Online slots have come a long way in the past decade, as leading software developers have started incorporating increasingly lucrative features into their games and experimenting with high-quality graphics, creating slot titles with exceptionally crisp, lifelike visuals. These efforts have resulted in the introduction of a new generation of slots, aptly called 3D slots.
Titles with 3D graphics and animations quickly made their way to the catalogues of the most established and highly regarded online casino operators in the industry, and they attract the greatest number of players. Furthermore, key software suppliers have optimised their most popular 3D titles for mobile play, allowing players to enjoy their favourite slots on portable devices such as smartphones and tablets.
Features of Online 3D Slots
If you are looking for superb graphics, a hassle-free gaming session, great sound effects and a plethora of lucrative bonus features, 3D slots are the games to play. Such titles typically stand out with unparalleled depth in terms of visuals.
As a matter of fact, players are bound to notice the difference as soon as they load a 3D slot. As a general rule, such titles usually begin with a short animated intro that introduces players to the overall theme and storyline of the game.
Many 3D slots are based on popular television series, blockbusters or even comic series and books. Others are inspired by legendary musicians and bands. Players will surely notice that such titles go hand in hand with cutaway sequences or footage from the corresponding films. Whenever players land a lucrative winning combination or activate a given special feature, the symbols on the reels come to life, as they too are animated.
On that note, it is worth mentioning that 3D slots are literally loaded with great features. Players who decide to give them a try will benefit from a greater number of paylines, bonus spin rounds and in-game bonuses, as well as profitable features, such as a variety of animated wild symbols. Of course, scatter symbols are also available, and in many cases they activate the aforementioned bonus games and free spins. The rounds of free spins usually have multipliers attached to them, so players can count on collecting even more generous profits.
In addition, 3D slots are easily recognisable thanks to the more elaborate stories that are built into them. As players progress through the game and unlock different bonus rounds, the story tends to evolve. On some 3D slots, players are required to reach certain payout achievements in order to advance to the next level and unlock more rounds of bonus spins. This is indeed a smart move on the part of software developers, as slots with more complex stories and bonus rounds appear to hold players’ attention for longer.
As far as gameplay is concerned, those of you who have played online video slots before will hardly experience any difficulties with 3D slots, because their interface is quite similar. You are simply required to select the number of coins you wish to bet per active payline, adjust the coin value and hit the Spin button to set the virtual reels in motion. Clicking this button is often accompanied by engaging animations.
Popular 3D Slots to Play Online
If you have difficulty deciding which 3D online slots to try first, take a quick look at the short list we have compiled. It spans some of the most thrilling online 3D slots that feature crystal-clear visuals and plenty of great animations that will surely keep you at the edge of your seat. More importantly, the games in question are courtesy of some of the industry’s leading software suppliers of quality casino games.
As the games on our list have been optimised for mobile play, you will be able to enjoy them at any time, from any location, via portable devices running Android or iOS.
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Gonzo’s Quest
Developed by leading software provider NetEnt, Gonzo’s Quest is a great example of how diverse 3D slots can be in terms of theme. This 3D slot is inspired by the historical character Gonzalo Pizarro and begins with a brief animated clip introducing the game’s theme.
Gonzo’s Quest is played on five reels and features a total of 20 paylines. The game is beautifully animated as the character of Gonzo dances around and even performs the Moonwalk whenever the player hits a lucrative payout. Realistic Incan carvings of animal and human faces serve as symbols in the game. Each carving has a different colour, depending on its value. Thus, the pale-blue carvings are the symbols with the lowest value, whereas the greyish face trimmed with gold is the highest-paying symbol in the game.
However, the great animations and visuals are not the only advantages of Gonzo’s Quest. Additionally, the game comes with a wide range of beneficial features, such as the Avalanche feature. The symbols fall onto the reels and, whenever they land on a winning payline, they explode in 3D animations. More importantly, winnings collected while the Avalanche feature is active are multiplied.
Players who are lucky enough to land three or more Free Fall symbols on a payline are rewarded with ten re-spins free of charge. Furthermore, the re-spins come with a multiplier, so players can expect their winnings to be boosted by up to 15x during the Free Fall bonus round.
