They are the original slot machines, the one-armed bandits and fruit machines found at your local - the 3-reel slots! These games have been around since the very invention of the slot machine, and the fact they are so enduring should tell you all you need to do about them.
Modern players might find 3-reel slots limited, and they admittedly are compared to modern video slots. But then again there are times where you simply want to relax with a game that is as uncomplicated as possible. That’s where 3-reel slots fit the bill perfectly! No fancy symbols, no complicated bonus features, it’s just familiar fruit symbols and straightforward gameplay. Ready to join us on a trip into the most appealing 3-reel real online money slots you can play this year?
Check Out The Slingo Top 3-reel Slot Games for 2025
It’s easy to recognise a 3-reel slot - it, of course, has 3 reels - but with so many such games out there it’s difficult to figure out which ones are worth playing. That’s why we went through the entire Slingo catalogue of 3-reel slot games to find our favourites. After hours and hours of gameplay we boiled down the list to 7 of the finest three reel slots you can play anywhere. Do check them out and let us know which ones you enjoyed the most!
Respin Joker
Synot adds a touch of Venetian elegance and a bonus feature to the 3-reel slot in Respin Joker. The “respin” of the title kicks in whenever you land a mask wild anywhere on the reels. If this makes part of a winning combination then it will lock in place for a respin! In addition, if you manage to fill all 3 reels and 3 rows with the same symbol then the final payout will be doubled. It’s a perfect combination of old and new.
Fruit Mania Deluxe
Fruit Mania Deluxe is a classic-style Wazdan slot that adds an interesting twist to the traditional gameplay. After every spin you can choose to lock a number of symbols on the reels to potentially bring yourself a winning combination. While you’re at it, look out for the Lotto symbols. Land 3 of these in the middle row for the Lotto Bonus, which will have you choose a ticket to win an instant prize. Then there are the diamond symbols, which can also lead to prizes if you land enough on the reels.
Pentagram 5000
Realistic’s Pentagram 5000 brings classic 3-reel slot gameplay with an RTP of 97.45% and wins that can reach up to 5,000x your stake. The game features 5 winning combinations, which are formed using familiar symbols that include the Sevens, Bars, and bells, as well as the fruity likes of the melons, plums, oranges, lemons, and cherries. Note the bonus symbols spelling “PENTAGRAM” on the reels, as landing all 3 will award you with no less than 10 free spins.
Epic Joker
The Relax Gaming take on this classic format, Epic Joker features 3 reels, 3 rows, and 5 paylines combined with more modern features. First of these is the joker of the title, which is the wild. Land a full stack of these jokers for a respin with the jokers locked in place. If this leads to a second stack of jokers landing then you get another respin! If you fill all 9 reel positions with the same symbol then you’ll unlock Super Mode, which is a round of 10 free spins.
Powerspin
Powerspin has Relax Gaming bring an energetic title with visuals based around a classic fruit machine cabinet. The symbols are a mix of old and new, with the fruits, sevens, bells, and diamonds joined by batteries and lightning bolt symbols. Fill the 3 reels with the same symbol and you will receive a spin of the Bonus Wheel. This can award you with a multiplier, a symbol upgrade, or an upgrade to the highest paying symbol. Land the same symbol on 2 reels for a respin of the 3rd for a chance to trigger this feature.
Buckle Up
Playtech’s Buckle Up combines the classic 3-reel format with a racing theme, and the result is an exciting race to the finish line! In this case the race is all about landing the trophy scatter symbols. Land 3 of these anywhere on the reels and you’ll get an instant cash prize and a promotion to the next race! Land any of the 27 winning combinations available and you’ll get a spin of the special Booster reel. This can award you with one of 4 game modifiers - a prize multiplier, symbol upgrade, extra wild, or extra symbols.
Return of the Dead
Return of the Dead is a Pragmatic Play slot with an Egyptian theme, exciting high volatility gameplay and 97.1% RTP. The key symbol here is the book, which acts as both wild and scatter. As such it can substitute for all symbols on the reels and, if you land 3, award you with a round of free spins. This bonus feature adds a random expanding symbol that will fill the reel when landed, potentially bringing you even more winning combinations.
What are 3-reel Slot Games?
While they might not look like it, 3-reel slots have a long history that spans from the early days of these games. In fact, the very first slot machine had 3 reels! This was the Liberty Bell, which was invented by Charles Fey in the 19th century. It was operated by hand, and slot symbols such as horseshoes, card suits, and stars with which to land the single payline. The titular Liberty Bell was the highest paying symbol, with 3 in the payline being worth no less than 50c.
While immediately popular, the early slot machines soon got into trouble in the US, as various states started introducing anti-gambling laws. The solution to this was replacing the cash prizes with sweets such as gum. As a result some machine makers replaced the symbols with fruits representing the different flavours of gum available to win - which is why many 3-reel slots have fruit symbols!
Of course, these games spread across the world, including the UK. While the technology powering the machines improved the 3-reel format remained a staple, in good part thanks to its nostalgia factor. The simple gameplay is also key, as anyone can pick up and play a few rounds of a traditional one-armed bandit. Once slots hit the internet age, the 3-reel games also followed suit, and you can continue enjoying them at online casino sites just like Slingo.
Common Features of 3-Reel Slot Games
The name says it all, really. The common feature among all 3-reel slots is, obviously, the use of 3 reels! As mentioned above this originates from the earliest mechanical slots, and while many slots these days feature 5 reels we still find plenty of games that continue to stick with 3 as their number of reels.
While it’s not always the case, a lot of 3-reel slots stick to a more retro style and theme. As such, you’ll quickly get familiar with the traditional symbols - the fruits (which typically consist of cherries, lemons, oranges, plums, and melons) plus the diamonds, Bars, and sevens. Gameplay is likewise simple, with typically just 5 paylines. Some games will allow you to set your number of paylines, meaning you could play with 1 payline running through the middle of the reels just like the old days!
Where to Play 3-Reel Slot Games?
There’s one place to play all the 3-reel slots you desire, and it’s right here at Slingo! We have a great selection of the best 3-reel and fruit machine-style slots out there, together with just about every other type of game you can imagine. So join us and enjoy a few spins of some truly classic titles, all available in our safe and fully licensed site.
As fun as slots can be, always remember to play them responsibly. Set a bankroll for playing 3-reel slots, and stick to it. At the end of the day these are games of chance, so there is no point to chasing any losses. Slots should be a means to relax, and are certainly not a way to make money. So again have fun playing slots here at Slingo, and as always we wish you a great day.
