What Are Scatter Symbols?
Every game is unique and has different slot symbols, but many share similar features. For example, most games have a wild symbol, which substitutes other symbols to help create winning combinations. Scatter symbols are also common, but what exactly do they do? Let’s take a closer look at them in this article.
How Scatter Symbols Work
Let’s start by explaining the difference between regular symbols and scatter symbols. Both types can appear on any reel, but unlike regular symbols that must align on a payline to win, scatter symbols pay out no matter where they land. In many slot games, scatter symbols are some of the most valuable. It’s definitely a symbol to keep an eye on.
But that’s not all—scatter symbols are also linked to special features or bonuses. This depends on the game’s design and can vary greatly. These special bonuses can include bonus rounds, free spins, or multipliers. These features open the door to bigger wins, which is why scatter symbols are so appealing.
Typically, you need to land three scatter symbols to trigger a bonus feature. While three is the most common number, there are games where additional scatter symbols bring even bigger rewards. For instance, in Dead or Alive 2, landing five scatter symbols can reward you with 2500x your bet, along with 12 free spins—the same number of spins as if you had triggered the bonus with three or four scatters.
Some newer slot games even feature two or more scatter symbols, each triggering different bonus rounds. However, there are also games that don’t use scatter symbols at all. One famous example is Starburst, a popular slot that has very few bonus features. How does that work? We’ll explore this next.
Popular Slot Games With Scatter Symbols
Explaining slot mechanics can get a bit abstract, so here’s a short list of well-known slot games that use scatter symbols:
- Book of Dead: One of the most popular slots in many countries and often featured in casino bonuses. In this game, the scatter symbol is a book. Landing three of these pays out 2x your bet and triggers the bonus round with 10 free spins. Four or five books will give you an even bigger payout.
- Deadwood: This slot from Nolimit City also uses scatter symbols to trigger bonus rounds. Here, players can choose between two types of free spins. If you land three scatter symbols along with two sheriff badges, you unlock 10 “shoot out” free spins, where the sheriff badges stay in place for all spins.
- Immortal Romance: A classic slot with a vampire theme where the scatter symbol is represented by a lion. Landing two scatter symbols will give you a payout, but you’ll need three to trigger the bonus round, which offers four different options for free spins, ranging from 10 to 25 spins.
As you can see, scatter symbols can trigger a range of features depending on the game, but they all have one thing in common—they can pay out regardless of paylines and often lead to bonus rounds.
Conclusion
In many slot games, chasing scatter symbols is a big part of the fun. It’s usually in the bonus rounds where the big wins happen, which is why scatter symbols are so sought after. In recent years, more slot games have introduced features like bonus buys, allowing players to purchase direct access to bonus rounds.
However, it’s important to remember that adding more features doesn’t always make a better game. Some players prefer simpler gameplay. Take Starburst for example—a massive success without traditional scatter symbols or classic bonus rounds. While bonus rounds are great, they aren’t always necessary for a slot game to be entertaining!
