SlotsMate’s Exclusive Interview with Mancala Gaming’s Head of Studio, Pantel Spyrou

SlotsMate spoke with Mancala Gaming’s Head of Studio, Pantel Spyrou, to discuss modern slot design, changing player behaviour, and what players expect from today’s games.

Take a look at how the conversation unfolds:

• What Makes Players Return to the Same Slot?
• How Interactive Mechanics Make Slot Gameplay More Dynamic?
• What Cluster Mechanics Add to the Player Experience?
• How Do Feature Shops and Buy Bonus Options Give Players More Control?
• Modern vs. Classic Slot Gameplay: What Do Players Prefer?
• What Features Keep a Slot Unpredictable Across Sessions?
• How Can Slots Be Interactive and Easy to Understand?
• The Role of Visuals, Sound, and Animations in Slot Design.

SlotsMate: When players return to the same slot more than once, what do you think usually brings them back: the theme, the mechanics, the bonus features, or the overall feeling of the game? 

Pantel: I think it's rarely just one element. The initial attraction may come from the theme or visual presentation, but what brings players back is usually the overall experience the game creates. While themes and bonus features are important, the heart of every slot is its mathematical model.

The way volatility, hit frequency, feature triggers, and rewards are balanced has a huge impact on how the game feels. Two games can have similar features, yet offer completely different experiences because of their math. 

At Mancala Gaming, we view a slot as a complete experience where mechanics, mathematics, visuals, sound, and pacing work together. When that balance is right, players don't just remember the theme, they remember how the game made them feel, and that's what encourages them to come back. 

SlotsMate: Mancala Gaming has been experimenting with more interactive slot mechanics. What kind of experience do you try to create for players when developing a new game? 

Pantel: Our goal is to create experiences that go beyond simply spinning the reels. Today's players increasingly seek more dynamic gameplay, which is why we continue to experiment with interactive mechanics and new ways to engage them. 

When developing a new game, we look for opportunities to make the player's journey more meaningful. This can come through progression systems, collection mechanics, evolving features, or moments where players feel they are working toward a goal rather than simply waiting for a bonus to trigger. 

However, innovation only works when it enhances the overall experience. Every interactive element should feel natural and contribute to the game's flow, rather than being added just for novelty. 

We also see these mechanics as an important factor in player retention. When a game offers new objectives, evolving gameplay, or reasons to keep exploring its features, players are more likely to return and continue their journey.

Ultimately, we aim to create experiences that remain engaging not only during the first session, but over the long term as well. 

SlotsMate: Many modern slots are moving beyond traditional paylines, and focusing more on engagement during the session. What makes cluster-style mechanics interesting for players? 

Pantel: Cluster-style mechanics are interesting because they change the rhythm of the game and create a different experience from traditional paylines. 

Players focus on the entire game area rather than specific lines, which often makes gameplay feel more dynamic and unpredictable. Features such as cascading wins, symbol transformations, and progression-based mechanics can create a stronger sense of momentum and anticipation. 

We also see cluster mechanics as a valuable tool for retention. They allow us to build longer gameplay journeys where players feel there is always something more to discover, making the experience engaging not just in a single session, but over time as well. 

SlotsMate: Feature Shops and Buy Bonus options are becoming more common in modern slots. From a player’s perspective, what do these features add to the experience?  

Pantel: Feature Shops and Buy Bonus options give players more control over their experience of a game. While some players enjoy the anticipation of naturally reaching a bonus feature, others prefer direct access to the game's key moments. 

We explored this approach in Moltar's Wrath, where players can access features through the Shop system or use Buy Bonus options, depending on their preferred play style. Our intention was not to replace the traditional gameplay journey, but to provide additional flexibility and choice. 

Ultimately, we see these features as a way to enhance the player experience by offering different paths through the game while keeping the focus on entertainment and engagement.

SlotsMate: Do you think players today prefer faster, more intense slot sessions, or is there still room for slower, classic-style gameplay?

Pantel: I think there is room for both. Player preferences have become much more diverse over the years, and those preferences often vary significantly across different markets and regions. 

Some geographies tend to favor faster-paced games with frequent events, interactive mechanics, and a higher level of engagement throughout the session. Others continue to show strong demand for more traditional slot experiences, where simplicity and familiarity remain important. 

Rather than viewing it as a choice between fast and slow gameplay, we see it as a matter of understanding the audience. As a studio, our goal is to create a diverse portfolio that can appeal to different player preferences across different geographies. 

The most successful games are often the ones that strike the right balance, delivering excitement and engagement while remaining accessible and enjoyable for a broad audience.

SlotsMate: Replayability is a major part of modern slot design. What features help keep a slot unpredictable after the first few sessions? 

Pantel: Replayability comes from giving players a reason to feel that each session can offer something different from the last. 

Features such as progression systems, collection mechanics, evolving bonus rounds, and interactive elements can all contribute to that experience. When players feel there are still new outcomes, objectives, or feature combinations to discover, the game remains fresh for longer. 

In today's market, strong game mechanics alone are often not enough. Players are exposed to a wide variety of content, so developers increasingly use engagement tools such as progression systems, feature shops, missions, collections, and other long-term gameplay elements to keep the experience interesting beyond the first few sessions. 

Ultimately, replayability is about creating a game that continues to reward exploration, encouraging players to return because the experience still has something new to offer.

SlotsMate: How do you balance giving players more interaction and choice while still keeping the game simple enough to understand quickly? 

Pantel: It's always a balancing act. We want to introduce mechanics that make the experience more engaging, but we also believe that players should be able to understand the core concept of a game within a very short time. 

Our approach is to keep the foundation simple and intuitive, then add optional layers of depth through features, progression systems, or interactive mechanics. This allows casual players to enjoy the game immediately, while giving more engaged players additional elements to explore over time. 

It's also important to remember that player preferences can vary significantly across different geographies. Not every market is looking for highly complex gameplay, and players shouldn't need a PhD to understand how a slot works. In many cases, the simpler and clearer the rules are, the easier it is for players to engage with the game and enjoy the experience. 

The goal is not to make a game more complicated, but to make it more engaging without sacrificing accessibility. When done correctly, interaction and simplicity can coexist, creating an experience that is both easy to understand and rewarding to revisit.

SlotsMate: What role do visuals, sound effects, and animations play in making a slot feel exciting enough to return to?

Pantel: Visuals, sound effects, and animations play a crucial role in shaping how players experience a game. While mechanics drive the gameplay, audiovisual elements help create excitement, anticipation, and a stronger emotional connection. 

A memorable animation, visual effect, or sound can make a feature feel far more rewarding and can reinforce the game's identity. However, player behavior is evolving, and many players enjoy slots while commuting or traveling, often with the sound turned off. This creates an interesting challenge for studios like Mancala Gaming, as we need to ensure the experience remains engaging even in silent mode through strong visual feedback, animations, and game flow. 

Ultimately, when visuals, sound, and gameplay work together effectively, they help create experiences that players want to return to.

Our thanks to Pantel Spyrou for agreeing to take part in this interview and for sharing Mancala Gaming’s perspective with SlotsMate!