This one’s for all the slot lovers out there. Seeing the new year is just around the corner, we thought we’d discuss some trends that are likely to be featured in some of the upcoming releases planned for the year. We’re talking hold features, compelling graphics, cutting-edge technologies and so on. Want to know more? Read on!
Popular Trends that will Feature in 2021
Without a doubt, can all agree that slot machines have withstood the test of time for reason. Although they appear to be quite simplistic, the beauty of slots lies in their simplicity, making them suitable for every player out there. Without any further ado, here’s a general overview of some of the most popular trends that are expected to feature in new releases.
Sharper Graphics and Cutting-Edge Technologies
As designers continue to play around with 3D and 4D elements, more players are intrigued to be part of the highly interactive world of online slots. Without a doubt, you can most certainly expect even more 3D slots that are set to dominate the casino world by storm.
More Engaging Themes
Considering the fact that slots have been around for many years, you may think that developers encounter difficulties whilst coming up with themes. That couldn’t be further from the truth! A great designer will find inspiration everywhere.
The year 2021 is no exception. Designers will be playing around with fan-favourite themes such as mythology, whilst also bringing more of our favourite pop culture characters to life.
More Hold Features
We’ve got great news for those slot enthusiasts who enjoy hold features. Quite a number of 2021 slots will feature a handful of sticky symbols. For those who are new here, sticky symbols are exactly what you expect them to be.
Once they land, they will quite literally stick to the reels so you can land even more winning combinations. These can be either of the following: wild multipliers, scatters, bonus symbols, standard symbols etc.
Bonus Buy Feature
Ever heard of the bonus buy feature? In this case, bonus buy features allow you to access mini-bonus rounds or even Free Spin. All you have to do is buy them with you casino account balance! It’s that easy! You can definitely expect more upcoming slots to be equipped with this feature. It’s easy, safe to use and best of all, convenient!
Augmented Reality
Although augmented reality slots haven’t taken off just yet, they are well and truly on the rise. As more and more players engage in online gambling, they are constantly looking for more thrills. They want to enjoy nail-biting moments, be part of the action and ultimately enjoy an up close and personal experience that comes close to that of a land-based casino. We have no doubt that AR slots have a bright future ahead!
Virtual Reality
As we’ve seen in the previous section, virtual reality slots are also gaining traction. We can assure you that 2021 will be the year where more and more players will be able experience virtual reality slots. Just imagine the thrills! You’ll be able reel in the wins and the prizes whilst you enjoy a second-to none experience from comfort of your home. Once again, we can’t wait to see what the VR world can bring to the table.
Top 5 Upcoming Slot Titles in 2021
Now that you have a better idea of what to expect as far as trends go, it’s time to take a closer look at that the upcoming titles that will hit the gaming charts during the first quarter of 2021.
Fruit Shop (NetEnt)
Fancy some old school fruit slots? NetEnt is about take you down memory lane with yet another thrilling title. Fruit Shop Megaways has all the right ingredients that make up a cracking 6-reel online slot. Make no mistake here – whilst fruit slots are known to be somewhat dated, there’s certainly nothing dated about this one!
In fact, all the symbols – cherries, watermelons, lemons and oranges look very realistic thanks to NetEnt’s talented design team. Trust us when we say that you’ll probably find yourself trying to gobble all the fruits up!
On top of that, we also have to address the elephant in the room here. Fruit Shop has undergone the Megaways makeover! This means that you will have additional paylines to land even more winning combinations. Did we mention that you can also enjoy additional bonus features including free spins and wilds? Be sure to be the first to give Fruit Shop Megaways a shot!
Release Date: 25th February 2021
Loco the Money (Quickspin)
Quickspin also has some great things lined up for 2021. All we’ll say is that you’re for some monkey business with Loco the Monkey. In short, this slot also ticks all the boxes. As you venture deep into the jungle, you will instantly be impressed by the stunning visuals that appear on the screen. Some of these include tropical fruits such as papaya, bananas and pineapples. Of course, Loco will be making a couple of appearances too!
Best of all, this slot is jam-packed with bonus features from start to finish. Featuring free spins, re-spins, multipliers, sticky wilds and more, Loco certainly isn’t playing around here. Did we mention that you can also win huge payouts that exceed 6,000 times your stake? What are you waiting for?! Pack your bags and join Loco on the greatest adventure yet!
Reel Desire (Yggdrasil)
Head back to golden days of the 70s and 80s disco clubs with Yggdrasil’s up and coming slot – Reel Desire. Since it hasn’t been released, we don’t have the full deets just yet, but be sure to expect compelling graphics along with a handful of features including free spins, wild multipliers re-spins and even a jackpot worth 20,480x your stake. Watch this space for more information!
Release Date: 25th February 2021
Stacked (BetSoft)
2021 is the year where we will be able to enjoy more titles from BetSoft. In fact, the company has got a couple of tricks up its sleeve with the latest slot to be released. Stacked revolves around a classic magic theme. In this case, magicians take centre stage to perform tricks as they draw you into their own magical world with their illusions.
Set on a 4×4 layout, the superb graphics and symbols complement the theme extremely well. Featuring magic wands, bunnies, hats, chests and even some special mystery prizes, you are certainly in for a treat with this one. What are you waiting for?! Be sure to be one of the first players to give this a whirl when it’s released!
Release Date: 18th February 2021
Dragon’s Luck Deluxe (Red Tiger)
Red Tiger is about to make 2021 the year of the dragon with one of its hottest releases yet. Following the success of the other three installments, it comes as no surprise that the company wanted to expand on the series.
As you can expect, graphics will also play an important part here as all elements will be paying tribute to China’s rich history and culture. In this case, this slot features a stunning background of a valley surrounded by mountains, whilst the reels are adorned with two dragons.
As far as features go, you can expect free spins, multipliers, scatters and even payouts that can exceed up to x3888 your original stake. Stay tuned for more updates!
Release Date: 18th February 2021
