Most Played & Popular Slots

A. Antonova (editor)

Online gambling is a massive industry whose revenue was estimated at over $95 billion in 2023, with projections indicating this figure will surge to a whopping $138 billion in the next several years. Casino gaming accounts for nearly one-third of the industry’s combined revenue, which only goes to show how popular casino games are among players worldwide. Slots dominate the industry and are easily the most preferred option among online players. 

Yet, some slots enjoy far greater popularity than others due to their enticing features and the craftsmanship of software developers who are constantly trying to outcompete each other by releasing slot titles with superior graphics, new payout mechanics, and original gameplay. Certain slot releases are regarded by the iGaming community as timeless classics and continue to attract the interest of players around the globe despite their age.

In this article, you will learn all about the most played slots available online as we cover their bonus features, special symbols, and themes. We also pay homage to the best slot software development companies that have been consistently delivering highly engaging and rewarding slots over the past decade.

Best Software Providers of Slots

New software providers have been springing like wild mushrooms after rain in the past several years, but some software development companies are considered leaders when it comes to crafting enticing and highly playable online slots. The four suppliers covered below have been around for years and have consolidated their position as undisputed trailblazers in online slot development. In this section, you can read about their history in brief and familiarize yourself with the most distinctive features of the slots they design.

Betsoft

Betsoft is among the software providers that immediately come to mind when we think about slots with crisp graphics, rewarding features, and fun themes. The company launched in 1999 and ranks among the veterans of the iGaming industry. Betsoft also designs video poker and classic table games like blackjack and roulette, although crafting visually compelling video slots seems to be its specialty. The company excels in designing slot games with state-of-the-art 3D graphics and unique features that keep keen reel spinners coming back for more. Just a few years after it launched, Betsoft earned the reputation of the best 3D slot developer on the market and its impressive games are currently available at hundreds of online casinos.

The studio consistently receives well-deserved praise for the titles from its Slot3 series, which stand out with highly cinematic graphics that closely mimic those in award-winning animated flicks. Some of the most popular releases from the Slot3 category include It Came from Venus, Great 88, Mama Mia, and Gladiator, all of which boast gorgeous visuals and immersive sounds. The company relies on the latest technologies to deliver highly enticing slot games. 

Apart from being visually impressive, Betsoft slots come with tons of cool special features, including Bonus Buy, Hold and Win, free spins, bonus games, and a host of special symbols designed to give you more bang for your buck. Some of the titles released so far link to progressive jackpots that grow incrementally with each placed bet. Massive progressive jackpots are up for grabs in Betsoft slots like The Glam Life, At the Copa, Treasure Room, and Good Girl, Bad Girl. Other enormously popular releases you will come across at Betsoft-powered casinos include Alkemor’s Elements, Mr. Vegas, and Fire & Steel.

Microgaming

Microgaming is another giant in the iGaming industry that provides an abundance of engaging and rewarding slots. The company is well-known for the quality of its games and the slots created by its developer team are no exception to this rule. Microgaming is a dinosaur of the online gambling industry and in fact launched the first online casino ever in the mid-1990s before it decided to concentrate exclusively on game and software development. The company is currently regarded as an undisputed leader in slot provision and partners with more than 650 online gambling operators.

Its enormous catalog comprises over 800 online slots, table games, and video poker variants, all of which are provenly fair as per independent eCOGRA audits. Even though Microgaming develops various casino games, its slot titles are definitely what appeals the most to online casino players. The gaming studio specializes in providing slots with fun themes, lots of bonus features, and great visual effects.

What is more, Microgaming runs the largest progressive jackpot network in the world, with pots accumulating across all gambling sites that use the company’s software. The largest prizes drop in the slots from Microgaming’s progressive Mega Moolah and Wow Pot series. Other highly popular Microgaming online slots you will come across include Game of Thrones, Immortal Romance, Major Millions, Thunderstruck, Avalon, and Book of Oz, among many others.

