As we reach the mid-point of the year, there is no doubt that 2020 has not gone quite the way anyone was expecting. Given the extra time that so many people have found themselves presented with since March, app downloads have skyrocketed in number. This is particularly the case when it comes to slot games. The closure of physical casinos, the lack of any sports to bet on and the sheer boredom factor of lockdown have combined to make online slots one of the few boom niches of the year so far. Here, we take a look at just which slot games have been capturing gamers’ imaginations over the year to date.
Starburst
If we were discussing the most-read authors, Dickens would appear. If it was most-watched movies, The Godfather would be in the mix. Likewise, when you talk about slots, Starburst seems destined to remain at the top of the tree. The game has been around for almost a decade now, and there are other choices that are more engaging, have more ways to win and have a better RTP. But that doesn’t seem to matter to the gamers, and NetEnt’s biggest cash cow is being played by more people today than ever.
A Night Out
The recent upspike of popularity for this Playtech slot speaks volumes for the mindsets of those who have been playing slots online over the past few weeks. Who wouldn’t be up for a night out with parties, music, cocktails and beautiful strangers after all this time spent cooped up at home? The game is generous with its free spins, dishing them out whenever you get a matching symbol on the first and fifth reels.
Book of Ra
Here’s another old favourite that never seems to grow stale. Developer Novomatic has attempted to build on this game’s success with more than a dozen follow-up games in the series. But gamers and gamblers are a fickle crowd, and it’s the original that keeps drawing them back. This Ancient Egypt-themed slot game is another in which the free spins come thick and fast. It also has graphics and a soundtrack that belie its age.
Thunderstruck II
The exception to prove the above rule, this Microgaming follow up has managed to eclipse the popularity of the original. Graphics and sound are in a different league, and 250 ways to win equate to 250 reasons to give this Nordic-themed game a try. The 1000x jackpot is undoubtedly another factor that has made this one of the most popular slots of the year to date.
Guns n Roses
Music fans have been just as starved of live entertainment as everyone else for most of this year, with GnR being among the acts to cancel in 2020. That might partly explain this game’s resurgence in popularity. There are bonuses galore, but be warned, unlike the online game, the mobile version does not let you choose a playlist. Even die-hard fans might decide to turn to something else after the 200th rendition of Welcome to the Jungle!
