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In the online casino you can easily find thousands of different slot machines. In all kinds of colors and flavors. Yet they can all be captured in different categories. In this article, we present the best known types of online slots, with their best titles, based on popularity.
If you want to try your hand at online slots after reading this guide but don’t want to waste time looking for them, we suggest that you go to bonus za rejestracje bez depozytu to select your favorites.
What are different types of slots?
Video Slots
Video slots are state-of-the-art slot machines. They combine the features of video games with online slots. With modern 3D graphics and technologies, they provide a unique and atmospheric gaming experience. Often packed with special features and symbols, such as wilds, free spins, scatters and more. Almost all online slots today are primarily video slots, which is why the term is now commonly used.
Whereas classic slots (see below) use five paylines, video slots often have dozens or sometimes hundreds of paylines. They also like to break away from the classic game mechanism of the reels. The cascading reels feature, known from Gonzo’s Quest, is a good example: The symbols don’t roll over but fall onto the screen. In addition, winning symbols are removed and the empty spaces are filled from above with new falling symbols. This way you can activate a chain reaction of winning combinations.
Video slots are distinguished from classic slots not only by their features and innovations, but also by their unique themes. Each game uses a different theme and is therefore an experience in itself. Futuristic and imaginative universes, fairy tales, legends, folk tales, TV series, movies, mythologies, ancient civilizations: basically everything you can think of is there. Playing is experiencing!
Progressive Jackpot Slots
Progressive Jackpot slots are the prize killers among online slots. They not only let you dream of exorbitant top prizes, but can also make them a reality. With a little luck, you’ll be able to make yourself financially independent. And it is precisely this thought that makes the best slots with a progressive jackpot so popular.
Progressive slots work exactly the same as other video slots, with the difference that they have a fluctuating jackpot. This top prize is funded by all of us, as a small percentage of each bet automatically disappears into the jackpot. This continues until the moment it falls. And then, as a winner, you can be many millions richer, as in the case of Mega Moolah.
However, the chances of becoming a millionaire by closing the door of the casino online are not very high. As mentioned before, a substantial part of the payout percentage of progressive slots disappears into the jackpot. Our advice therefore is to play these online slots mostly for fun and not so much to hunt for millions. This will prevent a lot of disappointment.
Classic Slots
Classic slots are the precursor to video slots. They are the slots that have survived the test of time and are now making a digital furore, like fruit machines. These online slots lean on strong gameplay, vintage atmosphere and, of course, a solid penchant for nostalgia.
Classic slot machines often have little to offer and are simple to use. They usually have three reels and five paylines: three paylines from left to right and two diagonal lines. A bit like butter-cheese-and-eggs. Another great game from the old days.
Megaways Slots
Megaways slots are the next step in the evolution of video slots. They pair high variance and solid RTP with countless ways (‘megaways’) to win. In fact, these online slots have more thousands of paylines!
And we owe all this to the Australian gaming provider Big Time Gaming, which in 2016 for the first time unveiled such a product: Dragon Born with 111,649 paylines. The megaways slots anno today offer many more winning chances, such as Holy Diver with a whopping 586,971 paylines. Who knows what is in store for us!
Megaways slots work exactly the same as video slots, but are distinguished – in addition to their high volatility, strong RTPs and numerous paylines – by a changing playing field. Each spin, the rows of the six reels change, creating new odds and lines of winning each spin. So with the win all ways principle, there is quite a bit to cash in.
How to choose an online slot
The fact that there are so many different types of online slots makes the choice more fun, but not necessarily easier. Where on earth should you start? A typical case of choice stress. In order not to fall prey to that, we advise you to get crystal clear about what exactly you are looking for in a video slot. Preferably before you start browsing through the games catalog of your favorite online casino.
How to do it. Using the following questions:
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Do you especially want to win?
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- Then use our tips mentioned earlier and go for online slots that will increase your chances of winning and reduce the house edge. In the first place you should think about video slots with a high RTP, but also megaways slots with a good payout percentage can help. Progressive jackpot slots are an option for real luck seekers, due to their often very high volatility and just low RTP’s. Choose these slots especially if you want to play purely for fun.
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Do you want entertainment above all else?
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- Then you should look for (classic) video slots with a low variance and thus a high hit frequency. Then you know for sure that – even with low amounts – you can keep playing for quite a long time. Combine that with a theme that interests you and you are ready for an entertaining gaming adventure. And best of all: this way you’ll also have a chance at outsmarting the online casino!
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Do you want something new?
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- Then there are two options. Either go for megaways slots, the newest type among slot machines, and choose a nice theme. Or check out what new online slots your favorite online casino is offering this week. Almost every provider has a section highlighting the latest releases. Check it out and see if there’s something for you.
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Do you want pure nostalgia?
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- If you can’t get enough of classics like Random Runner, then classic slots are what you are looking for. These traditional slots bring the vintage atmosphere into your home. Take a trip back in time to a time when happiness was still very much a part of life.
How to quickly choose your online slot?
Choosing an online slot machine is easy with the following steps:
- Get clear on what you are looking for in an online slot
- Use this information to filter through the game catalog of your favorite online casino
- Easily discover the best online slots for your taste
- Play the chosen slots for free in the demo versions. This way you can get familiar with the features and game rules.
- Find what you were looking for, then play for real money, with or without a delicious casino bonus.
- Beat the house with our handy tips and tricks (see earlier)
Online Slots Providers
Thanks to slots providers, we have a lot to choose from in the online casino these days. They produce new slots games on a weekly basis. These developers don’t do this overnight. No, the competition is fierce and so they have to perform in the constant creative race. Every slot provider is looking for ways to differentiate themselves. It’s not easy, but with unique themes, new game mechanics, features and flashy audiovisual effects, the best online slots providers constantly manage to enchant and charm.
