Video games and online games of chance are two separate categories of entertainment, each with its own specificities and loyal customers. Still, there are numerous connections between them, which is not surprising considering they are targeting a similar demographic. In particular, successful video games have often been used as a source of inspiration for designing slots and other casino games. This allows video game players to continue interacting with their favorite characters in a different context, while giving the iGaming titles a better shot of gaining an audience.
Usually, it’s the most iconic games that are converted into the iGaming format. We found several beloved games that work really well as slots, and you should try some of them to see whether they capture the spirit of the original work faithfully enough. All slot games described below are worth your time, especially if you are a fan of the games that inspired them.
- Pac-Man
As one of the first worldwide hits in the gaming market, Pac Man was insanely popular during the early 1980’s, dominating the arcades and becoming a social phenomenon. The original game is now totally outdated, although you could still play it online if you wanted. It spawned a lot of sequels and derivative works over the years, so the franchise remains quite dynamic more than 40 years after its inception.
In the early 2000’s, Pac Man was reimagined as a slot game known as Pac Man Wild Edition. This five-reel game brought back many of the original characters, but also introduced a bunch of exciting new features. It remains a popular entry in many online casinos, drawing the next generation of fans to discover the franchise.
- Tomb Raider
This is another franchise that has survived in the market for decades and continues to gain new fans with every new release. The audiences first met the main character Lara Croft in the mid-90s, and have followed her through a series of video games and Hollywood movies with Angelina Jolie in the main role. This was one of the defining games of the action-adventure genre, while its impact on the mainstream culture can’t be overstated.
Graphic themes characteristic for this franchise can be found in the Tomb Rider: Secret of the Sword slot game. While the gameplay is obviously totally different, presence of familiar symbols and characters gives players a reason to feel at ease. Let’s just say that this slot takes you to a different type of adventure, but you need to be just as daring and lucky to come out on top as the heroine of the old-school Tomb Rider games.
- Angry Birds
When it first appeared on the scene, the Angry Birds game took the world by the storm. It was one of the first mobile games to achieve global popularity, and was quickly developed into a series of games and films. The simplicity of the concept that pits birds versus pigs and requires the player to shoot away at will is probably one of the factors that contributed to the runaway success of the game.
All of this made Angry Birds the perfect candidate for inspiring an iGaming title. The Angry Birds slot recreates many of the game’s most entertaining features, but this time there is money on the line. This slot is fun to play and has some bonuses that can unlock valuable rewards, and all the player needs to do is keep crashing the birds into targets.
- Street Fighter
Based on total sales figures, the Street Fighter franchise is among the most profitable video games ever made with more than 50 million copies sold. The game builds around the theme of martial arts, and lets players control various characters with unique fighting styles. First launched in 1987, the game got several sequels that could be played on all kinds of hardware platforms.
Street Fighter II was probably the most iconic version of the game, so it doesn’t come as a surprise that it was chosen as the basis for developing a slot game. Players who tried Street Fighter II: The World Warrior are thrilled with its extra features that offer different bonuses for each playable character. It’s a rare iGaming title that features boss fights, while its soundtrack will bring back some sweet memories.
- Super Mario Bros
Despite its cartoonish protagonists and two-dimensional world, Super Mario Bros is a game that has a lot of lifelong fans. This legendary platform game first appeared in the mid 1980’s on Nintendo game consoles, but soon spread to other game systems like arcade machines and PC’s, as well as in cinematic media. The main characters Mario and Luigi are universally known and frequently found on T-shirts and other merchandise.
Such a fun loving game provides excellent material for creating a fantastic slot game. The visuals are very reminiscent of the original Super Mario setup with mushrooms and coins at every step, while its five reels provide plenty of opportunities for strategic play. Playing it is a great way to get a laugh and evoke a nostalgic feeling while also having a chance to win some real cash.