Microgaming’s Playboy Branded Slot
Players can thank renowned software developer Microgaming for this Playboy-themed slot. It is played on five reels with 243 ways to win, one of the most popular formats in recent years. The slot attracts players with its free spins feature, known as the Playboy Club, which is unlocked when you land three or more Playboy magazine symbols acting as scatters. Your progress through this free spins feature is shown on a special tracking bar.
The Playboy Club spans four levels. The first is the Kimi bonus, which grants players 10 free spins with a 5x multiplier when unlocked. The second level is the Sofia bonus, where players are awarded 15 free spins that come with a Running Wild symbol represented by the Playboy logo.
The Ashley and Jillian bonuses will reward you with 20 or 25 free spins, respectively. The Ashley bonus goes hand in hand with the Rolling Reels feature – whenever players land a winning combination, the winning symbols explode and are replaced with new ones. This way, players can generate even bigger profits from a single spin.
Marvel-Branded Slots by Playtech
Playtech’s slots based on the Marvel comic series rank among the most popular titles in online casinos’ gaming collections. No matter which Marvel character is your favourite – Playtech has created an extensive range of Marvel-inspired slots, including Thor, X-Men, The Avengers, Spider-Man, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man, Elektra and Fantastic Four.
Each of the Marvel-based titles on offer impresses with superb graphics and promises an unforgettable gaming experience. More importantly, all Marvel slots are linked to the Marvel Jackpot system. In other words, players have the opportunity to scoop one of four progressive jackpots, regardless of which Marvel slot they play. The jackpots are as follows: Power, Extra Power, Super Power and Ultimate Power.
These jackpots are triggered at random, but players must bet the maximum amount allowed per spin if they wish to qualify. Slot fans who succeed in unlocking the Marvel Jackpot game will be taken to a separate screen that features a grid containing twenty squares. Players must click on the squares one by one until they find three identical symbols of Marvel characters, which correspond to one of the four progressive prizes.
Dracula
Dracula is an appealing 3D slot that is the result of cooperation between software developer NetEnt and Universal Studios. NetEnt sets the mood perfectly with a short introductory clip that features a girl running through a dark alley. The game is played on five reels and offers as many as 40 paylines. Dracula is a brilliant demonstration of NetEnt’s attention to detail – each click of the Spin button is accompanied by a flight of bats.
Apart from its sophisticated design and visuals, Dracula comes with binaural sound effects, so it would be best to plug in your headphones if you wish to enjoy the immersive sounds to the fullest. Players will also be able to benefit from the great Bat feature. This feature can be triggered in both the base game and the bonus rounds. When the feature is unlocked, players will see a formation of bats flying across the reels.
The bonus round of 10 free spins is triggered when the stacked Dracula and stacked Lady symbols land simultaneously on the second and fourth reels, respectively. The spooky bats make a dramatic appearance during the bonus round to create suspense and transform the symbols on the reels, helping players complete a greater number of winning combinations. If the stacked wild symbol (Dracula holding a young lady) appears on the third reel during the bonus round, players are rewarded with two additional free spins. The maximum payout you can earn when playing this NetEnt slot is 80,000 coins.
Jack and the Beanstalk
Based on an English fairy tale, Jack and the Beanstalk is another one of NetEnt’s creations that impresses with superb visuals, engaging sound effects and hassle-free gameplay. This is a five-reel game featuring 20 paylines. Some of the symbols players will encounter on the reels include two-headed giants, axes, goats, watering cans and, of course, Jack himself. The lower-value symbols are represented by high playing card icons.
The game is loaded with amazing features which aim to make your gaming session more intriguing and rewarding. A round of 10 free spins is activated when the player lands three or more treasure chest symbols, which act as scatters. In addition, players will benefit from various wild symbols, including stacked, expanding and walking wilds. Moreover, the wilds come with a 3x multiplier.
The Treasure Collection is another great feature which can be unlocked whenever the player collects three or more key symbols on the fifth reel. Those who collect three key symbols will see the next wild that appears on the screen transformed into a stacked wild consisting of two moneybag symbols.
If you are lucky enough to find six key symbols, the next wild you land will be a stacked wild with three golden hens. And finally, if you find nine key symbols on reel five during your round of free spins, you will benefit from an expanding wild symbol with a golden harp. The largest prize players can win at Jack and the Beanstalk is 600,000 coins, which is rather impressive for a non-progressive slot.
