Dated Fun with Free 3 Reel Slots
Slot gaming has come a long way over the last several centuries. Players no longer have to set aside time to visit a casino floor, pub, or game arcade to indulge. Slots have now moved to online platforms. This makes them a convenient pastime activity whenever you have a few minutes to spare.
So, what did the first slot machine games look like? Some gamers don’t realize it but slot machines from back in the day are identical to the 3-reel slots currently available at most online casinos. The only difference is that online versions can move around with you on your:
- Smartphone
- Laptop
- Tablet
How To Spot These Slots
While at your favourite online casino, don’t be surprised to find 3-reel slots being referred to as classic slots. This is just another way to ensure you know you’re playing a title that’s similar to the game’s oldest version. In case you’re wondering how you can spot these dated slot variants; the name says it all. With 3-reel variants, players only have three vertical rows displaying symbols.
Another way to spot these games is from their design. Most classic slots feature fruity symbols and bright graphics, making them hard to miss. The most common symbols you’ll find for such games are the lucky 7, the BAR, cherries and golden bells. Once you open the game, you’ll also notice that wins get announced by loud sound effects and bright flashing lights across the winning paylines.
Due to the limited space on the reels, classic slots don’t have too many symbols. You’ll even see that in most cases, the paytable gets displayed to the side of the screen. That’s because there aren’t that many paylines to consider or special symbols to trigger in-game features. The most you can expect with these releases is a wild symbol for substitutions and a scatter symbol to trigger free spins or a respin.
With so few highlights, why would anyone choose to play 3-reel slots? Something that most players don’t realize is that classic slots tend to bring in wins much faster. Whatever they lose out on with their minimalist layouts, they more than make up for with their win capacity. Whenever you need a fast-paced slots gaming session, look for these releases. Since there isn’t much to keep an eye on, the rounds move much faster than with 5-reel slots or video slots.

Design Updates For 3 Reel Slots
At the moment, most casino software developers are adopting more new-age gaming mechanisms. However, even with technological advancements in the industry, these developers recognize there’s still a large audience willing to play 3-reel slots. As such, you won’t miss finding several releases available wherever you go.
To keep up with the times, you may notice that quite a few classic slots no longer feature fruity themes. However, the simplicity of the game remains the same. So, whether you’ve chosen a 3-reel title that has holiday-themed symbols or sliced up summer fruits, you’re still enjoying a classic.
In case you’ve never thought to try 3-reel slots with your own money, we’ve got you covered. Most developers have created free trial versions of the same titles you can play using real money. Check out our assortment below to see just how many classic slots are available these days.
All the listed options have free trial versions so don’t hesitate to try them out. You never know, you might find that these options are just as good, if not better, than the more advanced slot titles. And the best thing about playing for free is you have unlimited virtual funds to thoroughly test the slot’s gameplay. In case these run out, simply refresh the game to get your virtual balance topped up. Alternatively, you can move on to try a different title instead.
