Splitting Symbols appeared as elements in online slots products released between 2020 and 2021.

As the name suggests, Splitting Symbols represent the splitting of icons, but this does not mean an additional row or column; rather, it refers to the process during payout calculations where one icon can count as two or more icons, thereby increasing the payout amount, as if an icon has split into multiple icons.

This element is commonly found in slots gameplay such as Ways, Cluster, and Grid, where the payout multipliers and the number of icons are related.

When Splitting Symbols are triggered, the icon, position, or column can be counted as multiple icons during the payout calculations of that round or multiple rounds.

This is achieved by increasing the number of icons per column in the WaysSlots payout calculation formula (Player's winnings = ∑ corresponding icon payout coefficients * product of the number of icons per column * base payout).

Based on the target of Splitting Symbols, they can be categorized into the following types:

Random Icons

Refers to randomly selected icons that undergo splitting.

This is the most widely used type of splitting icon element.

The common manifestation is that during the reel spin, a mini-reel is used to randomly draw standard icons.

The mini-reel starts and stops in sync with the main reel.

This allows players to pay attention not only to the distribution of icons on the main reel but also to whether the selected random icon is a high-payout icon.

Slots products that use random icons as splitting icons generally have strong entertainment and leisure attributes.

For example, in the Slashimi gameplay introduced by Play 'N Go, the menu window in the upper left corner also spins during the reel spin.

Each round, one of all standard icons is selected for splitting.

After splitting, the icon is considered as two icons in the settlement of that round.

Therefore, the maximum multiplier achievable per round in Slashimi based on the number of icons per column is 10 * 10 * 10 = 1000 times.

To make it easier for players to understand, this gameplay is directly described in the introduction as having 125~1000 Ways.

This description is closer to the Expanding Reels element that increases the reel area.

The game developers probably described it this way just to make it easier for players to understand the mechanism of Splitting Symbols.

After all, there is still a significant difference in the numerical system setup between Splitting Symbols and the Expanding Reels element that increases the reel area.

Moreover, Slashimi further demonstrates a deeper use of the splitting icon element in its free spin mode.

In the free spin mode, players need to select a standard icon from the "menu."

The selected icon in the free spins will be locked as a splitting icon and will be endowed with sticky properties.

That is, during the free spins, when the selected icon stays on the reel, it not only splits into two icons but also sticks to the reel until the end of the free spins.

By enjoying the benefits of both sticky and splitting icons, players can easily achieve high payouts in Slashimi's free spins.

The full application of Splitting Symbols gives Slashimi Slots inherently higher volatility.

It allows for the compression of reel space, lowering the entry barrier for players.

If you are looking to create a leisure-oriented Slots with splitting icon elements, consider experiencing this gameplay.

Similar products that also involve drawing specific icons for splitting during reel spins include Tombstone RIP (with a bloody theme, experience with caution, may cause discomfort).

The gameplay of this product is similar to that of Slashimi, both based on random splitting icons and adding other elements to further increase the game's excitement level.

Tombstone RIP's method is to draw random splitting icons while also drawing random multipliers, further enhancing the effect of splitting icons on multipliers.

From these two highly rated products, it is not difficult to see that splitting icons often appear together with other elements that increase volatility.

When designing Slots with splitting icons, consider whether you have fully utilized the characteristics of splitting icon elements.

Fixed Positions

In addition to icon processing, some Slots gameplay opts for splitting at the trigger position.

For example, during the free spin process of the Hot Rod Racers gameplay, when a Wild icon is drawn, it can turn all high-level icons in the same row into Wild.

The positions of the successfully transformed Wild icons will be marked with special multipliers.

Each trigger increases the multiplier by +1, until the free spins end and the accumulated multipliers are cleared.

During this period, all icons that meet the winning conditions at that position can be used as multiple icons during settlement, achieving the effect of splitting icons.

This method's overall mechanism is relatively complex, not as straightforward as the combination of random icons and sticky icons.

If you are interested in this mechanism, you can search for this gameplay to experience it.

This gameplay features a Bonus Buy mechanism, making it quite convenient to experience the splitting icon element.

Whole Column Splitting

The last gameplay to be introduced, Grim The Splitter Dream Drop, features splitting icons as its main feature, even directly incorporated into the reels.

After triggering the Freegame, the number of Scatter icons at the time of triggering in that column lights up the green lights above. Each column can light up to three green lights.

Columns that successfully win with the lit green lights will allow all icons in that column to split into the specified number of icons.

Light up one—split into two.

Light up two—split into three.

Light up three—split into four.

After triggering the split, the icons lined up vividly enhance the doubling effect, and the non-winning split icons can also trigger the player's Near Win emotional response.

This product is still known for its high volatility.

And this product belongs to Line Slots.

As introduced at the beginning of this article, splitting icons are often used in Ways, Grid, Megaways Slots, where the number of icons and payout multipliers are directly related, and using them in multi-line products can be relatively complex.

Because multi-line Slots are based on Pay Line to calculate payout amounts.

Merely splitting icons does not affect the distribution of Pay Lines on the field.

Grim The Splitter Dream Drop provides a good demonstration of how to add splitting icons to multi-line products, which is the exhaustive method.

In a 3*5 column window, each position can split into up to four icons.

Therefore, the original 5 positions on the Pay Line also need to be multiplied by 4, turning into 20 positions.

This gameplay lists the payout multipliers corresponding to each icon appearing 3~20 times on the Pay Line.

As a result, the Pay Table of this gameplay is much longer than Slots of the same size and number of icons.

From the above picture, it is not difficult to see that due to the increase in payout tiers, the setting of values will be subject to significant restrictions.

After all, the split affects an entire column of icons, and increasing the payout multipliers for high-winning combinations to increase volatility may lead to excessively high or low payouts in a single round.

Therefore, if you want to use splitting icons as a Feature in Slots products, it is recommended to use them in Grid or Ways gameplay, where the number of icons per column is already used in the calculation.

On one hand, it is easier for players to understand, and developers do not need to list a long series of winning combinations and payout multipliers; on the other hand, for example, the calculation formula for Way Slots calculates the number of icons per column first, then multiplies the columns, which increases the threshold for high payout while enhancing volatility.

Difference Between Splitting Icons and Multiplier Icons

In previous introductions of functional icons, multiplier icons were mentioned.

These icons hold random multipliers, which can increase the payout multiplier of that line during settlement.

The effect of increasing payout multipliers is quite similar between the two, but there are some differences in specific applications.

The biggest difference naturally lies in the multiplier calculation formula.

In Line Slots, due to the restriction of winning lines, using multiplier icons directly affects the payout multiplier of the winning line passed by that icon, making it straightforward and clear.

However, if splitting icons are used in multi-line products, the problem of an overly long payout table mentioned above will be encountered, making the gameplay rules appear cumbersome.

In Way Slots, on the other hand, without the restriction of winning lines, multiplier icons in Way Slots generally only affect the final payout multiplier, equivalent to adding an external mechanism to the reel, but it is related to the distribution of icons within the reel. If not handled properly, it can easily make the game rules quite cumbersome.

Many Ways-type products on the market that have added multiplier icons have resulted in a poor gaming experience for this reason.

Whereas, splitting icons are like a fish in water in Way Slots.

They can be directly applied to the calculation of the number of icons per winning column in the formula.

Summary

Based on the above introduction, it is not difficult to see that splitting icons have a significant effect on optimizing the experience of Slots, especially in enhancing the gameplay's volatility.

If the volatility of the Slots you are currently designing is insufficient, and adding other doubling elements does not integrate well, consider trying splitting icons.