The paylines included in video slot games are one of the main factors many players take into account when choosing which game to play. The number of payline on offer from a slot can vary, with as many players preferring classic low payline slot games as those looking for games with a high number of paylines. The paylines featured in slot games are clearly a factor that determines many players’ choice of game, with the most popular titles featuring a varied number of paylines for players.
When it comes to slot gameplay, it is important for players to understand the different number of paylines in play. The slot paylines don’t necessarily determine the payout sizes and potential in play, though it is certainly something to bear in mind when choosing a new game. If you’re looking to find out more about the paylines that are featured in slots, this is a great starting point.
What Are Slot Paylines?
The concept of slot paylines is relatively simple to understand; these are the pathways across a slot grid on which players can land winning symbol combinations. Slot games can feature these paylines from left to right and right to left; these paylines can pay out for symbol combinations, usually of three and above. Some slot games do provide payouts for symbol combinations as low as two, and the payouts often increase for payouts up to five or six symbols.
When players spin the reels of slot games, they will hope that matching symbols land in combinations across one of the paylines in play. Once two, three, or more of the same symbols land correctly across a payline, the slot game automatically offers a payout based on the symbols that land and the bet stake.
Low Payline Slots
Classic old-school slot games featured a low number of paylines, whilst more modern video slots have brought the concept of increased paylines into play. The number of paylines can often be determined by the size of the slot grid, with traditional 3×3 fruit machine games normally offering the lowest amount of paylines. The most common modern video slot setup is a 5-reel, 3-row grid featuring 15 symbols in each spin.
As mentioned, paylines in play don’t determine the potential for a game to pay out with a number of factors resulting in each slot’s likelihood to offer payouts. If players are looking for games with a high likelihood of paying out, the RTP (Return to Players) percentage is worth researching. Many games offer bonus features, including games that don’t even play off the grid and can lead to the largest payouts on offer, including jackpot prizes!
High Payline Slots
Many modern video slot games include a higher number of paylines with different mechanics meaning developers can offer more ways for players to win. A lot of gamers choose to play these slots that include more reels, symbols, and ways to land payouts. The high payline slot games can feature great mechanics, including a pay-both-way grid setup. The pay-both-way slots can reward payout for players landing symbol combinations in either direction, so landing symbols on the grid from right to left lands a return.
The paylines here can get really high, with some titles offering thousands of ways for players to win payouts. The payouts are made automatically from a winning combination of symbols, so players don’t need to do anything different when playing high payline slots. The high payline games often feature more reels with symbols combinations available up to 6 or 7 long, offering the top payouts in these titles.
Megaways Slot Games
An interesting genre of slot games features the popular Megaways mechanic; these games can feature thousands of ways for players to land payouts. The Megaways slot mechanic usually uses a 6-reel play grid on which gamers can land symbols of different sizes through which the payline count can change. The reels in play usually feature between two and six symbols each, with some titles adding an additional row above the main playground for even more payline potential.
Each spin of a Megaways game can result in a different number of paylines; if the reels in play feature smaller symbols, then the number of paylines increases. This can be beneficial with the possibility of multiple symbol combinations coming from a single spin. However, with larger symbols, there is more likely for three or more of the same symbols to connect across the grid. A great feature of the Megaways mechanic is the ability for designers to apply this to any existing slot title meaning all of the most popular games now offer a Megways version.
Cluster Pays Slots
Some players may not choose to play slot games with paylines at all, and there are other ways that games can provide payouts. The Cluster-pays mechanic will provide players with payouts for symbols that land in clusters, usually of five or more on the grid.
These games can often reward a list of different payout sizes depending on the number of symbols that cluster. Lucky players can land symbol clusters that take up the majority, if not all, of the playground that provides the biggest base game returns in play.
Summary
Hopefully, you are now more aware of the different paylines in slot game titles and how they work to provide players with payouts. There is a great selection of slot games to choose from online, with a varied number of paylines in play. Now that you know a bit more about slot paylines, all that is left is to try them out for yourself and find the titles and mechanics that you enjoy playing the most.
Always remember that casino slot games are designed for recreational purposes online and are not intended as a source of income. Please gamble responsibly when playing online slots.