NetEnt

NetEnt is yet another well-respected supplier of premium online slots. The company is extremely productive as it has released over 200 fantastic slots and table games since it first launched in 1996. Exciting designs, engaging themes, and fruitful features are some of the most distinctive traits of slots created by NetEnt. For those who are passionate about online slots, the software developer works with hundreds of online casinos offering its impressive games.

Millions of players worldwide enjoy spinning the reels of NetEnt slots, which only goes to show how captivating the games are. Even if you switch between different platforms, you will notice that the quality of the graphics remains the same as nearly all slot releases are optimized for play on smartphones and tablets. In fact, the mobile slots of NetEnt enjoy quite the popularity among interactive players due to their amazing visual and sound effects.

Additionally, the company enjoys great renown for crafting some of the progressive slots with the largest jackpots on the market, including the likes of Mega Fortune, Hall of Gods, and Arabian Nights. Other popular slot releases in its portfolio include Gonzo’s Quest, Starburst, Jack and the Beanstalk, and many other entertaining titles. NetEnt used to also excel in the provision of live dealer games but discontinued its live suite after rival Evolution Gaming acquired it in 2020.

Playtech

Playtech also ranks among the heavyweights in the field of online slot development. In business since 1999, the company has established itself as an undisputed expert in creating fun casino games, and the slots it crafts definitely prove it. Titles powered by the software provider boast superb visual quality and impressive sound effects. What is more, Playtech slots incorporate different bonus features into their gameplay that improve players’ chances of racking up tasty payouts.

This juggernaut of the iGaming industry has also created the popular Age of the Gods slots that are part of a massive wide-area progressive jackpot network that can compete only with Microgaming’s Mega Moolah. Over 20 titles are currently part of the Age of the Gods progressive series, including fan favorites like Pantheon of Power, Furious 4, King of Olympus, and Fate Sisters. Each of these offers four different progressive jackpots, the largest of which consistently grows to reach seven-digit figures. Other well-known titles powered by the reputable studio include Buffalo Blitz, Beach Life, A Night Out, Jackpot Giant, and Gladiator.

Types of Slot Games

Slots are very popular among casino fans because they are fairly easy to play, offer a fun gaming experience, and have the potential to award quite generous prizes. Games from this genre are commonly grouped into several categories and each player has a favorite type.

Experienced gamblers and purists usually prefer to play classic slots and renowned software providers cater to their preferences with a varied lineup of three-reel games. These offer simpler gameplay and less risky bets but are still very fun to play. Classic slots can be found at most online casinos and many players prefer the standard three spinning reels over the complexity of video slots with five reels and multiple paylines. Some popular classic slots include Microgaming’s Break Da Bank and Couch Potato as well as Alchemist’s Lab by Playtech.

Although many people enjoy playing 3-reel slots, the majority of casino aficionados prefer to spin more reels, play with special symbols and trigger many bonus features. Because of this, video slots have become pretty popular among online gambling fans. Top software providers are competing with each other to create the most exciting and rewarding slots at the same time. You can find an abundance of games with 5 or even 6 spinning reels and multiple paylines. Special symbols like wilds and scatters that trigger different bonus features can help players form winning combinations more easily.

To make their slots even more engaging, many developers have incorporated various mini-games for players to anticipate. This way, players can not only have even more fun while spinning the reels but get to enjoy more opportunities to hit impressive wins. If you are entertained by newer slots with gripping storylines and fun additional mini-games, you can try slots like Immortal Romance, Hot as Hades, or Game of Thrones.

In addition to classic and video slots, we can also add another category to slot variations. Players with a higher risk tolerance face an immense choice of games that offer progressive jackpots. As the name suggests, this type of slot offers them the chance to win prizes that often increase to reach millions of dollars.

To become eligible for winning a progressive jackpot, players are usually required to bet the maximum, although some Playtech releases award their progressive prizes randomly. A small percentage of each wager is deducted and added to the rapidly increasing pot but you should keep in mind progressives usually yield a lower theoretical return in the base game.

