Slot machine games are arguably the most prominent example of the creativity present within this industry. Slot games became a staple of casinos in the early 20th century, just over 100 years ago. Around the same time, roulette, blackjack and other casino games were becoming popular. One distinction that sets slot gaming apart is that while roulette and poker have primarily remained the same, slot machine gaming has taken on an entirely new dimension.
This new look has manifested in several ways. Larger reels, better graphics, more substantial jackpots, video slots and unique, captivating slot themes like horror musical slots are just a few notable examples of how the industry has continued to evolve. However, for many gamers and analysts who examine how the sector works, the creative use of themes has helped fuel this popularity. Today, we will explore the themes that have grabbed gamblers’ attention and helped designers become big names.
Ancient Rome
It’s unclear where the first idea for ancient Rome-themed games slot emerged. Many mythology-based slots attracted a big land-based casino gaming audience when the internet transformed the industry. The immense success of ancient Rome slot themes is ironic, considering that gambling was banned in the ancient empire. One component that many analysts highlight as the success of ancient Rome slots is that it draws on mystique, aura and characters that grab attention.
Roman mythology is still interesting to millions of people; it’s not just historians who take a particular interest in the topic. It is this underlying, passive interest that has channelled into the subconscious of a lot of games slotgames. Another vital component is that companies that specialize in the design of mythology games often scoop awards for their innovation, graphic design, music, backdrop and gameplay.
So, in many ways, it’s more about the innovation of the design than the slot itself, but there’s no denying the overall popularity of this theme. Olympus, Poseidon, Apollo, Zeus and Hades are all common names you see if you take a look at slot game selections. Combined with Egyptian and Norse mythology, they occupy a sizeable market chunk.
Asgardian and Norse Gods
Many of our points about Ancient Rome mythology also apply to Asgardian and Norse gods. It is often intriguing when film or TV ventures into tales of the unknown, with a hint of mythology, and it is a standard tool used by writers, which can often stir up interest and captivate an audience in equal measure.
It’s this methodology and psychology that games slot designers have in mind when they bring any of the 12 Norse gods into the picture, and rather interestingly, it’s only two or three Norse gods that command popularity in slot gaming.
Greek and Egyptian mythology tends to see a lot more variety, but with Norse and Arsgadian themes, it is primarily either Odin or Thor who will act as the theme for the overall game. Thor’s hammer and Odin’s wisdom usually act as a base for designers to try their hand at providing a unique, fresh experience for gamers. Given the depth of some of these tales and the complexity of these characters, it’s another strong reason why the games continue to generate popularity.
Candy
Candy-themed slots help to bring in just as many gamers as the mythology themes we have already discussed, but for an entirely different set of reasons. By not having to rely on pre-existing, gripping tales of folklore, candy-themed slots start on a blank canvas. Renowned for their radiant, vivid and vibrant displays, candy slots strike a strong image both visually and from a gaming perspective.
Gamers will often attach positive emotions to the idea of candy. For those of us who have a sweet tooth, candy slots can strike a chord with us in a way that not many other slot themes can. Some of the biggest names that specialize in this theme have set themselves apart from the rest of the competition by providing a platform and foundation for these games to flourish.
Smash-hit mobile games like Candy Crush highlighted the big market for this type of themed game. So, it was only natural that casino companies and designers that concentrated on mobile casino gaming took a shot at making a game that tried to corner this immense portion of the market and pivot it toward casino games.
Cats and Kittens
Millions of us have beloved feline pets at home, and it’s tapping into this subconscious love for our pets that is the angle many slot game designers have aimed for over the last decade. Cats and kittens slot games are immensely popular and appeal to gamers worldwide. Many of these games fall into the same bracket as candy slots because they have vivid imagery and bright, welcoming music, which help to complement their design.
Animal slots are generally popular but cats, kittens and fish slots tend to have a bigger draw for the audience. The exact science behind the popularity of cats and kittens slots isn’t thoroughly understood. Still, many think it ties into the fact that many of us have them as pets, the slots are usually nicely put together and the games are inviting. Some other games slot feature hectic and imposing music, but it’s not the case for cats and kittens slots, which are bubbly and bouncy.
Egyptian
If we were to choose one theme that stands out as the most popular in the entire slot machine industry, then we could make a pretty good argument for Egyptian slots. The Egyptian theme seems to find an even broader market than other mythology slots. There might be a few explanations for this, but one of the main reasons is that Egyptian mythology borrows from real-life history.
For instance, Greek mythology involves mythological beings and supernatural tales. Grand backdrops in the clouds or at the top of mountains also help to supplement the mystique. However, Egyptian slots are often based on real-life backdrops or people, such as the pyramids or Tutankhamun. Perhaps the fact that these games slot take inspiration from genuine, real-life Egyptian history and design is what makes them such a popular theme for so many.
Holiday
As you have probably gathered, appealing to the positive mental imagery of gamers is a vital component of many slot designs. Whether it’s candy slots, drumming up the image of a nice, sweet dessert, or a cats and kittens slot that remind us of our cuddly pets, much thought goes into the design of many of these games.
Holiday slots work in a similar fashion. Holiday companies generate big business for people all over the UK. By appealing to activities or items you enjoy, game slot designers channel into positive imagery and get you to check out their slots. It takes more than this for people to enjoy a theme as much as holiday slots, though. But the bright imagery, use of colours, intriguing backdrops and music are all prominent elements that contribute to the overall success of this theme.
Movies
Movie slots have a head start on a lot of the competition. Many of us are drawn to our favourite films or TV shows, so naturally, if we see a game slot that is tailored to this interest, we’re more likely to check it out. Some of the biggest names in the design sector have climbed on board with iconic movies and helped to design games that are captivating to play, and contain images, music and symbols from landmark movies – trademark included.
Pirates
Including treasure hunting, adventure and tales of the unknown, pirate-themed films have proved to be a big draw over the last couple of decades. Often, you’ll find that slot game designers will identify popular media such as video games, movies or TV shows, and aim to capture the popularity of that genre at that time. While that might be true for when pirate slots first emerged, they’ve managed to keep a core audience by leaning into the music, design and backdrop that helped to fuel the pirate-filmed renaissance in the mid to late 2000s.
Treasure Hunters
The whole premise of slot gaming is the lure of winning the jackpot. While you should never play casino games just for financial gain, the idea of landing a jackpot is one way of ‘hunting for treasure’ – in a roundabout way. Many of these games lean into the theme and have treasure chests, adventure mini-games and golden, bright colour schemes that help sell the titles. In many ways, treasure slots bear many similarities to the pirate slots we mentioned above.
Video Games
It’s no surprise that video game slots are popular. By borrowing influence from a tried and tested, successful avenue of gaming, video game slots aim to take the joy and fun of playing console games and embed it into slot machine gaming. The benefit of video game themes is that they can look to various genres for influence. There are sports video games, iconic characters and designs that mimic their successful console alternatives.
In addition, slots also benefit from product visibility. Among a sea of common themes or similarly-named offerings, video game slots can stand out through brand alone, and this has helped sell them on a grand scale to slot machine enthusiasts.