In recent years, the number of software developers that specialise in the field of online casino games has increased significantly. This is hardly surprising, especially when one considers how thriving and lucrative the online gambling industry has become as of late.
It is software developers that online casinos rely on for the creation of all their table games, live dealer offerings and of course, online slots, which easily hold the title of the most sought-after games by online casino enthusiasts.
Yet, there are some software developers whose names stand out among the rest. Companies like Microgaming, Playtech, NetEnt, Betsoft and IGT are widely regarded as frontrunners in the online casino games development and are to be held responsible for a plethora of high-quality slot titles as well as for introducing countless innovations that have taken the industry to new heights.
Players who are interested in online slots, in particular, should acquaint themselves with the key software providers that boast the most diverse slot collections, offering only quality slot titles with fair payouts. Read on to find out who offers the most popular online slot titles, with the best graphics and the coolest features.
NetEnt
NetEnt has become one of the most recognisable names in the online gaming industry and is regarded as one of the leading suppliers of premium online casino solutions. The company has succeeded in establishing long-standing and fruitful partnerships with some of the most renowned online gambling operators in the industry.
NetEnt was established in 1996 in the Swedish capital Stockholm. The company’s headquarters remain in Luntmakargatan, Stockholm to this day, but it has expanded into the international markets and owns offices in various countries like Ukraine, Gibraltar and Malta.
Over the years, the company’s portfolio has expanded greatly and spans over 200 quality titles as of the present moment. Each of the games that are courtesy of the software supplier impresses with crisp and vivid visuals, great sound effects and a user-friendly interface. In 2011, NetEnt made it possible for players to enjoy their favourite slot titles and table games on the go by launching its NetEnt Touch platform which supports mobile devices running on Android and iOS.
NetEnt can be held responsible for an extensive collection of superb slots boasting a nice range of great features and high payouts. The software supplier’s branded slots enjoy the greatest popularity among players. Some of the most sought-after branded slots by NetEnt include South Park: Reel Chaos, Dracula, The Invisible Man, Creature from the Black Lagoon, and Aliens. Gonzo’s Quest, Starburst, and Jack and the Beanstalk rank among the first slot titles to be optimised for the latest VR casino format. In the beginning of 2016, the developer introduced its NetEnt Rocks slot collection which spans three enticing titles inspired by influential musicians – Guns N Roses, Jimi Hendrix and Motörhead.
Slot fans who decide to register at an online casino that utilises NetEnt’s cutting-edge platform are not required to download and install a specific casino client since the developer’s slots are available for Instant Play.
Microgaming
Based on the Isle of Man, Microgaming’s beginning can be traced back to 1994 when the company was established. Microgaming is celebrated as a pioneer in the industry and is often credited for the launch of the first ever fully functional online casino, known as The Gaming Club. Several years after this launch, Microgaming decided to veer off in a different direction by offering its platform to other online casino operators.
This change in direction allowed Microgaming to fully concentrate on creating some of the most sophisticated and innovative online slots and table games you can possibly find online. What is more, Microgaming has been honoured with numerous accolades including the prestigious Innovation in Slot Provision award at the EGR Awards.
Microgaming has been leading the way in mobile games development for over ten years. The software supplier is to be held responsible for developing over 350 games, optimised for mobile play. The mobile collection is available via the developer’s native, downloadable application as well as in HTML5 format.
Microgaming is no stranger to innovations as its The Dark Knight Rises became the world’s first online slot title to be optimised for the Samsung Galaxy Gear 2 smartwatch. In addition, the developer’s Mega Moolah progressive slot holds the Guinness World Record for the biggest jackpot payout from an online slot game in history.
Microgaming’s slot collection is beyond impressive as it spans over 600 slot titles and each one of those is noteworthy. The slots boast rich graphics, amazing sound effects and various lucrative features which aim at rendering players’ gaming session more engaging and of course, rewarding.
Keeping track of the trends in the industry, Microgaming released a number of branded slots as a result of its joint efforts with Universal Studios. Some of these film-based titles include Terminator 2, Bridesmaids, Jurassic Park and Battlestar Galactica. The Playboy-themed online slot is also a great success among reel fans. Other notable titles in Microgaming’s extensive slot collection include Hot as Hades, Thunderstruck II, Immortal Romance, and the Titans of the Sun series.
