One of the biggest appeals of playing online video slots is their bonus rounds. From random respins of the reels and multipliers to free spins features and elaborate bonus games, there are hundreds of innovations that have made slots the most preferred type of casino game both online and in land-based casinos. Nothing compares to the excitement of triggering a bonus game and winning tons of prizes in a row 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 that they should choose slots by their average return – the Return to Player (RTP) percentages, displayed in most online casinos. Others look for games with huge progressive jackpots. All this could be great indicators of whether a slot game is worth playing or not, and we have discussed these topics in separate sections of this guide. Another important aspect of online slots is how to trigger the bonus round as frequently as possible so that you can make your playing session not only profitable but enjoyable, too.
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 when they play their favorite game for an hour or so without activating any bonus features at all. This is not a likely scenario but it is certainly possible since all slots, as long as they are offered by a legitimate, respected online casino, are based on Random Number Generators. This means that each spin is completely random and independent from past or future outcomes. The RNG software is crucial for bonus games, as well, especially for those features that are triggered at random.
Many slot machines feature randomly activated bonus games and this is a preferred option for some casino patrons who have experienced the following – you make a bet, click the Spin button, and you get two bonus symbols lining up only to discover that you need a third matching image fall on that same payline to activate the generous free spins round. This happens frequently and can be avoided by simply choosing a game where the bonus feature activates randomly.
Depending on the rules and mechanics of the particular slot, this could occur once in 10 to 15 spins or after more than 300 spins. Slots may differ significantly so players need to check the rules and information, displayed within the game itself. Many developers reveal the average returns, the volatility, or the hit frequency of their games.
The paytable also provides crucial information – typically, slots with huge jackpots and more generous payouts offer low hit frequency and bonus games that are really hard to trigger. Games with lower prizes for completing combos, on the other hand, tend to activate their special features more frequently. Once again, this may vary greatly from one slot to the next, and sometimes, the best way to tell what game you play is to actually spend a little time (and money) to test it.
View more...The other common way to unlock bonus rounds in slot games is by getting a specific number of special symbols on the reels. These could be scatter symbols, which usually (but not always) activate a free spins round. To trigger it, players need to land 3 or more symbols of this type anywhere on the reels, hence the name “scatter”. In some video slots, the number of free spins awarded depends on the number of scatters on the reels. For instance, 3 scatters would bring us 5 free spins, 4 scatters would award 10 spins, and 5 scatters appearing anywhere on the screen would award 15 free spins.
There is another category of special symbols that can activate various bonus rounds within a slot game. They are usually referred to as bonus symbols and their particular function may vary according to the specific theme of the slot. 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.
One of the most important things is that the frequency of these symbols also varies, depending on the particular mechanics and odds of the slot. This piece of information, however, is not available to players, so they have no choice but to test the games for themselves.
View more...Another great feature that can be activated randomly is the reel respins. This is quite a rare option, in which players make a single bet but receive two or even more spins without paying additionally. Usually, this concept works pretty straightforward – after a winning spin, the game automatically activates another spin, which is free for the player and is triggered at the same bet level as the original, paid round.
The benefit of this feature is obvious – players receive more game rounds than they have paid for. This certainly increases their odds of winning in the long term, which is why slots of this type often come with less generous payouts even for the higher-paying combinations. At this point, players should decide whether they look for larger prizes that would be harder to hit or they prefer smaller, yet frequent and more reliable wins.
View more...One of the most exciting slot features is the so-called tumbling reels. They are also known as cascading or avalanche reels and although they may sometimes look different from each other, they are practically the same game mechanics. Often, the feature is incorporated into a regular video slot but there are also unique tumbling or cascading slots that have no conventional reel movement at all.
In these slots, players get a regular set of reels and once they hit a winning combination, the round does not stop as in traditional slot gameplay. In fact, the most exciting part of the game is just beginning – all symbols that were part of the winning combination explode or simply disappear from the reels, giving way to new ones. The new symbols fall from the top of the reels and may form another winning combination without the need to make a second bet. Moreover, this cascading or avalanche effect could continue for several spins, and players can generate quite decent winnings with just a single bet on the game.
View more...Random Bonus Games
1Picking Games
Sometimes, the bonus rounds within slot games involve some skill or decision making on players’ part. More often, these bonus games are completely random in their nature. One such type of mini-game is the picking or pick’ em game, which opens in a separate screen and shows several symbols. Players then pick one or more symbols to reveal a coin prize or a multiplier behind them.
