Richard Cardenas
Mentor
Last updated: 17 January 2024

2024 looks set to be another exciting year for slots fans looking for innovative new ways of playing. If you want to start the new year in style by spinning the reels on a completely new type of slot, the following are some of the options you might like the look of.

Plinko by 1x2 Network Has a Pachinko-Type Feel 

The Plinko game doesn’t look like a slot at all, as it lacks the reels and symbols we’re used to seeing, with gameplay that brings to mind the Japanese game of Pachinko. But it’s been added to some of the top Australian online casino sites as a new game sitting alongside some of the other titles we’re looking at here. Filter the games to find new releases under each of the various categories before getting started.

So how does it work and what do you need to do to win? You need to choose your risk level and the number of lines you want to use. Having done this, you release a ball at the top of the screen. It then bounces down the different rows, with the pins sending it in different directions. The prizes are listed at the bottom, and you win the multiplier amount that the ball lands on.

This is one of a growing number of casino games that look to take the industry in a new direction. It’s perhaps best compared to the crash-style games - like Aviator - where players need to decide when to cash out their winnings before the craft crashes or soars into the distance rather than slots.

Blade & Fangs by Pragmatic Play Has Two Sets of Reels

As the latest release from the prolific developers at Pragmatic Play, the Blade & Fangs slot looks at first sight to be a classic horror-themed slot with some scary characters and a gothic backdrop that looks like a typical scary mansion. However, upon closer inspection, we can see that it has two sets of reels that spin independently of one another.

Both sets of reels have 243 ways to win, and winning combinations are formed separately on them, which means you can get independent wins on each at the same time. You can win as much as 5,000x your bet, with two different multipliers helping to boost your wins when they land. Scatter symbols trigger free spins, and a creepy skeleton is the highest-paying of the symbols.

This is an interesting combination of a classic theme and an eye-catching set of game mechanics. It looks complex at first, but the gameplay is simple, and you get a random outcome on every spin so there’s no need to understand how the reels work.

Bill & Coin by Relax Gaming Lets You Choose Your Bonus Round

Bill 6 Coin is played on a set of six reels and four rows, where classic slot symbols like bells and fruits can create winning combinations. Relax Gaming has produced another interesting slot, with their CPO, Shelley Hannah, quoted as saying that it’s based on “two loveable characters” who encourage players during the game.

The title characters stand bedside the reels, but they also appear in the all-important bonus symbols. When you get three of these images, it gives you the Bonus Pick where you choose one of the three bonus games: Coin Track, Sure Win, and Multiplier Ladder. Wins can reach up to 10,000x your bet and there are 4,096 ways to win across the reels.

It’s a fairly standard-looking slot that features symbols and a reel layout that we’ve seen many times. The list of the best fruit-themed slots shows how popular games with these images are. However, the bonus games add some variety and the chance to choose your bonus round is certainly a neat touch that adds to the appeal. 

Sticky Bandits Unchained by Quickspin Has a Variety of Bonuses

Some of the most memorable online slots have been based on a Wild West theme and Sticky Bandits Unchained follows in their bootsteps with a variety of characters and a horse among the top-paying symbols. The game takes place over five reels and three rows, with ten paylines strung across them.

The bonus features are the most interesting thing about this slot, as the Peacemaker Bonus and the Peacemaker Bonus Fully Loaded offer variety. Wilds, Colossal Wilds, and Sticky Wilds help to give several diverse ways of winning as you play these features.

There’s nothing on this slot that we haven’t seen before, but it has a timeless theme and a variety of bonuses that add to the gameplay. 

Summary

A look at their new slots helps to confirm that the industry is moving in different directions as developers introduce varied bonuses and formats to keep things interesting. Some of the latest releases look similar to classic slots from the past, while others are completely different and suggest that we can look forward to seeing the slots industry diversify further.

Published: 17 January 2024 16:23