Online slot developers are taking inspiration from mobile game developers to create truly innovative products that excite and entertain players.
It is estimated that the global mobile gaming industry will be worth in excess of $100billion per year by 2021 with mobile already the dominant platform among players.
The Global Games Market Report from Newzoo says that mobile games now account for 51% of global revenues in the gaming industry followed by console games (25%) and PC games (24%).
Titles such as Clash of Clans, PUBG, Into the Dead and Fortnite have captured the attention of tens of millions of players around the world, achieving mass-market appeal.
The popularity of these titles has forced other mobile game developers to sit up and take note, particularly those that design and develop online slot games.
Just like with gaming, mobile is the platform of choice for online casino players and developers have had to create titles designed specifically for smartphones and tablets.
In recent times, the majority of developers have simply reworked games that were initially designed for desktop play so that they are better suited to mobile.
But with other entertainment options – such as mobile gaming, video streaming and social media – available to consumers this is no longer good enough.
This has seen the most innovative slot development studios look to other entertainment sectors for inspiration when it comes to creating online casino games designed specifically for mobile play.
They have done this for several key reasons. The first is that online casinos are desperate to engage new audiences, with millennials firmly in their sights.
The problem is that traditional online slot games simply don’t deliver the excitement and thrills that mobile game players have come to expect.
The other reason is that current online casino players are moving away from traditional slots and playing mobile games like World of Tanks instead.
So how have casino game developers combined the worlds of mobile gaming and mobile gambling to deliver never-seen-before experiences that engage new and existing players?
We take a look below:
Games that thrill and excite
In the past, online slots games have been fairly passive in terms of gameplay. Players simply select the amount they want to bet, the number of lines they want to play and then hit spin.
In recent times, developers have built-in additional features such as free spins and bonus games, but most slots still lacked the “edge of your seat” experience mobile games deliver.
Enter Big Time Gaming – one of the most exciting and innovative game studios in the world and the creator of the now-infamous Megaways slots.
Megaways is a random reel modifier which means that with every spin, there are hundreds of thousands of different ways to win.
Big Time Gaming has combined this with building slots that are highly volatile. This means they pay out less often but when they do, the wins can be life-changing.
This has led to mobile slot games, such as Bonanza and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, that keep players on the edge of their seats with every single spin.
Games that have a narrative
Just like in the most popular mobile games, slot developers are now creating games around stories and characters, taking players on a journey through the game.
Push Gaming, for example, has created a secret society-themed mobile slot with four unlockable characters. In Shadow Order, players unlock characters as they complete levels.
Each character has a special power that players can trigger at the end of a spin to help them increase their winnings. This is the same sort of narrative and character-led story found in mobile games.
Games that allow player interaction
Mobile games offer high levels of player interaction, with players often making decisions that impact the outcome of the game.
This is a little more difficult in online slot games as the outcome must be random in order to ensure fairness. That said, developers have found ways of allowing player interaction.
Green Jade Games, for example, has created a slot game – Hammer of Fortune – where players have their own hammer and can choose when to deploy it in order to improve their winning potential.
This creates a level of skill – there are more beneficial times to deploy the hammer than others – which in turn keeps players coming back for more.
In many ways, the lines between gaming and gambling are becoming increasingly blurred, especially as casino and slot game developers continue to look to mobile games for inspiration.
This, of course, is a great thing for both industries but especially for players as it means a constant stream of new and exciting mobile games for them to enjoy.
