The online slots industry is a growing sector that's continuously refining itself by embracing the latest innovations. It's also facing the threat of an ageing demographic and has to keep trying new things effortlessly to stay afloat.
The 2010s were particularly pivotal for slots. A few outstanding games were invented. Mobile and VR slots became a thing, and branded games proliferated. An industry some thought was dying is now progressing steadily.
But when you think about it, slots wouldn't be dominating gaming websites were it not for these trends and innovations.
Outstanding Graphics and Sound Quality
There’s a reason why many software providers keep creating sequels to their successful slots from the 2000s. Those games felt thrilling at the time. But due to their dated graphics, they lost popularity.
With technology now improved, every developer aims to create awe-inspiring visuals on their slots. The short video intros some games have feature HD or full HD resolutions. The images on video screens capture your attention with their glitzy visuals. Some go to the extent of featuring 3D graphics.
Similarly, today’s slots have much better soundtracks compared to their counterparts fifteen years ago. Back then, slots had the same repetitive tunes on every machine. But fast forward to 2020, and every slot has unique soundtracks.
- TV show theme songs
- calming beats
- dramatic music
- simple drum beats
In other words, software makers have excelled at making soundtracks tolerable. In fact, some games have such delightful melodies that they are the primary reason people love them.
An Escalation of Branded Slots
Take a quick tour of any online casino. Check out its games, and there's a chance you'll spot a few branded games. We are talking about Narcos, Gun N’ Roses, James Bond, the Big Bang Theory and Game of Thrones.
All the top TV shows these days have a slot version. This isn’t something that happened overnight. Established developer Microgaming began this trend in the early 2000s with Tomb Raider and the Lara Croft sequels.
However, there’s been a rush to release branded games in the past few years. Every software provider wants to be associated with a major Hollywood franchise, from Vikings and Game of Thrones to Scarface and Planet of Apes.
Unfortunately, branded games aren’t always the best slots to play at online casinos. It has something to do with bonus features and payout rates. You can learn more at Fruity Slots. No one knows more about slots than these guys. So, whether you want to discover the best-paying slots or where to play them, they are the people to consult.
Skill-Based Slots
In the late 2000s, some critics sounded alarm about the ageing demographic of slots players. They also noted that millennials didn't seem interested in these games and instead favoured skill-based video games.
So, guess what? Slots software makers went back to the drawing board and restructured their games to incorporate video-game elements. The result was interactive games that engaged players and gave them a sense of control over a game’s outcome.
A case in point is Seinfield slot by Scientific Games. Released in 2016, this TV show-inspired slot lets you shake the infamous Festivus pole to win money. Usually, this doesn’t happen in slot games.
Another example is IGT’s Wrecking Ball slot. Armed with a joystick, you can push the wrecking ball against buildings to earn cash. Of course, the entire game isn't skill-based. In fact, the skilful bit appears only if you're lucky enough to trigger bonus features.
Nonetheless, there’s an increase in the number of slots that involve skills these days. Their goal is to capture the attention of young people and show them that casino games can be fun and action-packed too.
Mobile Slots
There’s nothing online casinos like to publicize these days more than their mobile apps and websites. Over three billion people own smartphones in the world. More importantly, more than half of casino players browse the Internet using mobile devices.
To capture mobile players, casinos have redesigned their websites so that you can conveniently play both slots and card games on a smartphone. That way, you don’t need to install an app that will take up more space on your device.
Instead, a mobile responsive website works like your desktop's site. Games load on the browser without the need to download software. They load fast and run smoothly regardless of whether you have an iOS or Android device.
Many critics believe mobile slots have a permanent place in the casino industry. More and more people are using their smartphones to access the Internet. And that means there might come a time when mobile casinos dominate the sector.
VR Slots
You probably know as the innovation that seems irresistible and futuristic, yet it never gets the respect it deserves. In the casino space, Virtual Reality is projected to turn slots into thrilling experiences.
So far, five popular slots support VR.
- Thunderstruck II
- Miss Midas
- Starburst
- Gonzo’s Quest
- Jack and the Beanstalk
Although developed by different providers, these games are using VR to provide a new kind of slots experience. With Gonzo’s Quest, VR headsets transport you to his world where you adventure the jungle together in the hopes of hitting gold.
As the childhood story unveils, Jack’s life changes entirely when a giant beanstalk appears in front of his home. Thunderstruck II, on the other side, takes you back in time to experience what it was like to be a Viking.
In other words, VR offers a game-changing experience to everyone willing to embrace it. Unfortunately, it seems ahead of its time, at least if you factor in the issues holding it back. First off, not everyone can afford VR headsets or has the proper computers to support VR.
Then there's the issue of software makers not adopting it wholeheartedly. Against that backdrop, it will take time before everyone can cherish VR slots the way they enjoy mobile casinos. But until then, only five games support the creation.
In December 2020 we sadly 
