Online Slot Themes – Find The Best Themed Slots

For players, online slot themes are an incredibly normal part of the game and don’t necessarily need to be given much thought. But for new players or onlookers, seeing an online slot with pink unicorns dashing across the screen to celebrate a winning spin may seem odd.

Although they mostly contribute from a visual standpoint, online slot themes are an essential part of a game. They set the mood and tone for the game and can ultimately be the decisive factor in picking one slot or another. Whether it’s going off on a swashbuckling pirate adventure, exploring ancient history or entering the realm of science fiction, fantasy and fairy tales, these themes can be a huge selling point for a video slot.

What are themed slots?

All online slots are themed to some extent, but some have a more prominent topic, character or behind-the-scenes story that makes them stand out in the crowd. It might not always be the theme itself that makes the game tick, but it’s the packaging that draws players in to try the slot.

The theme is what sets the slot apart from other games and although they don’t always exceed the expectations, a slot without some sort of concept behind the gameplay is hard to spot these days. Therefore you see slots enriched with various topics including film, adventure, animals, space, fairy tales, you name it.

A nice problem to have with so many themed slots is that you are spoilt for choice. The issue with the choice is that slot developers may take on the challenge of copying famous thematic slots. This is why it seems that there are endless clones of the Book of Ra slots called the ‘Book of’ series everywhere you turn.

Why do people play themed slots?

The simple reason why players love themed slots is that they are either fans of a certain TV show, film or a band represented in the slot. Favourite superheroes or childhood cartoons are a big part of our memories and this extended virtual reality lets us see them again in a different form and maybe even be them in the game.

As a result, to utilise players’ emotions, game developers produce numerous themed titles to cater to as wide a range of players as possible. Let’s look at some of the trending slot machine themes in 2024.

Trending Slot Themes 2024

Pick out any theme and you’ll find an online slot machine based around it. From ancient Egypt, space aliens, fairy tales and spooky Halloween themes to Viking slots, there’s something for every player.

Most likely there isn’t a slot theme that hasn’t yet been covered. But do we really need another ‘Book of’ game slot or one more sequel to a blood-sucking vampire slot? There is no right or wrong answer to this question. As long as players enjoy these themes and are willing to play the game, it will be coming around again and again.

How did we find out which are the most popular slot themes this year? We arranged the list by looking into our data on monthly searches for specific slot themes, and we also took the most popular slot game names and considered to which category they belong. Without further ado, here are our top 10 slot themes you should check out in 2024.

1. Pirate Slots

Hollywood is mostly responsible for the popularity of pirates in modern pop culture. Their depiction as swashbuckling, camp outlaws sailing the high seas has captured the imagination of millions around the world, extending beyond the confines of the silver screen. As you may expect, pirate themed slots are incredibly common and sought after, with developers coming up with all kinds of settings. Some go for a more grounded and fearsome tone, featuring krakens and other creatures from mythology, while others lean into lighter versions of the theme.

2. Fruit Machine Slots

Fruit slots go way, way back. The theme started off accompanying slot machines that sold bubblegum and the fruit symbols represented the different flavours the machine had to offer. Years later, the theme is still incredibly popular with a niche following of players who exclusively play these kinds of games. The theme goes beyond simple looks, as it is generally applied to games with simple or retro mechanics that help invoke that sense of nostalgia along with the iconic fruits.

Hot Chilli is one of those great fruit-themed slots to spice up your gambling experience. Simple in gameplay and yet full of surprises, the oriental fruit slot comes with medium-high volatility, multipliers and a tangy RTP of 96.52%.

With 60,000x your bet, a progressive multiplier and an extra lush RTP of 96.52% you don’t want to miss the Extra Juicy slot by Pragmatic Play. For something more unusual and quirky, try out Fruitoids by Yggdrasil with an excellent RTP of 96.70%.

3. Irish Slots

Video slot themes are known to embrace stereotypes and run with them, and this is very true in the case of the Irish theme. Irish slots tend to present grids covered in shades of green, littered with pots of gold, rainbows, shamrocks, and ginger-bearded leprechauns. Most of these video slots revolve around the idea of luck and riches, with a very light-hearted tone. There are a few exceptions to the rule though, showing a more interesting side of Irish culture that tends to be less flashy.

Among untold numbers of Irish slots, we couldn’t get away without mentioning the all-time favourite Irish classic Rainbow Riches slot by the old-school Barcrest developer.

