For many years, slot machines have been a staple of casinos and gambling establishments around the world.
However, in recent times, the traditional reel-based slot machine has started to lose its appeal to a younger generation of players who are looking for more interactive and engaging experiences.
In response to this trend, many software providers have initiated new movements, aiming to revitalize the classic slot machine by incorporating new technologies and innovative mechanics that appeal to a wider audience.
In this video, we will explore the latest trends and innovative new ideas that are reshaping the world of slots.
Splitting Reels by Elysium Studios
The Elysium VIP slot machine from Elysium Studios is the first fruity from 2022 with a mechanic that has never been introduced before. Splitting Reels are a true pioneer in their class, capable of turning a 3x3 grid into an expanding 5-reel slot with longer paylines that generate bigger payouts.
Splitting Reels come into play either in the base game or during respins when wild symbols land on two adjacent reels. A new reel is added between them to stay and help create more wins, but only when matching symbols appear on adjacent positions from left to right.
Instead of three humble paylines in default mode, players can now benefit from the expanded slot that makes whopping rewards of €20,000. What’s also great is that during the respins, wild symbols stay locked on the screen until the end of each round, while the diamond as a high-paying symbol churns in an incredible 500x payout for five-of-a-kind combo.
You can find out more about Splitting Reels by joining 18bet Casino, Banzai Slots, or Fortune Panda.
TRUEWAYS: A Brainchild of BGaming
At the core, TRUEWAYS is based on Big Time Gaming’s famous invention since it, too, uses a 6-reel grid to generate a vast number of winning combinations on a single spin.
The only difference between the two mechanics is the maximum number of symbols each reel can contain. While Megaways slots have between 2 and 7 icons on each reel, creating up to 117,649 ways to win, TRUEWAYS can have between 2 and 8 symbols on each reel, producing up to 262,144 winning ways.
It is worth mentioning that neither 117,649 nor 262,144 is the final limit of lucky sequences since adding an extra reel during the bonus feature can significantly increase the number of symbols multiplied across the grid.
As a result, the total possible winning maximum in the Elvis Frog TRUEWAYS slot is €250,000 thanks to the 5000x multiplier and other features combined.
Uncover the power of TrueWays at Rocketplay, Everum, or Slotozen Casino.
$plitz™ – An Electrifying Mechanic from Yggdrasil
The electrifying Splitz mechanic from Yggdrasil was revealed in 2020, but today it’s a firm favorite of many players. Splitz offers a fresh layer of excitement by boosting player engagement with massive win potential.
At the core, this slot mechanic allows players to split mystery symbols and create longer lines or larger clusters depending on the game’s layout. It can also add more winning ways or extra scatters to the grid, while the final goal is to boost the total winning potential of the game and deliver big prizes that go over €500,000.
The first game to offer the Splitz mechanic is Temple Stacks, with more than 200,000 ways to win, but the series is constantly growing and now includes Neon Rush, Syncronite, Rise of the Valkyrie, and Fruit Gemz.
You can try out the Splitz mechanic over at Winnerz, Casoo or LevelUp Casino.
xNudge™ and xWays™: The Winning Duo by Nolimit City
Nolimit City introduced its two in-house trademark mechanics, xNudge and xWays, in 2020 and 2021 to deliver incredible entertainment and raise the potential of any upcoming slot game.
While xNudge is a simple yet effective feature that uses the basis of a nudging wild with an increasing multiplier on the same symbol, xWays defines the unpredictable surprise elements in any slot by creating even more excitement.
This mechanic incorporates the surprise element in a game that can deliver unlimited increased ways in a fixed-ways game, making it a fluid experience and adding unprecedented potential.
Popular xNudge slots are Tombstone and Deadwood, but you can find xWays in Punk Rocker, Dragon Tribe, and Pixies vs Pirates.
Check out these or other slots with the same mechanics at Tsars, Rizk, and Bitsler Casino.
PopWins™ – The Growing Series of AvatarUX
First introduced in 2020, the PopWins mechanic is a never-before-seen feature developed by AvatarUX. Its aim is to enhance player experience by creating additional chances to land a win and increase average hit rates in the base game.
PopWins come into play whenever a player strikes a win. It helps the reels expand by adding more symbols and chances for hitting new lucky combos. However, although it usually starts with a standard 5x3 setup, every two random icons that appear for each popped symbol can add more rows to the grid or up to 7 rows at maximum.
Depending on the game, the initial number of ways to win can change from 243 to 486 or even grow up to a tremendous 33,614 triumphant paylines. For instance, CherryPop can pay up to a whopping $2,255,440, while TikiPop generates $1,600,000 at a maximum stake of $50.
See how PopWins is changing the slots landscape at Videoslots, LeoVegas, or Casumo.
Shapeshifter Slots: True Chameleons of iGaming
The concept of shapeshifting was introduced in December 2020 when BGaming presented Fruit Million, the enhanced slot version with a 5x4 grid, 100 paylines, and a set of impressive features.
What’s special about it is that the very first “skin” was inspired by Christmas, letting players feel the same vibes in a different setting. Already in January of next year, the shapeshifting slot returned to its standard look bursting with fruits, but not for long.
It reappeared on St. Valentine’s Day as a romantic edition, but to make things even better, this shapeshifter will adapt its “skin” to every big day of the year, whether it’s Easter, Halloween, St Patrick’s Day, Oktoberfest, or some other holiday.
According to BGaming, Fruit Million will go through at least six different looks throughout the year, making it a great game to play all year round.
You can take a look at each version at Bitstarz, King Billy, and Joo Casino.
Hyperspins™: Optional Paid Respin by Microgaming
Hyperspins is a mechanic developed by Microgaming that offers players an optional paid respin in the base game. It can be activated after the first spin to let the players choose to respin a reel as many times as they like, which opens new chances for a winning combo.
This feature came into existence in 2019 with the launch of Break Da Bank Again Respin, but continued to endure thanks to Book of Oz Lock N’ Spin, African Quest, Attack on Retro, and more.
Have a go at some of the titles over at CasinoLuck, Mr Green, or Thrills.
Gigablox™: Mega-Size Symbols for Massive Wins
Gigablox debuted in Lucky Neko as a reel mechanic that creates gigantic symbols to generate truly massive wins.
Invented by Yggdrasil, Gigablox is capable of creating blocks of matching icons in the base game, whose sizes can be 2x2, 3x3, and 4x4.
However, during free spins, Gigablox can generate even larger 5x5 or 6x6 chunks, helping other symbols strike a maximum win as high as €695,300 or more.
You can have fun with this mechanic at Twin Casino, Fresh Casino, and SlotsMillion.
Do you know other innovative mechanics that are changing the way how we play slots? Please share your suggestions in the comments!
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