5 Reel Slot Games
Online casino opens up the possibility for a wider variety of slots, including the modern 5 reel slots. These are a little more involved and modern than your typical old-school fruity, and have become increasingly popular as more and more features have been added.
Here, we’ll break down exactly what you can get out of 5 reel slot games, how they compare to the more traditional machines with three reels, and some of the best games of this kind that you can find here at Pink Casino.
History of 5 Reel Slots
Casino games, and 5 reel slots in particular, may seem to be as modern as they come but this is a story that spans centuries. Slots first appeared all the way back in the late 1800s, when engineers were building their own poker-inspired lottery games using drums. That then led to others who looked to improve upon the existing, more clunky gaming method. And this is where we start to see exactly what we would recognise as being slots or fruit machines.
Once the traditional slots with the reels had cemented their place, and once technology caught up with people’s desire for immersive gaming, the simple mechanical machines were replaced with video slots. These functioned much more like arcade game units with the reels being displayed on a video screen. That gave developers more freedom to introduce more reels, rows, and designs. From that, the previously more complicated 5 reel slot games could be shifted to the video units with ease.
The added complexity meant that paylines could be more complex, more symbols could be introduced, and payouts could be higher than in traditional slots. From this, their popularity took off and it wasn’t long before these units replaced the one-arm bandits you would normally see. It only took off further when the online casino came into play, allowing for even more development of the 5 reel slot format.
3 Reels Slots vs 5 Reel Slots
We’ve already mentioned how the introduction of extra reels meant that paylines could be more complex and that these could pay out at a higher rate than traditional slots, and that’s no small part of the comparison. The fact that there were more symbols on the screen and paylines could be aligned vertically, horizontally, and diagonally meant that the games were instantly more complex than what had come before.
On top of that, the extra space on the grid meant that developers could introduce more bonus features that weren’t always possible to include in 3 reel slots. Instead of relying on free spins or re-spins as the sole bonus features, these games could include full bonus games, as well as scatters, wilds, and multipliers. This is because the grids are less compact.
The other thing you may notice is the difference in how the games are presented. Due to the fact that games with three reels are seen as being more traditional, they are often displayed as being retro. They lean heavily on their history, where 5 reel slot games take a much more modern approach, pushing the boundaries of graphics and gameplay possibilities.
Symbols in 5 Reel Slots
When it comes to the symbols you will see in slot games, 3 reel slots are fairly limited in what is standard. You will usually get fruit, card suits, and bells. However, in 5 reel slots, it’s a completely different story. As these are presented as more modern examples of the slot machine, it’s quite common to see that games will use entirely different symbols based on the themes that they are using. This is largely because the video units and subsequent move online meant that they could customise symbols easily without having to make entirely new parts for units. You will still see some of the traditional symbols, but expect to see a greater variety in gameplay.
Themes of 5 Reel Slots
Video slots gave developers the chance to really express their creativity. Because of that, there are so many different themes that you can play in 5 reel slots. Some of the more popular include licensed slots based on movies and TV, Irish-themed games, and Asian-inspired slots. There is no limit to what developers can create for 5 reel slot games.
Top Slot Games With 5 Reels
As these games are the most popular types of slots on the market, there’s a seemingly never-ending list of great titles available to players. To make your search easier, we’ve listed some of the best available here at Pink Casino: