Back
Casino game promotion featuring a prize wheel, slot machine on a mobile device, and gold coins.

5 Reel Slot Games at LeoVegas

Slot machines have come a long way from their mechanical beginnings, with the 5-reel format now dominating casino floors and online platforms.

While 3-reel slots rely on a stripped-back design, 5-reel games bring more variation in structure and presentation.

This guide examines the defining traits of 5-reel slots and explores their place in modern casino gaming.

Table of contents:

The rise of 5-reel slots in online casinos can be largely credited to the flexibility they offer developers.

With five columns to work with, there’s more space to shape themed environments and apply visuals that help each game stand out. This layout also works well across a wide range of styles.

Some games keep things simple, while others lean into layered graphics or incorporate motion and sound to support a theme. That variety has kept the format active across countless releases.

The format continues to appear in new titles across casino platforms. Its structure adapts easily to changing design trends, which is part of why it remains so widely used.

The Basics of 5-Reel Slot Games

This section outlines the main elements that define the structure and presentation of 5-reel slots.

Reels and Symbols

In a 5-reel slot, the reels are vertical columns that rotate during each spin.

Each reel contains a fixed sequence of symbols, and the game’s RNG (random number generator) selects a stopping point on each reel to determine which symbols are displayed.

The number, function, variety, appearance, and frequency of these symbols vary depending on the game’s design.

Together, the reels and symbols form the slot's visual and structural foundation.

Some symbols are standard paytable icons, while others serve special functions, including triggering bonus features, free spins, or multipliers.

Types of Symbols

5-reel slots use a mix of standard and special symbols, each serving a distinct role within the game’s structure:

  • Wild Symbols: Substitute for standard symbols to complete specific symbol arrangements
  • Scatter Symbols: Trigger certain game features when they appear in the required quantity, regardless of their position
  • Bonus Symbols: Activate additional in-game elements, often leading to a separate screen with different visuals or sound design tied to the slot’s theme

How to Play a 5-Reel Slot Game

Most 5-reel slots follow the same basic setup, regardless of theme or design. The steps below outline how to get started:

  1. Sign up to access 5-reel slot games
  2. Select a 5-reel slot from the slot section. Games are typically displayed with a title and a preview image that reflects the theme
  3. Click on the game to load it
  4. Set your preferred bet amount using the available controls. This may involve buttons, a slider, or a dropdown menu, depending on the interface
  5. If the game allows, choose how many paylines to activate. This option is usually found in the settings or control panel
  6. Open the paytable to review the symbol arrangements and the conditions for triggering in-game features
  7. Press the spin button to begin the round. The reels will rotate and stop automatically, showing the outcome based on the symbol positions
  8. Some games include additional mechanics tied to specific symbols. These activate according to the game’s internal rules, which are detailed in the paytable or help menu
  9. After each spin, you can either keep playing or exit the game through the main menu

Tip: To get a feel for the layout and features before placing real bets, most 5-reel slots offer a demo mode that replicates the full game using virtual credits.

Paylines and Payouts

In 5-reel slots, paylines are preset paths that determine how symbol arrangements are evaluated by the game.

These lines can run horizontally, diagonally, or follow more complex patterns depending on the layout.

Depending on the game’s design, paylines may either be fixed across all spins or adjustable by the user before each round begins.

The paytable shows which symbol combinations result in specific outcomes, based on how they appear across active paylines. It lists all the symbols in the game and explains what each one does, including how many are needed in sequence and which trigger features. The paytable also clarifies the role of special symbols connected to bonus rounds or modifiers.

Both the payline structure and paytable are fixed design elements unique to each game and serve as references for how the slot operates round by round.

Key Features of 5-Reel Slot Games

Below are the main features commonly found in 5-reel slots and how they function within the game.

Wild Symbols and Their Functionality

First introduced as substitutes, wilds appear in several forms, each affecting how they function within the game.

  • Expanding Wilds: These grow to cover entire reels once they appear, increasing their coverage for that spin
  • Stacked Wilds: These appear in clusters, often across multiple positions on a single reel
  • Sticky Wilds: These remain in place across several spins, usually during a specific feature round

Scatter Symbols and Bonus Rounds

Often used to trigger in-game features, scatters don’t rely on paylines and activate based on how many appear. Below are common formats tied to their function.

  • Free Spins: A set number of spins initiated without additional input, often with adjusted mechanics or added features
  • Pick & Win: A feature where players select from visible items to reveal outcomes, typically based on preset values or conditions
  • Symbol Collection Rounds: Some games include progress-based rounds where accumulating scatter symbols unlocks additional sequences or visual changes

Jackpot Types

Jackpot mechanics are built into some 5-reel slots and come in different formats depending on how the prize logic is structured.

  • Fixed Jackpots: Set values that don’t change, triggered under predefined conditions
  • Progressive Jackpots: Values increase incrementally based on gameplay activity, often pooled across multiple players or games

In progressive setups, a portion of each spin contributes to a growing total that resets once claimed. Many 5-reel slots feature multiple progressive tiers, each linked to specific conditions or bonus mechanics within the game.

Bonus Features in 5-Reel Slots

Many 5-reel slots include additional mechanics that shift the pacing or alter the visual layout during certain sequences.

  • Multipliers: Multiply the result of a spin or feature when certain conditions are met, usually during bonus rounds
  • Extra Wilds: Add more wild symbols during certain phases of play, affecting symbol interaction
  • Symbol Transformations: These convert selected symbols into others to improve alignment on the reels
  • Cascading Reels: Such mechanisms remove matched symbols and bring in new ones, allowing for consecutive outcomes within the same round

These titles show the variety of styles and mechanics possible within the 5-reel format.

Cerberus Gold

Set against a mythological backdrop, Cerberus Gold by PearFiction/Games Global runs on a 5-reel setup that expands from 243 up to 7,776 ways to win through split symbols. The game includes a standard wild and uses orb multipliers that increase with collected “soul” symbols.

The game’s structure centres on the Lock ‘N’ Win mechanic, where Cerberus coin scatters trigger one of three features: Multiplier, Jackpot, or Supreme.

Each locks symbols in place and awards respins.

Fireball icons can appear on the first four reels, with a collect symbol on the fifth reel gathering their values and applying the active multiplier.

CERBERUS GOLD

Supercharged Clovers: Hold and Win

This Playson slot uses a 5x3 layout with a Hold & Win mechanic driven by Bonus and Collect symbols.

Set against an electrified take on Irish folklore, the design blends glowing clovers with sharp visual effects.

Bonus symbols lock into place when enough appear, while Collect icons gather values from other marked symbols on the grid.

The feature set includes multiplier icons up to 10x and a secondary bonus round that always awards a multiplier. A four-tier jackpot system is also built into the game’s structure.

SUPERCHARGED CLOVERS: HOLD AND WIN

Release the Bison

Pragmatic Play’s Release the Bison presents a 5-reel slot with a nature-based theme and layered feature system. Four or more wilds activate Wild Respins. During this feature, wilds roam across reels and build a cumulative multiplier.

Scatter symbols unlock Free Spins, which begin with a wheel spin to determine the number of spins and starting multiplier. Within this round, collected wilds add to a metre. Every fifth wild awards an extra spin and increases the multiplier.

PLAY RELEASE THE BISON

Fishin’ BIGGER Pots of Gold

This Irish folklore-meets-fishing-themed slot from Gameburger Studios runs on a 5×3 layout that expands to 5×5 during bonus rounds.

Flynn the Leprechaun acts as both the wild and the Collect symbol. When no other wins land, he can trigger the Fish Flurry, which adds random fish symbols that are instantly gathered. Free Spins begin with three or more scatters.

During this round, Flynn icons fill a metre; reaching certain thresholds grants extra spins and boosts the multiplier.

The reel expansion and increased payline count apply only during this phase. The Collect feature activates when Flynn appears and gathers all visible cash and jackpot symbols, with four fixed jackpots available through this mechanic.

PLAY FISHIN’ BIGGER POTS OF GOLD

African Quest

Built on a 5×4 reel grid with 1024 ways to win, Microgaming-powered African Quest includes a Hyperspins feature that allows individual reels to be respun at a cost.

Set on a savannah backdrop with wildlife-inspired visuals, the game draws on safari themes for its atmosphere.

Acacia tree wilds appear on the central reels, while golden coins serve as scatters and also apply multipliers.

Landing three or more scatters triggers Free Spins, where players choose from spin and multiplier combinations. During this round, any applied multipliers stack throughout the sequence.

PLAY AFRICAN QUEST

The Evolution of 5-Reel Slot Games

5-reel slots have developed alongside broader changes in technology and design, shaping how modern titles look and operate.

From Classic Slots to Modern 5-Reel Machines

Mechanical slots with three reels and basic icon sets dominated casino floors through much of the 20th century.

By the 1990s, the rise of digital gaming began to shift design trends, and 5-reel formats started appearing more frequently. These layouts gave developers more room to introduce interactive features and layered visuals.

Over time, static graphics gave way to motion-based elements, and transitions became part of the overall presentation. These updates gradually changed both the appearance and pacing of slot games, setting the foundation for modern designs.

Technological Innovations Behind 5-Reel Slots

RNGS determine all spin outcomes, removing any reliance on patterns or sequences. The shift to mobile has also influenced design. Most 5-reel slots now support touch-based controls and scale smoothly across devices, allowing for consistent access whether on desktop or phone.

5-Reel Slots vs. Other Slot Types

The following are other slot formats commonly found in casinos, each offering a different approach compared to the 5-reel layout.

3-Reel Slots vs. 5-Reel Slots

3-reel slots use a simpler grid with fewer symbols and minimal features. Their layouts are often tied to traditional fruit machines and typically include one to five paylines.

The 5-reel setup gives developers room to add layered features and richer visuals. It also makes it easier to build in varied payline patterns and bonus rounds that shape how the game plays out.

Megaways Slots vs. 5-Reel Slots

Megaways slots use a shifting reel setup where the number of symbols per reel changes with each spin, affecting the total number of symbol combinations.

While this adds unpredictability and expands possible outcomes, it also introduces more volatility.

Traditional 5-reel slots maintain a fixed reel structure, offering steadier pacing and a more familiar layout.

FAQs

Below are some commonly asked questions related to 5-reel slots and their peculiarities:

How do 5-reel slot games work?

5-reel slots use five vertical columns that spin and stop to display a set of symbols.

Outcomes are determined by a random number generator, and specific symbol combinations trigger responses defined in the game’s paytable.

What is the best 5-reel slot game to play?

There isn’t one best 5-reel slot. Each title is built differently, so the right choice depends on the type of features or presentation you’re most drawn to.

Can I play 5-reel slots for free?

At LeoVegas, you can find demo versions for each of the 5-reel slots we have on offer. These allow you to explore game features and visuals without placing real-money bets.

How do I win on a 5-reel slot game?

Outcomes depend on how symbols align on active paylines, with the paytable outlining which combinations lead to potential payouts. These conditions vary between games based on their structure and features.

Check out more variations of slots in our lists: