Although they are very broad categories with numerous niches of games within them, generally slots can be broken down into two camps: video slots and classic slots.
There’s some general differences between them, with the individual needs of players often better suited by one type over the other.
So here’s your guide to video slots vs classic slots… let’s discover which category is perfect for your playing style.
What are Video Slots?
Most of the real money slots that you will encounter at an online casino can be described as a video slot.
These offer a wide range of themes, from ancient Egyptian adventuring to deep sea fishing, and a host of different game mechanics: Megaways, cascading reels, free spins rounds, bonus features and the like.
Video slots often contain animated content and even cut scenes, which can help to immerse the player more deeply into the game.
This category of game also incorporates licensed material, from Hollywood movies and TV shows to sports stars and famous faces.
What are Classic Slots?
Classic slots have been designed to emulate the fruit machines and ‘one armed bandits’ of yesteryear.
It would be fair to describe classic slots as basic in their design. There will be a set number of reels and fixed paylines – typically, one through to five.
There will be little in the way of theme when it comes to classic slots, with the quintessential symbols – cherries, lemons, bells, lucky number sevens – the focal point of the action.
Classic slots feature little if any animation or additional content, while the soundtrack may amount to the occasional stab of a synth or plinky-plonky piano.
Classic Slots vs Video Slots: Key Differences
At their very heart, both of these slot machine types are one and the same.
The objective for players – to land matching combinations of symbols on paylines (or as patterns in an ‘any way pays’ combo) – remains the same across the board.
And the driving force of slot games, from their random number generators to their RTP and variance levels, are also similar… no matter how the on-screen content is presented.
All slots, be it video or classic, must be fair and unpredictable, as well as satisfying their stated RTP – which is independently tested and verified by third party agencies.
So while the basic mechanics of video and classic slots are the same, the way in they are delivered on screen is wholly different.
Classic slot gameplay is as straightforward as it comes. Spin the reels and match symbols on a payline – it doesn’t get any more advanced than that. Yes, some classic slots were designed with scatter and wild symbols to enhance the action, but for the most part this is slot gaming at its most accessible.
Video slots, meanwhile, have tested the boundaries of what is possible. These games feature unique mechanics, from cascading and tumbling reels to thousands of different ways to win with each spin, as well as free spins rounds and bonus wheel mini games, to name just a few.
Not only that, video slots are able to incorporate high definition video and audio – a game changer, particularly for licensed games based on famous movies or even bands, such as the NetEnt Rocks series.
And the visuals of video slots, particularly those released in recent years that have been designed with super high-resolution phone and tablet screens in mind, are as impressive as any you would find on a games console.
So how would we define video slots vs classic slots? By concluding that they are the same but different… if that makes sense!
Which Slot Will You Play Next?
It would be fair to say that the tastes and preferences of players has changed over the years, directly in line with the technology that they have at their disposal.
Rewind 20 years and online slots were in their infancy, with tech that couldn’t really support anything but the most basic of games – even so, the best classic slots of that era have stood the test of time and are still widely played to this day.
You’ll find scored of classic slots here at Prime Slots, which sit alongside the latest and best video slots. Which you choose to play will largely be dependent upon your own preferences: the simplicity and elegance of classic slots, or the immersive, all-action style of video slots?
If you want to add a competitive element to your gaming, you can choose to enter slot tournaments, where prizes including cash payouts and free spins could be won. But what are Slot Tournaments? Read our dedicated article to find out.