But if you’re looking for more up to date Leprechaun themed slots, try Rainbow Riches Pick n Mix by WMS. Otherwise, Finn’s Golden Tavern, the sequel to everyone’s beloved Finn and the Swirly Spins, is an excellent choice too.

4. Fishing Slots

Fishing remains one of the most popular pastimes around the world and it just so happens to be one of the most common themes in video slots. Fishing slots tend to be quite similar, featuring a trusty boat, a salty fisherman and a variety of fish to catch. They tend to come with money collection mechanics, where a collect symbol gathers all the money symbols on the screen. Without the collect symbol, the money symbol’s values are lost.

5. Wild Wild West Slots

The American frontier was filled with all sorts of unsavoury characters, which, to be honest, makes for a fantastic video slot theme. You’ll find all sorts of Wild West-themed video slots, some that focus on nature, wildlife, and animals in that time, while others take you to dingy saloons filled with outlaws and gunslingers. The theme doesn’t generally affect gameplay in this case, so you get Wild West slots with all sorts of core mechanics and bonus features.

6. Magic Slots

Fantasy and magic can be fantastic themes for video slots, showcasing spectacular graphics and animations. Witches, sorcerers, and wizards take centre stage throwing potions, spell books, and wands onto the reels. Most of these video slots tend to lean towards Arthurian tales, with an abundance of magic slots themed around Camelot, Merlin, Morgana, Lancelot, and the legendary King himself.

7. Movie Slots

Popular movies and blockbuster franchises are immensely popular with players, so a video slot themed around a favourite title can prove a winning idea. Whether it’s sword and sandal epics like Gladiator, horror thrills like Jurassic Park, box-office crushing TV shows like Game of Thrones, or even 80s adventure flicks like The Goonies, there’s probably a video slot out there themed around your favourite movie.
Although they rarely push for innovation through their mechanics, they have at times managed to find creative ways to embody the essence of the film, making them feel like a genuine experience.

Many players love movie-themed slots because they feature their favourite characters and soundtracks, some even have clips from the movie incorporated into gameplay. Often the fantasy combined with realistic graphics adds significantly to the thrills and draws players to this particular slot theme.

8. Halloween Slots

Christmas may be the cosier holiday, but Halloween is the fun one. In following a Halloween theme, video slots can get spooky and gruesome, summoning dark creatures from beyond the grave to chill your bones. Mummies, werewolves, vampires, zombies – they’re all in on it, haunting every round you spin in the hopes of striking a winning combination and defeating their evil. Although most of these video slots are released around October, you’ll also find new Halloween slots being released outside of the holiday season. To play the most popular Halloween slots ever released, visit our Halloween-themed slots page.

9. Adventure Slots

Everybody loves a tale of daring heroes embarking on epic quests, and players do seem to have a soft spot for dashing treasure hunters looking to loot ancient treasures. The adventure slot theme has given us plenty of Indiana Jones and Lara Croft lookalikes, and all these dastardly individuals seem hellbent on bringing home precious artefacts from long-lost civilisations.

Adventure slots might take you back in time, into the future or to a completely different world that doesn’t exist! Gonzo’s Quest transports you to ancient Colombia and Treasure Skyland carries you off to a fantasy land. If you’re a player who’s always looking for adventure and to try something new, then this is your type of slot.

10. Pop Culture Slots

Art is supposed to mirror life, and so it comes as no shock to see that loads of video slot themes are inspired by pop culture icons. These can be new movies, games, superheroes, or pop artists, as well as cultural phenomena like popular memes and trends. Developers are always on the lookout for something quirky and relevant – the sort of theme that truly stands out and immediately draws your unwavering attention.

Are Slot Themes Important?

Appearances can be deceiving and yes, you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover – but at the same time, the importance of first impressions cannot be understated. Mechanics, features and a solid math model may lie at the core of a successful video slot, but visuals, themes and aesthetics can be just as important.

A great theme will immediately catch your eye. In the hands of a capable developer, it can be turned into a fantastic presentation – something that can stand out from the seemingly endless sea of online video slots. A strong theme that has been executed well enough will more likely draw you in, and developers have become incredibly aware of this. Slot themes and graphics have been designed specifically to stand out, at times even mimicking the look of popular mobile and video games.

A great slot theme alone won’t make for a great game, but when it’s paired with great graphics, mechanics and win potential, you get yourself a complete package.

Why Do Slot Machines Have Themes?

