Ghostbusters Slot Machine

The Films

In case you've unfamiliar with the franchise, here's what you can expect from the films. There have been three in total so far.

Ghostbusters Slots

This five-reel game has 40 paylines that pay from left to right. High rollers should be more than pleased with the wagering opportunities, as up to $250 can be risked on a spin. In addition to featuring the catchy theme song, the game includes clips from the first film and a number of audio clips from actors such as Bill Murray.

The paytable is as follows.

• Wild

  Comes in two forms: the adorable Slimer and the frightening librarian from the beginning of the first film. Five pays 500, four pays 200, and three pays 40.

• Dr. Peter

  The lovably flippant scientist portrayed by Bill Murray pays 200 for five, 50 for four, and 20 for three.

• Dr. Ray Stantz

  Dan Aykroyd's on-screen persona pays 250 for five, 75 for four, and 25 for three.

• Dr. Egon Spengler

  The quirky scientist portrayed by the late Harold Ramis pays 250 for five, 75 for four, and 25 for three.

• Winston Zeddemore

  A later addition to the Ghostbusters team, Ernie Hudson's character pays 200 for five, 50 for four, and 20 for three.

• Louis Tully

  Played by Rick Moranis, this bumbling host for the demonic Vinz Clortho pays 150 for five, 30 for four, and 10 for three.

• Ghost Trap

  Used to hold ghosts until they can be put in the central holding unit. Pays 125 for five, 25 for four, and 5 for three.

• Ectomobile

  This converted ambulance serves as the primary vehicle for the Ghostbusters. Pays 125 for five, 25 for four, and 5 for three.

• Proton Pack

  Generates a beam of energy that can be used to capture ghosts (but don't cross the streams). Pays 125 for five, 25 for four, and 5 for three.

• PKE Meter

  Used to track ghosts and deliver Psycho Kinetic Energy readings. Pays 100 for five, 20 for four, and 5 for three.

• Ecto Goggles

  Allows the wearer to see invisible ghosts. Pays 100 for five, 20 for four, and 5 for three.

There are four mystery features that can be triggered after any base reel outcome (with the exception of outcomes that trigger a bonus round). These include the following:

• Multiplier

  A 2x to 5x multiplier applies to all wins on the current spin.

• Wild Reels

  Watch as one to three reels get slimed and turn into wild symbols.

• Cash Awards

  A random cash prize is awarded that can be from 50 to 1000 times your coin value.

• Extra Wilds

  One to four reel positions are turned wild. Any position on the reels that shares a corner or edge with one of these transformed symbols may also get turned into a wild.

There are two bonus features in the Ghostbusters slot machine, and both are listed below:

• Ballroom Busters Bonus

  Activated when you get two ghost bonus symbols and a Slimer bonus symbol. Six ghosts are hiding behind highlighted objects in the ballroom, and you get five proton shot to try and uncover them. If you select an area with a ghost, you'll win an award. This prize may also receive a bonus multiplier ranging from 2x to 5x. Once all proton shots have been expended, the round ends.

• Stay Puft Free Spins Bonus

  Activated when you get two ghost bonus symbols and a Stay Puft Marshmallow Man bonus symbol. The movie's four heroes are present in this round, but most of the other symbols have been changed to meet the Stay Puft theme. The top reward is the Stay Puft wild symbol, which pays 250 for five, 100 for four, and 25 for three. The player receives eight free spins to begin the round, and it's played on 40 paylines with the same value that triggered the bonus. Marshmallows can land on a reel position following a spin, turning them into a locked wild that stays for the rest of the round. The Win Meter may also open after a spin, sucking in a marshmallow and giving the player 50 to 1000 times their triggering value.

Ghostbusters: Who Ya Gonna Call? Slots

Released as a sequel to the game discussed above, Ghostbusters: Who Ya Gonna Call should have players reminiscing about the 1980s, tapping their toes to the sounds of Ray Parker Jr., and winning some extra cash in the process.

The green poltergeist nicknamed "Slimer" has taken over the reels, and the traditional seven symbols are now covered with a thick, ectoplasmic resin. The other symbols are a mixture of iconic images from the game, including the Ectomobile and a still frame from the bizarre Ghostbusters TV commercial shown in the first film. The ghost trap icon is especially noteworthy, as it awards both multipliers and random wilds during the base game.

Hitting large cash awards also unlocks scenes from the original movie. One of my favorites involves Ray Stantz (Dan Aykroyd) running around a corner to discover an immobilized Peter Venkman (Bill Murray). When Ray asks if he's okay, Venkman utters the immortal line, "He slimed me."

At the beginning of a bonus round, Slimer spins a massive wheel and awards either a bonus feature or one of several progressive prize picks. My favorite feature is the Bag 'Em & Tag 'Em Bonus, where you get to choose from four ghost-infested areas in New York City. By zapping the spirits you find in these locations, you'll be able to earn credits and multipliers. The Firehouse Free Spins Bonus is also worth noting, as extra wilds and multipliers are awarded on every rotation of the reels.

Ghostbusters: Triple Slime Slot Machines

The most recent installment in this series of IGT slots, Ghostbusters: Triple Slime features five reels, 720 ways to win, and a 300-credit maximum wager. If you want to activate all the reels, you'll need to risk a minimum of 50 credits.

If you're accustomed to slots with traditional reels, this product may take a little getting used to. That's because the five reels are set up in a 3x4x5x4x3 configuration, meaning that some reels display more symbols than others. While this may seem unusual, it's the entire reason why the game offers 720 different winning combinations.

In addition to all the sights, sounds, and symbols you would expect from the Ghostbusters slot, the game also includes a couple of special features. These include the following:

• Slimer Scatter Feature

  Available during the base game, this feature is triggered by getting three or more scatter symbols. When this happens, the scatters transform into miniature wheels and begin spinning. Once the wheels stop, the final value for each is added together and rewarded to the player.

• Triple Wheel Spin Bonus

  In order to unlock this bonus feature, you'll need to get at least seven scattered bonus symbols. You'll then enter the bonus game and be challenged with trapping ghosts. Each time you select a poltergeist, you'll receive pointers on one of three colored reels, as well as extra credits and multipliers. Once you've banished as many ghosts as possible, the eligible wheels spin to determine your final cash haul.

Ghostbusters Slots: A Summary

The Ghostbusters franchise first appeared in 1984, but it's maintained a place in pop culture ever since. The 2016 all-female reboot is sure to help, and IGT has also done their part by releasing a series of Ghostbusters slot machines. These games feature all the original characters, as well as iconic items such as the Ectomobile and ghost traps. Whether you're looking for an online diversion or a new land-based casino favorite, these licensed products should fit the bill. Just remember: whatever you do, don't cross the streams.