Achievement Unlocked: Casino Slots Gamification

We all have a taste for adventure, constantly seeking more complex and ambitious challenges that go beyond simple entertainment. Video games have managed to satisfy our thirst for excitement for a few decades now, and will surely continue to do so, adapting to our ever increasing demands. But how about mixing the thrill of a successful virtual quest with real money rewards?

Gamification of Slots

Slot machines go back to the 19th century and have come a long way from simple mechanical ‘one-armed bandits’ to flashy arcade games, and finally to complex online video slots. The more complex slot games become, the more complex become the players’ levels of gaming satisfaction. And this is where gamification comes in.

Gamification is quickly becoming a bit of a buzz-word in the online casino industry, but why? In essence, gamification is the process of incorporating specific game-playing features such as leaderboards, visual rewards, level ups, unlockable content and complex narratives into the mechanics of more traditional video slots.

Many game providers and online casinos are adding these features to their slot machines in order to create better user experiences, and to change the way players interact with them. So rather than a slot with minimal player interaction, these new casino games are setting players right at the heart of the action while still deploying slot machine dynamics. From casino tournaments where you actually get to play against fellow gamers for cash prizes, to completing levels and finding real treasures, the enjoyable experience of gamified casinos will encourage you to keep discovering new adventures.

One of the most recent and promising developments has been the move towards skill-based gaming as an alternative to the old chance-based slots. These slots are basically hybrids between video gaming and online slot-playing, rewarding skill as well as luck.

Now let’s take a quick look at some of the latest gamified slots on the market and the new video game features that could be behind the next significant move in gaming behaviour.

Best Gamified Slots

Backstory And Player Engagement

Slot games like NetEnt’s Steamtower, Microgaming’s Castle Builder I and II, the enchanting Tower Quest or the thrilling Viking Runecraft powered by Play ‘N GO are just a few of the most popular games displaying cutting-edge graphics, advanced animations and a lot of special features that make them look more like video games rather than simple casino slots.

In order to make their slots more engaging, game developers realised that they needed to include an attention-grabbing narrative or a ‘back story’, featuring interesting story lines and characters that players could identify with.

So whether it’s going on an interstellar quest, fighting evil in an alternate universe or setting off in search of vast treasures, all of the hottest games have a captivating story-line at their core.
 

Unlockable Content

Unlockable content can be anything from a new level that becomes accessible once you gather enough points by completing tasks, or it may be access to a new game and the chance to face exciting challenges. Unlocking content acts as a reward, and anticipating and earning these rewards makes gameplay far more interesting.

Tournaments

This is where players compete against each other in order to reach the top of the leaderboard and get rewarded. In the online casino world, the ranks of each player are determined by the amount they deposit on certain games during a specific period, giving them an extra point of engagement.

Innovation At Its Core

The online casino industry is no stranger to innovation and skill-based slots will soon overtake traditional casino games, as developers come up with new and exciting ‘twists’ to the already well-known game formats.

Of course, classic slots will always have a certain charm appealing to many players and will continue to do so in the future. But one thing is certain, the ever-changing online casino world will always be in search of the next big thing.