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Best Casino Games Online Slot Games

Online Slot Games

Author Sara Miljkovic, Verified by Anje Lombaard
Updated: 1 week ago

Life is a game, and every day is a new spin. Online slot games have evolved beyond mere games of luck and have become one of the most popular forms of online entertainment. Today, they compete not just with gameplay but also with visuals and soundtracks, engaging storylines, and innovative features. We stay on top of the growing world of online slots to help you find the best games to match your preferences from an increasingly diverse selection.

Top High RTP Slot Games

Playing the highest RTP slot games gives you the best long-term payout, since they return the highest percentage of your bet. They allow for longer gameplay and the best chances of winning over time. Have a look at our selection of online slot games that stand out for their RTP. 


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Types of Slot Games   

Online slot games come in various forms and styles, each with its unique approach to online gaming. The major types include classic slots, video slots, progressive jackpot slots, and Megaways slots. In the following sections, we’ll break down the key features of each one.  

Classic Slots   

Classic slot games are the forefathers of all the modern slots. Decades ago, the old slot machines established the basics upon which today’s modern, elaborate features have been built. Classic slots typically have just 3 reels and simple gameplay, often without any bonus rounds or features. Paylines are limited, and payouts are based solely on the combinations of matching symbols, without multipliers. As such, classic slots tend to have a smaller bet range and relatively low maximum wins. 

Video Slots  

Video slots make up the majority of casino slot games we enjoy today. They overcome the limitations of classic games and offer more complex and immersive gameplay. They typically have 5 or more reels, sometimes with special, locked, or bonus reels and rows. Video slots come with a variety of bonus features, such as expanding wilds, bonus rounds, and mini games.   

The more complex gameplay allows for greater interaction with the game and offers far more options beyond simply spinning the reels. You can buy bonus rounds, or toggle boosted bets and use bonus symbols and multipliers. Video slots also tend to offer much bigger win potential and higher volatility.  

Another key aspect of video slots is their increasing focus on themes, visuals, and soundtracks. These slot games feature high-quality graphics and immersive themes that range from fantasy and adventure to pop culture, current events, and even some… unconventional topics.  

Megaways Slots   

As the latest and most innovative addition to the slot gaming world, Megaways slots redefine the traditional concept of rows and paylines. Instead of a fixed number of symbols per reel, these new games land a different number of symbols that changes with each spin. This causes the number of paylines to change constantly, sometimes exceeding 100,000.  

Most Megaways slot games have 6 reels, but sometimes even more. Each lands between 2 and 7 symbols that change with every spin. When symbols form a winning combination, they disappear and leave space for new ones to land and potentially create more wins within the same spin. This can theoretically lead to unlimited consecutive wins within a single spin. Many Megaways slots also feature a multiplier that increases with each consecutive win.  

Progressive Jackpot Slots   

Progressive jackpot slots take the concept of a maximum win to a whole new level. Unlike fixed max wins, which are defined as a specific multiplier of the base bet, progressive jackpots grow with every spin that’s played, but the jackpot is not won. Such a jackpot can, theoretically, increase indefinitely until someone wins it, at which point it resets to a set base amount. Often, many players across a platform contribute to the same jackpot and boost it together to grow even faster and reach unbelievable amounts.  

Key Features   

Despite their diversity, the best online slot games share some key features that define them for what they are. These include RTP, volatility, bonus features like free spins and respins, symbols—regular and special—and paylines. Understanding these elements is essential for a rewarding online slot gaming experience.  

RTP  

The Return to Player, or RTP, means how much an online slot game will pay back to players in the long run. For example, a slot with a 96% RTP means that, on average, for every €100 you wager, €96 is returned in winnings, while the remaining €4 is the house edge. However, the RTP percentage is calculated long-term, based on an extremely high number of spins, so it doesn’t guarantee short-term results. RTP varies across different slot games and typically ranges from 85% to 98%, though most modern slots have a high RTP of around 96%.  