Playtech
Established in 1999 by Israeli entrepreneur Teddy Sagi, Playtech is considered a leader in the online gambling industry, alongside its main competitors Microgaming and NetEnt. The developer, which is also based on the Isle of Man, was among the first companies to facilitate the need for mobile gaming as it released its mobile platform over ten years ago, in 2005.
The software supplier is proud to offer over 500 innovative and premium-quality casino games. Its catalogue continues to expand at a rather rapid pace as Playtech releases over 50 new games each year. Since Playtech has signed licensing agreements with leading entertainment brands like HBO, MGM and NBC Universal, players are provided with the opportunity to enjoy various thrilling movie-based slot titles, such as The Mummy, Pink Panther, Gladiator and Monty Python’s Spamalot. Slots like Gold Rally and Beach Life are also worth a mention as they have massive progressive jackpots attached to them that can truly change the lives of lucky players.
Popular Developers
Best Payout Playtech Slots
Best Payout Microgaming Slots
Best Payout NetEnt Slots
Best Payout IGT Slots
Yet, it is the Marvel-themed slot collection that enjoys the greatest popularity among players. Playtech’s Marvel collection is beyond impressive and spans a nice range of titles that are based on popular characters from the classic comic book series. Some of the most notable slots in the collection include The Incredible Hulk, The Avengers, Iron Man, Wolverine, Fantastic Four, Thor: The Mighty Avenger, and Spiderman: Attack of the Green Goblin.
Apart from the appealing visuals and fantastic sounds, the Marvel-themed slots attract players with their colossal prizes since all Marvel titles are linked to Playtech’s Marvel Jackpot Network. Lucky players can randomly trigger a bonus game and collect one of the four guaranteed progressive prizes, namely the Power, Extra Power, Super Power and Ultimate Power jackpots.
Betsoft
Based in southern Cyprus, Betsoft was established in 1999 and quickly cemented its position as a well-known and respected software developer by introducing a number of premium casino products that range from various enticing slot titles to bingo, traditional table games and virtual racing. Each game on offer impresses with state-of-the-art graphics, provocative sound effects and smooth, intuitive gameplay.
Similarly to other developers, Betsoft concentrated its efforts on expanding into the mobile gambling market by introducing its ToGo collection of quality mobile slots. The games are optimised for Windows Phone, Android and iOS-based devices. Betsoft focuses on quality over quantity as each slot on its portfolio impresses with bespoke random features, bonus games and 3D cinematic animations.
Each video slot developed by Betsoft has its own unique theme and storyline. Winning combinations on the active paylines are often accompanied with short animated clips which add to the entertainment value of the games and keep players at the edge of their seats. Some of the most noteworthy 3D slots Betsoft has created in recent years include Good Girl, Bad Girl, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Aztec Treasures, At the Movies, A Night in Paris, Greedy Goblins and Gypsy Rose.
IGT
IGT (short for International Game Technology) specialises in the development of premium-quality slots for both online and brick-and-mortar casinos. IGT’s history began in 1975. Over the span of the last four decades, IGT underwent a number of transformations but its reputation of one of the leading slot manufacturers in the world remains consistent to this day.
One of the key moments in the history of IGT is its acquisition of WagerWorks in 2004. This step provided IGT with the opportunity to introduce its large catalogue of land-based slots to the online gambling community by employing the existing technology WagerWorks had already developed. The slots are available in Instant Play format, so players are not required to download and install a specific software in order to enjoy them.
IGT caters to the needs and preferences of all slot fans. The developer has incorporated a unique feature into its online slot games, which enables players to adjust the graphics’ quality according to their internet speed in order to enjoy a hassle-free and smooth gaming session. Another peculiarity of IGT slots results from the fact they offer larger betting limits as minimum and maximum bets per payline typically vary between £1.00 and £50.00.
Many players prefer to place their bets on IGT’s progressive slots and there is a good reason why. IGT’s progressive network starts at a seed of £1.5 million and encompasses three slot titles, namely Monopoly, Cleopatra, and Cluedo. Other popular IGT slots that players are recommended to try out include Wolf Run, Cats, Siberian Storm, Pharaoh’s Fortune and Wheel of Fortune.
