Sometimes, a particular format of game simply clicks with players in a way that leaves them wanting more. Just like in other forms of entertainment, where, for instance, a popular movie will often see additional installments to give fans what they want, slots can similarly serve up extensions of a game mechanic that take players in different directions.
Playtech expertly does this with their Collect‘Em family, sometimes known as a power suite, offers players not only a variety of themes, including recognizable brands from entertainment, but also variations on the game mechanics, ensuring that it’s not just a basic retheme – there’s variations that keep things fresh and fun for players as each new version comes out.
Whether you’re a Collect‘Em fan or newer to online slots, you may not be familiar with the variety available, and here we’ll cover some of the main variations and some of the themes you can find around them.
Things in Common Throughout the Series
There are a few core elements that are true throughout the various Collect‘Em Family slot titles that provide some consistency and predictability at its foundation.
The Collect‘Em Catalyst Symbol
The Collect‘Em symbol is the namesake of the series, and is also what is known as a catalyst – a symbol that needs to appear for a feature to activate.
In this case, it’s a very descriptive name for what this symbol represents – it collects prizes that may fall on coins throughout the reels on a given spin, awarding what the coins represent.
Traditionally in the base game Collect’Em symbols appear on reel 5, with more chances to land them in the free games (as well as often land multiple, collecting prized multiple times on a single spin).
The coins can feature credit prizes, Collect’Em Prizes (fixed prize jackpots that change proportionally to bet, represented by a Diamond), and free games, which are denoted with a +X setup on the reels.
This format means there aren’t bonus symbols scattered on the reels to collect – one +X and a Collect‘Em and you’re in to the free games. More than one coin featuring free games, and you can collect them all to build a larger pool of free games as your reward.
Collect’Em Prizes
Each title in the family incorporates the ability to win Collect’Em Prizes, four fixed prizes that change proportionally with bet. A special symbol on a coin indicates one will be awarded with the Collect’Em symbol, and it is awarded at random.
Core Collect‘Em Themes
These stick closest to the Collect‘Em format, but even within this series there are some unique elements that can be found.
These games include:
- Walking Dead Collect’Em: Three different Collect’Em symbols lead to different variations of Free Games based on which color collects the Free Games at the time of the trigger.
- Azteca Collect’Em: Wheels appear above the reels, and when a wheel symbol is collected by the Collect’Em symbol, you get to spin for a prize (or an upgrade to the next wheel up).
- Leprechaun’s Luck Collect’Em Megaways: This game combines elements of the popular Megaways series, such as the six reels, variable height reels, and cascading wins with the core Collect’Em elements of collecting prizes and free games.
- Alohawaii Collect’Em: During Free Games, the Collect’Em feature is followed by a Prize Drop feature offering the chance to collect prizes multiple times.
Collect ‘Em & Link Themes
This variation in the Collect ‘Em series adds an additional element, the Link coin, which when collected triggers a hold and respin bonus to land and ultimately collect more prizes.
The biggest variation falls in this set of slots is the existence of a Mega Link coin, which can up the ante in unique ways.
Games with it include:
- Breaking Bad Collect’Em & Link: If the Link is triggered with a Mega Link coin, some prize values will be increased.
- Wolves! Collect’Em & Link: the Mega Link coin will add multipliers to some spaces, multiplying those prizes that land in them during the Link feature.
- Piggies and the Bank Collect’Em & Link: The Mega Link coin adds a space above each reel; fill a reel and an additional prize is awarded (credits, a Collect’Em Prize, Free Games or a multiplier for the prizes collected in that reel).
- Blue Wizard Collect’Em & Link:
Mega Collect ‘Em Themes
Mega Collect’Em games feature a larger reel set with an additional space in the middle three reels. During free games the reels can get even taller by unlocking additional rows, and feature special symbols on the reels to further amp up the potential. Collect ‘Em symbols also appear on both reels 1 and 5 in the base game.
Game in this sub-series include:
- Lil’ Demon Mega Collect’Em: Collect’Em symbols persist on the reels, moving one space down on the reels each spin until they reach the bottom of the reels, in which they’ll fall off on the following spin. Arrows can nudge them back up a space, keeping them around longer.
- Queen of the Pyramids Mega Collect’Em: Collect’Em symbols lock on the reels for a few spins instead of only being active for the spin they landed.
Explore the Collect’Em Family on Your Favorite Online Casino
Playtech’s Collect’Em series appears on a variety of licensed online casinos throughout the United States, available in states which have legal online casino platforms to enjoy.
Once you discover what the Collect’Em family of slots has to offer, you’ll want to give them all a try, and with more than a dozen options and growing, there’s plenty of options to explore
