Top 10 Branded Slot Games of All Time – TV, Movie, Music & Comics
In a rather cosmic turn of events that have taken place over the past two decades or so, the overall gaming industry has gone through a proper metamorphosis.
Once perceived as a slightly controversial category, gambling has grown to become a lifestyle and – with the unstoppable technical advances – now stands as one of the most lucrative branches of industry.
Engaged in a fiercely competitive business of casino game making, software manufacturers have long started taking steps out of their comfort zones to establish a reputation that follows them even beyond the gaming sector.
The biggest names in the industry today, such as NetEnt, Playtech or Microgaming have built their stature thanks to a unique phenomenon that has originally been connected to the land-based gaming vertical.
That phenomenon is called – Branded Slot Games.
As the name itself would suggest, Branded Slots are licensed casino games built around a universally popular subject. Whether it’s a game on a big blockbuster movie, a TV show, music or even a book, a Branded Slot involves a celebrity figure having its face plastered on the cover and included as a symbol you get to spin on the reels.
Global stars were initially reluctant to join this originally land-based trend but were rather quick to recognize the potential and follow suit with few brave ones that were the first to dive in.
Why Are Branded Slot Games so Popular?
Explaining Branded Slot Games and their increasing popularity is a no-brainer actually.
The propensity to latch onto something familiar, something a person can relate to is a trait rooted deep in the human nature and that’s exactly how Branded Slot titles help casinos enhance acquisition and player retention.
Branded and licensed slot games revolving around your favourite movie is certain to draw you closer to trying the slot, even if you are not that interested in gambling in the first place. Additionally, brand loyalty is a social phenomenon which online casino software developers have found the way to incorporate into this growing business.
The Branded Slot Games tend to have a significantly lower payout percentage compared to regular slot games but that does not stop the players from wagering on them – both online and offline.
Hollywood, as the biggest industry in the world, wasted no time in joining forces with this emerging gaming trend. Celebrities and their agencies are making millions off slot machines as a line of brands and popular entertainments figures with slot tributes get longer with each passing day.
A far cry from the one-armed bandits members of the old-school slot enthusiast grew up on, the modern-day video slot games are gamified versions of their predecessors which have a huge appeal on a wide online gaming audience.
And with their popularity growing with each passing day, the list of Branded Slot titles get longer and longer. Luckily, our expert team here at BestCasinos made sure to roll up the sleeves and prepare a list of top ten branded slot games you should definitely try out.
Ten Most Popular Branded Slot Games
Listing the best of the best than online slot gaming has to offer when it comes to fully licensed, branded games based on well-known motifs from the entertainment industry is not an easy task.
The list you are about to read through below has been compiled based on a number of different parameters that make a certain something – in this case a slot game – popular. It needs to be noted that popularity is a variable category and it shifts back and forth depending on the tides in the industry.
With every installment of a popular movie franchise a certain slot might experience a surge in popularity at a given time, so do take the below list with a pinch of salt. Much like the taste, popularity is not to be discussed or argued over. Still, there are indeed slot titles that defy the tide of time and remain some of the most sought-after games across the grid.
Jurassic Park
- Software: Microgaming
- Release Date: 2014
- Type: video slot
- RTP: 95.45%
- Volatility: Medium
- Reels: 5
- Paylines: 243 ways to win
Based on the iconic flick produced by Steven Spielberg in 1993, the Jurassic Park slot game could not be a better representation of the movie. Microgaming has been extremely meticulous and detailed to create a wonderful game which is the first one to use Parallax Scrolling effects. This innovative piece of technology makes the entire game come to life thanks to its detailed graphics. You will be fully immersed in the jungle while numerous free spins feature brings animated environments from the film itself to blend you into the subject entirely. Not only does this Microgaming masterpiece look good, it also features an action-packed gameplay which benefits from features called T-Rex Alert Mode or the Free Spins mode, which will have its own mini-gameplays that bring you running wilds, split wilds, wild reels, mystery multipliers and wild multipliers.
Honourable Mention: Jurassic World Slot Game – an equally exciting 2017 installment of the popular franchise is based on the 2015 movie with the same name. It’s another 5 reel and 243 winning ways slot which brings you a chance to win incredible riches on the Isla Nublar.
Vikings
- Software: NetEnt
- Release Date: 2018
- Type: video slot
- RTP: 96.05%
- Volatility: Medium – High
- Reels: 5 to 7
- Paylines: 243
Vikings is perhaps the most popular branded video slot that has ever existed. Near the end of 2018 was when NetEnt truly started to stand out. This online slot is unlike anything else the market had at the moment. Firstly, it is a slot reincarnation of the amazing, globally acclaimed TV series of the same title. The Stockholm-listed casino software provider bought the rights and did justice to the TV show the way it did best. Thus Vikings online slot came to existence.
NetEnt’s Vikings is a fully branded number. This means that the actual faces of the actors are featured on the reels. You will see Lagertha, Ragnar Lothbrok, Loki and Björn Ironside all coming together for the battle.
