Slot machines have come a long way since their early days. The newest slots today are bursting with unique symbols meant to improve gaming and increase winning possibilities. Developers are always providing new concepts to keep gamers interested as the industry changes, and these include special symbols and extra features that provide various ways for players to win.
Read on for a look at some of the most used bonuses and unique symbols.
Common Bonus Features & Special Icons in New Slot Games
Some of the commonly used bonus features and special icons in fair and valuable slot games are:
Bonus Features
- Free spins: Players are given a certain number of free spins that are frequently played with multipliers.
- Bonus rounds: Interactive subgames that can grant prizes, multipliers, or even additional free spins.
- Multipliers: Raises the amount of money paid out for winning combinations based on the multiplier value.
- Cascading reels: Instead of stopping, winning symbols are removed from sight and replaced with new ones that can bring additional wins.
- Expanding wilds: Wild signs that become larger so as to fill all reels, increasing the chances of winning combos.
- Sticky wilds: Stay in position for a specific number of rotations, thus increasing the odds of catching a win.
- Pick-and-click games: Gamblers choose an item on display that uncovers cash awards, additional bonuses like multipliers or extra games.
- Progressive jackpots: A proportion of any wager is pooled into the progressive jackpot, which randomly pays out or can be won through certain gaming mechanics.
Special Symbols
- Wild: Help in forming winning combinations by substituting other icons, which might also come with multipliers.
- Scatter: Activate various bonuses such as free spins or free rounds whenever they appear anywhere on the reel position.
- Bonus: When these figures occur within required numbers or patterns, they will trigger free rounds and special functions.
- Multiplier: Multiply the values of winning combos via definite ratios.
- Stacked: Cover an entire reel thus and create many winning opportunities with multiple winning symbols.
- Mystery: Change into other icons for purposes of creating a win after reels have stopped moving.
- Colossal: Big symbols that cover some reel positions. It can be as large as 2×2 and have a significant effect on any wins.
Impact of Features & Special Symbols on Gameplay & Interaction
The inclusion of these bonuses greatly improves gameplay and player involvement in Canada-verified casino sites. They create variety and excitement, breaking the monotony characteristic of normal spins.
For example, free rounds and free spins give players more chances to win, keeping them interested. Such characteristics usually have interactive parts that make the game more involving and fun. Multipliers and cascading reels add suspense by greatly increasing potential winnings for a level.
There is anticipation due to special symbols such as wilds or scatters, which may reward a player with profitable bonuses or replace other signs needed for a winning combination. Expanding and sticky wilds also increase this excitement since they improve the possibility of getting wins across multiple rounds.
Examples of Popular Slots Using Innovative Bonus Features
- Gonzo’s Quest (NetEnt): Tumbling reels and cascading wins.
- Book of Dead (Play’n GO): Free spins with expanding symbols.
- Immortal Romance (Microgaming): A range of bonus rounds include rolling reels and multipliers.
- Starburst (NetEnt): Expanding wilds and re-spins.
- Bonanza (Big Time Gaming): Megaways mechanic offers you thousands of ways to win, including free spins and multipliers.
- Dead or Alive 2 (NetEnt): Three different types of free spin rounds, all with distinct features that improve the winning potential.
Our Final Thoughts
Bonus features and special symbols are key aspects of the newest slot games online. Not only do they increase players’ winning potential, but they add another layer of mystery and anticipation to gameplay as well. When every spin could bring a bonus, there’s no more monotony, and games are far more entertaining to play.