The reward is collected instantly and added to the winnings of the current round. If it is a multiplier (2x, 3x, 4x, etc.), the profits from the main round are multiplied by the corresponding number. Even though these types of games seem to have a skill element, the outcome is completely random and determined by the RNG of the game.
Blood Suckers – Mini Game Gameplay
2Wheel of Fortune
Originally, the Wheel of Fortune was a 1950’s television game show but its popularity has made these types of games a truly global phenomenon. Online casino game developers have also created multiple versions of this fun wheel, which has various sections with prizes on each of them. 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 the bonus game screen with the wheel of fortune in the center. Players click the Spin button and the wheel spins until it stops on one of the sections. Depending on the game, it could reward a wide range of things – from cash prizes to multipliers, 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 have returned to the basics with much simpler mini-games. A good example is the addition of card comparing games, in which players are presented with several cards – a face-up card for the dealer and another three or four options that players should choose from. These several cards are face-down and when players pick one of them, it compares to the dealer’s card. The higher card wins, of course. If players win, the bonus feature either doubles their winnings from the current round or rewards them with a cash prize. If they lose, they return to the base game without winning anything.
4Rotating Reels
This is an interesting bonus feature that is not commonly used and quite rare to find. It is typically used as an added bonus to a free spin (or multiple free spins) that has been triggered in the base game. It starts with the free round, which is automatic and runs with the same bet placed by the player in the main round. Once the free spin ends, the game pays out any winning combinations as in a conventional free round.
Then, the reels rotate 90 degrees, while the paylines remain the same. This could form a new combination of symbols and players receive another payout. The rotation of the reels continues for two more times until they return to their initial position. This exciting rotating reels round gives players four opportunities to win per spin and is certainly among the best special features you can find 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 a few types of games that are based on skill rather than on chance. Players should know, however, that the skill element in these games is often just a representation of a predetermined outcome. Still, they seem and feel like skill-based games, which adds to the thrill of playing slots online. And one of the most common examples is the pick and match games, also known as matching games.
They can be activated in a variety of 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 once opened. The objective is to find two identical images. Players are usually given several attempts and if they manage to find a pair, they receive the respective prize. This could be a coin prize, a multiplier, or even a progressive jackpot. As you can see, these games involve both skills and chance, and could sometimes bring huge profits to players.
Mini Games with Multiple Levels
The bonus features with multiple levels are probably the most exciting games you can activate when playing video slots. They were introduced over a decade ago when software developers started adding more elaborate storylines and complex gameplay to their slots in order to appeal to a wider audience. As a result, these multi-level mini-games often resemble short video games.
The specific rules and mechanics of these rounds are usually associated with the theme of the slot. For instance, players may progress through several pyramid rooms with treasure chests in each of them in an Ancient Egyptian slot or collect magic items in a fantasy-themed slot. Once they collect enough items, another bonus feature is triggered such as free spins with multipliers, a pickém game, coin prizes, etc.
Map-Based Games
There are also map-based bonus games that are similar to the above-mentioned rounds at least in one respect – that players need to progress through several different levels or areas of the map. Advancing through these rounds takes time and play but players are not required to activate a separate bonus to access the map. Each point on this map would either reward different things or trigger a second bonus feature.
Another option is to follow a map, collecting items during the base game. After having enough items, players can build a city, slay a dragon, or complete some other mission. There are numerous variations of this type of bonus game and they are usually linked closely to the theme of the slot and the main storyline behind the gaming action. However, players should know that the prizes in these mini-games are not as attractive as they would wish.
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I have noticed that some slots offer the option to purchase the bonus game. Is this option worth it?
It depends on your luck. Slots with the Bonus Buy feature may be quite risky as this option typically costs several times your original bet per spin amount. You may see features that cost 30x, 50x, or even more times your bet size. Needless to say, the winnings you land during a bonus feature may not come even close to the amount you have spent on triggering the feature instantly. Nevertheless, if you do not mind the high risk and the potential loss of money due to the Bonus Buy feature, you might actually find great value in this type of slot variation. Although pricey, this feature will allow you to instantly start the bonus game, which may turn out to be extremely rewarding and compensate you for your extra purchase.