Software providers use emerging technology to keep making online slot games more engaging than ever. Bonus rounds aren’t available to you when playing the base game, but you can trigger these rounds in various ways. These bonus rounds include many different features, such as free spins and multipliers. Multipliers increase your winnings by a set factor that can be anything from 2x to 100x.
Whether you’re spinning the reels for free or picking hidden prizes, the bonus rounds add depth and variety. There is no guarantee that you will win a prize with bonus games, but your chances of winning become higher when playing them. They also turn simple games of chance into more entertaining and dynamic games.
How do you activate bonus rounds?
You will typically trigger bonus rounds while playing online slots with combinations of symbols.
- Scatter symbols will often trigger them when three or more appear on the reels. Depending on the game rules, they may have to land on specific reels to do so.
- Wild symbols may also be able to trigger a bonus round when they land in a certain combination.
- Bonus symbols can also trigger a bonus round when they appear in specific combinations. If there are multiple bonus rounds, a different bonus symbol may trigger each one.
- You can trigger some bonus games randomly while playing the base game.
Arcade bonus rounds
An arcade bonus game is a game within a slot game that you play on a different screen. These mini games may be shooting games, games where you must solve puzzles, etc. Arcade or mini-games don’t require any special skills to play, so they don’t show your intelligence. However, they are exciting to play because of the themes and details. You can often play multiple rounds.
Free spin rounds
Free spins are the most common bonus rounds. A free spin gives you a chance to trigger a win without having to pay to spin the reels. Any wins you trigger, you can keep. The number of free spins you get can differ with each slot game. It usually depends on how many scatters you land when triggering the bonus.
In some slots, you can retrigger free spins if you land certain symbols again. In the slot game Dead or Alive II, multipliers are stacked during free spins for more chances to win. In Starburst, wilds expand during free spins and stay sticky, which also increases your chances of winning.
Pick’Em bonus round
In this type of bonus round, the prizes are hidden. You either get a fixed number of picks or you keep revealing symbols until you match three. You may be able to win more picks if you reveal certain symbols.
The symbols in this type of bonus round match the slot game theme. They could include gift boxes, gems, or game characters. In the Goonies slot game, you get an option to choose keys that unveil outcomes in one of the features. Big Splash by Real Time Gaming also has a pick-a-fish mini-round.
Cascades bonus round
Players enjoy playing slots with cascading reels. This game mechanic makes it possible to get multiple wins on a single spin. When you get a winning combination in games with this feature, the symbols disappear, and new ones fall into place to replace them.
You may even trigger a winning combination when the new symbols land. In some slots, the feature activates whenever you have a win. In others, the feature is only available during the free spins’ bonus round. Gonzo’s Quest is a slot game with cascading reels.
Wild bonus round
Wilds are special symbols in most casino slot machines with bonus rounds, and they come in many types. They may be present in the base game, but you can activate their bonus features when they form part of a winning combination and substitute a regular symbol. Expanding wilds expand to cover a whole reel.
Stacked wilds appear on top of each other to increase your chances of forming a winning line. Wilds may have attached multipliers. If they are part of the win, the total win is multiplied by the number.