Most Played Slots

If you read the brief reviews of the most played slots picked below, you will find that these titles combine crisp visuals, tons of bonus features, and generous payouts. They definitely deserve to be given a spin or two, so check them all out to see which one appeals to you the most.

Starburst

It is very unlikely to join a NetEnt casino that does not advertise Starburst as one of its most popular slots. There are plenty of casino fans who enjoy playing this game that offers 5 reels and 10 paylines. Despite the limited number of paylines, the game actually includes a few bonus features. Thanks to these special features, players enjoy additional opportunities to land wins.

NetEnt developers have decided to use gems in five different colors for the symbols in Starburst, plus lucky sevens, bars, and the game’s logo, which is wild. As you can see, there are not that many symbols involved in the gameplay, which makes Starburst particularly suitable for unversed reel spinners. Great payouts await players who manage to land winning combinations on the five reels.

The wild appears only on the second, third, and fourth reels of Starburst and can replace any other symbol in the game. This special icon is an expanding wild which means it covers the entire reel it appears on. If one wild expands on any of the three middle reels, it will trigger a free re-spin of the other four reels. This may result in hitting a second expanding wild that will activate another re-spin. Thanks to this feature, players can enjoy up to three free re-spins, which partially compensates them for the lack of bonus games and rounds of free spins.

Gonzo’s Quest

Another wonderful title supplied by NetEnt is Gonzo’s Quest. This video slot is preferred by many casino fans due to its intriguing theme and rewarding features. Players who decide to try the game will follow the main character in his adventures in the mysterious land of Eldorado. Amazing graphics and sound effects will have you fully immersed in another universe where you have the chance to rack up appetizing wins. This video slot has 5 reels and 20 paylines, along with bonus features that can further reward players.

When players form a winning combination, the symbols it contains will crumble down and new ones will appear in their places. This is NetEnt’s trademark Avalanche mechanics that can award multiple wins with progressive multipliers at the cost of a single spin. Up to five consecutive wins are possible. 

Another great bonus feature of this slot is the Free Fall, triggered by 3 Free Fall symbols landing on the same payline. This will award 10 free spins with increasing multipliers of 3x, 6x, 9x and 15x. Free spins can be retriggered.

Gonzo’s Quest has become so popular that it was recently launched in the live-game-show format that uses human presenters hosting the action. This only proves how popular the game is among casino enthusiasts and you will not regret it if you try it out.

Mega Moolah

For players on the lookout for major wins, Mega Moolah is one of the most popular progressive games in the market. This 5-reel video slot with 25 paylines is powered by Microgaming and has an interesting safari theme but its huge jackpot is the main drawing attraction the game has to offer.

For its symbols, the game developers have chosen to incorporate savanna animals like giraffes, gorillas, lions, hippos, antelopes, elephants, buffalo, and zebras. The lion represents the wild symbol of Mega Moolah and can award a 2x multiplier when it is part of a winning combination.

You can enjoy even better payouts if you trigger the Free Spins feature of Mega Moolah by landing three or more scatters anywhere on the reels in the base game. This will give you 15 free spins and any winnings will be tripled for the duration of the feature.

Although the aforementioned features are pretty good, most people play Mega Moolah because of its enormous progressive jackpot that consists of four levels, Mini, Minor, Major, and Mega. The jackpot game is triggered at random and if you are lucky enough to spin the wheel of Mega Moolah, the goal will be to land the Mega jackpot. When the Mega jackpot is won, it starts seeding from the impressive €2 million to ensure players never lose interest in the game.

Game of Thrones

Popular slots are often inspired by pop culture, movies, and TV shows, which is why many online players were quite excited when Microgaming launched its Game of Thrones video slot. The game is based on the popular TV series based on the eponymous fantasy novels written by George R. R. Martin. Microgaming smartly decided to incorporate imagery from the show into its rendition, including the sigils of the rivaling houses, perfectly conveying the overall atmosphere of the televised series.

