Over the years, slot games have changed significantly, with the introduction of new game mechanics that have shaped the industry into what it is today. Over time, developers have innovated regarding the payline structures of their releases, with some titles removing them completely, whilst others modify them in unique ways. In today’s expansive iGaming industry, keeping track of the numerous payline structures can be challenging, and this article, BoyleSports, the home of UK live casino, will break down the most common ones.
What Are Paylines in Slot Games
A payline is a simple pattern across the reels where identical symbols must land in order to create a matching combination and award a prize. Paylines have been a part of slots since traditional lever-based machines, which began as just one straight payline across the middle. As technology has advanced, modern slot games have emerged, showcasing various paylines which can run in different patterns across the grid.
The paylines available depend on the slot game, with some having fixed lines, whilst some have adjustable counts where they can choose how many paylines they wish to activate. Changes to available paylines can affect the stake and the chance of triggering a matching combination.
Classic Single Payline Structure
The simplest payline structure is one that has been tried and tested throughout the history of slot games. In this payline structure, commonly found in classic slots, identical symbols must land on a single horizontal line in the centre of the reels to form a matching combination.
These slots are much simpler than modern forms, as players can keep a focus on one line, keeping the gameplay simple and clear.
Multi Payline Slot Games
In the modern slot industry, multiple paylines are far more common than single structures, though they are similar. Instead of one straight payline operating through the middle of the playgrid, multiple payline slots can move across the reels in zigzag or diagonal patterns. This allows for paylines to be created, with the industry standard in the modern era being around 20-50.
Megaways
As of recent history in the iGaming industry, the Megaways mechanic has completely transformed payline structures. Before the invention of this mechanic, slots would feature fixed payline counts, with a certain number of symbols landing on the reels in each spin. The introduction of the Megaways mechanic changed this, allowing for dynamic playgrids and payine counts.
Megaways slots allow each spin to feature a unique number of symbols on the reels, typically ranging from 2 to 7 per reel. With a different number of symbols landing on each spin, the active payline count will vary, with some spins featuring more paylines than others.
For these Megaways releases, matching combinations can occur when identical symbols land on adjacent reels, starting at the leftmost reel.
Cluster Pay Systems
One of the innovative creations in the online casino industry is the cluster pays system, which removes the need for paylines entirely. In substitute of paylines, matching combinations can occur if clusters or groups of identical symbols land on the playgrid, connected horizontally or vertically. Depending on the slot, the number of symbols required to land to create a matching combination varies.
Whilst the structure is relatively simple, the cluster pays mechanic allows for unique game features, such as cascading reels. The cascading reels feature has become a staple in these cluster-pays slots, removing matched symbols and allowing new ones to enter from above.
Pays Anywhere Systems
Similar to the cluster pays mechanic, pays anywhere systems have completely removed the need for paylines. This payline structure does as it says: identical symbols landing anywhere on the reels can potentially form the same matching combination. Before the invention of this payline structure, all matching combinations would have had to land in close contact with each other to be triggered. These systems are commonly put in place with larger playgrids, often requiring 8 or more identical symbols to land anywhere on the reels, though it can differ depending on the slot.
Also, these pay-anywhere systems are commonly used alongside cascading reel features, as explained in cluster pays systems. It makes slots more popular to play.
Conclusion
Whilst modern slot releases are becoming more centred on bonus mechanics, base gameplay still remains important in the industry. Throughout the years, simplistic paylines have become the industry standard, following a predetermined pattern where identical symbols must land to trigger a base game prize. Despite this, in recent years, game development studios have introduced some new payline structures to the industry, which have become widely used in their own right. Including cluster pays, pays anywhere, and more, game developers have reached enhanced creativity with their releases, with a range of payline structures being available today. Each structure has its own ways of triggering matching combinations, which players can select from based on their preferences.
