The Trends in Online Slots You Might Like to Check Out
Online slots have been a major force in the online entertainment industry in the last few years, but maybe you believe that these gambling games are all the same. The truth is that the range of slots available has increased enormously recently, with the following key trends.
The Powerful Characters in Greek Mythology
Greek mythology might not seem like the most obvious starting point for creating a slot, but this is just one of the ancient cultures that commonly pop up in the online casino world. Their popularity may be due to the presence of powerful figures like Zeus, Athena, and Hades. Each of these characters appeals to players for different reasons and makes the games seem familiar yet exotic at the same time.
Some of the current titles we can see include Wisdom of Athena and Zeus vs Hades – Gods of War on this list of the most popular slots online. These slots all have symbols that feature the main characters and other elements of Greek mythology like coins, scrolls, and pottery. The basic gameplay is similar to other slots, although some include bonus features that reference Greek mythology and the abilities of the characters featured on the reels.
The current appeal of the ancient Greek culture in the mainstream entertainment industry may help to bring even more of these games to online casinos. The upcoming Kaos series on Netflix will star the charismatic Jeff Goldblum as a modern-day version of Zeus, who realises that his empire could be about to finally crumble after all these years. Let’s not overlook the fact that Greek mythology can also be found in modern-day theatre shows like Tragedy!
The Constantly-Changing Megaways Feature
If you’ve ever played a slot machine in the past, you’re probably familiar with the layout of either three or five paylines, with a fixed number of paylines where winning combinations can be created. Many slots still look like this, but the emergence of the Megaways mechanism has meant a massive change in the way these games work.
Created by Big Time Gaming in 2015, the Megaways format is now used on many diverse games created by various developers. On every spin you make, the reels change automatically, with some symbols merging with others or separating from the rest. This means the screen looks different every time and – most crucially – it changes the number of possible ways of winning on every game you play.
This is used as a great way of breathing new life into established slot classics. The developer can keep the same characters, symbols, and features that make the game popular in the first place. They then create a new version using the Megaways format that feels fresh but doesn’t lose the basic appeal of the original.
Expanding Reels and Symbols
The static nature of the earliest land-based slot machines is easy to understand, as these were mechanical devices where the reels simply spun around until they stopped randomly. When these casino games moved online, it became possible for the people creating them to use a different, more dynamic approach.
Part of this can be seen in the trend for expanding reels and symbols. These are often included as bonus features that are triggered by getting a certain combination of symbols or racking up a series of consecutive winning spins. In games like Expanding Naughty Cupid, the key symbol is an expanding wild that includes a nudge feature. Other slots have extra positions that unlock during the free spins round, giving more ways of winning and a more exciting layout.
Wild Animals and Nature Themes
The themes we see in online slots tend to represent areas that are currently popular in the overall entertainment industry. That’s why it’s common to find games based on the year’s biggest movies or popular sports like cricket and football that we all love. So, it probably shouldn’t come as a surprise when you open an online casino and find plenty of slots based on animals.
While cute animals like cats and dogs are well represented in this genre, what catches the eye more than anything is the presence of wild animals on the reels. Buffalo King Megaways and 5 Lions Megaways let us see how wild animals can be incorporated smoothly into classic slots. The natural feel has been added to many games where these animals roam across savannahs and plains, so perhaps it could be considered part of the overall trend for experiencing nature in different ways, including walking and fishing.
What the Future Holds
The way that online slot play has been ramping up means that we can expect to see more new titles added. The trends we looked at don’t appear ready to run out of steam any time soon, but that shouldn’t stop new themes and features from appearing in new games.