Ever since their invention, slots have become a favorite among those that enjoy challenging their luck at games of chance. They are fun to play, require zero skill, offer big wins, and they’ve come a long way since the first one, invented by Sittman and Pitt in 1891.
Today, players can enjoy a variety of slots online, games that feature amazing graphics and stirring sound effects, with gameplay that puts classic three-reel slots to shame, cowering in the dark.
As the industry grows, so does the number of game providers, as new ones are constantly popping up. Thus, the possibility of the games on offer drying up any time soon seems unlikely, as new and exciting titles hit the market week after week, all available to players through casinos not on gamstop and multiple platforms like tablets or mobiles. With that in mind, let us look as some of the best ones 2020 had to offer.
Street Fighter 2: The World Warrior Slot
There have been few announcements in recent times that have generated as much buzz as NetEnt statement at the London iGaming conference that it will release a slot based on the classic 1993 fighting game.
Street Fighter 2 is an essential part of anyone’s childhood that had so much as a fleeting interest in arcade games. That is why it was so satisfying to see that NetEnt did the game justice by creating a slot that is more-or-less a mirror replica of what we remember from the arcade.
NetEnt’s Street Fighter 2 slot features the same pixelated visual style of the original, spiced up with innovative gameplay, fantastic bonus features, and the opportunity to win 7,000 times your bet in the Beat the Boss game.
Rick and Morty Megaways
Blueprint is famous for its Megaways games, a genre that has risen to a height of popularity, few assumed was achievable. Well, having secured a deal with Cartoon Network, most did assume that it was a matter of time that the provider would release a title that would leave competitors salivating, Rick and Morty Megaways.
The unexpected hit show follows the interdimensional misadventures of the mad scientist Rick Sanchez and his fretful grandson Morty Smith. Well, now slot aficionados can enjoy them both in the slot and the Megaways format.
The game does not disappoint, as it is a highly polished product, where almost everything is top-notch. There is decent feature diversity, and players can win 50,000 times their bet or $250,000 on a single spin.
John Hunter and the Book of Tut
If you have not dabbled in online slots, then you may not be aware, but the words “Book of” are sacred. It’s hard to even count the number of games that have tried to piggyback on the success of Novomatic’s legendary product. Some, you may say, have even surpassed it. But once a classic, always a classic.
Pragmatic Play didn’t try to be overly original in the fourth installment of their John Hunter series, which is very Book of Ra-inspired. Nevertheless, that doesn’t mean that it lacks quality.
The game features a higher RTP then its source material, and while the max win is only 5,000 times a player’s initial bet, it’s an achievable goal. With visual improvements and better stats, Book of Tut is a worthy clone.
Hotline 2
If you feel like taking a trip down nostalgia lane, back to a time where people wore white Armani suits, and proudly had mustaches, then this is the game for you.
NetEnt’s sequel to its crime-themed slot, Hotline, much like its predecessor, stays within the confines of its Miami Vice-inspired setting, where the two main characters bare uncanny similarities to Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas. While the game may be a tad too similar to the original, it is still a hoot.
There may be nothing that will stick out and leave you in awe, but all aspects come together nicely. It looks great, the gameplay is satisfactory and smooth, the RTP is respectable, and you can win up to 5,184 times your bet.
Rich Wilde and the Shield of Athena
Rich Wilde is to slots what Indiana Jones is to movies. The poster-boy for a fearless adventurer that discovers mysterious relics and visits ancient sites. This marks his fifth appearance in the slot-verse, as this time he goes to unearth the secrets of Atlantis, in quest of the shield called the Aegis.
Rich Wilde rarely disappoints, and if you’re looking for him to fail here, look again. Swedish developer Play’n GO delivers and builds on what is a hugely successful franchise.
The game utilizes a conventional five-reel, three-row set up, with ten fixed paylines. It has easy to grasp gameplay, fun features, and a max exposure of 10,000 times your bet. Shield of Athena is one of the best outings in the series and a worthy successor to Book of Dead.
Black River Gold
Another entry into another series. This time, ELK Studios is up to bat with their popular Gold Series. Savvy players have heard of Kane, who has returned looking more dapper than ever, on his new quest for gold in what we assume is Canada. He has had previous failures, but he doesn’t let those slow him down, as he is hoping that he has done enough to earn a bit of luck.
Like previous entries, the slot features a six-reel, four-row grid, which expands thanks to the established Avalanche mechanic. There are no paylines. Instead, winning symbols can land in any position providing 4,096 ways to win when the default four rows are active. The game has an RTP of 96%, and you stand to win 5,000 times your bet.
If you have played any other of the Gold slots, then you know what to expect. There have been a few changes, but no major shifts. Still, the game is no clone, and we can safely count it as a sequel, one that features a less dangerous setting than before, and a Kane that is more mature, and less gritty, to the disappointment of many.