Even the earliest slot machines had some form of theme going on. Slot machines from the late 19th century featured royal card symbols, as well as good luck tokens like horseshoes and shamrocks. Inevitably, the more popular these machines got, the more they used new and different themes. It became a way to distinguish one game from another, and the more modern the slot machine was, the more elaborate its theme would be.

Since then, players have adopted tastes based on these video slot themes. For example, there’s a huge following for classic fruit machines. In some cases, the mechanics of a game are also tied to the theme itself. For example, most ‘Book of’ games tend to have an ancient Egyptian theme, as they follow in the footsteps of the massively popular Book of Dead slot. Similarly, fruit machines tend to have more stripped-back features, with a more conservative set of paylines and simple gameplay.

What Are Good Themes for Slot Games?

Over the years, we’ve seen all sorts of themes being explored for slot games. Some have become lasting trends, while others haven’t quite managed to have the same effect. The safest slot themes somehow connect to wealth and riches.

So, you get slot themes based on powerful civilisations such as ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome, while others focus on the ones who took wealth by force, like Vikings and pirates. Luck is another great theme, which is why we get loads of Irish-themed slots with hidden pots of gold and leprechauns chasing green shamrocks around the game.

Some developers have tried going in an alternative direction, pushing for a different take on traditional slot themes. Chief among these is Nolimit City, and the provider has come up with some bizarre settings, including prison- and occult-themed slots, as well as serial killer-themed games. These tend not to be as popular as the livelier themes, but they’ve still gained a rather sizable following from a niche group of players.

The craziest themes in slots

Never mind the fierce Vikings, red-bearded leprechauns and juicy fruit slots. How about we list some of the craziest slot machine themes depicting aliens, unicorns with gun machines, grannies terrorising the city, and even, errr… bible slots?

Branded Slots

These slot themes have been and continue to be used as promotional tools for loads of different brands.

Slot machines in Las Vegas can’t escape it either, with some machines themed after music icons like Snoop Dogg or popular movie franchises such as Mad Max, Lord of the Rings and James Bond. You even get themed slots with comedy gems like Original Vacation and Holiday Vacation, as well as hit tv shows like Game of Thrones. Even light films like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory get several slot machine themes.

Of course, when it comes to online slots, the appeal and outreach is far wider, and these themes extend to all kinds of entertainment.

Movies tend to be a particularly popular theme to follow. You’ll find quite a few popular online slots out there based on classics like Gladiator, Jurassic Park and The Goonies. The last decade has seen the unprecedented rise of superhero films too and as you might expect, this has resulted in all kinds of video slots based on Marvel characters featuring in the popular Avengers movies.

Music legends have also made their mark on online slots, with loads of games celebrating pop stars and bands. Metal bands in particular have had some fantastic, branded video slots including Ozzy Ozbourne, KISS and Dio. You’ll also find slots featuring popular artists like Deadmau5, ZZ Top and The Lost Boys.

Although they’re very different forms of entertainment, there is a connection of sorts between video slots and video games. We’ve seen quite a few video game themed slots coming out over the years, focusing on instantly recognisable blockbuster hits. Most are themed around classic video games like Space Invaders, Tetris and Hugo – with lots of nostalgic elements that take you back to a simpler time. Others though have made an even bigger effort to stand out. Lara Croft Temples and Tombs pitches itself as a new entry in the Tomb Raider series and while it’s nowhere near a fully fledged title, it still follows a basic storyline that ties in with the rest of the games. We also have to mention the Street Fighter II video slot, which recreates the classic game in slot format, letting you pick your character and even take control of them in some bonus rounds.

Last, but certainly not least are the tv show themed slots. TV series have been enjoying a golden age of sorts for the past decade or so and some of the biggest shows out there have spawned their own video slot. These include the likes of Friends, Rick and Morty and Knight Rider, as well as huge budget shows such as Game of Thrones, Vikings and Squid Game.

Conclusion

Video slot developers continue to come up with all kinds of themes to accompany their games. From the pyramids of Egypt to the underwater marvels in the ocean, jungle safari expeditions and more, these themes are aimed to draw your attention and keep it steadily fixed, while you spin your way to potential riches. They may not be the most important aspect of a video slot, but a good looking slot with a captivating theme will certainly be more enjoyable than some boring, generic title.

We’ve pointed out the best and most popular of the lot and you’re bound to find a theme that suits your style and taste.