Slots players are always looking for more ways to win on their favorite machines. Traditionally, this meant playing more paylines in order to open up more potential winning combinations, but this came with a downside: each new line cost more coins, so the more potential to win you wanted, the more you had to pay to earn it.

But a new brand of slot machines has flipped this concept on its head. Known as “all ways” games, these machines ask you to pay one flat price in order to get access to every possible winning combination of symbols. Not only does this greatly increase your odds of winning on each spin, it also allows you to do it affordably. And 1024 ways games may be the most exciting of all the entries in this genre of gaming.

1024 ways games are easy to play, as they follow most of the rules and procedures of standard slot machines. The object is to match symbols consecutively across the reels (these games always feature five reels) from left to right. Match enough symbols in a row – usually three or more – and you’ll win a prize, with longer combinations resulting in bigger rewards. There are often a host of?special features included to spice up gameplay, including wild and scatter symbols, bonus rounds, free spins, and so on.

What makes these slots different from the typical game is one word we haven’t talked about yet:?paylines. In a 1024 ways slot machine, there is no such thing as a payline. Instead, you get access to every possible left-to-right combination, regardless of where exactly on each reel your matches appear. The player simply pays one price and has access to every combination of wins. Of course, that doesn’t mean everyone has to play for the same amount: coin denominations and the number of coins played can still vary, but that will only impact the stakes you are playing for – not the number of lines you are playing.

The number of “ways” a machine is described as gives you some insight into just how many paylines you effectively have when you play it. For instance, 1024 refers to the fact that there are five reels, each of which has four symbol positions. Since all possible combinations work, the number of “lines” on the game is equal to 4x4x4x4x4 – or 1,024.

While they aren’t as common as the better known 243 ways slots, many?online casinos feature at least a few 1024 line games for you to choose from. The following are just a few of the many games in this line that have proven to be popular amongst players.

• Lucky Panda: This game was Playtech’s first venture into the world of 1,024 way games. Players are allowed to bet up to 72 coins on this game, which carries a heavy Chinese theme. Wilds, multipliers, and free spins abound, making this a game that stays exciting on each and every spin.

• Hot Ink: This tattoo-themed machines comes courtesy of Microgaming, one of the leaders in “all ways” slots. You’ll enjoy beautiful art (much of which mimics classic tattoo designs) while you spin the reels hoping to hit a jackpot worth as much as 10,000 coins. With several bonus rounds, you’ll never get bored playing Hot Ink.

• League of Fortune: Another game from Microgaming, this 1,024 ways product features coins that only cost a penny or two to play – but you can play up to 500 at a time, potentially making this a rather high stakes game. With a slick ocean exploration theme, a free spins game, and an interesting and customizable gamble feature after winning spins, this is one of the best examples of how all ways machines should be designed.

1024 ways games are fun and exciting, but there are other, similar slots that might also interest you if you enjoy this sort of gameplay. Perhaps the most famous of these are the 243 ways slots, which have become almost a standard part of any online casino.

Why is the 243 line format so popular? Again, the answer is math. The five-reel, three-position format is a classic, and 3x3x3x3x3 equals 243 winning combinations. Since players are used to this style of game, and designers are also comfortable making games that look and feel this way, creating all ways versions of this format was an easy choice. There are numerous titles in this style that are popular, but some of the most successful include?Thunderstruck II and The Dark Knight Rises.

If you want even more possibilities to win, there’s a step up in complexity that few have tried: the 3,125 ways machine. How is such a monstrous game possible? It’s easy: add a fifth symbol position to each reel, and now the match adds up! One well-known examples of this is Dolphin Coast, an exciting and?highly volatile game found at Microgaming casinos.

A slightly different format is the “pay both ways slots” style, something that’s actually quite a bit different from what we’ve talked about on this page. In these games, you’ll be able to win both left-to-right and right-to-left, meaning you’re usually in the game with a chance to cash in right until the final reel stops into place.