and 5 scatters appearing anywhere on the screen may grant 15 free spins.
There is another type of special symbol that can activate various bonus rounds. Known as bonus symbols, their exact function varies with the slot’s theme. Bonus symbols are generally used only for this purpose and, unlike scatters, they rarely form combinations on their own. To activate a special feature with them, players usually need at least 3 bonus symbols on an active payline.
It is also important to note that the frequency of these symbols varies, depending on the game’s mechanics and odds. Because developers do not share this information, players have no choice but to test the games themselves.
View more...Another great feature that can activate at random is the reel respin. This relatively rare option lets players place one bet but receive two or more spins without paying extra. The concept is straightforward: after a winning spin, the game automatically triggers another spin, which is free and played at the same bet level as the original paid round.
The benefit is clear: players get more game rounds than they pay for. This increases their long-term chances of winning, which is why slots with respins often come with less generous payouts, even for higher-paying combinations. Players should decide whether they prefer larger prizes that are harder to hit or smaller, more frequent, and more reliable wins.
View more...One of the most exciting slot features is the tumbling reel. Also called cascading or avalanche reels, these mechanics may look slightly different from game to game, but they function in essentially the same way. The feature is often incorporated into a standard video slot, though there are titles built entirely around tumbling or cascading reels with no conventional reel movement at all.
In these slots, players start with a regular set of reels. Once they hit a winning combination, the round does not end as it does in traditional gameplay. Instead, the most exciting part begins: all symbols that were part of the winning combination explode or disappear, making room for new ones. The new symbols fall from the top of the reels and can create another win without requiring an additional bet. This cascading effect can continue for several spins, allowing players to generate solid returns from a single wager.
View more...Random Bonus Games
1Picking Games
Sometimes bonus rounds in slot games involve a degree of skill or decision-making on the player’s part. More often, however, these bonus games are completely random. One such type of mini-game is the picking or pick ’em game, which opens on a separate screen and displays several symbols. Players then pick one or more symbols to reveal a coin prize or a multiplier hidden behind them.
The reward is collected instantly and added to the winnings of the current round. If it is a multiplier (2x, 3x, 4x, and so on), the profits from the main round are multiplied by the corresponding number. Although these games appear to involve skill, the outcome is completely random and is determined by the game’s RNG.
Blood Suckers – Mini Game Gameplay
2Wheel of Fortune
Originally, Wheel of Fortune was a 1950s television game show, but its popularity has turned these games into a global phenomenon. Online casino developers have since created multiple versions of this entertaining wheel, each divided into sections with different prizes. A digital and simplified variation also appears as a bonus game within many modern video slots.
Once players unlock the game, the main reels disappear and are replaced by a bonus screen with the wheel of fortune in the center. Players click the Spin button, and the wheel turns until it stops on one of the sections. Depending on the title, the wheel can award anything from cash prizes and multipliers to free spins or collectible items that trigger yet another bonus feature.
Mega Fortune – Bonus Game Gameplay
3Card Comparing Games
Some slots offer complex, multi-level bonus games, while others return to basics with much simpler mini-games. A good example is the card-comparison bonus, where players are shown several cards: one face-up card for the dealer and three or four face-down options from which to choose. When a player selects a card, it is compared with the dealer’s card. The higher card wins. If players win, the feature either doubles their winnings from the current round or awards a cash prize. If they lose, they return to the base game without any additional payout.
4Rotating Reels
This interesting bonus feature is not commonly used and is quite rare. It typically appears as an added bonus to a free spin (or several free spins) triggered in the base game. It begins with the free round, which is automatic and uses the same bet placed in the main round. Once the free spin ends, the game pays out any winning combinations as it normally would.
Then, the reels rotate 90 degrees while the paylines stay fixed. This can create new symbol combinations and award another payout. The reels rotate twice more before returning to their original position. This exciting rotating-reels feature gives players four chances to win per spin and is certainly one of the best special features in video slots.
Bonus Games Based on Skill
Matching Games
Mini Games with Multiple Levels
Map-Based GamesMatching Games
Along with the myriad of random bonus rounds available in modern online slots, there are also several games that rely on skill rather than chance. Players should know, however, that the skill element in these titles usually reflects a predetermined outcome. Even so, they look and feel like skill-based games, which adds to the excitement of playing slots online. One of the most common examples is the pick-and-match game, also known as a matching game.
These rounds can be activated in various ways, and once players unlock the bonus feature, they are presented with a second game screen. There they will find 10 to 25 symbols that reveal different images or prizes when opened. The objective is to uncover two identical images. Players are usually given several attempts, and if they manage to find a pair, they receive the corresponding prize. This could be a coin payout, a multiplier, or even a progressive jackpot. As you can see, these games involve both skill and chance and can sometimes yield substantial rewards.
Mini Games with Multiple Levels
Multi-level bonus features are arguably the most exciting games you can activate while playing video slots. They were introduced over a decade ago, when software developers began adding more elaborate storylines and complex gameplay to attract a wider audience. As a result, these multi-level mini-games often resemble short video games.
The specific rules and mechanics of each round usually align with the slot’s theme. For instance, players might progress through several pyramid rooms filled with treasure chests in an Ancient Egyptian slot, or collect magic items in a fantasy-themed title. Once they gather enough items, an additional bonus feature is triggered, such as free spins with multipliers, a pick’em game, or coin prizes.
Map-Based Games
Map-based bonus games are similar to the rounds mentioned above in at least one respect: players must progress through several different levels or areas of the map. Advancing through these stages takes time, yet players are not required to activate a separate bonus to access the map. Each point on the map either awards a prize or triggers a secondary bonus feature.
In another variation, players follow a map and collect items during the base game. Once they have gathered enough items, they can build a city, slay a dragon, or complete another mission. There are countless versions of this type of bonus game, and they are usually closely tied to the slot’s theme and storyline. However, players should know that the prizes in these mini-games are often less generous than expected.
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I have noticed that some slots offer the option to purchase the bonus game. Is this option worth it?
It ultimately depends on your luck and tolerance for risk. Bonus Buy slots can be risky because activating the feature usually costs several times your base bet per spin. Prices of 30x, 50x, or even higher are common. The winnings you collect during the bonus round may not match what you paid to trigger it. Still, if you are comfortable with the added risk and possible losses, you might find good value in this type of slot. Although expensive, the feature gives you immediate access to the bonus game, which can be highly rewarding and may offset your upfront cost.