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.

Santa's Reel Wheel Slots

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Type

video, bonus, 3-reel

Paylines

Pays Any

Symbols

Gift, Diamond, Firecrackers, Bell, Mistletoe

Bonus round

Fireworks Feature, Free Games Feature

Software

Real Time Gaming

Neon Wheel 7s Slots

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Type

3-reel, bonus, video

Paylines

Symbols

Blue Seven, Bonus Wheel, Double BAR, Green Seven, Purple Seven, Single BAR, Triple BAR, Wild

Bonus round

Bonus Wheel Feature

Max Bet

$25

Software

Real Time Gaming

Chunky Monkey Slots

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Type

3-reel, bonus, video

Paylines

Symbols

Bananas, Sevens

Bonus round

Free Games Win Multiplier Feature, Transferring Symbols Feature

Software

Real Time Gaming

Hyper Wins Slots

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Type

bonus, video, 3-reel

Paylines

All pay

Symbols

K, Green Gem, Red Gem, Purple Gem, Orange Gem, Q, J, A, Moon, Star

Bonus round

Free Games Feature, Lucky Feature, Hyperwin Bonus, Hyper Prize Feature

Max Bet

Software

Real Time Gaming

Jackpot Sevens Slots

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Type

3-reel, video, bonus

Paylines

Symbols

Triple Green Seven, Free Games, Red Seven, Jackpot, Triple BAR, Single BAR, Double BAR, Blue Seven, Cherries

Bonus round

Progressive Jackpot, Free Games with Multiplier Feature

Max Bet

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.

Legendary Luck Slots

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Type

bonus, progressive, video, 5-reel

Paylines

243

Symbols

10, J, A, K, Q, Coins, Dragon, Panda, Rooster, Fox, Frog

Bonus round

Free Games Feature, Mystical Zone Feature, Gatekeeper Portal Feature

Software

Real Time Gaming

Fortunate Rabbit Slots

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Type

5-reel, video, bonus

Paylines

Symbols

Goddess, Potion, Warrior, Temple, Moon, Tree, Red Lantern, Cookies, Star Fruit, White Rabbit

Bonus round

Wild Re-Spin Feature, Free Games Feature, Random Jackpot

Software

Real Time Gaming

Warrior Conquest Slots

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Type

5-reel, video, bonus

Paylines

Max Bet

$250

Software

Real Time Gaming

Alien Wins Slots

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Type

5-reel, video, bonus

Paylines

Max Bet

$250

Software

Real Time Gaming

Tarot Destiny Slots

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Type

5-reel, video, bonus

Paylines

Symbols

A, K, Q, J, 10, Candles, Wagon, Tarot Cards, Book of Spells, Owl, Tarot Destiny Logo

Bonus round

Hold and Spin Feature, Free Games Feature

Max Bet

$250

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?