The largest game genre currently in the online gambling industry is, without a doubt, video slots. In particular, 5-reel titles have become the undisputed king and it is not uncommon for gambling websites to feature hundreds of unique games within the gaming selections. But what makes this type of game so popular and how has it risen to the top of the online casino world? To find the answer to that question, read on as we cover the basics of 5-reel slots and also provide you with some examples of top-tier games that you should certainly play.
5 Reel Slots in the Online Gambling Industry
When it comes to the modern online gambling industry, there is no other game type that can surpass 5-reel slots in terms of popularity and scope. The current slots scene is made up mostly by this sub-genre and it also dominates the overall gambling industry. However, this popularity is rightfully earned as present-day video slots have never been better.
With the software providers in fierce competition with each other, the online gambling community is reaping all of the benefits, being treated to a variety of different games on a constant basis. Modern 5-reel games come with interesting gameplay features, such as bonus rounds and free spins, as well as generous pay tables for the symbols. Not only that, but the software providers are making their games much fairer than before, with most new released feature RTP values of around 95%.
5 Reel Slots in the Online Gambling Industry Additional TipsAs far as presentation is concerned, computers have come to a point where they can easily render beautiful graphics on your screen even with affordable hardware and this is reflected on the slots currently featured in the online casino scene. New games come with high-definition graphics, complemented by smooth animations to make for a great experience. A well-designed slot game is a feast for the eyes and software providers like Microgaming and NetEnt have certainly mastered their craft.
All in all, modern slots come with the full package and you can spend days on end playing the latest releases. But if by some chance you become tired of them, you can always fall back on the tried and tested 5-reel games that we have come to love.
Popular 5 Reel Slots
With the basic aspects of 5-reel slots covered, we would like to give you some pointers as to which games to play once you register at an online casino. While there are thousands of options to choose from, we feel that we have narrowed our list to some of the best and most worthwhile titles on the market and that you will not regret picking them. All the games listed below have been tested by us to ensure that they are wholly entertaining and worth your time.
Mega Fortune
When it comes to gameplay, Mega Fortune uses a dozen different symbols. From the basic category, the Limousine is the best paying with its x1,000 reward for a x5 combination. It is followed by the Wad of Cash, which pays x500 for x5 on a single payline. The Wild takes the form of a yacht and it will offer you x10,000 the line bet if you manage to line up x5 of that symbol. Moreover, it will also substitute for basic symbols on the reels. Other important symbols include the Bonus and Scatter, both of which have special functions in the general gameplay.
Mega Fortune | |
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Software | NetEnt |
Release Date | 2012 |
RTP | 96.00% |
Bet Limits | $0.25 – $50 |
Reel Grid | 5×3 |
Paylines | 25 fixed lines |
Wilds | Yes |
Scatters | Yes |
Bonus Games | Yes |
Free Spins | 10 free spins with 5x multipliers |
Progressive Jackpot | Yes, with 3 tiers |
Max Payout | Progressive Mega Jackpot |
Gamble Feature | N/A |
Watch Mega Fortune Gameplay
Mega Fortune Additional TipsSpinning 3 or more Scatter symbols will win you a number of free spins. When this happens, you will get to reveal one of the Scatters and see the number of spins you will receive, as well as the winnings multiplier applied to the round. During the free spins, you will have the opportunity to increase your winnings by spinning 2 or more Scatters again. This will grant you further free spins or additional multipliers up to x5.
When you spin 3 or more Bonus symbols on a single payline, you will trigger the bonus round. Once you initiate the bonus round, a wheel will appear on your screen and you will get to spin it. When you do so, there are two possible outcomes – you either win a cash prize or proceed to the next section of the wheel. This process will repeat up to 3 times and if you manage to reach the center of the wheel, you will win the progressive jackpot. But if you do not, you still get to walk away with some cash.
Jurassic World
Microgaming has long been active in the online gambling industry and is responsible for some of the best titles on the market. Among them, we find Jurassic World, inspired by the Jurassic Park movie franchise, released to the public in mid-2017. Since then, Jurassic World has become one of the most popular titles and it has a presence at any Microgaming casino. With good reviews from critics and beloved by the player base, it is only natural to take a look at this title and provide you with our feedback. Like any other slot on this list, Jurassic World comes with 5 reels and it also incorporates the 243 ways to win system, rather than paylines. Betting limits are rather tight, allowing for wagers between $0.30 and $7.20 per spin. This might not be suitable for high rollers, though casual players and mid rollers should be satisfied.
