For all the advances that slot gaming has ushered into the world of online entertainment, there’s a strong case to be made that grid-based slot experiences have been the fuel that have helped the industry discover new heights. This is especially true in the age of mobile apps and more ambitious slot gaming themes and ideas that are a far cry from the original design from over 130 years ago.
Learning from the experts
With the all-encompassing nature of online slot gaming now being a significant part of the market, it has broadened the horizons for every subdivision of the industry. This ranges from reviewers to innovative game developers to the approaches marketing departments take to bring in as many new customers as possible.
Before online casinos dominated the market, there was no need for reviewers. Many casinos were localized, the slot games were similar and available across many different sites, and it was a case of going to the nearest one rather than the best one.
Once online casinos emerged, this dynamic changed almost overnight. Thousands of reputable brands now vie for their place in the global market, and they need to ensure that the slot games they offer are of the best quality and that their platforms are top draw, so gamers continue to return to their sites to do the bulk of their slot gaming. Slot reviews have been among the most impactful tools, as experts with decades of experience can leverage their experience and serve as guides.
Now, that’s not to say experts don’t have their favorites, or that they are completely unbiased. Usually, if you can find a site that fairly reviews different games from the same supplier and has a fair and balanced approach to their reviews, they can often save you time when you are looking for a new slot gaming platform.
Grid-based slot experiences – spearheading a new market
There are some slot gamers who are so set in their ways that they refuse to entertain the idea that grid-based games are a legitimate form of slots. For these gamers, it is classic themes and 3×3 grids with no free spins that are the true essence of the game; anything that veers too far from the norm is too much of a variation.
Grid-based games champion the modularity of slot games and the ingenuity of designers and developers. Many gamers prefer this approach because there’s now a vast range of themes and ideas within this market. Some grid games are played across 12×12 squares, with a dozen different mini-games and bonuses that can hold their own as individual one-off slot game ideas.
Now, the key is that grid-based games tap into the market’s potential. There are only so many 3×3 or 4×5 grid games that are based on different types of mythology. This isn’t to downplay their impact or their popularity, but in a 24/7 international market, gamers are always looking for new options. This is where a lot of the attention is now directed, purely because these ideas are generating the most revenue for global slots providers.
Tapping into the global market
Online slots have been able to add an entirely new dimension to the world of casino gaming. Slots have never had an issue with appealing to a mass audience and were one of the stalwarts of land-based casinos. You only need to take a trip to a land-based casino to see just how many machines sprawl across the floor, usually within a few steps of walking into the building.
Online casinos have different issues to consider, but they use the same design. When you fire up a casino gaming website, you’ll often see slot games at the front and center of their platform.
Alternative payment options have become the latest talking point in an industry that continues to defy expectations. I remember in the early 2010s, many experts and slot gamers thought that the rise of online casinos would lead to deep market saturation and that platforms would struggle to stand out.
However, a decade later, we have mobile apps, VR slots, platforms that champion cryptocurrencies and altcoins like Ethereum , and a market now welcoming a much more favorable regulatory landscape in major markets like the US and Canada.
Final thoughts
Ultimately, it boils down to choice. There will always be those who prefer classic slot games; however, the rise of grid-based games has provided a greater range of options. It has also introduced slots to a new type of gamer. Slots can now appeal to those who do not find classic slot games appealing, but do find vivid, 100+ square games with the potential of huge jackpots and multiple mystery games more captivating.
These types of games are more ambitious, broader and completely flip the concept of slot gaming. We’ve seen slot game providers partner with some of the biggest TV shows and characters in the world, ranging from pop culture successes like Peaky Blinders to Game of Thrones. These are hugely ambitious and expensive productions.
In many ways, they are their own standalone entities. Not all grid-based slot games have this appeal. Just because they are different or have received a lot of investment doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll be a smash hit.
However, it means greater variety, more eyes on the slot gaming sector and more ambitious ideas are inevitably going to expand the market. As long as slot gaming companies do not lose sight of the mechanics that have made them so popular over the last century, there is plenty of room for them to innovate.
