Reels In Slot Games?

Every slot game has reels. Some of those games might have different ways to produce prizes, such as the cluster pays slot games from NetEnt. These require groups of matching symbols to appear, rather than getting a line-up on consecutive reels.

However, is there an upper limit to the reel set you could play on? We decided to check out the options.

Three-reel options

Three-reel slots are the origins of the slot game. You cannot have fewer than three reels, otherwise you don’t get the depth you want in a game. This number of reels gives you a nice single-payline slot. You might also see other payline quantities in some games – three or five lines, for example. These games are ideal for those on smaller budgets who don’t want to bet on lots of lines.

Sevens and Stripes Slots

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Type

3-reel, classic

Paylines

Symbols

Bars, Sevens

Max Bet

$15

Software

Real Time Gaming

Scuba Fishing Slots

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Type

3-reel, bonus, video

Paylines

Symbols

Actinia, Pearl Clam, Seaweed, Fishes, Shark, Starfish, Treasure Chest

Bonus round

Respin Feature

Software

Real Time Gaming

Magic Mushroom Slots

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Type

3-reel, video, bonus

Paylines

all pay

Symbols

Candle, Mushroom, Magic Book, Fairie, Lute, Spool

Bonus round

Respins Feature

Software

Real Time Gaming

777 Slots

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Type

3-reel, bonus, progressive, video

Paylines

Symbols

Playing Cards and Chips, Triple BAR, Single BAR, Double BAR, Seven

Bonus round

Hold Feature

Software

Real Time Gaming

Double Ya Luck Slots

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Type

bonus, 3-reel

Paylines

Symbols

Diamond, Luck Symbol, Ya Symbol, Double symbol, Dice, Bar, Casino Chips, Cherries

Bonus round

Free Spins Feature, Double Ya Luck Bonus Game

Software

Real Time Gaming

Five-reel options

This must surely be the most popular (or at least the most common) number of reels around today. Lots of slot games are released each month that feature five reels. It’s enough to provide lots of options and bonus features if the developer wants to include them. Paylines and ways to win can be fitted into these five reels. It’s the ideal scenario in many ways.

Spring Wilds Slots

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Type

5-reel, video, bonus

Paylines

Max Bet

$125

Software

Real Time Gaming

Paddy's Lucky Forest Slots

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Type

5-reel, video, progressive, bonus

Paylines

720

Symbols

Spades, Purple Fairy, Pink Fairy, Green Fairy, Clubs, Hearts, Diamonds, Rainbow, Leprechaun, Pot of Gold, Horseshoe, 4 Leaf Clover

Bonus round

3 Progressive Jackpots, Pick Bonus Feature, Slippery Wilds Feature

Max Bet

$125

Software

Real Time Gaming

Mardi Gras Magic Slots

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Type

5-reel, video, bonus

Paylines

Symbols

Purple Dancer, Clubs, Green Dancer, Red Dancer, Yellow Dancer, Mardi Gras Magic Logo, Hearts, Spades, Diamonds, Cocktail, Drinks, Mask

Bonus round

Random Prize Awards, Bursting Wilds Feature, Free Games Feature

Max Bet

$125

Software

Real Time Gaming

Ox Bonanza Slots

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Type

5-reel, video, progressive, bonus

Paylines

Symbols

Ace, Ox Bonus, Ox, Ten, Nine, Jack, King, Pig, Queen, Dog, Rat

Bonus round

Free Games Feature, Morphing Wild Feature

Max Bet

$25

Software

Real Time Gaming

Rave Riches Slots

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Type

5-reel, video, progressive, bonus

Paylines

243

Software

Real Time Gaming

Six or more reels – too many or not enough?

There comes a point when adding more reels to a game makes it more complex than it needs to be. Cluster pays games can get away with more reels because they pay in a different way. Mind you, those games tend to use a grid – maybe 7x7 or 8x8 for example – rather than using proper reels.

We’ve played a few six-reel games that have worked well. Some have had a separate sixth reel that behaves in a different way to the rest. Others use six standard reels, with a chance to win more if you get up to six identical symbols on a line. That is one advantage of more reels.

We’ve only ever discovered a couple seven-reel slots, and they have left something to be desired. They didn’t feature bonus elements, so they were largely disappointing. They were older games too. Perhaps the game developers tried them and decided they were too big?