The Most Popular 3 Payline Slots Games
3 payline slots offer effortless gameplay as one of their most attractive traits but don’t be deceived by their simple nature. Some have more than one trick up their sleeve and are highly rewarding.
Check out below our list of popular 3 line slots in different themes and layouts from top developers like Playtech, Red Tiger and Games Global.
1. Goblin’s Cave
Goblin’s Cave is a captivating 3-reel slot machine developed by Playtech, featuring a unique theme centred around a treasure-hoarding goblin. This game stands out with its impressive high RTP of 99.32% and offers players a chance to win up to 150x their line bet.
Unlike typical slots, Goblin’s Cave introduces an innovative gameplay twist with a hold feature that activates after every spin, allowing players to hold symbols for a second spin to enhance their winning chances. Additionally, the game includes a bonus side game triggered by a special lamp icon, promising random cash prizes.
Despite its somewhat outdated design compared to newer slots, Goblin’s Cave offers a blend of classic slot mechanics and unique features, making it an interesting choice for fans of 3-reel slots or those looking for something a bit different.
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2. Fortress Charge: Reel Quest
Fortress Charge: Reel Quest slot, developed by Games Global and Crazy Tooth Studio, only has three paylines and yet comes packed full of entertaining bonus features leading you to magnificent wins of up to 16,000x your stake!
The slot offers a unique medieval adventure filled with mythic foes and treasures. Set within a 6×3 reel grid, this game stands out with its distinctive Reel Quest mechanic. Betting ranges from 0.10 to 15.00 coins, caters to various wallet sizes, and the game boasts a high RTP of 96.45%.
Players embark on a quest to storm castle walls, facing villains and obstacles to win fortunes. The game features five heroic characters – a knight, elf, dwarf, dragon, and beast – each with special skills to overcome specific enemies and obstacles. With accessories like fire potions, spears, and magic wands, heroes battle through to achieve victory and unlock treasures.
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3. Big Hitter
Big Hitter by 1×2 Gaming combines classic slot elements with a modern twist, featuring three sets of three reels, each with one payline. The design is vibrant, with bold colours set against a dark background, making the symbols stand out prominently. Accompanied by a funky soundtrack, Big Hitter creates an energetic gaming atmosphere.
With a 95% RTP and medium volatility, this game might not be the best fit for risk-averse players. Gameplay is simple, with bets applied across all reels and potential for win multipliers up to 10x.
Big Hitter lacks traditional features like Wilds, Scatters, or Free Spins but includes Win Multipliers and a Gamble feature, where players can attempt to double their winnings or lose them. This game offers a fresh take on classic slots with its multi-reel system and potential for significant multipliers, making it an intriguing option for players looking for a blend of old-school charm and modern gameplay mechanics.
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4. Golden Cryptex
Golden Cryptex by Red Tiger Gaming is an online slot that stands out with its unique code-breaking theme, rich visuals, and innovative gameplay. Set in a 5×3 slot format with 3 paylines, it features a beautifully detailed cryptex, reminiscent of a combination lock, as its central motif.
The game immerses players in a steampunk adventure, promising the thrill of cracking the cryptex code to win big, with a chance to win up to 450x your stake. The slot incorporates classic symbols with a steampunk twist and is complemented by Renaissance fair-inspired music, adding to the immersive experience.
Key features include the Golden Spins bonus and the Cryptex Code, offering players significant payout opportunities despite its medium-high volatility and an RTP of 95.78%. The game’s design, from its detailed art to the thematic music, ensures a captivating gaming experience for those who enjoy high-volatility slots with a unique twist.
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5. Dr. Wildshock: Mad Loot Lab
Dr. Wildshock: Mad Loot Lab is an engaging online slot developed by Games Global and Gold Coin Studios, known for its unique theme and exciting gameplay.
Launched on December 21, 2021, this game stands out with its high volatility, a return to player (RTP) of 96.26%, and the potential for players to win up to 25,000 times their stake. The game operates on a cluster pays mechanism across a 5×5 grid, featuring a variety of symbols from magnets and beakers to brains and scientists, each contributing to the game’s mad scientist lab theme.
Players can enjoy several special features, including Rolling Reels, Exploding Wilds, and a Free Spins bonus, enhancing the overall experience and offering numerous opportunities for big wins. The game’s design and animations are highly praised for their quality, making Dr. Wildshock: Mad Loot Lab a must-try for fans of quirky and innovative slots.
