Five reel slots games were the first step in the slots evolution. Five reel slots offered players more ways to hit a payout and more wagering options. Players could now choose which lines they wanted to bet on, or they had the option to bet on all of them. With so many ways to hit smaller payouts these games immediately became popular with slots game players.

Five reel video slots games were the first slots games to offer bonus rounds where players would win extra credits or free spins if certain combinations hit, or if a player collected enough hits of a certain symbol over numerous spins. The bonus rounds were a big feature for the players, offering a break in the action and a bonus win at the same time.