Pragmatic Play
Pragmatic Play is yet another multi-product software provider with a long-established presence in the iGaming industry. The portfolio of the provider covers a number of verticals, and gambling enthusiasts are presented with a rich and varied selection of live games, bingo, and slots.
The slots selection of the provider is indeed diverse as the creator of gaming content has rolled out around 200 gripping titles. The game designers from Pragmatic Play are quite imaginative when it comes to the themes of the slots they present, and players can enjoy the spinning action of games that are set in the Wild West or Asia. Fruit-based slots are also given enough attention by the provider, so are mythology-based titles, and such themed around magic, zombies, pirates, animals, Christmas, and sports, among others.
The interesting concepts and themes the provider relies on undoubtedly make its creations instant attention grabbers. The games that are courtesy of Pragmatic Play have a big win potential, while their superb bonus functionalities are what make their slots a go-to option for thrill-seekers. There are sticky wilds, rounds of free spins, expanding symbols, progressive bonus games, and stacked symbols, to name just a few.
The company gives its best to offer engaging content, and its live lobby quickly won the hearts of fans of classics with its authenticity. Playing the games that are courtesy of Pragmatic Play might result in some handsome prizes, thanks to the progressive jackpots that are linked to them.
Although these games are not millionnaire-makers like some of the other such slots available out there, the prizes they offer should not be overlooked. Players who are intrigued by such games should consider trying Wolf Gold, Chilli Heat, and Gold, among others.
Not to mention that the creations of Pragmatic Play are widely available as they can be played in more than 30 languages and currencies. Besides, the software provider works under seals of approval granted by the Gambling Commission of the UK and the Maltese Gaming Authority that render it fully legitimate.
Pragmatic Play is indeed a mobile-focused software provider, and the fact that it got an award for Mobile Supplier speaks volumes in terms of the quality of the experience players are offered while being on the move.
Play’n GO
When speaking about the world’s leading slots creators, we cannot help but mention Play’n GO. This is easily one of the most recognisable names as the game-making company has been in the gambling industry for well over 20 years, and presently, it is regulated by the Maltese Gaming Authority and the UKGC. The company waives from Sweden, and it is celebrated for the premium quality of the slots, table classics, and video poker games it designs. The game-making studio does not hone in on the creation of such games as jackpot games and bingo are not missing from its portfolio either.
The game catalogue of the provider is all-embracing, and the games it includes stand out from the crowd with their innovative and fresh design, features, and gameplay. The unwavering dedication to the quality of Play’n GO undoubtedly works to the advantage of players as they can revel in their favourite games on their tablets, smartphones, and computers.
The company has gone off to roll out titles that are based on all fan-favourite themes as its portfolio contains games that are themed around Ancient Egypt, gold mining, gems, Greek mythology, magic, fairytales, pirates, Wild West, Norse mythology, and vampires, to name just a few. The titles that revolve around Ancient Egypt are among the ones players are mostly taken with, and the best-liked such releases that are courtesy of Play’n GO include Book of Dead, Rich Wilde and the Amulet of Dead, Cat Wilde and the Doom of Dead, Dawn of Egypt, Ankh of Anubis, and Doom of Egypt, among others.
The titles that are plucked from the gaming suite of the company impress with their high-end visuals and sounds, but also with their unique bonus functionalities. The rounds of free spins are indeed the most widely used bonus feature, but reel spinners can make the most out of their slot adventures also thanks to expanding wilds, and win multipliers, among others.
What players should remember about the games designed by Play’n GO is that normally, their RTP is around 96%, while their volatility is rather high.
The diligence of the software provider has not gone unnoticed, and now, Play’n GO prides itself over a number of accolades, including such for Slot Provider of the Year and Best Casino Supplier of the Year.
Big Time Gaming
Founded back in 2011, Big Time Gaming is one of the small-scale game-making studios. It is best known for the creation of the Megaways slots mechanic, an innovation, which turned the slots-making technology upside down and helped the company make a name for itself. The company licensed the innovative game mechanic to a number of other software developers, and now, the games in which it is used continues to increase.
The company never stands still, and not long ago, it presented the first titles in which the Megacluster and Megaquds mechanics are used. Other innovations the company is renowned for are the Heartstopper and Reel Adventure mechanics that are used in games like Holy Diver Megaways and Royal Mint Megaways.
