Expanding symbols slots have been around for a while, but with a recent rejuvenation in this dynamic reel mechanic from some of the best slot providers in the industry, these games are becoming increasingly popular with online players. Learn more about slots with expanding symbols, play them for free and enjoy our informative and detailed reviews on each slot game.
Expanding Symbols Slots Casino Bonuses
Play Expanding Symbols Slot Demos
We have a vast catalogue of demo play slots here on our site from over 50 of the iGaming industry’s biggest and best developers. Our platform includes an extensive library of expanding symbol slots, all of which can be played below for free.
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How Do Expanding Symbols Slots Work?
During the bonus feature, the specific symbol you are allocated at the beginning of the free spins can trigger a reel expansion and fill all the positions available on that reel. Generally, you will need a minimum of three of the lower paying symbols to land for a reel expansion, whilst premium paying symbols tend to cause the reels to expand when only two appear in view.
Can Multiple Symbols Be Awarded?
Not all slots featuring the expanding symbol can award you multiple chances of reel expansions. The games that facilitate this feature first require players to re-trigger the bonus round. Once this has been achieved, an extra symbol can be added to your original. It should be noted that the slots that offer this style of expanding symbol game can be re-triggered several times, resulting in some instances of all payable symbols becoming active and expandable.
Can I Choose My Own Expanding Symbol For The Bonus Round?
This all depends on the expanding symbol slot that you are playing. Some of these games will automatically choose your symbol randomly, whilst others will give you the choice, which, in effect, means you get to select the volatility and potential outcome of your bonus.
What Are The Best Expanding Symbols Slots?
There are many genres of online slot games that you can play, with the volume of titles increasing every year as the game providers continue to release new and innovative material. But out of all these niches, the expanding symbol slot is one that continues to have a higher amount of new online slots added to it than the majority of the others. With so many fantastic titles to choose from, we’ve picked five of the best that we think you just have to try.
#5 Magic Mirror Deluxe 2 (Merkur)
Slot Stats: RTP 95.63% | Max Win 5,000x | Review & Demo
A damsel in distress is trapped at the top of a castle, and you’re the player perfect for rescuing her. So get ready to take on Merkur Gaming’s Magic Mirror Deluxe 2 slot, a 5-reel game with 10 fixed paylines, an RTP of 95.63%, and a maximum win of 5,000x for securing the maiden’s safety.
The main bonus round is triggered when 3 or more mirror scatter symbols land in view. Before the feature begins, the slot game will randomly award you a symbol from the paytable to act as your expanding symbol for the duration of the feature. If you can hit 3 or more scatters again, the bonus will re-trigger, and you’ll be awarded an additional symbol that can expand. If luck is on your side, all paytable symbols can become active.
#4 Book Of 99 (Relax Gaming)
Slot Stats: RTP 99% | Max Win 5,000x | Review & Demo
We’re treated to an Ancient Greek theme in Relax Gaming’s Book of 99 slot game. Why is the 99 so important in the title of this slot? Well, that’s because it comes with a massive RTP of 99%, the highest on any game you’ll find in this niche. Additional stats to tell you about are that it’s a 5-reel game with 10 fixed paylines, offering a maximum win of 10,000x bet.
There’s a bit of a twist when it comes to triggering the bonus round, as this can be done in two ways. Firstly, you have the standard trigger where 3 or more scatters appearing in view activate the feature. Secondly, there’s a collection meter that increases every time a scatter lands in view. When you collect a total of 100 scatters, the bonus will instantly trigger. Once activated via either of the two methods, an expanding symbol will be awarded randomly from the paytable and remain active for the entirety of the feature.
#3 Legacy Of Ra Megaways (Blueprint Gaming)
Slot Stats: RTP 96.01% | Max Win 50,000x | Review & Demo
Once the Megaways Slots genre exploded onto the scene, it was only a matter of time until the mechanic was included in an expanding symbol slot. As Blueprint Gaming was the first to acquire the Megaways license, this allowed them to be the first provider to make such a game, and they developed the title Legacy of Ra Megaways. This slot game is played over 6-reels with up to 15,625 ways to win active on any spin and has a maximum win of 50,000x bet.
Landing at least 3 scatter symbols in the base game will cause the free spins feature to be triggered. Players are then randomly awarded a symbol to act as their expanding symbol throughout the bonus round. The most exciting part about this game is that due to it operating on the Megaways engine, it’s possible that you can hit winning symbol expansions over thousands of ways, leading to potential big wins.
#2 Sword Of Khans (Thunderkick)
Slot Stats: RTP 95.36% | Max Win 10,000x | Review & Demo
Stand shoulder to shoulder with the legendary Genghis Khan as you prepare for hand-to-hand combat in Thunderkick’s Sword of Khans slot game. This eastern adventure sets you on a path in search of big wins as you spin your way across a 5×3 reel matrix where 10 fixed paylines and an RTP of 95.36% can help you reap rewards of up to 10,000x the bet.
During the base game, if 3 or more scatters hit, the bonus will be triggered, and you’ll receive a random amount of starting spins ranging from a minimum of 5 up to a maximum of 15. At the same time as the sword reveals your starting spin count, it will also award your expanding symbol that will be in play throughout the bonus round. Should you again hit a minimum of 3 scatters whilst the feature is in play, the sword will award more free spins and an additional expanding symbol.
#1 Legacy Of Dead (Play’n Go)
Slot Stats: RTP 96.58% | Max Win 25,000x | Review & Demo
Game provider Play’n Go has released several expanding symbol slots over the years, many of which are worthy of featuring in our top five. However, of all these games to date, our favourite is the 5-reel slot Legacy of Dead. Themed upon ancient Egypt as many of the Play’n Go “Book Style” slot games are, this version includes 10 fixed paylines, a high RTP of 96.58% and a stunning maximum win of 25,000x bet.
Making your way into the pharaoh’s tomb to play the bonus feature will require you to land a bonus symbol on at least 3 of the reels in the base game. Once activated, you’ll be awarded 8 free spins and a symbol selected randomly from the paytable, which acts as your expanding symbol. Landing 3 or more scatters whilst the feature is in play rewards an extra 8 free spins and another expanding symbol, with no limits on how many re-triggers or symbols that can be awarded.
Expanding Symbols Slots Final Thoughts
Slots that feature the expanding symbol were first made popular with the release of Novomatic’s Book of Ra slot, and since then, countless clones of this game have been made. Most players tend to have a favourite game they go to when wanting to play this genre of slot, and more often than not, that tends to be Play’n Go’s Book of Dead. In more recent times, Big Time Gaming launched Book of Gods, which piqued interest in these slot games again as the developer was incredibly popular at the time. Since then, we have seen a flurry of new slots hitting the market, including plenty featuring Megaways and some versions with a more innovative take on the mechanic, such as Nolimit City and its Book of Shadows slot.
In our opinion, this style of game has undeniably received a fair level of overkill, with almost every single provider having at least one of these slots in its arsenal. However, they are still definitely worth trying out and playing, especially when you can access them all through our free play catalogue.
Expanding Symbols Slots FAQ
Made famous by Novomatic’s Book of Ra slot, slots with expanding symbols are games that feature a bonus round where a symbol is selected for the free spin feature, which then has the ability to be triggered and expand across all positions of the reel that it lands on, with a win then being paid multiple ways.
We have a great selection of online casinos you can claim a welcome bonus at and use to play any style of online slot game you wish.
You can play slots with expanding symbols for a minimal cost and still experience all of these games’ highs and lows. Generally speaking, you should be able to get the reels spinning on any slot with expanding reels for €/£0.20 or less.