25-Line Slots
If you were to sign into an online casino and open any game at random, it would be a fair bet that you would end up playing either a 25-line or a 30-line slot. This is because they represent the most numerous video slots on the market. We could not say with any sort of certainty, but we would hazard a guess that the 25-line slot machine has the edge in terms of numbers. It is, after all, the older of the two games, and that would naturally give it a more extensive library.
Of course, there are all manner of slots out there now. Some software providers have bumped up the number of lines, with 243 ways to win and MegaWays games popular and offering hundreds of thousands of lines. New 25-line slots continue to be produced, though, and they remain hugely popular with players in the online casino world.
Best 25-Line Slot Machines
What Are 25-Line Slots?
It is fair to say that 25-line slot games make up one of the largest arrays of slots you can find and that they remain popular with players. But why? We like to think it is because they offer everything you need and are affordable at the same time.
Twenty-five-line slots can offer you more than enough paylines to win on, and the availability of paylines means that it is rare that you will land a three-of-a-kind combo and not see it springing up on one of the slot’s paylines.
Slot machines with twenty-five paylines will have half a dozen (often more) paylines that run straight across the reels, with some dipping down and rising as they go. Other paylines will stretch diagonally across the game board, while some take almost bizarre routes across the screen. Fortunately, you can check the paylines, either by looking at a video slot’s paytable or by holding your mouse over one of the numbered lines to see the pattern it forms.
As with most slots, you will need to land winning combos on a payline, and there will need to be at least three identical symbols in that combo to pocket a prize. This does not explain why 25-line slots are popular, though. The main reason for this is that they tend to come with all the trimmings. You can expect to see wild symbols and scatters; there are often free spin bonuses and even click and win rounds to be had. Some may even deliver randomly triggered bonuses and modifiers. On top of that, they usually have some of the most flexible wagering ranges around, making them suitable for high-roller and players on a budget alike.
How Does Having 25 Lines Affect RTP, Volatility and Hit Frequency?
The number of paylines in a slot can directly impact features such as RTP, volatility and hit frequency. However, most slots with twenty-five lines are entirely unimpacted by their payline structures. This is because the classic 25-line slot is considered “the norm”. Even so, it is worth checking out RTP, volatility and hit frequencies all the same:
- RTP: Play 25-line slots free at online casinos, and you will notice one thing. They all have different RTP rates. This is because the number of paylines in 25-line slot slots does not directly impact the RTP. The amount made available to win from every stake is determined by the slot provider beforehand.
- Volatility: Despite having the same number of reels and paylines, slots with 25 lines can vary wildly from when another when it comes to volatility. It is the features of the games themselves (coupled with the software provider’s own personal choices on the number of symbols, stakes and payouts) that affect the volatility level of 25-line slots. Most will hover around the medium to low variance mark, but there are certainly highly volatile 25-line games you can play out there.
- Hit Frequency: Again, the hit frequency can vary from slot to slot. Most 25-line slots have a moderate hit frequency of around 30% to 35%. However, some have far less. The number of symbols appearing on the screen, coupled with the number of rows and paylines you have active, can affect how regularly you land hits when spinning the reels of slots with the classic twenty-five-line payline structure.
