Slot machines have taken the world of gambling by storm as the most popular of all casino games. These sets have been around since the 19th century, and hundreds of thousands of such games have been released over time. Out of the many pokies in the category, some stand out and resonate with gamblers more than others. Here are five of the most popular pokies of all time.
Wheel of Fortune
Wheel of Fortune slot is a product of International Game Technology, and it is based on an eighties TV show. The IGT slot gained traction in brick-and-mortar casinos, mainly due to the bonus feature that was similar to the real show. The original release featured the classic three reels with a bright bonus wheel at the top. The slot’s fame saw it develop into a series adopted for both online and land-based gambling dens.
Among the most famous Wheel of Fortune slot machines is the Triple Extreme Spin. The set was launched in 2015 with a 94.04% RTP rate and medium variance. The pokie machine features an unusual setup of five reels that differ in height. The first and fifth columns as the shortest with three characters only while the centre one is the longest with five icons. The pokie impresses with 720 ways to win that can pay both from left to the right and the other way around and a base game jackpot of 10,000 times the line bet. The main attraction is the mini-round, which features three wheels instead of the usual one, and they offer multiplier wins of up to 250x. Other popular releases in the series include;
- Wheel of Fortune on Tour
- Wheel of Fortune Megaways
- Wheel of Fortune Ultra 5 Reels
- Wheel of Fortune Hawaiian Getaway
Buffalo
When the Buffalo slot game was released in 2008, it did not catch many gamblers’ attention on brick-and-mortar casino floors. More than a decade later, it is common to walk through a casino and hear the “Buffalo” chorus as punters collect the game’s pots. This pokie is a creation of the software developer Aristocrat. It has gone from fighting to remain on casino floors to inspire a slot theme dominating both online and offline gambling clubs.
Buffalo Slot captured gamblers’ attention as one of the first pokie machines to feature video reels in the place of electromechanical one. The pokie machine has 243 win ways on its five-reel playtable that features the classic imaging of 2000s’ slots. The game may be old, but it entertains gamblers with various features including;
- Reel Power – Xtra Reel Power is an Aristocrat invention that allows gamblers to adjust win ways like bet lines. Punters can choose between three and 243 ways to win, and the selected Reel power affects the bet value.
- Icon winnings – any appearance of two or three similar characters on active win ways activates a win. The playing card symbols offer the small wins while the significant ones are left to the animal symbols.
- Gamble feature – punters can double or quadruple their stakes by choosing the colour or suit of a downfacing card in the gamble game.
- Wild – the sunset plays this symbol and appears on the second to fourth reels.
- Free spins – the set awards 8, 15, and 20 free spins when three to five scatters appear, and their wins are multiplied by two or three.
Book of Ra
Book of Ra slot machine thrives on its use of the famous ancient Egyptian theme. The pokie is an old title released in 2004 for location-based casinos before being recreated for online audiences. Book of Ra features a basic five-by-three playtable with ten bet lines and decorated with Egyptian artifacts. The nine paylines are adjustable, and they award winnings for combinations of three to five icons for low-value items and as little as two for the more valuable symbols. The most notable feature in the game is the free spins bonus. The boon activates when the wild book, which also plays the scatter, appears on three tiles. The game awards ten free spins and one icon is chosen to become an expanding symbol.
Book of Ra Slot is the origin of the legendary “Book of” styled games. The most famous of the pokie’s recreations is Book of Dead by Play’n GO. This set features the same explorer theme with Rich Wilde leading the expedition. The game also pays up to 5000 times the total stake and awards an expanding character in the free games.
Mega Moolah
Mega Moolah slot machine has created more millionaire gamblers than most pokies can boast. This Microgaming slot was released in 2006, and its visuals fit the classic era. The five-reel playtable rests on the savannah grassland that covers the background in an orange fog. Lions, buffalos, antelopes, and giraffes are the wildlife that features on the grid to award wins for landing on its 25 bet lines. The pokie game secures its place as a timeless hit with its progressive jackpot feature that awards one of four pooled prizes. The round triggers randomly after any spin, and it presents a bonus wheel with different jackpots on it. The one that is pointed out once the wheel halts is awarded. The most coveted win is the Mega jackpot whose seed value is 1,000,000.
Cleopatra
Cleopatra is an IGT slot centred on the tale of the Egyptian queen of the same name who thrived during her reign thanks to her wits. Cleopatra Slot was launched in online casinos in 2012 but had been in brick-and-mortar dens before then. The game is less fancy than your modern slot, and it bears the classic appearance of old sets. Cleopatra plays the most valuable icon in the game and awards 10,000 times the line stake. Two to four of her symbols pay 10 to 2000 times the same. This icon also plays the wild and replaces all icons. Any wins completed using the wild are doubled.
Summary
These slot machines come in online versions that can be accessed on mobile and PCs. Some of them are available in location-based dens as well. Also, they have sequels that explore their finest details even further.
