Slots used to be physical machines with a simple premise. The player needed to put in a real money deposit and spin the reels to try and match pay lines. However, the technological setbacks meant there were limits to the gameplay.
Now that we play new slots online, the possibilities are endless. The digital format allows the developer to design their slots in whatever way they choose. They can add in animations, crazy themes and even update the gameplay.
As a result, almost every slot comes with Free Spins and Bous Features.
What are the Bonus Features in Slot Machines?
The central premise of a slot game remains the same across the board. The player needs to spin a set of reels and match identical symbols across adjacent reels. These successful pay lines can result in a prize for the player.
This process doesn’t sound fascinating. That is why developers add extra features to the game to vary this gameplay or increase the overall pay outs.
Slots with Free Spins and Bonus Features come in many forms. However, some bonus features appear more than others.
Wilds and Scatters Symbols
Wilds and scatters are the most common path to triggering bonus features at slot games uk.
A wild symbol acts as a substitute for regular symbols to help finish or extend pay lines. For example, a pay line of three symbols next to a wild will count as a four symbol pay line, thus increasing the pay-out.
Developers can do all sorts of other fun things with the wild symbol. For example, some slots with bonus features will add random wilds as the game continues or have wild reels. The wild reels feature an expanding wild that fills one reel, making it more likely that the wild lands as part of a pay line.
The second most common bonus feature in online slots is the scatter symbol. A scatter is mainly used to trigger other bonus features. For example, the player might need to land the scatter a specific number of times on a spin or in a pay line to trigger a bonus feature.
Scatters are mainly implanted in slots with free spins.
Free Spins & Free Games Features
Landing a certain number of scatters can trigger a free spins round. The number of scatters can dictate the number of free spins, and in an average five-reel slot, the player needs to land between three and five scatters to win some free spins.
These free spins do not require a deposit from the player and occur as part of the bonus features. Therefore, any pay lines matched during this round count toward the regular wins but are considered free in terms of making a deposit. Players can also re-trigger free spins by landing more scatters if the game allows, making it one of the most lucrative bonus features around.
Now that we understand the most common bonus features, which are slots with free spins, what are the other extras in online slot games?
Other Common Bonus Features at Online Slots
A developer can include plenty of bonus features in a slot game- the only limit is their imagination. Below are some of the most common bonus features in slots.
- Colossal Symbols: symbols can grow at random or by landing a scatter. The colossal symbol occupies more space on the reels, making it easier to land as part of a line.
- Multipliers: Players are awarded multipliers through symbols or by default, which massively increase the symbols payouts.
- Jackpot Features: slots with bonus features can include a jackpot feature. This feature includes a task that players must complete to win a substantial sum that isn’t included in the main game.
- Pick-Me Rounds: the player can choose between a series of objects to unveil the prize beneath. These prizes are most often a cash prize, a multiplier amount or some free spins.
- Re-Spins: landing the correct symbols can result in a re-spin. A re-spin is an automatic spin of the reels that occurs without a players input.
- Cascading Wins: a cascading wins game will destroy the symbols in a winning pay line, allowing the symbols above to drop into their place. If these symbols form a new win, they too will disappear, repeating the process until no new wins form.
These are the most common extras, but what are the best slots with free spins and bonus features?
Our Best Slots Picks with Free Spins and Bonus Features
Players searching for slots with great bonus features should check out the games listed below.
Ted
The Ted slot game from blueprint lets the titular bear run rampant. Every time Ted wanders onto the reels, he can add a random bonus to the game. These include re-spins, random wilds, colossal symbols and extra scatters.
The player can assist Ted by landing some bonus symbols. Doing so can only lead to more bonus features, such as cash bonuses, free spins, and a pick me round. There are no shortages of free spins and bonus features in the Ted slot game.
Hot as Hades
The mythological Hot as Hades slot games from MicroGaming approaches its pick me round differently. The player needs to land three or more scatters to trigger the round, but it comes in five stages. The player must make one pick on each stage to climb to the next. The prizes in this bonus feature include instant cash and more picks.
Play Hot as Hades to play a slot with bonus features that feels like a progressive journey.
Reel King
Some slots with free spins and bonus features have another set of reels. In Reel King from Inspired Gaming, players can play on a new reel set at random. There are three new reels with new lucky symbols. The player receives some free spins to try and land as many pay lines as possible. The best symbol in this free spins round is the red seven’s worth 25x the stake for five across a pay line.
Avalon II
The Avalon II slot from MicroGaming is a story-based game that follows the King Arthur on his adventures. As such, players need to engage in the trail of bonus features to play out the story. These start when the player lands three or more scatters on a spin. The bonus features in this slot range from retrieving Excalibur for multiplier prizes, a pick me round in the woods, a fight with the black knight and a re-spin game.
Avalon II also has a free spins round with three modes. Each one comes with a number of free spins and an extra multiplier bonus.
As you can see, developers can create slots with free spins and bonus features and make them act differently. So whether you want to play for larger prizes or follow a story, you can find the best slots with free spins and bonus features at Slots Baby.
Where to Play Slots with Bonuses Online?
Slot’s Baby is a reliable gambling platform that offers a variety of games in its library of six hundred slots. New players can sign-up to play any of these games and participate in our welcome offer to receive a bonus feature of their own to try and win up to 500 free spins on select slots (full terms and conditions apply).
To register for Slots Baby, you must:
- Click Join Now
- Fill in your details
- Create a username and password
- Confirm your email address
- Deposit £10 using one of our online payment gateways
Once registered, you can play any slots with free spins and bonus features you find on Slots Baby.
Conclusion
In summary, slots with free spins and bonus features create some of the most varied slot experiences and look to be the future of online slots. See how many features you can identify by searching Slots Baby now.
*Any Free Spins/Welcome Bonuses References are subject to the following: NEW PLAYERS ONLY, MIN DEPOSIT £10, MAX BONUS EQUAL TO LIFETIME DEPOSITS (UP TO £250), 65X WAGERING REQUIREMENTS AND FULL T&CS APPLY.
*All values (Bet Levels, Maximum Wins etc.) mentioned in relation to this slot game are subject to change at any time.