In the beginning, so the histories say, slots came with only three reels and one lonely little payline. Players whispered among themselves in dark and smoky speakeasies of the fantasy of a bigger, bolder slot… What if there were more, they would tease, playing each other’s nerves like harp strings. What if… what if someone added more reels, and more paylines? Wouldn’t that make slots just totally wild?!
Once upon a time, it is true, slots were simple 3-reelers, with limited paylines, and longer periods between payouts. In 1891, however, the visionaries Sitman and Pott released the first ever 5-reel poker slot and the gambling world was forever changed! Well, there is a little more history to it than that but the bottom line is that 5-reel video slots are now the gaming industry standard.
The additional reels mean more paylines, which means more ways and more chances to win! 5-reel slots are characterised by their interesting themes and (often) a multitude of special features. These 7 video slot games we discovered on our epic quest to uncover the best of 5-reel games are no exception.
This bank heist themed video slot from BetSoft is a breakout winner that has all the (alarm) bells and (police) whistles! Take the Bank is a 5-reel online slot with an impressive 75 paylines and 8 exciting special features: a scatter, a wild, sticky wilds, 15 free spins, shifting wilds, a bonus game, a gamble feature, and a buy option.
The buy option means that you can experience the thrill of a special feature without having to rely on Lady Luck to trigger it! This is a highly volatile game with an RTP of 96.08%. For a full review of this game, click here.
Dead or Alive 2 is the second installment of this rootin’ tootin’ wild west themed slot by NetEnt. The game has 5 reels, 9 paylines, and a cowboy boot-load of features such as wilds, scatters, sticky wilds, and 3 free spin bonus games with multipliers. This highly volatile video slot has a maximum win of 40,500x per free spin, and an RTP of 96.8%.
Wish Upon a Jackpot is a deceptively simple video slot that has more than a few tricks up its sleeves! This slot has a 5×3 game grid, 20 paylines, and what appears to be only 2 special features, a wild and a bonus game.
However, the Fairy Godmother Spin bonus game opens the door to additional special features: wild reels, infecting wilds, a big spin, and another bonus game! But wait, there’s more! This second bonus game leads to a further 4 bonus games! Free spins, a multiplier, sticky wilds, and a gamble.
Wish Upon a Jackpot could keep you busy for hours, but remember to keep an eye on your wallet as it has a low RTP of 95% and is a medium to high volatility slot. For a full review of this game, click here.
Cash Volt is the glitzier, more mature cousin of the traditional fruit machine with a game design that is more Vegas and less 80s London pub! This slot is a 5×3 reel machine that has 20 possible paylines and includes special features such as wild reels, sticky reels, colossal symbols, and a Cash Volt Jackpot that’s a maximum of 2500x.
The video slot’s RTP is 95.71%, and it has a medium volatility range, so payouts are fairly frequent but vary greatly in value. For a full review of this game, click here.
Sizzling 777 Deluxe is a fantastic retro game with a screaming 80s fruit machine theme. This is a 5-reel, 3-row game with 20 paylines and a top prize multiplier of 5000x your line bet. The slot also has a scatter, a bonus multiplier, and Wazdan’s signature gamble feature.
Sizzling 777 Deluxe has an RTP of 96.42% and a volatility toggle, as well as a switch to speed up the action.
This Japanese anime themed slot draws heavily on inspiration from classics like Sailor Moon and Princess Tutu. The animations, music, and sound effects all add to the aesthetic and would not be out of place in either anime.
The game grid is set up in a 5×5 structure, which gives it the appearance of a mobile game like Bejeweled or Candy Crush, adding to the appeal. Moon Princess slot has 20 paylines and 4 bonus features, including free spins, symbol drops, a multiplier of up to 20x, and their signature Girl Power feature.
Moon Princess has an RTP of 96.5%, and is a high volatility slot.
Viking Madness is a beautifully designed Norse-themed video slot by Caleta Gaming. This 5-reel online slot has 25 paylines and 5 special features, including a bonus game, free spins with a multiplier, a scatter, sticky wilds, and a regular wild.
Viking Madness has an RTP of 96% and is a highly volatile slot.
