Slot machines are becoming more like video games every year. Join us as we chart their rise in 2022.

If you’ve tried your hand at online slots over the last few years, you will undoubtedly note that they are now more visually pleasing than ever before. Long gone are the days of scarcely visible, clipart-style graphics and crude hand-drawn imagery. Today’s video slots are graphically impressive, 3D, animated, and, in many ways, catching up to the video game industry. Let’s tell you more about it in this article.

Graphically Impressive

As touched on, the current array of slots you can find online is about as visually impressive as it is possible to get for the time being. The same is true of any video game you might pick up. They are top of the line now, but in a few years’ time, they’ll look dated. At present, we won’t go out and say that the level of graphics in video games are on-par with one another, but we’d easily say that the graphics found in brand new video slots are at least equivalent to video games released within the last decade.

Story and Narrative Driven

Graphics aren’t the only reason why video slots are becoming more like video games. Many of today’s most popular online slots are story and narrative-driven. Much like a video game, there may be a story there to encapsulate you and separate you from the action. Modern slots want you to have fun, but they also want you to experience the game, and the best way to do this is to provide a story.

Some Offer Community Experiences

Modern video slots also take on other elements that make them similar to video games. Few would deny that online gaming has revolutionised the industry. This social aspect to gameplay didn’t exist throughout much of the life of consoles and video games unless you played side-by-side on a split-screen. The internet changed that and is starting to do the same with slots. Some progressive jackpots are even offering community prizes, shared out amongst frequent players and others having a crack at games at the time the jackpot is won. Live dealer games and tournaments/slot races also add the social, community side of slots.

Interactive, Action-Based Bonus Rounds

As slots have evolved, their bonus rounds have become ever more creative. For instance, where once you had just a simple click and win bonus, you now have fully-fledged action games. The power of these games was highlighted in 2012’s since discontinued Aliens slot from NetEnt, whereby you earned collectables to shoot enemies in 3D. Other slots have carried these bonus round mechanics onwards to create near virtual reality-style bonuses.

Where to Find 2022’s Hottest Online Slots

Of course, not all slots are up to scratch. Some are struggling to still play catch up. However, if you want to find the most realistic games, look for the biggest software providers with the most extensive libraries. Developers such as BetSoft, Microgaming, NetEnt, Red Tiger, Yggdrasil, Play ‘n Go, Pragmatic Play, and Playtech lead the way, and their top slots regularly appear at casinos such as Rollers.io gambling site.