Top 4 Things to Pay Attention to When Selecting a Slot Game

It doesn’t matter if an online casino has 100 or 1000s slot games in its lobby, the question is always the same- how to pick the right one? Naturally, the first field to eliminate is the genre, but even when the list is narrowed down like that, it doesn’t decrease significantly. Just take one-armed bandits as an example, and you’ll get the idea of what are we aiming at.

So, which segments need to be analyzed when looking for a slot game?

Every game consists of a couple of basic elements- volatility, payout percentage (RTP), theme, and features. Those are precisely the fields to take into when trying to determine which adventure fits you the best.

Of course, providers play an equally important role in the selection procedure. Some of them stick with simple aesthetics and basic features, while the others incorporate tons of action-packed elements which often results in a true cinematic experience.

In this article, we shall take a closer look at each of these fields, and help you quickly find the adventure that fits your demands. Read on!

#1 What is the Role of RTP?

Regardless of the software developer, it comes from, absolutely every game has a payout percentage. This number explains the percentage of the payout to players over its lifetime and determines the house edge. Worth noting is that some operators can adjust it a bit if the option is unlocked by the studio itself.

Let’s use a practical example- if a machine has a payout percentage of 97%, it means that for every dollar spent (or other currency), it will return $97, while the house edge for the venue is $3.

However, it doesn’t mean that if you, right now, deposit $100 into a machine you are guaranteed to walk away with 97%. This percentage is based on all bets, not on a single wager. So, yes, it turns out that the casino has the house edge (again), but if you want to increase chances for more significant payouts, pick games with higher odds.

How does RTP affect gameplay?

It has an impact on the length of playing sessions, to say so. If you belong to punters who like to play longer, select titles with the higher RTP. If winning big is what you are concentrated on, then low percentages games are just the thing for you.

Worth adding is that return percentage varies based on volatility as well. Low variance is connected with higher payout percentages while high variance indicates fewer percentage payouts.

#2 How Important is Variance?

Exploring the dictionary, you will encounter the following definition describing the term- “the expectation of the squared deviation of a random variable from its population mean or sample mean.” When you enter “volatility”, the situation is pretty much the same- confusing.

For the sake of better understanding, we shall translate it into gambling-related expression- risk factor. Simply put, this element indicates HOW the slot game pays out, unlike RTP which refers to the HOW MUCH part.

There are three types of volatility- low, medium, and high. Lower variance means that average-sized wins will hit frequently, while the chances to score the juiciest prize are rare. Opposite from that, higher variance means huge wins will appear more often, while small and medium-size awards are less frequent.

Knowing all this, we can say that players with a more generous bankroll can opt for high-variance releases, while those with smaller bankroll should immerse themselves in low volatility titles.

#3 Multiverse of Immersive Themes

Even without thorough preparation and analysis, all of us can name a couple of films inspired by books and vice versa, and both of them rely on elements from folklore, culture, civilizations. Some of them are exploring the topic of time-traveling into distant times, galaxies, ages, and so on.

Does this sound familiar to you?

That’s right, slot games also seek inspiration from movies, books, celebrities – in a word, everything that surrounds us. What’s even more, the spectrum of topics is expanding continuously, leading to all kinds of imaginable and unimaginable stories.

So, the only criteria here is your taste. You may be one of those who still find fruities utterly exciting, or you may be a player intrigued by modern-looking titles, it doesn’t matter. With so many providers on the scene, there’s no way NOT to find something that caters to your preferences.

Spicing up gameplay additionally are special effects and music. The soundtracks have evolved from some simple melodies to beautifully-sounding scores worth performing in fancy concert halls.

#4 Analyzing the Features

Back in those days when there was nothing more but a couple of fruit symbols some of which pay less, some more, things were much simpler, weren’t they?

When the very first digital one-armed bandits were born, there were no additional elements, other than the basic symbols, except for Jackpots. However, as the technologies were progressing and developing, content creators started exploring the possibilities, and pushing the limits, which eventually resulted in an ultimately action-filled experience.

Some of the studios like to play with the number of lines or ways, which led now to widely-acclaimed mechanics such as Infinireels, Infinity Reels, Megaways, xWays, and more. Let’s not forget to mention cascading, and tumbling reels, make the skeleton of the game itself more dynamic.

The others explore the options with the Wild icon, and create walking, expanding, nudging, multiplying, stacked… symbols out of it. Of course, there are scatters, and multipliers, but many other side missions which allow players to take a short break from the basic gameplay and solve an interesting puzzle. There are meters as well, where the accumulated points or some other credits can activate additional mechanics or rewards.

Final Thoughts

Even though slot games are classified as games of luck, there’s much more to it than just pressing the spin button in order to start the reels rotating. It is true that don’t require highly polished skills like Baccarat, Blackjack, and other table games, but, if you want a leveled up experience, then you have to invest something else alongside real money.

Familiarizing yourself with basic elements can help a lot when making up your mind between multiple titles. Call it knowledge or skills, whatever you like, but it does take SOMETHING to find an adventure that’s in line with your demands.

Hopefully, this guide has shed light on slot basics, and the overall section procedure!