The original release has 5 reels and 15 paylines and is guaranteed to appeal to fans of the TV series. Iconic items like the famed Iron Throne are complemented by the original soundtrack of the show playing in the background as you spin the reels. The Game of Thrones logo is wild and can replace every other symbol except the scattered Iron Throne that triggers the bonus feature in the game.

Landing 3 or more scatters anywhere on the five reels will reward players with a round of free spins. Depending on the option they choose, players can receive four different free spin bonuses. If you pick the House of Baratheon, you will win 8 free spins with a 5x multiplier and 3 stacked seal symbols. The House of Lannister awards 10 free spins with a multiplier of 4x and 4 stacked seals. The House of Stark can earn you 14 spins at no cost where your winnings are tripled and you will benefit from 5 stacked symbols. Finally, there is the House of Targaryen whose round consists of 18 free spins with 2x multipliers and 6 stacked seals.

There is also a Gamble Feature that becomes available after each winning round in the base game, allowing players to flip a coin for the chance to double their winnings. The 15-line Game of Thrones reaped such an enormous success that Microgaming subsequently followed up with several other releases based on the popular series, including Game of Thrones 243 Ways and Game of Thrones Power Stacks, which uses the Link & Win mechanic.

Age of the Gods Slots

Playtech’s Age of the Gods progressive slots are easily some of the most popular real-money gambling games on the internet. These games replaced the Marvel slot series after the studio discontinued them back in 2017. Playtech has released over twenty Age of the Gods slots since then, each inspired by different deities from Greek and Norse mythology.  Fate Sisters, Goddess of Wisdom, King of Olympus, God of Storms, Apollo Power, and Gods and Giants have all established themselves as player favorites. Apart from boasting fun themes, special symbols, and lots of bonus features, all titles from the series link to a progressive jackpot network that can rival Microgaming’s Mega Moolah.

Deities and demigods like Athena, Zeus, Poseidon, and Hercules populate the reels of most Age of the Gods slots. Wilds and scatters are also incorporated into the gameplay to assist players in forming more winning combinations and triggering the bonus features, including free spins with massive multipliers on the wins.

What makes the Age of the Gods slots so popular, however, is the progressive jackpot lucky players can walk away with. Four pots are up for grabs (Power, Extra Power, Super Power, Ultimate Power). These trigger randomly, although placing higher wagers per spin improves your odds of unlocking the jackpot bonus game. This is a mini-game where you must pick three matching coins with the same god or goddess to collect the corresponding jackpot. The Ultimate Power jackpot is the largest of the four and starts seeding at €100,000, typically growing to seven-digit amounts.

Fruit Zen

It is impossible to leave out Betsoft while discussing popular online slots. With its innovative 3D cinematic graphics and animations, the software company develops video slots that entice both with their visual appeal and their massive winning potential. Fruit Zen is among the releases that perfectly exemplify the craftsmanship of the Betsoft game developers.

Betsoft’s typical high-quality graphics are also present in this 5-reel slot with 10 adjustable paylines. While ten lines may sound unimpressive to some, the game incorporates lucrative bonus features that are definitely worthy of attention. It uses fruit symbols that pay homage to classic three-reel slots but these are so expertly rendered that you can almost taste their delicious flavor in your mouth. These superior graphics, combined with special symbols, are a significant deviation from the toned-down fruit machines of bygone days.

The Fruit Zen logo plays the role of a wild and can appear on the second, third, and fourth reels. The best thing about this wild symbol is that it expands to cover entire reels, awarding up to three free re-spins in the process. Another peculiarity of Fruit Zen is that players can form winning combinations in both directions, from left to right and right to left, which also improves their chances of scoring delicious payouts. All these things considered, it is easy to see why Fruit Zen has managed to retain its status of a player favorite years after it was originally released.