The symbols featured in Jurassic World are all inspired by the original movies, taking the form of various dinosaurs or characters. With the current system, winning combinations are formed whenever you spin 3 or more symbols on adjacent reels, starting from the leftmost reel. There are two special symbols in Jurassic World – the Wild and the Scatter. The Wild is the game’s logo and it will substitute for other symbols on the reels. Moreover, it also has the ability to appear stacked on the reels. The Scatter has some special interactions in the base game and is also the highest paying symbol in Jurassic World. If you spin 2 Scatters during the base game, they will turn into Wilds.
Jurassic World | |
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Software | Microgaming |
Release Date | 2017 |
RTP | 95.45% |
Bet Limits | $0.30 – $18 (may vary) |
Reel Grid | 5×3 |
Paylines | 243 ways to win |
Wilds | Yes, stacked wilds |
Scatters | Yes, 2 scatters turn wild in the base game |
Bonus Games | N/A |
Free Spins | 10 free spins with multipliers, rolling reels, or wild scatters |
Progressive Jackpot | N/A |
Max Payout | Up to 255,000 credits |
Gamble Feature | N/A |
Watch Jurassic World Gameplay
Jurassic World Additional TipsAs for special features, spinning 3 or more Scatters will trigger free spins. There are three different rounds that can take place. The Gyrosphere Valley will reward multipliers, the Creation Lab comes with Rolling Reels and semi-Sticky Wilds, while the Raptor Den will treat all Scatters as Wilds and hold them until you gain enough to receive more free spins. These features are triggered on random, until the 15th trigger, at which point you can choose which one to activate.
Of course, we also have to take into account the Indominus feature, which can appear randomly during the base game. Once it does, it will boost your winnings from that spin up to a maximum of x1,000 the total bet and make your day in the process.
Game of Thrones 243 Lines
Game of Thrones is one of the most popular television shows of all time and it enjoys an incredibly large fan base. As a result, there have been many adaptations of this franchise and among them, we find the Game of Thrones slot game. Granted, there are two different titles with the same name but we will focus on the 243-ways-to-win one. Developed by Microgaming, this title has seen a lot of praise from the online gambling community and enjoys a place at any online casino powered by that software provider. It comes with the standard five reels and, as we have already mentioned, the 243-ways-to-win system. As such, this game does away with traditional paylines and instead, it allows you to form combinations simply by lining up symbols on adjacent reels, starting from the leftmost reel, regardless of which position they take on the reels. The betting limits in Game of Thrones are somewhat scarce, allowing for bets of up to $6.00 per spin, with a minimum of $0.30.
There are several symbols of interest in this game, which you will want to know about. The Baratheon symbol pays the best from the basic symbols, followed closely by the Lannister one. The Wild symbol takes the form of the game’s logo and it will substitute for basic symbols on the reels. Moreover, it also has its own pay table, able to form combinations with 3 or more of the same symbol. There is also a Scatter symbol in Game of Thrones, represented by the Iron Throne. In terms of payout, it is the most rewarding symbol overall, offering a x200 the total bet. Moreover, spinning a certain number of Scatters will allow you to benefit from a round of free spins.
Game of Thrones 243 Ways to Win | |
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Software | Microgaming |
Release Date | 2015 |
RTP | 95.00% |
Bet Limits | $0.30 – $15 (may vary) |
Reel Grid | 5×3 |
Paylines | 243 ways to win |
Wilds | Yes, stacked wilds |
Scatters | Yes, awards random cash prize |
Bonus Games | N/A |
Free Spins | 8, 10, 14, or 18 free spins with multipliers |
Progressive Jackpot | N/A |
Max Payout | Up to 121,000 credits |
Gamble Feature | N/A |
Watch Game of Thrones 243 Lines Gameplay
Game of Thrones 243 Lines Additional TipsWhenever you spin 3 or more Scatters, the game will reward you with free spins. There are four different options when it comes to this round. You will be able to choose one of the four different Houses to align with and depending on your choice, you will receive different benefits. The Baratheon option grants you 8 free spins with a x5 multiplier, while the Lannister option will allow you to claim 10 free spins with a x4 multiplier. If you choose Stark free spins, you will receive 14 free spins with x3, while the final Targaryen option grants you 18 free spins with a x2 multiplier. Not only does the game allow you to pick the type of free spins to receive, but also to retrigger the feature by spinning 3 or more Scatters at once.