In terms of technicalities, Vikings starts as a 5×3 reel grid game, only to expand as the match progresses. If you trigger the Raid Spins feature, the grid bulges into a 7-reel, 5-row hybrid with 78,125 ways to win. Besides the multiway feature, there are two other bonus games to revel in. These include the Hotspot Feature and the Shield Wall functionality. They both serve to help you get those symbols stacked or in a cluster. With a decent RTP of 96.05%, the maximum winning potential of Vikings by NetEnt amounts to 10,000x your initial bet.
Guns N’ Roses
- Software: NetEnt
- Release Date: 2016
- Type: video slot
- RTP: 96.98%
- Volatility: Medium
- Reels: 20
- Paylines: 20
Based on one of the world’s most popular rock bands ever, NetEnt’s Guns N’ Roses slot is a natural fit into this top list of the most popular branded slot games. In what’s a formidable tribute to these music icons you will find high-quality graphics and music from the band which will definitely make you jump up and down as you hit that spin button.
Randomly triggered bonus features in the base game and more special playing modes in the Encore Free Spins feature are certain to give you a playing experience of a lifetime. Just wait until you see a band member gets chosen to act a stacked Wild for every free spin you get. You’ll love it. This game truly is an epic title from NetEnt which is sure to be there up the lit for a very long time.
Honourable Mention: Jimi Hendrix, Motorhead – celebrating their 20th anniversary back in 2016, NetEnt pushed forward a scintillating Rocks Series with not one – or two – but THREE rocking slot titles all rock music lovers will enjoy.
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire
- Software: Ash Gaming
- Release Date: 2014
- Type: video slot, progressive jackpot slot
- RTP: 91.00%
- Volatility: Medium
- Reels: 5
- Paylines: 50
From the global perspective and in a rather unbiased view, the Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? show is definitely one of the most popular TV concepts in recent history. It’s been an inspirational subject for movies, computer games and – of course – slots.
It was Ash Games who decided to claim the bragging rights that go with the brand license for this immensely popular slot game back in 2014, by creating a 5 reel, 50 payline real money game that features Scatters, Wilds, Free Spins and a Progressive jackpot on top of that! Playable across all devices and platforms, the Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? slot game defies the tooth of time.
A fantastic representation of the original concept, the Ash Games product features the same neon-blue feel and that chilling soundtrack that helps build up the anticipation. All the familiar elements are there as well – the 50:50 logo, Phone a Friend, a Question Mark, a Pound Sign, Ask the Audience, the Show Logo, and a 1$ Million Check.
Gladiator
- Software: Playtech
- Release Date: first version in 2008 / progressive jackpot version in 2012
- Type: video slot
- RTP: 96.00%
- Volatility: High
- Reels: 5
- Paylines: 25
The epic Gladiator movie remains one of Russel Crow’s most brilliant performances. The story of a respected general and future regent of Rome who gets tricked into slavery by a father-murdered Commodus still resonates with a mass audience.
It’s almost funny to think Playtech was unable to acquire Russel Crow’s image rights for the game – but it takes nothing away from the element of popularity the Gladiator slot game continues to enjoy. Clips from the actual movie are there as the compensation, however, but most of all the impressively exciting gameplay.
Playtech’s Gladiator slot comes with two amazing game bonuses, one of which is the Gladiator Bonus feature which will have you picking 9 helmets to reveal cash prizes. The other one is called the Coliseum Bonus feature which is basically a Free Spins ride, offering 24 complimentary rounds – boosted by a 3x multiplier and extra Wilds and Scatters as well.
Honourable Mention: Initially designed as a regular video slot in 2008, Gladiator was redesigned four years later as a Gladiator Jackpot – to dazzle the slot enthusiasts with a progressive jackpot version where golden helmets will possibly change your life.
Kong
- Software: Playtech
- Release Date: 2011
- Type: video slot
- RTP: 95.50%
- Volatility: Medium
- Reels: 5
- Paylines: 20
People fear it. But they can’t take their eyes off of it. King Kong has always been one of nature’s most fascinating features which have inspired plenty of creativity across the grid in pop culture since 1933 when the first motion picture of the gigantic gorilla appeared.
The 8th wonder of the world made it onto the online gaming scene in 2011 with its 2005 flick directed by Peter Jackson. Built in cooperation with Universal Pictures, the Kong slot game is a two-mode representation which can either be played in the Jungle or the Big City mode. Clips from the movie accompany the gameplay perfectly, whereas the total of four electric bonus features makes this game a timeless classic.
Having achieved its fame and glory by climbing the top of the Empire State Building, the gigantic gorilla will do the same in this game as well – simply to help Playtech clinch its status as world-class slot game manufacturer. It’s worth noting that King Kong is one of the most heavily exploited themes when it comes to slots but dealing with Universal Pictures for this branded title truly helped Playtech ruin the competition.