Volatility   

A slot game’s volatility is its level of risk and reward. It shows how often and how much it pays out. High-volatility games offer bigger wins but come with greater risk, while low-volatility slots provide more consistent wins and guarantee longer playtime. Although there is no strict division between volatility levels, online slot games are generally classified into three categories: low, medium, and high volatility.  

  • Low Volatility – Wins occur frequently but are typically small. Ideal for players who like longer, more casual, and relaxed gaming sessions with lower risk.  
  • Medium Volatility – Offers a mix of small, medium, and occasional big wins. Well-suited for players who look for balance and some, but not too much, risk.  
  • High Volatility – Long dry spells with infrequent wins are common, but when wins do occur, they can be massive. Ideal for players who enjoy risky gaming and the thrill of big wins.   

Bonus Features   

The bonus features in online slot games serve the purpose of both providing opportunities for bigger wins and making the gameplay more interesting and engaging. Nowadays, innovative features are what sets an outstanding game apart from an average one. The most common special features are multipliers, respins, free spins, and bonus mini games.  

Multipliers  

Multipliers boost your winnings by a specific factor, such as 2x, 3x, 10x, or sometimes even over 1,000x. So, if you land a €10 win with a 2x multiplier, it becomes €20. A 10x multiplier would increase it to €100, while a massive 1,024x multiplier would turn it into €10,240.   

Multipliers come in various forms and function differently across games. Some land independently on each spin, while others remain sticky for multiple spins, which is especially common during free spins. They can be fixed to certain positions on the grid and activated only when a win line crosses them, or they may appear randomly on the grid.   

Some Megaways slots and those with cascading reels have progressive multipliers that increase with every consecutive win that happens in a single spin. This can lead to exponentially growing payouts in particularly lucky rounds. Overall, multipliers can significantly boost your winnings very quickly, which naturally makes them especially common in high-volatility games.  

Respins  

Respins are a relatively simple but valuable feature in online slot games. Basically, it’s just another spin for free. It can be triggered randomly, by specific symbols, or during bonus rounds. They offer the chance for additional wins without the cost of a regular spin and may come with multipliers or sticky wilds to increase potential rewards.  

Free Spins  

Free spins are the most rewarding special feature in slot games. They allow you to spin the reels multiple times at no cost, often with some bonus perk as well. In most online slot games, they are triggered by landing 3 or more scatter symbols, while 4 or 5 scatters often reward either a higher number of spins or trigger some separate, super free spins. Some games have a fixed number of free spins, while others let you gamble to get more or risk losing some. Also, many slots allow you to earn extra free spins if more scatters appear during the bonus round.  

To make the most out of these cost-free rounds, free spins often come with additional perks. These can be sticky multipliers, progressive multipliers that increase with each win, or guaranteed special symbols on every spin. In some games, you may even find fully stacked sticky symbols that cover entire reels and almost ensure a win with each spin.  

Bonus Mini Games  

Although not very common, some online slot games include other types of games as bonus features. These can be:  

  • Plinko  
  • Pick-and-click games  
  • Wheel of Fortune  
  • Vaults and lock-and-key games 
  • Card and dice games  

When incorporated well, such twists can add so much to the game and engage players in a more interactive way, rather than just spinning the reels.  

Symbols   

Symbols are the core components of online slot games, and each type plays a specific role in determining the outcomes and rewards. The three basic types are regular paying symbols, wilds, and scatters.  

Regular Symbols  

Regular symbols are the basic icons that land on the reels. They form winning combinations and determine your payout in the base game, but don’t trigger any special features. Each regular symbol has a specific payout value based on how many of them land across a payline. Typically, 3 matching symbols are the minimum for a payout, though sometimes, the highest-paying symbols may offer a reward even for just 2 matching symbols.  

Traditionally, regular symbols were presented as fruits, but in modern online slot games, they can represent various themes. They might depict human characters, items, letters from different alphabets, abstract ideas, or just about anything the creative minds of developers can come up with, as long as it fits the overall theme of the game.  