Avalon II
One of the most iconic games from the Microgaming games library and one that you should certainly try out. Based on the classic Arthurian mythos, Avalon II is the sequel to the original Avalon title which saw great success when it was first released. The follow-up in the series builds upon the original game and presents us with a unique slot that will certainly pique your interest. With 5 slots and 243 ways to win, Avalon II is the epitome of a modern video slot. The betting limits may not the most permissive, but they are certainly acceptable, with the maximum going as high as $7.50 per spin.
There are several symbols in the game that you should notice of. From the basic symbols, Arthus is the best-paying, followed closely by Merlin. As for the special ones, there are Wilds, Expanding Wilds, and a Bonus symbol. The Wild takes the form of the game’s logo and has its own payout. The Holy Grail is the Bonus symbol and once you spin a certain number of them at once, you get to trigger the Grail Bonus. Finally, the Expanding Wilds are represented by the Lady of the Lake which will expand to cover all three positions once they land on the third reel.
Avalon II | |
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Software | Microgaming |
Release Date | 2014 |
RTP | 95.92% |
Bet Limits | $0.30 – $7.50 |
Reel Grid | 5×3 |
Paylines | 243 ways to win |
Wilds | Yes |
Scatters | Yes |
Bonus Games | Yes |
Free Spins | 15 or 20 free spins |
Progressive Jackpot | N/A |
Max Payout | 120,000 coins |
Gamble Feature | N/A |
Watch Avalon II Gameplay
Avalon II Additional TipsThe Grail Bonus is triggered once you spin 3 or more Holy Grail symbols at once. The Grail Bonus will take you on an adventure the retrieve Excalibur. There are multiple stages of this bonus round and once you clear one stage, you will be taken to the next when you trigger the round again. There are eight different stages, though you choosing some will exclude you from others so you need to choose carefully. Each stage offers a different mini-game, including pick-and-choose, free spins with multipliers and other worthwhile features, and more. There are too complex to cover in a few words, but all of them are worth playing.
A minor but interesting feature of Avalon II is the Merlin feature. During the base gameplay, Merlin can appear on the reels to reward you with cash prizes or apply a multiplier to your winnings.
Twin Spin
Twin Spin is one of the greatest NetEnt classics currently out there in the only gambling industry and one of the games that should always be on your radar. As far as 5-reel titles go, this is one of the best. With a classic aesthetic and robust gameplay, Twin Spin hits all the right notes and has the capacity to provide you with a great gambling experience. Like some other games on this list, Twin Spin does not utilize the typical payline system, doing away with it in favor of a 243-ways-to-win one. As far as betting limits are concerned, the minimum wager starts at $0.25 per spin and can go up to $125 if you are interested. This allows both casual players and high rollers to enjoy this title thoroughly, fully fulfilling their needs.
The symbols featured in Twin Spin are inspired by the old fruit machines, taking the form of Diamonds, Sevens, Cherries, Bells, etc. There are also high cards though these are low paying and not worthy of attention. The most rewarding symbol in the game is the Diamond, offering a x1,000 payout if you manage to line up x5 at once. The Seven stands in second place, with a x500 payout, followed up by the BAR with its x400 reward. The only special symbol in Twin Spin is the Wild with the ability to substitute for other symbols in the game.
Twin Spin | |
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Software | NetEnt |
Release Date | 2013 |
RTP | 96.55% |
Bet Limits | $0.25 – $125 |
Reel Grid | 5×3 |
Paylines | 243 ways to win |
Wilds | Yes |
Scatters | N/A |
Bonus Games | N/A |
Free Spins | N/A |
Progressive Jackpot | N/A |
Max Payout | 270,000 coins |
Gamble Feature | N/A |
Watch Twin Spin Gameplay
Twin Spin Additional TipsThe Twin Spin feature is the namesake of this title and it has a great effect on the overall gameplay. Basically, at the beginning of a spin, two adjacent reels will stick together and spin the same identical symbols. By itself, this is a powerful feature which can lead to a lot of nice wins but it doesn’t end there. During the spin, there is a chance for the number of identical reels to expand and also include adjacent reels. Thus, you can have all five reels share the same symbols, which will significantly boost your odds of winning. The affected reels are chosen randomly and it can be any two or more.
That is all there is to Twin Spin. The game sounds simplistic and it absolutely is but that is by no means a bad thing. Twin Spin is able to deliver a stellar gambling experience with just the base gameplay, without the need to rely on bonus rounds or free spins. Not many slots can boast this while Twin Spin does it with ease.