New to online gaming? It may be confusing to see a lot of icons on the screen without any clear meaning. Don’t worry, online s are the simplest pastimes you can find in any virtual casino. We will show you all the basic features of online games.
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Online Game Features
Online games have several features that we cannot fully explore in this guide. However, there are some basic structures that every player must know about. Read below.
Paylines
Paylines are your golden ticket to a win. A pay line is formed by a vertical or diagonal array of winning symbols. Different online games have varying numbers of paylines.
Reels
Reels are the column of symbols. They look like elevators that can move up and down rapidly. Once you hit “Spin,” the reels start spinning.
Most modern online games have 3 to 5 reels. But, there can be as many as 16! On the other hand, classic games have 2-4 reels.
Symbols
Symbols are the icons on the reels. They differ based on the niche of a online game:
- Suppose you see icons like pears, oranges, and apples. Looks like you are playing a fruit-themed online .
- A Greek-themed game may have icons depicting Greek culture.
- If it is a horror-themed online , you’ll see “scary” icons like zombies.
You get the idea.
Standard Symbols
The majority of the icons on the screen of a slot are standard. They don’t have any extra meaning unless they appear in a winning combination.
For instance, older games used lucky 7s and fruits as their standard symbol imagery. In newer games, playing card values serve this purpose. Basically, higher-value cards have larger payouts. Say, a slot game has a movie or music-based theme. Then, more valuable symbols like a silver ring, a treasure chest, or a luxury car will pay more.
Scatter
It is quite rare and tough to hit a scatter on the reels. They give one of the biggest payouts in online slots. Scatters are also well-known for activating free spins. All you have to do is land a specific number of scatters anywhere on the reels. The prizes will start rolling in.
Wild
A wild symbol is similar to a wild card in Poker. This magical icon can take the place of any other standard symbol to generate a winning array. However, wild icons cannot substitute for bonus symbols and scatters. There are different types of wilds, which include:
- Shifting wilds
- Sticky wilds
- Expanding wilds
- Walking wilds
- Transforming wilds
- Stacked wilds
Bonus symbols
These types of symbols usually trigger free rounds. Usually, you need to land a set number of bonus icons on certain reels to trigger the bonus round. Some games require a player to land bonus symbols on two reels at once.
Online Game Bonuses
Bonuses in slots? Most times, these are extra rounds or features that can score you rewards like cash and free spins. Slots offer an array of bonuses to keep gamblers playing. Check some of them below.
Free Spins
Free spins are the most popular slot bonus. When you get free spins, you get a specific number of tries at the reels for free. No cash or coins on the line. In some free spins rounds, you can generate more free spins by racking up bonus symbols.
Multipliers and Mini-Games
Multipliers can amplify payouts by 2x, 5x, and even 10x. They usually apply to specific symbols.
On the other hand, mini-games are bonus rounds where players can win extra rewards. The typical requirement is to land a specific number of special symbols on the reels.
Final Thoughts
While slots continually evolve, the underlying concept behind the symbols and features never changes. Once you are familiar with them, you will enjoy any new releases, irrespective of the theme.
Do in-depth research and choose games that have low house edges and high RTP. Use bonus rounds and free spins to your advantage. Don’t hesitate to take part in progressive jackpot games. Luck might be on your side; and most importantly, remember to have fun!