Take a look at any video slot machines available online today, and you’ll find more than just the good old-fashioned fruit machine themes. Themed slots go beyond simple game mechanics and give us unique characters, visuals, sound design and even storylines. In some cases, you’ll even find that there are sequels to slot games that carry on a saga or two!
And, naturally, you’ll also see slot themes that really lean into unique bonus feature mechanics and symbols. If you’ve already played a few slot games yourself, you may already have a favourite theme or two. But why are themed slots so important to the modern online casino experience?
Let’s dive into what themed slot machines actually involve, check out a few examples, and take a glimpse at what the future might hold for these titles.
Check out a huge range of themed slots and slot machines at Tonybet!
What are themed slots?
Themed slots are online slot machines built around a specific theme, world, character, style, or a combination of all of the above. All elements of a themed slot – its music, sound, symbols, bonus structure, and even the way that it plays – all tie in together.
The resulting effect is a memorable and easily identifiable game that’s often aimed at specific audiences. For instance, there are plenty of slot games out there that are based on specific movies, bands and TV shows. Those slots are carefully designed to mimic the aesthetic and experiences of the media they represent.
Take a look at the slot catalogue at Tonybet for more than a few examples. You’re always likely to find classic or retro-style slot machines based on the fruit machines you’ll see in amusement arcades. However, as technology has evolved, and now that there are thousands upon thousands of different slots and studios operating online, you’re always likely to see themed games pop up.
Here are a few examples of typical slot themes and some of the most popular games that fit into those genres – all available to play at Tonybet:
- Fishing (Big Bass Bonanza)
- Irish (3 Irish Treasures)
- Sweets and candy (Sweet Bonanza)
- Jokers and cards (Golden Joker 243)
- Legends and epics (Gates of Olympus)
- Wildlife (Buffalo Blitz Cash Collect)
- Ancient Egypt (Book of Dead)
- Brands (Snoop Dogg Dollars)
- Monopoly (Monopoly Money Magnate)
- Gems and jewels (Starburst)
- Wild West (Wanted Dead or a Wild)
And this is only really scratching the surface of what’s out there. If you take a look through our slot game collections, you’ll find more slots being added under popular themes and genres all the time.
But why do slot themes actually matter to players?
Why themes matter in modern slot machines
First and foremost, slot themes are memorable and engaging. Not everyone likes playing classic fruit machines with simple symbols – some players want to experience jungle and safari games, or even explore mystery slots based around tomb raiding and hidden treasures – such as Book of Dead, a hugely popular game from Play’n GO that helped to kick-start the ‘book’ subgenre of games.
From the perspective of a slot developer, themes and genres help their slots to stand out from the pack. From a different angle, established genres and themes can help new studios to slide into what’s popular. Again, the ‘Book’ craze from a few years ago is a great example – Play’n GO’s Rich Wilde character inspired several slots developers to create similar but still wholly unique titles around the idea of treasure hunting.
Themed slots also help to change up the experience from game to game. For instance, some players may want to mix things up and change from a Wild West game to an Irish-themed slot instead of playing the same themes and styles over and over. That said, people are naturally welcome to play the same themed games if they so wish!
What’s most important is to play responsibly, and to know when to walk away!
How slot themes influence player engagement
In many cases, slot themes can give players a clue or a hint as to what to expect from symbols, bonus features and more besides. For example, treasure hunting or pirate games might have coin collect or pick-a-chest features that offer spot prizes from spin to spin. Irish-themed games might have pots of gold that fill up, or lucky symbols themed after clover or horseshoes, for example.
Beyond that, there is sometimes a link between volatility and slot themes. For instance, you may find that classic, 3×3 or otherwise simplified fruit machine-themed games have lower volatility because players may assume that they are predictable. These games also frequently have fewer bonus features than others, meaning that players might choose them if they simply want to try base games without many bells and whistles.
Slot themes also do a great job of creating atmosphere, intrigue and tension. Some games with dark and gritty themes might be hiding secrets that players want to see more of. Others, such as those based on Greek and Roman mythology, might appeal to players who look for intensive, high-volatility gameplay. Crucially, the effects that slot themes can have on players are built up by their visual and sound design alongside sophisticated gameplay mechanics.
While some players prefer their games to offer quick experiences, others look for slots with engaging characters and ongoing storylines. There’s a reason why there are so many slot games with sequels and recurring mascots – they’ve proven to engage well with online casino players, and it’s unlikely that these trends will fade out anytime soon.
The connection between slot themes and bonus features
In many cases, the theme of a slot game can directly influence the bonus features that players can unlock over the course of reel spinning. For example, there may be games where a narrative influences the layout of a bonus feature – for instance, there might be two characters battling it out to add coins to their pots.
In others, you might have to explore haunted houses, castles or ancient tombs, and free spins might take you one step at a time further along scary pathways towards hidden prizes. Another great example is fishing games – many have collect features in their base modes where anglers reel in prize fish, and others have bonus rounds where players can look for specific fish to reel in to build up prize totals.
Slot themes can really enable studios to get super creative with their bonus features! This, again, all adds to how memorable and unique games can be in practice.
Do themed slots affect RTP or winning chances?
Slot themes don’t typically affect the RTP (Return to Player ratio) or winning chances of a title, mainly because sound, visuals and character design won’t change how random a game can be. That said, certain themed slots have higher RTPs than others, and volatility can also vary depending on the genres you opt for.
Again, classic fruit machine-style games may have higher RTPs and lower volatility because they are simplified in their design compared to video slots at large. Some studios may even design a game’s RTP first and then add a suitable theme over the top – for example, an epic or dramatic theme is added to a more volatile setup.
The future of themed slots in online casinos
It’s unlikely that themed slots will ever go away. They’re recognisable and accessible to seasoned players, and they give studios an opportunity to shine and market their programming in genres that already have large followings.
If anything, we may even see new themes and genres of slots emerging in the years to come. Certainly, there’s more and more gamification appearing in modern slot design, meaning that bolder characters, storylines and multiple-choice gameplay are likely to appear alongside.
Ultimately, there is no one ‘most popular’ slot theme out there, but if you take a look through the Tonybet slots lineup, you’ll soon find a few games that are firm favourites with our players. Keep your eyes peeled for new themed slot entries in the months to come!
