Online slot games come in many forms, but most share core elements that shape how they play. Whether you're picking a classic reel layout or a modern video slot, these features define the game's structure.
When browsing titles across platforms like Slots on Sky Vegas, you'll notice certain elements appear frequently. Understanding these mechanics can help you recognise how different games work.
Reels and paylines
At the heart of any slot is its reel layout. Most games use a grid of spinning reels, such as three-by-three, five-by-three, or larger. The number of reels affects how the game's structured, but it's the paylines that determine how results form.
A payline is the specific pattern where matching symbols must land for an outcome to register. Traditional Slots may use a single horizontal line, while modern games feature multiple paylines, sometimes 100 or more. Some use a "ways to win" system instead, where results are based on symbol positions from left to right rather than fixed lines.
Wilds
Wilds are one of the most common features in slot games. These symbols substitute for other standard symbols on the reels, helping to complete possible combinations.
You'll find several variations:
- Expanding wilds – grow to fill an entire reel
- Sticky wilds – remain in place for multiple spins
- Walking wilds – move position across spins
The type of wild used depends on the game's design and may contribute to other features.
Scatter symbols
Scatter symbols trigger bonus features when a set number lands anywhere on the reels. Unlike standard symbols, scatters don't need to follow a payline. They activate features like free spins or bonus rounds.
The number required and what they unlock varies between games. In many cases, landing three or more activates a free spin sequence or special round.
Free spins
Free spins are one of the most recognisable slot features. These are extra spins that don't require additional credit from your balance. They're triggered by scatter symbols or through specific in-game mechanics.
During free spins, some games introduce added elements such as multipliers, extra wilds, or expanding symbols. The number awarded usually depends on how the feature is triggered, and more scatters tend to mean more spins.
Bonus rounds
Some Slots include bonus games or rounds, which are additional gameplay sequences separate from the base reels. These range from simple pick-and-click games to more complex multi-level features.
They're unlocked by specific symbol combinations or special triggers. While they vary widely in theme and format, they introduce a different rhythm to the game, usually with enhanced mechanics or guaranteed symbol outcomes.
Cascading reels and re-spins
In many modern Slots, cascading reels replace traditional spinning. With this mechanic, symbols involved in a result are removed from the grid, and new ones drop into their place. This can create a chain reaction of outcomes within a single spin.
Re-spin features allow one or more reels to spin again without starting a new full spin. These may be randomly triggered or activated through specific symbols.
Both can extend the duration of a game round and are combined with other mechanics like multipliers or symbol upgrades.
Multipliers
Multipliers increase the value of an outcome by a fixed amount – two times, three times, or more. They may appear randomly, as part of wilds, or during features like free spins or cascading reels.
Some games include progressive multipliers that increase over time, especially in Slots with repeated cascades or features that build across spins.
