Introduction
Bonus features are what make online pokies exciting, adding layers of unpredictability and increased win potential to every spin. From free spins and multipliers to wilds and pick-and-click games, these features not only enhance gameplay but also provide players with additional chances to win big. Understanding how these bonus features work can help you choose the right games and make the most of your playing experience. In this article, we’ll dive into the most popular bonus features found in online pokies and explain how each one can boost your winnings.
Free Spins – The Most Popular Bonus Feature
Free spins are arguably the most sought-after feature in online pokies. This bonus round allows players to spin the reels a set number of times without wagering their own money, often with added benefits like multipliers, special symbols, or expanding wilds.
- How Free Spins Work: Free spins are usually triggered by landing a specific number of scatter symbols on the reels. Depending on the game, you might get 10, 20, or even more free spins, and some pokies allow you to re-trigger additional spins during the bonus round.
- Enhancements During Free Spins:
- Multipliers: Wins during free spins are often multiplied, sometimes up to 10x or more, significantly increasing your payout potential.
- Special Wilds: Free spins may include extra wild symbols that expand, stick, or multiply, creating more winning combinations.
- Additional Bonus Games: Some pokies include special mini-games or additional free spins within the free spins round, adding another layer of excitement.
- Popular Games with Free Spins:
- Starburst (NetEnt): Known for its re-spins feature triggered by expanding wilds, offering multiple chances to win on the same bet.
- Book of Dead (Play’n GO): Features a free spins round with expanding symbols, which can lead to massive payouts when special symbols cover the reels.
- Gonzo’s Quest (NetEnt): Offers “Free Falls” free spins with increasing multipliers on consecutive wins.
Multipliers – Boosting Your Wins
Multipliers are a favorite among players because they increase the value of your winnings, often turning modest wins into significant payouts. Multipliers can be found in the base game or as part of bonus features like free spins or wild symbols.
- How Multipliers Work: Multipliers enhance the payout of a winning combination by a set factor, such as 2x, 5x, or even 100x. For example, if you win $10 on a spin and a 3x multiplier is active, your payout becomes $30.
- Types of Multipliers:
- Standard Multipliers: Apply to all wins during a specific feature, such as free spins.
- Wild Multipliers: Some wild symbols come with a multiplier attached, enhancing any winning combination they are part of.
- Progressive Multipliers: Multipliers that increase with each consecutive win, often found in cascading reels or avalanche-style games.
- Popular Games with Multipliers:
- Dead or Alive 2 (NetEnt): Known for its high volatility and bonus rounds with multipliers that can reach up to 100x.
- Bonanza Megaways (Big Time Gaming): Features an increasing multiplier during free spins that grows with each consecutive win.
- Sweet Bonanza (Pragmatic Play): Offers a free spins feature where multipliers up to 100x can drop onto the reels, boosting total payouts significantly.
Wilds – The Versatile Symbols of Pokies
Wild symbols are a staple of online pokies, acting as substitutes for other symbols to help form winning combinations. Wilds can come in various forms, each offering unique benefits that enhance gameplay and win potential.
- Types of Wilds:
- Standard Wilds: Replace other symbols (except scatters) to create or enhance winning lines.
- Expanding Wilds: These wilds expand to cover entire reels, creating more winning opportunities.
- Sticky Wilds: Stay in place for a set number of spins, often during free spins, to maximize winning combinations.
- Walking Wilds: Move across the reels with each spin, offering multiple chances to win as they progress.
- Stacked Wilds: Appear stacked on top of each other, covering multiple positions on the reels.
- Popular Games with Wilds:
- Starburst (NetEnt): Features expanding wilds that trigger re-spins, allowing for multiple winning combinations.
- Jack and the Beanstalk (NetEnt): Known for its walking wilds that move across the reels, increasing win potential with each step.
- Immortal Romance (Microgaming): Offers a variety of wild features, including wild multipliers and expanding wilds during bonus rounds.
Pick-and-Click Bonus Games – Interactive and Rewarding
Pick-and-click bonus games add an interactive element to online pokies, allowing players to select symbols or items on the screen to reveal instant prizes, multipliers, or additional bonuses. These games provide a break from spinning the reels and give players a sense of control over their rewards.
- How Pick-and-Click Games Work: This bonus feature is usually triggered by landing specific bonus symbols on the reels. Players are then taken to a separate screen where they can choose from a selection of items, each hiding different prizes.
- Common Rewards in Pick-and-Click Games:
- Instant Cash Prizes: Reveal a cash prize that is added to your winnings immediately.
- Multipliers: Uncover multipliers that are applied to your current winnings.
- Free Spins or Bonus Rounds: Pick items that unlock additional free spins or special bonus rounds.
- Popular Games with Pick-and-Click Bonuses:
- Thunderstruck II (Microgaming): Features a Great Hall of Spins bonus round with various interactive elements and pick-and-click opportunities.
- Vikings Go Berzerk (Yggdrasil): Offers a treasure chest bonus game where players can choose between different rewards, including cash prizes and free spins.
- Jumanji (NetEnt): The board game bonus feature includes multiple pick-and-click elements, offering a variety of bonuses.
Cascading Reels – Continuous Wins from One Spin
Cascading reels, also known as avalanche or tumbling reels, are a dynamic feature that removes winning symbols from the reels, allowing new symbols to drop down and potentially create additional wins within the same spin.
- How Cascading Reels Work: When a winning combination is formed, the winning symbols disappear, and new symbols cascade into their place. This can lead to consecutive wins from a single spin, with some games offering increasing multipliers on each cascade.
- Benefits of Cascading Reels:
- Multiple Wins Per Spin: Cascading reels give you the chance to win multiple times on a single bet, increasing your total payout.
- Multiplier Boosts: Many games with cascading reels also include multipliers that grow with each consecutive win, further enhancing the excitement.
- Popular Games with Cascading Reels:
- Gonzo’s Quest (NetEnt): One of the first games to feature cascading reels, with increasing multipliers that boost each consecutive win.
- Bonanza Megaways (Big Time Gaming): Combines cascading reels with the Megaways mechanic, offering up to 117,649 ways to win.
- Reactoonz (Play’n GO): Features cascading wins with wilds and a meter that charges to unleash special bonus effects.
Conclusion
Bonus features are the heart of online pokies, providing players with exciting ways to enhance their gameplay and increase their winnings. Whether it’s the thrill of triggering free spins, the surprise of uncovering multipliers, or the interactive fun of pick-and-click games, these features add depth and excitement to every spin. By understanding how these bonus features work, you can make more informed choices about which games to play and maximize your chances of hitting those big wins. Explore the diverse world of pokies bonuses, and enjoy the added excitement they bring to the reels!
