In the online casino industry, there are few names that hold the same weight as Play’n Go, one of the most recognisable studios out there. Their well-respected reputation has come through consistency and innovation in the industry, with their foundation coming in 1997 and still being one of the market leaders today. In their early years in the online casino jackpot slots industry, all of their releases were extremely limited, as was the market as a whole. They initially focused on delivering solid slot titles with cutting-edge game mechanics, which instantly made them one of the most popular studios in the early 2000s. As technology advanced, Play’n Go grew significantly, showcasing its innovation in some of its releases. As a result of their innovation, Play’n Go has released some massively popular titles that can be played today, and in this article, we will cover some of them.
Book of Dead
In the entire iGaming space, there are very few releases that have reached the popularity of the Book of Dead slot game. Despite being released in 2016, the Book of Dead slot game still remains a notable player in the industry a decade down the line. This slot game was designed using the Book of Ra game as inspiration, which is one of the most popular physical slot machine games of all time. When comparing the two titles, the similarities are clear, with an all-around similar aesthetic and some familiar mechanics. The Book of Dead slot game takes place across a 5×3 playgrid, which contains a fixed payline count of 10. During gameplay, matching combinations may occur if identical symbols land across one of these paylines, with the pattern beginning at the leftmost reel and continuing in adjacent positions.
The gameplay in the Book of Dead slot game will take place in an ancient Egyptian tomb, which is fitting considering the game is drawn from the ancient Egyptian civilisation. In the backdrop, sandstone walls can be found, as well as four sturdy sandstone supporting pillars, each designed with ancient hieroglyphs to add to the aesthetic. To further showcase the game's theme, all symbols are created using ancient Egyptian elements, and the reels are separated using golden and blue stripes.
The Book of Dead slot game showcases its age in its bonus features, with free spins being the only available option. This bonus feature can be triggered if 3 scatter symbols are landed on the reels, awarding 10 free spins. Before this bonus begins, a random symbol will be selected, which will expand to cover an entire reel if it lands during the feature.
Fire Joker
2016 is evidently one of Play’n Go’s most notable years in the online casino industry, with two of their most popular slots released that year, including Fire Joker and the previously mentioned one. For this release, Play’n Go has embraced a classic fruit machine aesthetic, featuring simpler visual elements and game mechanics than some modern releases. For this release, Play’n Go has added a 3×3 reel setup with only 5 paylines, a similar count to other classic slots in the industry. Base game prizes can be triggered in Fire Joker just like any traditional slot game, with identical symbols landing across a payline, starting at the first reel and running from left to right.
There is not much to note in terms of the visuals of the Fire Joker slot game, which comes as expected given the game's classic theme. Play’n Go has created a diamond-plated backdrop, which is dark red in colour towards the top, and gradients to lighter shades further down.
Whilst being a classic slots release, Play’n Go has still added some bonus features into the gameplay of Fire Joker. These bonuses include the flaming respins, Joker Wild, and the wheel of multipliers. The main bonus is the wheel of multipliers feature, which can be triggered if all the reels showcase the same symbol and awards a multiplier to the base game prize.
Rise of Olympus Extreme
Lastly, Play’n Go are also the developer behind the Rise of Olympus Extreme slot game, which, as the title suggests, is based around ancient Greek mythology. This slot game marks one of the many in the Rise of Olympus series, all of which feature similar imagery throughout the gameplay, with this slot being no exception. Play’n Go has showcased its flexibility in this slot, placing the gameplay across a 5×5 playgrid, which features no traditional payline structures. In lieu of traditional paylines, Play’n Go has added the clustery pays mechanic, meaning matching combinations can occur if groups of 5 or more identical symbols land adjacent to one another.
The gameplay in Rise of Olympus Extreme takes place in the clouds, which extend into the distance in the backdrop. Also present in the backdrop is a floating island, where a detailed ancient Greek temple sits atop. Similarly, beside the reels there is another floating island, where one of the three ancient Greek gods will be found.
Bonus features that may be encountered in the Rise of Olympus slot game include wilds, multipliers, the Hand of God, the Wrath of Olympus, and, most notably, the free spins feature. To trigger the free spins feature, the playgrid must be cleared, and if completed, one of the three free spins options will be presented, each variant based around a unique god.
