If you pay attention to the world of iGaming and digital casino gaming, you will probably be aware of the many different titles that are available, as well as the developers that create them. The number of developers that actually exist is incredible, and there seems to be more rising in the space as time goes on. As a result of this, new developers capitalise on different themes and trends, and have refined their talents over time to create the best slots and beat their competitors.
With so many different developers in the iGaming space, it can become quite overwhelming to choose one to focus your attention on. In this piece, we will look at 5 of the best pokie developers, whether they are famed for their graphic design, bonus features, jackpot prizes, or any other innovative factor implemented. Let’s get into it.
Microgaming
Microgaming is a leading software provider in the online casino industry, particularly when it comes to slot games. The company was founded in South Africa in the mid-1990s and quickly gained a reputation for their innovative and high-performing releases. Their early success in the emerging online casino market led them to move their main office to the UK, where they have continued to establish themselves as a major player in the industry.
One of the reasons for Microgaming’s success is their dedication to creating visually stunning and polished slot games. They have a wide variety of themes, from classic fruit machines to modern video slots, and they consistently release new games that push the boundaries of what is possible in terms of graphics and gameplay.
NetEnt
NetEnt is known for offering some of the largest progressive jackpots in the online casino industry. Their game releases are also characterised by their visually rich graphics and unique bonus features. The company has its roots in traditional land-based casinos, having been established in 1996, four years before the advent of the online casino industry.
NetEnt is a leading Swedish-based software provider with an extensive portfolio of over 200 games, many of which are popular mainstays in online casinos. Their portfolio includes popular titles such as the Gonzos Quest franchise, which includes variations such as cascading reels and live editions, and they are known for developing well-known branded slot games such as Narcos, Guns N Roses, and Jimi Hendrix, that are inspired by TV shows and famous musicians. Whether you are a frequent visitor to online casinos or not, it’s likely that you have stumbled across NetEnt’s big-name games.
Play’n Go
Staying in the land of Sweden, Play’n Go are another tech and pokie development giant. This team are pioneers in the mobile casino world, and was originally a subsidiary to part of another company within the software industry, until they split off to work on casino games on their own in 2004. Play’n Go are one of the most accessibility-driven developers out of the whole selection, which is why they made it on to this list, offering over 30 different language options on each of their pokie releases.
The high levels of accessibility is not Play’n Go’s only reason for being so popular; they have also built their reputation by releasing some titles that took off very quickly, such as the Rich Wilde series, including Rich Wilde and the Book of Dead, which is widely regarded as one of the best pokies of all time. They continue to showcase their talents for creating innovative pokie titles, and they even started to create live table games, such as Blackjack, and these rose in popularity purely because of the infamy of Play’n Go as a whole. One of their most popular games, Cash of Command, is filled with bonus features and aspects that add to its excitement. Every game released by Play’n Go is sure to go mainstream, and each one is released with great attention to detail regarding the graphic design..
Edict
Edict is another European pokie developer, although this time from Germany, and has created a name for itself that links it directly to traditional and simplistic titles. The roots of this company date back to 1998 when the iGaming world was still on the rise, and they were quickly snapped up by industry giants Merkur Gaming, who used their combined talents to develop and release some of the biggest titles in online casino history.
Turning our attention to the physical portfolio of Edict, you will be shocked to hear some of the titles that are accredited to them. Scribes of Thebes, one of the most popular Egyptian-themed slots behind Eye of Horus, is an Edict title. This, as well as Gold Frenzy, are two of the biggest names in their catalogue.
Playtech
Playtech is the final entry on this list, with offices spanning 24 countries, and a portfolio even larger than this scale. They have been in rotation since 1999, when a wealthy Israeli businessman invested in the company and gave them faith and funding. The developers are actually rooted in Estonia, and are one of the earliest entrances to the online gambling and pokie industry thanks to their esteemed reputation and highly regarded titles.
Some of the names in the Playtech catalogue are easily recognisable and ever-popular, such as Buffalo Blitz and Age of Gods. The developers have never been particularly fussy about the theme they want to create games for, covering all bases and options. Table games made by Playtech include one streamed directly from the Monte Carlo casino.
Summary
We hope this list has given you some insight into the most popular and influential names in the iGaming industry and you can play games on most online casinos including the Merkur Casino. You can find many games by these developers and various sites, and you will not be disappointed no matter which ones you play. Of course, this list is not definite and is entirely based on opinion, although all information given is factual and historically correct.