The enjoyment of online pokies results from the fact that they are not limited to just spinning reels. Game developers take inspiration from various aspects of culture and history when creating games.
With access to all the best pokies online literally at your fingertips, one wouldn’t think that different continents came with varying styles of playing games, but that’s not the case. In some markets, players go for those fast-paced games while some enjoy the thrill of adventure, and a few stick to the classic fruit machines.
This article highlights some popular pokie styles around the world.
Asia-Pacific
The Asia-Pacific region is undoubtedly the largest influencer when it comes to online slot brands. The elements familiar to locals are easily recognisable, with dragons, phoenix symbols, temples, koi carps, lucky coins, and gold present in gaming themes.
The eighth number can be seen everywhere, as it is directly connected to wealth, while the “Fu Bai Liu” elements representing wealth, fortune, and longevity can be found in numerous gaming themes.
Players across the region have also helped make Hold and Spin mechanics hugely popular. These feature-packed rounds keep the action moving while giving every new symbol the chance to extend the feature. Many games aimed at this market also favour higher volatility, creating bigger swings and the possibility of sizeable payouts when everything comes together.
Things are slightly different in Japan, of course Anime inspired artwork is everywhere, alongside samurai legends, ninja adventures and creatures from Japanese folklore such as Yokai. Rather than focusing purely on matching symbols, many games build an ongoing story around the action.
Africa
While safari-themed slots, with elephants, lions, rhinos, the famous giraffes, and much more are popular the world over, players in Africa tend to go more for adventure slots, with storylines and lots of bonuses. At the other end of the scale, classic slots are also popular, with straightforward reel spinning and limited bonuses, reflecting the diversity of the continent.
Europe
Europe certainly has the most diverse range of slot types available anywhere in the world.
The people of the UK and northern European nations have been enjoying games inspired by ancient Egyptian, Greek and Roman civilisations, and Norse mythology is a source of inspiration for many games thanks to its impressive gods and stories of mythical beings. Popular branded games can be found based on movies, series and celebrities.
In this region of the world, slot developers took advantage of innovations like Megaways that changed the look of the reels for many people. The most frequently played games are medium-volatility slots as they provide a perfect combination of constant entertainment and amazing opportunities for payouts.
On the other hand, Italy and Spain cherish traditional fruit machines that are bright, simple and made of symbols that everyone knows.
North America
If one place loves going big, it’s North America.
Las Vegas continues to influence slot design around the globe, with larger-than-life productions packed full of cinematic presentation and elaborate bonus features.
Hollywood blockbusters, comic book heroes, television favourites and epic fantasy worlds all provide inspiration for branded games, while massive progressive prize networks have become household names among many players.
