Most Popular Online Slots of All Time
Today, there are more slot machines hosted at virtual casinos than ever before. Developers like NetEnt, Microgaming, Playtech, Thunderkick, Yggdrasil, and others are constantly striving to create the next classic, must-play title. Although there has never been such selection out there, we still see players flocking to the same group of classic titles year after year.
The games below have stood the test of time and their popularity amongst players is clear. Some slots become favourites thanks to the truly massive jackpots on offer. Others gain fans because casinos like to promote themselves by offering bonuses exclusive to that specific game. Finally, some just provide an amazing gameplay experience, meaning players find the action irresistible.
Whatever the reason behind their popularity, the following games are without doubt the most popular online slots of all time.
Mega Moolah
Fans of progressive jackpots will likely be familiar with Mega Moolah already. The game is a consistent record breaker in the iGaming industry. In fact, the majority of the top ten jackpot wins ever in terms of value came from this Microgaming classic. The largest was in 2018 at the Grand Mundial Casino. The lucky player took home a massive $21.7 million. They decided to remain anonymous, which is probably wise given the instantly lifechanging sum they received!
Mega Moolah isn’t just about that massive jackpot though. The gameplay itself is pretty strong – particularly for a slot that’s now getting on in years. There’s a Free Spins feature that awards 15 chances to win and a win multiplier that will instantly double your prize. Just form a winning combination that includes the mighty lion Wild Symbol!
Book of Ra
Novomatic’s hit game Book of Ra is another strong contender for the most popular slot of all time. Many slots are themed around Ancient Egypt these days so it takes a lot to stand out from the bunch. Book of Ra manages this thanks to a generous top prize of 25,000x the total bet.
The game’s popularity has seen Novomatic create various spinoff titles. You’ll find titles like Book of Ra Magic, Book of Ra Xpand, Book of Ra Deluxe, and others hosted at various virtual casinos. Each of these builds on the winning formula of the first game by adding additional special features that only make the action more engaging.
Gonzo’s Quest
NetEnt’s Gonzo’s Quest has become an absolute classic in the online casino world. The game sees us join the intrepid adventurer Gonzalo Pizarro as he travels around South America in search of fame and fortune.
Launched in 2011, you’d be forgiven for thinking that this game is past its prime. However, it continues to attract new fans thanks to its strong visual presence and gameplay features. Honestly, Gonzo’s Quest still looks better than many slots launched in the last year or two. The game introduced many players to the cascading reel format, which has been copied a lot in subsequent years too.
Mega Fortune
Another online casino game by veteran studio NetEnt that players consistently rate as top of slots is Mega Fortune. The game is all about the lifestyles of the mega wealthy. This is pretty appropriate given that it’s another progressive jackpot title that’s can (and has) created instant millionaires!
Mega Fortune is all about opulence. The symbols on the game are represented by the kind of luxury items that only a millionaire could afford – luxury yachts, the finest champagne, stretched limousines, and stacks of cold hard cash. Drop the progressive jackpot and these things no longer need be only in your dreams. With such prizes up for grabs, it’s no wonder so many try their luck on this millionaire-maker by NetEnt.
Starburst
Some of the slots on our list earn their place thanks to extravagant prizes and some attract fans thanks to their seemingly endless special features. NetEnt’s Starburst goes after a different kind of gambler. It’s the sheer simplicity of the title that wins it so many fans.
For many iGamers, Starburst will be their first experience of an online slot. The game is frequently favoured by casinos for Free Spin welcome bonuses. It’s a rather basic gameplay experience and doesn’t feature the kinds of second screen bonuses seen on many contemporary slot machines. However, this simplicity is all part of the title’s charm and we expect players to continue enjoying Starburst no matter how decadent modern slots become in the coming years.
Rainbow Riches: Pots of Gold
Rainbow Riches: Pots of Gold by SG Gaming is an Irish-themed slot that has won the hearts of many casino gamers. Compared to some modern online slot machines, the title isn’t that much to look at. However, it is loaded with interesting special features. The most exciting of these is the golden road towards a pot of treasures at the end of the rainbow. The farther along you make it down the road, the greater the total bet multiplier you’ll benefit from.
There’s also the Pots of Gold bonus and a random win multiplier feature. All of these combined makes for a slot with a lot of replay appeal. The game’s popularity has seen SG Gaming produce numerous spinoff titles too. These include Rainbow Riches Home Sweet Home, Rainbow Riches Leprechauns Gold, and Rainbow Riches Party. However, it all started with Rainbow Riches: Pots of Gold!
Ugga Bugga
Finally, in our roundup of the most popular online slot machines today is Playtech’s Ugga Bugga. This one throws out the unwritten rulebook for slots in many ways. Firstly, the reel layout is pretty unique. Players spin in symbols on ten mini reel sets to form winning combinations. This gives it a very distinctive appearance.
The game itself is all about jungle tribes and the biggest prizes are awarded for matching three of the special ceremonial masks. There aren’t any real bonus features on the game, which might mean some players dismiss the title as dull.
However, the standout feature and reason for Ugga Bugga’s popularity is its RTP rating. At 99.07%, you’ll struggle to find a more generous game from any slot provider. In terms of volatility, it’s considered low (you’ll win small prizes often rather than the occasional massive win. This would make it the perfect game to bet your way through a sizeable bonus. But we highly doubt you’ll find a casino that allows players to complete bonus wagering requirements on the slot. Any casino that did would surely suffer a big dent in their overall profitability!
Different Folks, Different Strokes
So, that’s our roundup of some of the most popular slots around today. As you can see, different slots appeal to different gamers for varied reasons.
Some players flock to games that offer the closest odds to breakeven in the industry, others chase the massive prizes seen on games like Mega Fortune and Mega Moolah. For some players, their enjoyment from slots comes from the gameplay experiences they provide. There’s diversity here too with some favouring the varied action on a title like Gonzo’s Quest or Rainbow Riches and others opting to play a much simpler slot like Starburst.