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What Are Slot Paylines?
Not to be confused with reels and rows, winning paylines in a slot are lines that generate a win based on the combination of winning symbols. So when you hit a spin button and line up several identical symbols on an active payline, you’ll be rewarded with a payout according to the paytable.
Most modern slots can calculate multiple paylines crisscrossing the reels in horizontal, zigzag, diagonal or vertical patterns. But classic 3-reel fruit slots usually come with 3 horizontal lines, hence the term 3-line slots.
3 Payline Slots Features
Most 3 payline slots indeed have less complex bonus features than their multi-line sister slots. But if you dig deeper, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how many of them have special features.
Ranging from wilds, scatters, free spins, the gamble feature, bonus rounds and multipliers, they can improve your gaming experience by boosting your winning potential and extending your gameplay.
How Many Slot Paylines Can You Have?
While retro slots usually come with one, three or five paylines, the latest modern-day slots can have multiple betways. For example, some of the most popular 5-reel or grid slots can have as many as 100 paylines. Megaways slots, on the other hand, can offer over 100,000 win ways in just a single spin. Here’s a quick example of how many paylines you can have in an online slot:
How 3 Slot Machine Paylines Work
To create a win, you need to land a number of matching symbols on a winning payline. In most 3 line slots, you need to land 2 to 3 identical symbols on the top, middle or bottom horizontal line to hit a win. However, the winning symbols must land on adjacent reels from left to right, starting with the leftmost reel. For example, you’ll need to line up a cherry symbol on reels 1, 2 and 3. The win is then calculated immediately and equates to your initial bet multiplied by the value of the winning combination as indicated in the paytable.
As you move from classic to modern multi-line slots, the payline mechanisms get a little more complicated but the more paylines you play, the more chances you have to land a win.
How to Play 3 Line Slots?
Playing 3 line slots is as easy as hitting the spin button. Find the game you want to play at your favourite online casino, adjust your bet per spin and watch the reels spin. Depending on your budget, you can stake the minimum, maximum, or anything in between. Still, as easy as it sounds, you should study the paytable and glance over the rules before playing.
Another tip we can give you is to check the game’s key stats, such as volatility and RTP, as they will impact the frequency of your wins and the overall top prize. Also, for a more immersive experience and to make your bankroll last longer, look out for 3 line slots with bonus rounds and special features.
What Are the Benefits of 3 Line Slots?
If you’ve never played slots before, these games can be a good introduction to online gaming, but there are many more benefits to playing 3 payline slots than that. Here’re just some of the most immediate from our experts:
- They’re simple: consisting of a max of 3 paylines, 3 line slots are easy to understand and don’t contain complex bonus features, making them relaxing and enjoyable to play.
- They’re fun: whether you’re new to slots or not, it’s always fun to try something different, especially if you’re after some quick and uncomplicated gameplay.
- They’re good for your bankroll: most 3 line slots offer adjustable betting levels, which is great if you have a limited budget. Plus, betting on just 3 paylines will make your cash last longer.
FAQ
Reels are the vertical columns that spin while paylines are the patterns that can read whether you landed a win or not. Therefore, a 3-reel slot refers to the slot’s layout, while a 3-payline slot indicates how many winning lines you can win on.
It depends on your playing style and budget. Multi-line slots with 10, 20 or 50 lines can be more expensive to play and eat into your budget quicker than betting on one, two or three lines. But, at the same time, more betting lines offer more winning chances.
The difference between real wins and false wins is that the false wins will make you feel like you’ve won even though you actually lost cash. Next time you play a slot, monitor your wins; if any of them appear to be less than what you bet per spin, you’ve spotted a false win.
Slot machines are powered by the random number generator (RNG), which continuously generates random number sequences per second. These numbers correlate with symbols, and if you land a symbol combination needed to create a win on an activated payline, the slot machine will calculate the prize according to the paytable. Then, the overall win will be automatically added to your casino balance for withdrawal.
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Leanna Madden is an expert in online slots, specializing in analyzing game providers and evaluating the quality and variety of slot games. With her extensive knowledge, she guides players to the best slot options, including high RTP slots and those with exciting bonus features. Leanna’s insights help players make informed decisions and enjoy rewarding slot experiences at online casinos.
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