Unique Reel Layouts

What Grid Layouts Do We Have?

Nowadays, many giant game providers prefer to deviate from the 5×3 reel conventions, as we can see that different grid styles are introduced via video slots. These include:

• Stair Styled.& As the name suggests, grids under this category add two rows to each reel starting from left to right or the other way around. For instance, Valley of Riches 2 holds a stair-styled grid with a 3-4-5-6-7-8 layout.
• Radial or Orbital Layout. Next up on the list, we have the Radial or Orbital Layout. It’s essentially a grid with the reels organized in a circle. The payouts on such grids are made for three or more identical symbols falling on adjacent blocks of the circular reels. The best example slots equipped with Radial or Orbital grid are Hypernova Radical Reels, Avatars Gate Guardians and Alterna.
• Snail, Spiral or Zuma-styled Grid. Zuma Grid is based on the Zuma Tile-matching Puzzle Game, where players have to eliminate the differently coloured marbles to clear the path to the centre. Likewise, in this grid, new symbols move in a spiral manner from the entrance to the centre. The payouts on Snail/Zuma layout are made by matching the symbols appearing on the grid with those rolled on the grid. The most popular games of this type are Orbs of Atlantis and Finn’s Golden Tavern. 
• Slingo Grid. Slingo is exclusive line slots with no reels on the grid. Instead, it contains different symbols matched by the ones rolled on the roller below the grid.

Special Features and Mechanics

Slots with unique grids often come with special mechanics. For instance, unlike the regular slots, Slingo machines are a combination of slots and bingo. Here players need to match numbers that are given on the grid with those rolling on the roller after each spin. Similarly, in Orbital Grid slots, the payouts are calculated by the number of matching symbols on the adjacent blocks as there are no paylines marked on the reels. Features in the unique slots, on the other hand, are not so impressive. So here you’ll find features similar to the regular slots, such as Wilds, Scatters, Free Spins, Pick Me, Respins, Cascades, etc.

Why Choose Slots with Unique Reels?

Well, there is no certain reason that you should choose slots with unique reels instead of the regular slots. The reels layout has nothing to do with the slot’s profitability as it is determined by the RTP percentage and the level of Volatility. Besides, the bonuses and payouts frequency offered in the unique reel slot is similar to that offered in the regular slot. The only reason why you should choose a unique reel slot is to have a new experience. Besides, most such games are equipped with modern graphics and immersive gameplay; therefore, their entertainment value might be higher than that of the regular slots. So, you might not have a better chance at winning on a unique reels slot, but you will surely have a fun time playing it.

Regular Slot Layout (5×3) VS Unique Grid Layout

Most of the online slots are equipped with the standard 5×3 layout featuring 5 reels and 3 rows. These standards are entirely different from the unique reels slots such as Orbital Grid and Slingos in terms of inner workings. Here are a few differences that you might notice between a standard 5×3 slot and a unique reels slot.

Top 5 Slot Machines

Here are the top 5 unique reel slots:

Sushi Yatta

The Sushi Yatta slot machine from GameArt is essentially dedicated to the Japanese theme. The game pays through Cluster Pay mechanics with a 3,000x base Jackpot menu. Sushi lovers will be delighted with this unique reel machine as it is equipped with a custom grid featuring symbols moving on the conveyor belt and offers tons of incredible bonuses, including wilds, scatters, free spins, and much more.

Valley of the Gods 2

Yggdrasil Gaming’s “Valley of the Gods 2” slot uses six unique reels where each column differs in the number of blocks. Besides, not all blocks are initially unlocked in each column as they are gradually activated as the game progresses. One symbol appears in the first column, two in the second, then three, four and five, respectively. There are no marked paylines, and the payouts are based on the Cluster Pay mechanics. The game comes packed with the regular bonus package made up of wilds, scatters and free spins.

Finn and the Swirly Spin

NetEnt calls Finn and the Swirly Spin a five-reel slot, but you won’t see any spinning reels. There are twenty-five pictures on the screen arranged on a 5×5 grid. At the beginning of each spin, new icons appear in the lower-left corner and fill twenty-five cells, spiralling towards the centre. Winning combinations are considered to be continuous chains of three, four or five identical symbols. They should line up horizontally or vertically anywhere on the screen. There can be several sequences in one round. The bonus features offered in the slots include avalanches, wilds and free spins.

Avatars: Gateway Guardians

Yggdrasil Gaming is again on the list with another unique slot, Avatars: Gateway Guardians. The slot has an unusual interface without classic vertical columns; instead, there is an Orbital Grid consisting of three wheels arranged within one another. The round playing field is divided into six blocks. The number of blocks increases to eight during bonus rounds. To receive a payment, you need to draw a whole picture in any of the three blocks on top of one another. The features helping you make the most out of the unique slot include hotspot, multiplier wheel and free spins.

Aeterna

Last but not least, we have Aeterna from Black Pudding Games. It was the world’s first Orbital Grid, and it transformed the traditional three-reel game into a truly new and visually exciting format. In addition to its unique set of reels, Aeterna has its own distinctive pay rule that determines wins by Cluster Pay mechanics. Plus, it has an extremely compelling cascading multiplier mechanism that can turn a player’s initial success into a thrilling chain reaction of theoretically infinite riches. Besides, there’s also a free spin round with unlimited possible retriggers.

Summary

Unique reel slots provide a whole new experience to the players in terms of gameplay and offer more reasons for us to love slot machines. But when it comes to profitability, their performance is as par with the regular 5×3 slots. So is it worth putting your hard-earned money on the line with unique reels slots? Well, yes, they will give you a unique perspective of slots, and if it is your lucky day, you might end up with some considerable wins.