The Most Beloved Casino Games Of All Time
For gamers and non-gamers alike, video games have become a firmly embedded aspect of our popular culture. And for many, these entertainment staples have provided the soundtrack to their youth. For instance, there are few people today who wouldn’t recognise the characteristic beeps and buzzes of an archetypal arcade favourite like the Space Invaders game. So let’s take a look at one or two all-time legends of the video game world, as well as a brief selection of some of today’s barnstorming favourite casino games.
Tetris
A Russian-designed game which players became addicted to shortly after its introduction in 1984, Tetris is a simple tile-matching puzzle which has gained a reputation for inducing an almost trance-like state of meditative contemplation among its many devotees. It was back in 1989 that Nintendo decided to release Tetris on the NES and Game Boy platforms – and the rest is history! Since that time, Tetris has been made available on most popular platforms and it appears we never tire of honing our stacking skills, perhaps in pursuit of high-scoring perfection. Some evidence suggests the hypnotic appeal of Tetris may help prevent post traumatic stress disorder and diminish cravings.
Super Mario 64
The antics of the crazy Super Mario Brothers are another instance of a game which took a generation of gamers by storm. Early side-scrolling classics set the scene, but it was the iconic Super Mario 64 – released by Nintendo in 1996 – which many experts believe put interactive 3D gaming firmly on the map. This version of the Mario universe sold around 11 million copies, making it one of the top Nintendo 64 games. But the game’s major impact has undoubtedly been to mould and influence the design perspectives of a host of games which followed in its wake.
Mega Moolah
Moving on from favourite vintage games of yesteryear to today’s revered online casino games favourites brings us to Mega Moolah, an African-themed slot game with a reputation for creating millionaires. Brought to the online market in 2006, this game has three jackpots up for grabs and brought one lucky punter a record windfall of almost €18 million.
Mega Moolah by Microgaming is a ‘Millionaire Maker’ video slot with a 5 reel structure and 25 paylines. It offers free spins whenever three monkeys appear (up to a total of 15 free spins with a 3x multiplier). The game has a jackpot bonus ‘wheel of fortune’ to play for one of its three jackpots. These are called the Minor, Major and Mega jackpots.
The progressive jackpot starts at £/€/$ 1,000,000 and Mega Moolah is a great game for players of all budgets. You can set its reels spinning for just €0.01 all the way up to a maximum stake of €6.25. This game is always a popular jackpot slot, primarily because of its reputation for frequent jackpot prize payouts. It’s an easy jackpot slot to find online at major online casinos such as GUTS Casino and GoWild Casino.
Book of Ra Deluxe
As the descriptive title suggests, Novomatic’s Book of Ra is set in Ancient Egypt and is a thriller in the Indiana Jones mould. Those looking for excitement, adventure and intricate gameplay won’t be disappointed by this title which is so popular with gamers that it should feature in most decent online casinos. As may be expected with a game first released in 2008, there are a number of versions of Book of Ra available, and this Deluxe title is a medium-to-high variance slot which features 5 reels and 10 paylines.
Its return to player rating of 94.26% makes Book of Ra Deluxe a highly volatile slot which won’t pay out as regularly as some. However, as all fans of this Nile-influenced slot will be aware, when those payouts are triggered they mostly turn out to be very rewarding indeed. The top bonanza is 5000x your total bet, so you can scoop up to $500,000 in prize money with a maximum bet of $100. There are no bonus games, but players can access 10 free spins with a random expanding scatter, and the appearance of a Wild Symbol means you get to connect with even more wins.
Tips and strategies
To get the best online gaming experience, you need to look for a casino which can not only offer top games titles but an ongoing range of promotions and bonuses. That will allow you to make the most of your budget and thus get maximum enjoyment from your gameplay. You should also look out for evidence that an online casino looks after its gamers – so go for features such as 24/7 customer assistance, a live chat facility and an up-to-24 hours cashout regulation.
Before you launch into playing for real money, take time to play a couple of free slots which are available from most software game providers, often without registration or download requirements. That will help to give you the feel of online gaming in a particular casino environment, and make you feel more at home once you’re staking cash bets.