The themed slots that people should try out

Photo: Markus Spiske

Slots have been a popular choice among casino goers since they were first perfected at the end of the 19th century by auto mechanic Charles Fey. The design was an instant hit among players who had been frustrated by previous designs where the prizes were not automatically dispensed.

Previous incarnations required a member of staff to come and check the winning combination and then issue the appropriate prize which could be a drink, cigarette, or cigar. The automated slot machines were so popular that bars and dance halls all over the country were clamouring to install them to keep their customers entertained.

Modern slots work in roughly the same way as their predecessors, maintaining the maths behind the machines but with a variety of different themes to keep things interesting and relevant. Players can choose from a variety of themed slots, such as:

Sharknado

Fans of the surprisingly popular budget film will love this slot machine that features chainsaws, a helicopter that drops nuclear weapons, and liberal splashings of blood over the winning combinations. The movie was based on the unlikely premise that sharks could be sucked up into a tornado causing widescale flooding and threatening the lives of all those trapped in the waterlogged, and now shark-infested, streets of Los Angeles.

The wackiness of the ordinal plot was obviously not lost on the creators of this fun and engaging slot, which includes random appearances by sharks throughout the game as they suddenly bob into view while playing. Fans of the film have praised the slot for its faithful rendering of the spirit of the film, and the tornado that can result in a multiplier shark storm is just the icing on the cake.

Staying true to its roots, the Sharknado slot offers a great time for a reasonable price and fans will love all the little touches that remind them of this unusually brilliant film,

Big Bass Bonanza

Fishing fans, whether real or virtual, will love this slot that offers all the fun of a classic fishing game with the potential to bag a big prize with achievable multipliers. The whole game is based on fishing and the goal is to learn how to fish from an expert and accompany them on an expedition.

The premise of Big Bass Bonanza is simple, and catching the largest fish is the real challenge, but this volatile slot does pay out pretty regularly so fans can expect a decent return. There are plenty of chances to win free spins and it’s possible to retrigger the free spins round by collecting wilds.

Hoffmania

Fans of living legend David Hasselhoff will not be surprised to learn that he is the star of a slot game that pays tribute to all his most admirable qualities. The star of Baywatch and Knight Rider captured the hearts of millions of TV viewers throughout the 1980s and 90s, not to mention his exceptional singing career and his incredible influence during the reunification of East and West Germany.

Hoffmania focuses on his incredible profile as players have to help distribute autographs to enthusiastic fans and promote the Hoff as they seek out the Golden Hoff symbol that triggers free spins. Managing the Hoff’s fans is a full-time job, and the harder players work, the more they will receive in terms of free spins and credits, up to a Hoff-tastic four hundred thousand credit jackpot.

Vikings Go Berzerk

Norse mythology is a popular theme for slots, but they usually focus on the more majestic elements of the stories with gods flinging around thunder and having adventures. This slot subverts the popular tropes and features instead a number of raging Vikings that want nothing more than to build up a head of rage.

Infuriating the Vikings earns the player free spins but they can also find treasure chests containing a choice of prizes which are increased further when it’s triggered in free spin mode. The game is relatively simple to grasp, but the high variance means that players need to put in a little time to get to the top prizes that can be as much as four thousand times their stake.

With thousands of different slots to choose from, any player can find one that suits their interests, even if it’s just based on their favourite television show or film. There are slots celebrating all things spooky such as zombies and vampires, and at the other end of the scale are slots with silly humour such as Cyrus the Virus, a slot which sees players trying to match virus symbols to win.

From fast-paced games that pay out regularly to slower ones that build up to a big jackpot, a familiar theme can make playing slots even more fun.