5 Recent TV Hits That Could Be In Line for the Slot Treatment
Quick, think of slot games. If bells, cherries and BAR symbols are now spinning about in your mind’s eye, then we’re afraid to say you’re behind the times. These days, online slots are every bit as inventive and culturally attuned as videogames, with top developers across the world constantly coming up with new slants on the classic format. Among them are tie-ins with TV shows, which are among the most popular with iGamers.
The likes of Rick and Morty, Family Guy and Vikings have all been translated to the world of the jackpot reels. These games feature iconic imagery and immersive bonus rounds that really capture the feel of the shows. Speaking to TopRatedCasinos, Jo Purvis of leading software developer Blueprint Gaming has explained the popularity of these licensed slots, saying that “a well-known brand certainly helps to drive interest in the new slot before it’s even launched, as you’re capturing the interest of both seasoned slot players and the fanbase of the brand itself.”
So what recent TV hits can we imagine getting the slots treatment in the future? Let’s set those reels spinning and see what comes up…
The Crown
This is surely a no brainer, right? It’s not just that The Crown has been one of the most talked-about shows of recent times, with the kind of staunch fanbase that Jo Purvis highlighted in her interview. It’s also that we can already just imagine what the slot game would look like – gilded reels spinning against a Buckingham Palace backdrop, with crowns, sceptres and images of the cast making up the high-value symbols. The big dilemma would be choosing which iterations of the characters to include: should it be Claire Foy and Matt Smith’s younger Elizabeth and Philip we see forming paylines, or Olivia Colman and Tobias Menzies’ more mature versions? Either way, it would make for a right royal good time.
Bridgerton
Bridgerton became a telly phenomenon in the blink of an eye, with good reason. Its bold, alternative-universe take on English history, featuring a gloriously diverse and energetically sexy Regency era struck a chord with audiences eager for escapism in the midst of the pandemic. The vividly colourful aesthetic of the series would make for a fantastically gaudy slot game, with hunky rake Simon Bassett and wily debutante Daphne Bassett bound to be the most sought-after symbols. Meanwhile, Lady Whistledown’s scandalous newsletters could be the scatter symbols – get three of these on the screen, and the game could whisk you into a free spins round where the symbols are replaced by Bridgerton’s exquisite cakes. Or perhaps a bonus round where you have to piece together some of Lady Whistledown’s missives to win coins. It’s what she would have wanted.
The Queen’s Gambit
One of the biggest draws with contemporary slot games is that they often feature bonus rounds which are basically games in their own right. A great example is Rick and Morty: Wubba Lubba Dub Dub, which has an arcade-style bonus round where you take control of the drunken genius and his hapless grandson as they run away from aliens. With that in mind, it’s not a big leap to imagine the bonus round in a Queen’s Gambit slot game. Lining up the scatter symbols (which could be rooks or knights), you’d unlock a bonus round in the form of a chess game, perhaps poised on the brink of checkmate. Make the correct move, and you’d win a heap of free spins, or a queen’s ransom of coins.
Better Call Saul
Last year saw Netflix drop the fifth season of Better Call Saul, and millions of people are currently on tenterhooks wondering how the next and final run will link the saga to the events of Breaking Bad. Meanwhile, we’re also pondering what a slot version would look like. It would, of course, have to feature copious quotes from Saul himself as you play – “FYI, old people adore me”, “Saul Goodman, speedy justice for you” – while the likes of Howard, Kim and Nacho can make up some lucrative paylines. It’s also easy to imagine a bonus game featuring the lethal Mike Ehrmantraut – perhaps a sniper round where you pick off some cartel thugs in the desert. If it all sounds a bit too gritty for a slot game, remember they made one for the far nastier show that is Narcos, so all bets are off.
RuPaul’s Drag Race
Remember when Drag Race was this obscure, niche little show only your coolest mates had heard of? Now, of course, it’s a pop-cultural behemoth, and rather ripe for the slot treatment. It goes without saying that RuPaul’s face would have to be the highest-scoring symbol, though the game would be remiss if Michelle Visage wasn’t featured on the reels too. There would probably be fierce behind-the-scenes debate among the game’s developers over which drag queens should make the cut for inclusion. Meanwhile, the bonus rounds could include mini-games where you pick and choose items of clothing for the most outrageous possible outfit, or control a virtual version of the infamous lip sync battles. It’s just a pity they’d have to censor RuPaul saying “Don’t **** it up”…
