A Flagship Game for 10 of the World’s Top iGaming Developers

If someone asks you to play one of those word association games and they start you off with “Rockstar Games, you’ll probably automatically say “Grand Theft Auto”. It makes sense since GTA is the signature franchise of that developer. You could say similar things about Nintendo and Mario, CDPR and The Witcher, and so on.

But this is also true of iGaming developers, those studios that create games for the online casino industry. While many studios will have several popular games – some dozens – each usually has a flagship or signature game that becomes associated with the brand. Obviously, there is a link between this choice and the game’s popularity.

Below we will pick 10 of the world’s leading iGaming developers and speak – briefly – about each of their signature games.

Playtech

The world’s leading supplier of casino software has 100s of games in its catalogue, but the signature Playtech game is Buffalo Blitz. It revolutionised high variance slots, and its 4096 Ways structure paved the way for the Megaways trend that dominates casinos today. It’s no surprise that Buffalo Blitz was chosen by Playtech to lead its live slots campaign. The game is a classic already.

Microgaming

A tough one, given Microgaming basically pioneered online casino gaming in the 1990s and has released 100s of games to date. Immortal Romance, Book of Oz and Thunderstruck all have claims to be Microgaming’s leading title, but we believe it’s most associated with Mega Moolah (from its Quickfire Studio). After all, Mega Moolah has the world’s largest jackpot.

NetEnt

Two games spring to mind, Starburst and Gonzo’s Quest. But it’s almost definitely the latter that has become NetEnt’s signature title. Gonzo’s Quest is a bit easier to market than Starburst, given the Mario-esque nature of its main character. Like Buffalo Blitz, you will now find a live version of Gonzo’s Quest at some casinos.

Blueprint

For the developer that arguably packs the most fun into its games, the signature title has to be The Goonies. The game, which is officially based on the 1985 hit movie, is the best example of Blueprint’s calling card – bonus-stuffed, feature heavy games. It’s been a smash hit for Blueprint, and there was a lot of buzz last month when its sequel – The Goonies Return – arrived at top-rated sites like SlotsHeaven.

Play N’ Go

This is a fairly easy one as Book of Dead is one of the most popular slots in the world today. The full title is actually called Rich Wilde and the Book of Dead, but most players use the shortened form. Anyway, it revolutionised the expanding symbol format and is a firm favourite among serious casino players and high rollers.

Big Time Gaming

Big Time Gaming has had an outsized impact on the iGaming world by way of creating the Megaways format, which it licenses out to rival developers. So, we must mention Bonanza – the game that popularised Megaways – as its signature title.

Pragmatic Play

Another developer with a few that could be called signature games, but we think Pragmatic usually hangs its hat on Sweet Bonanza. This game is hugely popular with casino streamers, especially in America (we aren’t sure of the sociological reasons, but Americans love it). Nevertheless, the cany-themed game with big multipliers is a huge hit.

Barcrest

Sometimes classic themes stick around because, well, they are classics. Some might think that themes of leprechauns and pots o’ gold are a bit naff these days, but people can’t get enough of Rainbow Riches from Barcrest. It’s probably best to speak of it as a series rather than an individual title, as there are so many different versions.

Evolution Gaming

We couldn’t do a list like this and fail to mention the live casino behemoth. Evolution has changed perceptions of the live dealer industry, moving from classics like roulette and blackjack to new game show titles like Monopoly Live. The property-trading board game has inspired a casino revolution, and hints at future possibilities of VR and immersive gaming.

IGT

One of the world’s largest suppliers of physical slot machines, IGT has an advantage in that it can create games for both the online and land-based market. Its hugely popular Cleopatra game remains a big draw whether you are having a spin on slots in Las Vegas or playing from the comfort of your home.