Who are Best Online Slots Providers?
These are some of the best online slots providers at the moment:
For aesthetic entertainment, this Swedish online slots provider is the place to be. It pairs unique themes with beautiful graphics, sublime sounds and creative (bonus) features. At Yggdrasil, a slot machine is more than a game, it is pure art.
The creator of the success story Starburst has been one of the market leaders for years. The Swedish provider impresses with a well-stocked portfolio of popular slots that are characterized by quality and innovative features, such as the cascading feature. A true A-brand!
Like NetEnt, one of the pioneers among the online slots providers. Known for its many progressive jackpot slots, but actually has something for everyone.
The name behind the popular concept of megaways slots. This puts the Australian company at the forefront of the next step in the evolution of the online slot machine and should not be missed on this list.
One of, if not the most active online slots provider at the moment. It produces at least one slot every week and does so without sacrificing quality. All of Play’n GO’s games are well constructed. They are easy to use and entertained by great features.
How to play online slots for free?
Whatever you are looking for in an online slot, realize that you can always play them for free. There are two ways to do this:
- For fake money: via demo versions, several slots can be played online for free. You then play for fun and receive virtual coins to pay for the playing rounds. It’s a great way to quietly become familiar with all the features of the slot machine. You will also win regularly, but of course you will be paid out in digital currency.
- For real money: with the casino bonus, especially without a deposit, you play on online slots with real winning chances. With bonus money and free spins you can give your favorite video slot a spin for free without having to pay for it yourself. This way you not only play completely free but you also have the chance to grab some real money.
What are the best online slots to play for free?
It’s just what you want. If you’re looking for easy wins, go for one of the best paying slots (see earlier). If you want fun above all, go for something that entertains. We always have fun on the following slots:
1. Jumanji (NetEnt, low variance, RTP: 96.33%)
The famous movie from 1995 also has its own video slot. And what a one! Indeed, in Jumanji, NetEnt takes you to a beastly fun slot (5 reels, 36 paylines) that is set against the backdrop of the mysterious and eponymous board game. Spin at least three scatters (‘board games’) and, in a whirlwind bonus game on that same board game, look for cash prizes and free spins with spectacular features. The many surprising game features and the beautiful decor make Jumanji very rewarding.
2. Wild Toro (ELK Studios, medium to high variance, RTP: 96.4%)
Wild Toro is one of our personal favorites. It wasn’t just the Game of the Year at the 2017 EGR Operators Awards. The ELK Studios slot machine with 5 reels and 12 paylines revolves around the exciting battle between the bonny bull El Toro and his attacker torero Diaz Jr. A lucrative battle, as it comes with lots of wilds, re-spins and a package of innovative game mechanics. We challenge you to see it for yourself and promise you won’t be disappointed.
3. Vikings Go Berzerk (Yggdrasil, medium variance, RTP: 96.1%)
Anyone who thinks of Yggdrasil automatically thinks of the ironclad Vikings series: Vikings Go Wild, Vikings Go Berzerk and Vikings go to Hell. At Online Casino Guide, we’re especially excited about the second volume. In it, you get everything that makes this slot series so popular: lots of action, free spins and most importantly, lots of wilds. The Ragnarök Free Spins bonus is especially rewarding, as you’ll play all the free spins with sticky wilds. What are you waiting for? Take to the skies with this popular video slot!
4. Rise of Olympus (Play’n GO, high variance, RTP: 96.5%)
That the Greek gods aren’t so crazy, Play’n GO proves in Rise of Olympus. Hades, Zeus and Poseidon, with their divine powers, can often put you on the road to great winnings. Moreover, the game itself is more than worth it: with cascading reels, flashy features, lucrative free spins bonus rounds and beautiful animations. It certainly pays to take a peek inside “the house of the gods,” as Olympus is known.
5. Aloha! Cluster Pays (NetEnt, low variance, RTP: 96.42%)
Aloha! Cluster Pays is as much fun as what it stands for: a sunny vacation in Hawaii. In addition to stunning graphics and animations, the slot stands out for its ‘Cluster Pays’ gameplay mechanism – scoring with clusters of symbols rather than combinations on win lines. And with the Sticky Win Re-Spin feature and the Free Spin feature, there are plenty of opportunities for that. Especially in combination with the very low volatility.
Online Slots Terminology
- Autoplay: the slot’s autopilot. With this feature you can easily set how long and with which bet you want the slot to run automatically and without intervention. Always useful when you want to get a quick drink, for example.
- Features: the English name for the functions that come with a slot machine.
- Free Spins: free spins on the slot machine. These can be offered as a casino bonus, but are also known as a feature of online slots.
- Jackpot: the maximum win on an online slot. On normal slots this is a fixed amount, on progressive jackpot slots it is not. Progressive jackpots have no limit, they just keep increasing until they finally fall.
- Max. Bet: the maximum bet on a slot. Usually indicated by a button of the same name.
- Min. Bet: the minimum bet on a slot machine.
- Multiplier: the multiplier of the game. The way to boost your winnings. Usually displayed in the form of an ‘x’ followed by a number, for example x2 – doubling your winnings.
- Reels: the vertical rows of a slot on which the symbols roll. With cascading reels, the symbols fall right onto the playing field and winning combinations disappear.
- Scatter: symbol that activates bonuses – free spins or other games.
- Symbols: the animations on the reels of the slot machine with which you must make winning combinations.
- Wild: the slot machine’s joker. Wilds replace any other symbol in a winning combination, apart from scatters.
Paylines are the lines on a slot machine that must be filled with a combination of specific symbols in order to win. Often paylines only pay from left to right, but there are also paylines that pay both ways.
