Slots have always been among the most popular casino games, engaging players with their spinning reels and the chance of winning big. Traditionally, slots were confined to a limited number of winlines. But with advancements in technology and game design, all ways win slots were introduced, expanding the possibilities for players.
In this guide, we discuss what all ways win slots are, how they work and their popular formats.
What are All Ways Slots?
All Ways Win or Ways to Win slots, often referred to as Win Anywhere slots, are games that deviate from the traditional fixed winlines. Instead, they provide players with multiple avenues to win on a single spin. Instead of relying on pre-defined lines, these slots offer a matrix of possibilities, usually starting with 243, 720, 1024 ways to win, or even more. The premise is simple: as long as symbols land on consecutive reels from the leftmost reel, irrespective of their specific position, they can contribute to a winning combination.
How ‘Win Anywhere’ Slots Work
The mechanism of All Ways Winslots is simple:
- Consecutive Reels: To form a winning combination, players need to land matching symbols on consecutive reels, typically from left to right. It doesn’t matter where on the reels these symbols land as long as they’re on consecutive ones.
- Calculation: The ways to win is calculated based on the number of positions on each reel. For instance, if a slot has a 5×3 layout (5 reels and 3 positions on each reel), the ways to win are 3x3x3x3x3 = 243 ways to win.
- Gameplay: Players usually play fixed coins per spin rather than per winline. The spin usually covers all possible ways to win.
- Bonus Features: Many slots of this kind come with added features such as wilds, scatters, free spins, or bonus rounds, further enhancing the gameplay and win potential.
Popular Ways to Win: Game Formats
As the popularity of All Ways Win slots has grown, so too has the variety of formats and grid configurations. These diverse structures determine how many winning ways a slot can offer, ranging from the common 243 ways to the expansive and dynamic Megaways. Let’s delve into the most prominent types to understand the breadth and depth of options available to you:
243 Ways to Win
Most commonly situated on a 5×3 grid. In essence, with this format, every conceivable combination of symbols from left to right across the 5 reels provides a win. This results in 3x3x3x3x3 = 243 possible winning combinations.
This format was one of the first deviations from standard winlines and remains a staple due to its straightforward mechanics. You’ll find it in games like Lucky Lightning, Queenie, and Caishen’s Cash.
720 Ways to Win
These slots often utilize a diamond-shaped configuration, with reels displaying a 3-4-5-4-3 symbol pattern. The unique layout combined with the ‘win anywhere’ feature creates a total of 720 different winning combinations. These slots often include other features such as stacked symbols or multipliers to enhance gameplay.
One of the games with this format is Pyramid: Quest for Immortality.
1,024 Ways to Win
Found on a 5×4 grid. Given the extra row, players have more opportunities to form winning combinations. As a result, there are 4x4x4x4x4 = 1024 possible ways to secure a win.
This format appeals to players who prefer more frequent, albeit potentially smaller, wins, thanks to the increased number of combinations. Popular games of this type are The Dragon Tiger and Beellionaires.
3,125 Ways to Win
Presented on a 5×5 grid. The larger grid format allows for more symbol combinations, resulting in 5x5x5x5x5 = 3125 potential winning combinations. Games with this grid often come packed with additional bonus rounds or special symbols, given the expanded grid. The Diamonds slot offers a glamorous feel into this format.
4,096 Ways to Win
This format is generally found on a 6×4 grid. With the addition of an extra reel and maintaining a four-row structure, the number of potential winning combinations jumps exponentially.
The mechanics are similar to other ways to win slots, where matching symbols on consecutive reels from the leftmost reel lead to wins. Given the grid structure, there are 4x4x4x4x4x4 = 4,096 ways to achieve a win.
This format offers a more extensive playing field and consequently more potential combinations than the 5×3 or 5×4 grids. It’s especially popular among players who enjoy having numerous ways to win, which often translates to frequent hits, even if many of those hits are of lower value.
The 4,096 ways games often come with additional features such as wilds, scatters, free spins, and bonus rounds. Some even offer expanding reels or stacked symbols to increase the excitement. This can be found in games like Zombie Carnival, Mysterious, and Iron Bank.
Megaways
This format is dynamic, with the number of symbols on each reel changing with every spin. Based on the number of symbols and reels, the ways to win change dynamically. In some Megaways titles, there can be over 100,000 different ways to win.
Megaways slots often come with cascading reels, where winning symbols are replaced by new ones, potentially creating a chain reaction of wins. Popular Megaways slots include Big Bass Bonanza Megaways and The Dog House Megaways.
Infinity Reels
Starts with a base set of reels but expands with each winning spin.
With each consecutive win, an additional reel is added to the rightmost side. This process can continue indefinitely, offering an ever-expanding number of ways to win. The expanding reels often come with increasing multipliers, boosting the potential payout with each new reel.
Play All Ways Win Slots at McLuck!
When playing ways to win slots, it’s essential to note that more ways to win doesn’t necessarily mean a higher chance of winning significant amounts. Each game has its own volatility, RTP, and mechanics that influence the gameplay and prizes. Always check a game’s rules and wintable to fully understand how it operates.
Check out more exciting slots with more win ways at McLuck!
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