Aside from a killer theme, bonus features can make or break a slot machine. With a huge range of potential bonuses on offer such as wilds, free spins, and Mini-games, the best slot machines will carefully curate a mixture of bonus features to offer players a unique and thrilling slot experience. Join us in this article where we’ll bring you a recap of the different bonus features used in online slots as well as our picks for the slot machines with the best bonuses.
The Most Common Slot Machine Bonus Features
Wilds and Scatters
Almost all of the best slot machines will use wild and scatter symbols as they make up the foundation of most bonus features. Wild symbols help players to match symbols by substituting for other symbols and can sometimes multiply the value of a win if they are used in a combination. Scatter symbols are symbols that can payout or activate bonus features when they are landed on the reels in any position.
Free Spins
Almost all modern online slots include a free spins bonus round in their casino machine. Free spins bonuses are exactly what they say on the tin and are free spins of the slot. Most commonly free spins features are activated using scatter symbols, and there may be additional features such as modified wilds or multipliers to enhance gameplay.
Re-Spins
Re-spins are similar to free spins in that a player gets another spin of the reels without needing to wager. Most commonly respins are a single spin of the reels, though players may receive extra re-spins if certain symbols are landed or perimeters are met.
Mini Games
Mini-Games can come in many forms such as a pick and win bonus which plays out similar to a scratchcard, as well as a board bonus style feature that plays out like the board games you used to play as a kid. Some online slot games will have a mini-game that is completely unique to their title; which is always a treat to see.
Wheel of Fortune-Style
If you’ve ever seen the iconic game shows where prize wheels are spun by the contestant, then this is exactly what to expect if you trigger a Wheel of Fortune-style bonus feature. Prize wheels can sometimes be used to decide factors such as free spins and multipliers, but are most commonly associated with progressive jackpot slots.
Gamble Feature
This is one of the OG forms of online slot UK bonuses and many older slots will feature a gamble feature. Gamble features most commonly come in 2 forms, either a ladder gamble or a double or nothing gamble. In the first form, players can risk their winnings and end up increasing or decreasing what they won depending on their ladder progress. In the double or nothing gamble feature players simply need to guess the color of a face-down playing card (red or black). Guessing correctly will double the win while guessing incorrectly will lose the lot.
Best Slots with Bonus Rounds
Rainbow Riches
Rainbow Riches is an iconic ‘luck of the Irish’ slot machine created by Barcrest, now SG Entertainment. Despite getting on in years, the Rainbow Riches game has a thrilling mix of bonus features that include wild symbols, scatters, and three bonus features called the Road to Riches feature (which is a board game mini-game), the Wishing Well bonus feature is a Pick and Win style mini-game, and the Pots of Gold feature which revolves around multipliers.
Cleopatra
Cleopatra is an absolutely classic slot machine created by IGT. As an older slot, there aren’t a mass of features, but boy do the features used pack a punch. The Cleopatra wild symbol can payout up to 10,000x your wager. The Sphinx scatter triggers the free spins bonus round where 15 free spins are awarded with a 3x multiplier applied to all symbol wins aside from Cleopatra. The free spins bonus round can be retriggered time and time again for up to 180 free spins.
88 Fortunes
88 Fortunes is a high volatility Chinese-themed slot machine from WMS. This slot has a well-rounded mix of bonus features including a wild symbol, free spins bonus round, and pick and win bonus feature. The 88 Fortunes slot machine has four different jackpot prizes which can be won through the latter feature which is called the Fu Bat Jackpot.
Monopoly Megaways
If you like slots with a lot of bonus features then you’ll love Monopoly Megaways. As a Megaways slot, Monopoly Megaways includes avalanching reels, and there’s also a free spins bonus round with a variety of lucrative modifiers. There’s also a unique mini-game in play in this slot which is almost like a board bonus round and can award ownership of properties and multiplier for this too.
Pharaoh's Fortune
Another golden oldie, Pharaoh's Fortune is a slot machine from developer IGT and just like Cleopatra, has an ancient Egyptian theme. This slot features a pyramid wild which can award up to 10,000x your wager, and a scatter symbol that can award a payout for just 2 symbols landed. The free spins bonus round is triggered by landing bonus symbols and players take part in a mini pick and win game to decide how many spins they’ll win. Every spin in this feature is a guaranteed win spin, and this bonus feature can be retriggered.
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