Online slot games over the last couple of years have seen a real surge in popularity amongst online casino players. Consequently, a host of different developers have applied their trade to provide players with new gameplay experiences, resulting in a huge selection of games for players to play. For this reason, it can sometimes be a difficult choice when it comes to selecting a slot to play. However, do not worry, as we have detailed 3 of the most exciting slot games we think could be great choices in the upcoming year. From the dunes of the desert to the depths of the ocean, there is surely a breadth of options to select from nowadays.
Crypt of the Dead
One of the most popular genres of games within the online casino world is the ”Book of” collection of games. However, the graphical experts over at Blueprint Gaming have put a slight twist on this, providing us with Crypt of the Dead, which transports us to a forgotten Egyptian tomb. Although many consider the thematics of these styles of games overused, Blueprint integrates their usual and renowned design elements in order to create a fresh and innovative franchise whilst still adorning the Egyptian thematics that many players favour.
However, it’s not just the graphics which excel in this game, as Blueprint provides us with an exciting base gameplay experience, offering up to 4096 different paylines across the game’s standard 6-reel play grid. Across these reels, there are 11 separate symbols players could potentially land as part of combinations, some of which can even trigger bonuses. Landing 3 of the golden temple scatter symbols, for instance, could trigger this game’s Free Spin bonus round, which has the possibility of rewarding players up to 50 free spins, a rather substantial amount when compared to other Egyptian-themed releases. During this, a regular pay symbol is chosen before the spins begin, giving it the possibility to expand during the bonus round. Consequently, this could aid significantly when forming combinations alongside the aid of the wild symbol that is present, resulting in a 40,960x maximum win, which on its own could be a deciding factor when deciding which Egyptian-based game to play.
Eye of Gold
Another game that adopts the popular ancient Egyptian thematics is Eye of Gold, straying away from the usual temples and tombs, instead placing players within the rolling dunes of a north African desert, with the silhouettes of the great pyramids protruding over the hazy horizon. This game’s backdrop really immerses you within the setting, with various palm trees being sporadically placed, casting shadows due to the orange-hued sky that resides above. Placed centrefold in all of this is the 6×4 playgrid placed between gold-infused pillars, offering players 25 individual paylines across the reel formation. It is clear that the team at Booongo, a relatively unknown developer, have a real keen eye for detail just by taking an initial glance at this slot.
Moreover, the game doesn’t disappoint when it comes to gameplay either, offering a number of familiar symbols in the form of the playing card royals as well as some more era-accurate symbols in the form of Egyptian god statues. Not only does it over some level of excitement when spinning the reels regularly, but taking into consideration the two main bonuses in play really elevates this game’s level. First of all is the Mystery Wild, which can randomly select a base game symbol and give it wild properties during a spin. Should it land alongside the game’s glowing archway scatter symbol, this could trigger the free spin round. Once again, the unique mystery round could play a significant role during this round, loving in place during spins and aiding to form combinations due to its substituting abilities. Overall, the game is a well-polished complete package that all players could find enjoyable, with Booongo being a potential developer to keep an eye on in the future due to this impressive release!
Bigger Bass Blizzard
Pragmatic Play is the development team responsible for birthing the Big Bass Bonanza slot franchise, with Bigger Bass Blizzard being the next sequel instalment which will hit our screens. However, unlike its predecessors, this title will opt for a theme more focused around the Christmas period rather than the already familiar fishing thematics this franchise is synonymous with. With this upcoming game, players could expect a standard 5-reel and 4-row play table, with 12 individual paylines available for players to land symbol combinations across. Something which is anything but regular in this game is the potential 4000x payout players could hit, an aspect which the bonus rounds may be responsible for.
The main bonus round in this title is the Free Spins, a typical feature amongst other Pragmatic Play titles. If you are familiar with the previous titles, you are more than likely familiar with the progressive bonus ladders present in these. Landing specific symbols during the bonus rounds can see you climb a metre, in which you could be rewarded with additional spins and win multipliers. However, the base gameplay alone is something that makes this Pragmatic game worthy of playing. Furthermore, you could expect the refined and highly detailed graphical displays and symbols to make yet another return in this exciting slot game!
Summary
When it comes to selecting a new slot game to play in the new year, there is no shortage of games to choose from, with numerous different developers having some truly impressive titles within their ever-growing portfolios. The three we have covered are just some of the excellent slots currently available in the online casino sphere, with a plethora of other titles adopting their own unique thematics and nuanced bonus features to provide an almost endless selection of games. Therefore, it is often worth exploring the numerous different free demos in order to find the release which you favour before spinning the reels for real.
