Online slot games, much like any consumer entertainment in the modern day, have to compete with every other slot game on a digital dashboard. So, at least to get player initial interest, a strong and recognizable theme is important. Over the decades this has led slot developers to try out almost every theme imaginable – and many of them tie in to pop culture trends.
From licensed games that tie in with musical acts, TV shows, films or video games, to sport themes or the enduring appeal of Las Vegas, to the symbols and styles frequently used across all games, this article will look at all of them. As well as picking out some great slots games from each category specifically for you to look out for.
North American Culture (and Sport) is Represented Across Slots
Key Examples
- NBA Super Slam
- NHL Gold Strike
- Vegas Nights
- Route 777
- Buffalo Blitz
The fact that classic rock bands have often licensed slots tells you about how they tie in with US and North American culture in many ways. As well as music though, sports has been a big theme for slot developers in this part of the world.
Of course, there’s more than just interesting cultural themes related to Canada or the USA to think about when playing online slots. The market can be complicated, so Canadian players would find it worthwhile to visit an expert comparison site like Casino.org Canada that ranks thousands of slots to browse through all in one place, as well as consulting casino reviews to find out where’s the best place to play them.
Games like NHL Gold Blitz for ice hockey fans, or NBA Super Slam for basketball players, focus on the most recognizable parts of the viewing experience bringing in logos and crowd chants from various teams for animations, symbols and audio clips.
Outside of sports, general cultural gambling aesthetics of the region have been prevalent in slots in the US and for global markets. Games and even whole casino brands referencing the iconic stylings of the global gambling capital of Las Vegas, with neon signs and vintage Americana, have been a staple of the scene for years and aren’t going anywhere soon.
Licensed Music Tie-Ins Have Been a Staple for a While Now
Key Examples
- Guns N’ Roses Slot
- Jimi Hendrix Online Slot
- Motörhead Slot
- KISS Reels of Rock
- House of Doom 2
Another key aspect of online slots is their multimedia immersion – lights, animations, sounds. Seeing as developers were already paying to license or have music made anyway, it was inevitable that they would eventually collaborate with established musical acts.
The above slot games are just a few from the tip of the iceberg at this point, although they are very famous names in rock music. These games usually feature official recordings, logos, imagery and performance aesthetics into the gameplay. They also often have live performance recordings or footage and features like bonus rounds themed around big hits.
Among those slots listed above, music fans would note that House of Doom is not a famous artist. But, it deserves a mention because it is possibly the only slot game where an established artist recorded an entire EP of tracks specifically for it. Swedish epic heavy metal band Candlemass were commissioned by developer Play ‘n Go to record an album for this horror-themed slot game.
While not a huge name by any means, Candlemass are legends in the heavy metal sub genre they pioneered (doom metal) and the fact they collaborated so closely on a slot is interesting to note. Play’n Go also released a slot licensed by and with music from US thrash metal originals Testament.
Movie and Television Slots are Also Commonplace
Key Examples
- Game of Thrones Slot
- Jurassic Park Slot
- Narcos Slot
- The Walking Dead Slot
- Deal or No Deal Slot
Few things can be more culturally relevant than a TV show or movie at peak popularity. This recognition is something slot brands would be silly to not tap into, and there are loads of examples of licensed tie ins done really well.
These games often try to incorporate official footage, characters and even story arcs and narrative events of major TV and movie productions.
The Game of Thrones slot – for example – lets player’s pick from one of the hyped epic fantasy show’s noble Houses to play as, and this changes some of the symbols and the potential bonuses available. Meanwhile the Jurassic Park slot has multiple different bonus rounds each based on different dinosaurs.
Slots also Take On Digital Trends from Video Games to Social Media
Key Examples
- Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare Slot
- Street Fighter II: The World Warrior Slot
- Hitman Slot
- Social casinos and slot leaderboards
Increasingly casinos and slots draw from the worlds of mobile gaming, video games and social media. Online slots have leaderboards and incorporate other social features while casinos have big win trackers and sponsor streamers. Customers are encouraged to follow casinos on social media for bonus offers and content. Social casino games can be played with virtual coins directly on social media platforms.
But of course there are also games that take on the literal theme of video games or the social media aesthetic. Some slot developers have even licensed big franchise video games, to varying success. The best of the above is probably Street Fighter II: The World Warrior by NetEnt. It changed the game for video game tie-ins when it was released, incorporating many of the classic fighting game’s best elements.
