Review of mechanics in slots with a bonus purchase

The Buy Feature has changed the perception of modern video slots. Whereas previously players had to spend hundreds of spins to wait for the bonus round, now one purchase is enough to go straight to the main part of the game. However, the value of the bonus is determined not only by its availability, but also by the mechanics that are laid down by the developers. Below is an overview of the main solutions that make bonus purchases varied and spectacular.

1. Cascade winnings

Classic mechanics of Megaways and many slots from Pragmatic Play and Big Time Gaming. Each win removes symbols from the screen, and new ones fall in their place. When buying a bonus, the player immediately falls into a series of spins, where the cascades can be repeated dozens of times in a row. This system is especially effective in combination with progressive multipliers (Extra Chilli, Gates of Olympus).

2. Progressive factors

The multiplier increases from back to back or cascade to cascade. When buying a bonus, the player instantly starts a round where the coefficient increases during the game, turning even small combinations into significant wins. Примеры: Gonzo’s Quest Megaways, Sweet Bonanza, Money Train 3.

3. Sticky and expanding Wild

Wild symbols are fixed in place or stretched across the reels, amplifying each rotation. In slots like The Dog House Megaways, buying a bonus with sticky Wild allows you to immediately start the game with a grid where key positions are occupied by multipliers.

4. Mystery and Random options

The player can buy a bonus with an element of randomness: for a lower price, a "lottery" is available, where the round turns into either a basic or Super Bonus. This adds a strategy: take a chance and save or overpay for a guaranteed premium mode. Examples: San Quentin, Deadwood.

5. Special characters with unique functions

In some slots, buying a bonus gives access to additional symbols: collectors, reseters, doublers. They increase multipliers, extend the bonus, or collect winnings. A striking example is Money Train 2 and 3, where special characters completely determine the outcome of the bonus round.

6. Select a freespin mode

The player can choose the type of bonus: stable, but less profitable, or extremely volatile. For example, in Dead or Alive 2 or The Dog House Megaways, different freespin options are available, and buying a bonus allows you to immediately experience any of them.

7. Respins with accumulation

Some bonus purchases trigger respins, where each new symbol prolongs the game. The final win is formed only at the end. This mechanic creates maximum stress and is ideal for Buy Feature. Examples: Money Train, Fire in the Hole.

8. Extreme multipliers and win limits

In slots with exclusive mechanics (San Quentin, Tombstone RIP), buying a bonus is associated with potential winnings up to 150 000x. Here the mechanics are based on the gradual accumulation of multipliers and rare explosive combinations.

What unites these mechanics

Maximum dynamics. Buying a bonus removes "empty" time and immediately shows the best elements of the game.
High volatility. Most of the slots with Buy Feature are designed for rare but large winnings.
Strategic choices. Players decide whether to overpay for a Super Bonus or take a chance with Mystery.

Result

Slots with a bonus purchase function are not just quick access to freespins, but a whole set of mechanics that make the game unique. Cascades, progressive multipliers, sticky Wild and Mystery modes form the basis of modern gameplay. Buy Feature transforms bonus mechanics from a random event into a game control tool, allowing the player to independently determine the pace and level of risk.