Wild Symbols  

Wild symbols substitute for regular symbols to help form winning combinations and may also come with multipliers to boost the combinations they create. In some cases, wilds can become sticky and stay in the same place for several spins, which is particularly common during free spins. Additionally, expanding or fully stacked wilds cover the entire reel, which significantly increases the chances of a win. On the other hand, walking wilds move randomly across the grid with each spin.  

Scatter Symbols  

Scatters are special symbols that trigger bonus features like free spins or bonus minigames. Unlike regular symbols, they don’t need to land on a payline to do their part. Instead, a specific number must land anywhere on the reels at the same time to activate their feature.  

Paylines   

Paylines are the patterns on the reels where symbols have to land to form winning combinations. Traditional slots typically have fixed paylines, while modern online slot games may use dynamic ones that change from spin to spin. In most games, a win requires 3 or more matching symbols in a row, from the leftmost reel to the right, though some slots allow wins in both directions.   

Additionally, some games use a scatter pay system, where symbols don’t need to follow a specific pattern, but instead, just a certain number of them anywhere on the grid triggers a payout. However, this usually requires significantly more than just 3 matching symbols.  

Themes 

It all began with fruits, gems, and some other basic symbols. The old slot machines had no possibility for storylines or more elaborate themes. Yet, modern video slot games significantly focus on providing a fully immersive experience and taking the player on a journey. That’s why a carefully chosen and realized game theme has become necessary nowadays. Popular themes include ancient civilizations like Egypt and the Mayans, fantasy, mythology, and especially Greek mythology, adventure, animals and nature, and even humorous or controversial topics. 

Best Slot Game Providers  

There are hundreds of providers across the slot game industry that never fail to impress us with their creative flows and innovations. So, we’ve carefully selected a list of the best among them for you to check out. 

Game Provider Number of Slot Games Year Founded 
Nolimit City 110+ 2013 (acquired by Evolution in 2022) 
Pragmatic Play 500+ 2015 
Hacksaw Gaming 100+ 2018 
Relax Gaming 130+ 2010 
Push Gaming 50+ 2010 

Free Online Slots vs. Real Money Slots   

Playing both online slots for real money and free demos has its benefits. In the table below, we’ve outlined the key advantages of each option. 

Free Online Slots 

  • No risk of losing money 
  • Explore new slot titles 
  • Get to know new providers 
  • Test out new features 
  • Devise playing strategies 

Real Money Slots 

  • A chance to win real money 
  • Anticipation and thrill of wagering 
  • Access to casino bonuses 
  • Access to tournaments 

Playing Slots for Real Money  

If you’re ready to wager real money, check out these top online casinos that we rank as the best for playing online slots. They offer the most extensive selections of slot games and the best terms for players. 

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Slot Guides and Tips 

We have covered the topic of slot games extensively in our blog. Check out these articles to expand your knowledge and learn more about online slots. 

Online Slot Games FAQs

Yes, online slot games use a random number generator (RNG) to ensure that every spin is entirely random and, thus, fair. Every spin is a separate event, so previous rounds don’t impact future outcomes.

Online slot games come with various levels of risk, which depend on their volatility. Low-volatility slot games offer frequent smaller wins, while high-volatility games offer high wins but at high risk.

No, you can’t. Free slot games are demo slots meant to help you explore the game and understand its mechanics and features, but they don’t offer real money prizes. You can only win real money if you wager real money online.

A non-progressive jackpot is fixed and defined as a specific multiplier of the base bet. On the other hand, a progressive jackpot grows with each spin played. It has no set limit and only resets when a player wins it.

Paylines are patterns where matching symbols have to land to win a payout, usually in quantities of at least 3. In contrast, scatter pay awards payouts if a specific number of matching symbols lands anywhere on the grid, but it usually requires a higher number of symbols.

A respin is just one more spin free of charge. Free spins are usually a separate minigame that includes not only more spins but also additional benefits, such as multipliers or guaranteed special symbols, to help you make the most out of those cost-free rounds.