There’s a certain charm to the one-armed-bandits of yesteryear and their history as outlined by Britannica. The crank of the handle and tumble of the reels. The liberty bells and cherries. But, slot games have come a long way since then. It’s all about innovation and the mechanics driving your favourite slots have become (almost) as exciting as the themes themselves. We’re going to take a look at some of the most interesting and inventive mechanics of recent years, so that next time you’re playing a slot, you can point out exactly what’s going on!
Megaways
Let’s start with the big one. Megaways hasn’t just changed the game; it’s rewritten the rules entirely. You’ll regularly find that online casinos have whole categories devoted to the Megaways casino, that is, the go-to section for Megaways slots. This mechanic was developed by Big Time Gaming. The secret behind it? A dynamic reel system that allows over 100,000 ways to win. Every spin you make, the number of symbols on each reel changes, allowing – almost – endless winning combinations. If you like your games fast-paced and unpredictable, then you can count on Megaways slots to deliver.
Avalanche Reels
Why would anybody settle for just one spin when you could turn that one, single wager into a whole avalanche of wins? I’m not sure either! With Avalanche Reels, symbols don’t spin – they fall into place. If you make a winning combo, it disappears and the avalanche begins (sometimes called a cascade, or tumble). This keeps happening until you can’t make any more wins. It’s a great way of maximising winning potential – without any extra effort on your part!
Book Slots
Book slots are proof that sometimes the simplest mechanics can be the most enduring. These games revolve around a special book symbol made famous by Rich Wilde and the Book of Dead, you know, the guy who looks like Indiana Jones? The book symbol (usually) acts as both a wild and a scatter. Land a certain number, and you’ll unlock a free spins round with an expanding symbol that can cover – entire – reels for colossal payouts.
Pay Both Ways
On the old-fashioned slot machines, wins counted from left to right, starting from the leftmost reel only. Not anymore! Pay Both Ways mechanics double the fun by letting you form combinations from right to left as well. It’s a simple tweak, but it adds something. Suddenly, those symbols lurking on the far-right reel don’t seem so useless!
Progressive Jackpots
There are jackpot chasers and slow and steady bankroll builders – progressive jackpots? They appeal to the former category. These slots pool a portion of every player’s wager into a growing prize pot. This keeps climbing until one lucky player strikes big. The only downside? It usually results in a much reduced RTP, but if you’re here for the big wins rather than the steady ones, then you can’t complain! To be in with a chance you’ll usually have to trigger a bonus round. Once you do, there’s a chance to win one of several jackpots, but we all know which one you’re shooting for – the big one right?