Big Time Gaming is also celebrated for its selection of branded slots, and reel spinners who have a liking for such games might enjoy Who Wants to Be A Millionaire, Danger High Voltage, Survivor Megaways, or Monopoly.
The company has what it takes to remain at the forefront of the iGaming world, and to make sure that its games will stay relevant, the provider has obtained licenses in a number of jurisdictions, including the UK.
Big Time Gaming is dedicated to creating player-focused games, and tto achieve this, the company has ensured that there will be a rich enough assortment of themes, bonus features, and play styles for reel spinners to enjoy. To guarantee player engagement, the provider has accounted for fruit-based slots, as well as such that revolve around food, Ancient Egypt, animals, and Vegas, among others.
The best thing about the games that are courtesy of Big Time Gaming is that they are suitable for all players, no matter their bankroll. The company boasts a number of titles high-rollers will certainly enjoy but players who prefer placing smaller bets might enjoy the games where the least number of coins they can stake is just 0.01. Besides, the Big Time Gaming-powered slots are built on the HTML5 platform, which goes to show that they load without a glitch on computers, smartphones, and tablets.
Yggdrasil
Although Yggdrasil has only been around for a while as it made its foray on the online gambling scene back in 2013, the game-making studio is already renowned for the extremely high quality of its slots, jackpot games, and table classics. The company evolves at a fast pace and keeps on expanding its footprint, as presently, its games are within reach in 17 licensed jurisdictions, including the UK.
In spite of its short-term presence on the online gambling scene, the game-developing studio already prides itself on a number of accolades. Obviously, the games Yggdrasil is to be blamed for are really well received, and therefore, it is of no surprise that it got the award for Innovator of the Year back in 2018, Slot Provider of the Year in 2018, and Gaming Software Supplier of the Year in 2016, among others.
The titles released by the provider are among the best-liked ones available out there, so much so that more and more UK-friendly casinos choose to add them to their portfolios, which gives players a vast array of options to select from.
The premium quality of the visuals is not the only outstanding feature of the slots designed by Yggdrasil, as they also grab the attention with their unique themes. The variety of options is indeed rich, and slot buffs will be treated with titles that are inspired by Norse mythology, underwater adventures, pirates, Ancient Rome, adventures, and Irish luck, to name just a few. Fortunately for players, the game-making studio does not limit itself exclusively to the creation of ordinary slots as its jackpot games are among the most well-liked.
Gambling enthusiasts will be able to instantly tell the titles that are courtesy of Yggdrasil apart from the other slots available out there, thanks to the fresh concepts and ideas that are used in the gameplay. The software provider puts a heavy focus on innovations, and players can now enjoy slots where the brand-new Splitz, MultiMax, and Gigablox mechanics are employed.
The multi-device compatibility of the games designed by Yggdrasil is worth mentioning as well, and players will enjoy the same superb visual experience and smooth gameplay while spinning the reels on the move or on their computer.
Quickspin
Boasting such widespread popularity, the releases of Quickspin are worth considering as an option when you are on the lookout for slots that offer action-packed gameplay. The company set up its business back in 2011, and back in 2016, the acquisition of the company by Playtech was inked.
It can safely be said that the Sweden-based company has a flair for the creation of slots as its releases are among the most sought-after options available out there. This is of no surprise considering the unique stories the Quickspin-based titles offer, as along with Roman-based slots, players might have a whale of their time while availing themselves in titles based around dinosaurs, bandits and thieves, science, Asian culture, Ancient Egypt, and ghosts, among others.
The clean and crisp designs of their slots are indeed one of their distinctive traits, and make their creations a pleasure to play. The impeccable audio and stunning graphics make their slots all the more enthralling. Reel spinners should certainly look out for the availability of the Quickspin Achievements Engine, thanks to which they will collect special points as they enjoy the betting action.
Obviously, the software developer prefers quality over quantity, and presently, its portfolio is made of 77 titles, 72 of which work like a charm on portable devices. The gaming suite of the provider is expected to start increasing at a faster pace as this year, it will give its best to start rolling out up to three titles per month.
There is no doubt that Quickspin is a legitimate creator of gaming content as it has acquired licenses from the UKGC and the Maltese Gaming Authority.