Rocky
- Software: Playtech
- Release Date: 2010
- Type: video slot
- RTP: 96.00%
- Volatility: High
- Reels: 5
- Paylines: 25
Everyone likes to see a familiar face. The Italian Stallion returns once again in the form of an online slot. Rocky from Playtech is a 5-reel, 3-row video slot with 25 paylines at most. The generous betting range (€0.01 to €25,000) balances out the humble RTP of 95.01%. Rocky can cash out as much as 10,000,000 in coins.
This rewarding Playtech title comes with a plethora of special symbols and extra features. These encompass scatters, multipliers and wild symbols. Your primary task is to align the letters R, O, C, K and Y in that order. Then you will win five times your stake. Why would you stop there? Use scatters to activate the free spins round for 15, 20 or 25 gratis turns. If the Italian Stallion Scatter shows up during the free spins, 15 more spins will be added to your collection.
Unlike the other slot machines on this list, Rocky sports 25 lines that are not fixed. You can manipulate the number of paylines you’d like to play across. The maximum amount is, of course, 25, but you can go lower if you want. You can play with a single payline if you will. The game’s mechanics will change to adapt to your modifications. Rocky is a customisable slot machine that’s tailor-made just for you!
Sabaton
- Software: Play’n GO
- Release Date: 2019
- Type: video slot
- RTP: 96.50%
- Volatility: High
- Reels: 5
- Paylines: 10
Sabaton is the first-ever branded slot from Play’n GO. It took them long enough, knowing that the Swedish company was established in 2004. Nevertheless, it seems like it was worth the wait. Moreover, the award-winning slot provider soon followed it with another branded title – Demon.
This Play’n GO branded number is all about the same-titled legendary power metal band from Sweden. As the developer was founded in Sweden, the trademark game came as no surprise. Who would do the music group justice better? No one, if you ask us.
Concerning special functionalities, Sabaton has a great deal to offer. The simple 5×3 reel grid with 10 paylines is about the sole plain thing about this machine. This is a highly volatile game, which means you’ll have to time your time till you hit that jackpot. Namely, it totals 5,000 your initial stake!
Furthermore, 2 or 3 adjacent reels become linked randomly. This allows flexibility and great anticipation that will keep you on the edge of your seat. What’s more, 1 or 2 reels can become fully stacked with wilds. Finally, mega symbols take centre stage during the Free Spins round. All members on the band are – needless to say – dominant on the playing columns.
Honourable Mention: We’d like to take a moment to give the new Play’n GO stamped release the nod. Demon comes with the identical reel grid and RTP accompanied by 30 paylines. All the features were transformed to fit the theme. So instead of free spins, you’ll enjoy Hell Spins.
Scarface
- Software: NetEnt
- Release Date: 2012
- Type: video slot
- RTP: 96.80%
- Volatility: Medium
- Reels: 5
- Paylines: 20
Still very much admired and adored, Brian De Palma’s Scarface movie featuring a youthful Al Pacino to this date remains one of the most iconic gangster films. An absolute classic of this timeless genre has been an inspiration across the popular culture, propelling Al Pacino to the Hollywood galaxy thanks to his impressive role of Tony Montana and his efforts to create a criminal empire with his Cuban refugee pals.
Completely branded and licensed under the agreement with TM & Universal Studios, NetEnt’s Scarface Slot is a brilliant tribute to this 1983 title. It comes with 3 Stacked Wild symbols which trigger the Nudge Spins, the Free Spins Bonus and Say Hello to my Little Friend Bonus modes. This particular 5 reeler with 20 paylines is an absolute must-try for any self-respecting slot enthusiasts. With quality graphics and original movie soundtrack playing in the background of the bonus rounds, it’s no wonder this game defies time and remains one of the most popular branded games of all time.
Wonder Woman
- Software: Playtech
- Release Date: 2019
- Type: video slot, progressive jackpot slot
- RTP: 95.34%
- Volatility: High
- Reels: 5
- Paylines: 30
Superhero titles never get old. There are armies of hero slots to choose from, including both DC and Marvel. The 2019 Wonder Woman edition by Playtech deserves a special spot in our slot directory for multiple reasons.
The first one of them must be the most remarkable – the progressive jackpot. In the sea of heroic machines, this feminist comeback dictates where the game will go from now on. We’ll use the bottom-up approach. The jackpot comes at random, so do your part and keep spinning for as long as you can afford it. Randomly land 2, 3, 4 or 5 special tile symbols for one of the four exclusive jackpots!
However, the thrill and quality of Wonder Woman are not contained within the progressive only. Four bonus games are on offer, too. They are Wonder Woman Respins, The Cheetah Feature, Fire Wild Feature, and the Free Games. The latter of them further branches out to cover three different kinds of free games. Simply put, any kind of winning combination on the 30 fixed paylines will pay off.
Honourable Mentions: Batman from NextGen Gaming is a stunning machine that used to be featured on this list. It has, however, been surpassed by a bunch if slightly more advanced names. Additionally, we’d like to praise another Playtech classic, Green Lantern, as well as NextGen’s Justice League.
Editor’s Note: This article was last updated on 4th October 2019.
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