Slot themes are essentially the genre of a slot. If you think about music, it can be produced in various styles such as rock, pop, classical or reggae. Slots have just as much variety and can be developed with themes such as animals, fruits, wild west, magic, adventure, underwater, and so on.

Developers then build on these themes to create unique characters, befitting symbols and innovative bonus features. Just like how pop records are produced by various artists and sound totally different but still fit into the category of ‘Pop’, so too can many slots have the same genre or theme, e.g. magic, but have very different features and gameplay.

Developers ensure that their game portfolios contain a good mix of themes to cater to different slot players. Our slot guide will take a look at some of the more popular choices, which include adventure, music, space, fruits, animals and horror, amongst others.

Top 20 Slot Themes

Slots are undoubtedly the most popular online casino games to play, and as is to be expected, many developers want to share in the love! Try thinking of a theme and we can pretty much guarantee that it’s been done. With that said, let’s take a look at the top 20 themes and some of the most popular slots which fit into that genre.

Asian-Themed Slots

Asian-themed slots attract many players from far and wide. This may be due to the elaborate visuals, which are typically very bold, often using the colours red and gold, or the myths that surround particular far eastern cultures. You can be certain developers will tap into every avenue.

For example, old Chinese coins which are round with a square hole in the middle, said to represent heaven and earth, or the use of Fu, a Chinese character representing good fortune and good luck, or the number 8, which is broadly associated with wealth, success and status.

Popular Asian-themed titles include Light & Wonder’s 88 Fortunes, Red Tiger’s Dragon’s Fire Megaways, NetEnt’s Imperial Riches.

Get started playing on the best Asian Themed Slots by picking one of the options below! ▶ 

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88 Fortunes

RTP: 96%

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Dragon's Temple

RTP: 95%

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Imperial Riches

RTP: 96.88%

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Mahjong 88

RTP: 96.62%

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Animals-Themed Slots

Animal slots have remained a firm fan favourite for many years and will for many more decades, we’re sure. It’s not just about cute and cuddly (although there are plenty of those!), you can also find jungle animals, underwater creatures, mythical beasts, domesticated pets, seasonal creatures (reindeers, Easter bunnies..) and more.

Popular titles include the legendary Microgaming’s Mega Moolah, Pragmatic Play’s Big Bass Bonanza, Playtech’s Buffalo Blitz, NextGen’s Foxin’ Wins.

Can you make your way through the animal kingdom in a slot safari? ▶ 

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Mega Moolah

RTP: 88.12%

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Big Bass Bonanza

RTP: 96.7%

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Buffalo Rising

RTP: 96.3%

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The Dog House

RTP: 96.51%

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Adventure-Themed Slots

Adventure slots have long since been a favourite for developers, as this is where they can let their creative juices flow and incorporate innovative features into the game. Anyone with an imagination just loves the taste of adventure.

One of the most influential slots to be created is Play’n GO’s Book of Dead where we first meet the intrepid explorer Rich Wilde. This is not the only ‘Book of..’ slot to be made and several more were to follow from a multitude of developers.

Other popular adventure-themed slots include NetEnt’s Gonzo’s Quest, Microgaming’s Avalon II, Nolimit City’s Dead Canary.

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Gonzo's Quest

RTP: 95.97%

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Avalon

RTP: 96.01%

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Book of Dead

RTP: 96.25%

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Adventure Palace

RTP: 96.01%

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Aztec-Themed Slots

Aztec-themed slots can often have a cross over with jungle or adventure-themed slots. For example, think ancient civilizations, tribal masks, the lost city of El Dorado and you’ll find yourself back at Gonzo’s Quest, but there are also other slots depicting similar themes.

Popular Aztec-themed titles include Microgaming’s Temple Quest, Play’n GO’s Aztec Warrior Princess, Endorphina’s Mystery of Eldorado.

Will you uncover the mysteries of the jungle and mountains in these Aztec-Themed slots? ▶ 

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Jaguar Temple

RTP: 96.1%

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Temple Quest Spinfinity

RTP: 95.17%

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Aztec Glory

RTP: 96.23%

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Jungle Jim

RTP: 96.31%

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Christmas-Themed Slots

When it comes to Christmas-themed slots, the world is practically your oyster! There is an abundance of festive slots and each year more are added to the collection. Developers like to tap into the magic of Christmas and let their imaginations run wild.

The great thing about festive slots is that you don’t need to wait for that special time of year to come round, just visit any online casino and you’re bound to find a festive slot or two sitting in the lobby.

Popular Christmassy slots include Stakelogic’s Santa Express, Yggdrasil’s Christmas Plaza DoubleMax, Red Tiger’s Santa Spins.

What can you find in your spins stocking this year? Xmas-Themed slots are the best gameplay gift for the season. ▶ 

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Santa VS Rudolph

RTP: 95%

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Christmas Carol Megaways

RTP: 96.48%

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Xmas Magic

RTP: 95.48%

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Diamonds-Themed Slots

Diamonds are believed to improve one’s energy, prosperity and endurance, and some believe that these particular gems attract power, courage and fortitude. But whatever your beliefs, it has to be said that diamonds, in fact any gemstones, look fabulous when spinning on the slot reels.

Popular titles include IGT’s Da Vinci Diamonds, JustForTheWin’s Deco Diamonds, Blueprint Gaming’s Diamond Mine.

These amazing diamond-themed slots shine bright - will you get the best gameplay out of them? ▶

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Triple Diamond

RTP: 96.09%

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Diamond Mine

RTP: 96.4%

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Da Vinci Diamonds

RTP: 94.94%

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Black Diamond

RTP: 95.95%

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Easter-Themed Slots

Similar to other holiday season slots, Easter-themed slots are super popular amongst players. Is it because they typically involve yummy chocolate eggs and cute fluffy bunnies, or merely that they remind us of springtime and rolling green meadows?

Well, whatever the reason, Easter-themed slots are chart-topping favourites and slot lovers look forward to new releases from many developers around the springtime holidays. Popular releases include Wazdan’s Magic Eggs, Inspired Gaming’s Chocolate Cash Pots, Red Tiger’s Lucky Easter.

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Easter Eggs

RTP: 96.75%

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Magic Eggs

RTP: 96.41%

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White Rabbit

RTP: 97.72%

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Egyptian-Themed Slots

A real fan favourite are Egyptian-themed slots, which can be found in almost every online casino available. The lure of ancient hidden artefacts, tombs, pyramids and pharaohs holds no bounds! The theme may relate to ancient times where the likes of Tutankhamun and Cleopatra reigned proud. However, the mechanics and features in this type of slot are typically anything but.

Popular Egyptian-themed slots include IGT’s Cleopatra, Novomatic’s Book of Ra, Blueprint Gaming’s Eye of Horus.

Uncover the hidden treasure of Egyptian-themed slots and see if you can have the luck of a Pharaoh on your side! ▶ 

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Cleopatra

RTP: 95.7%

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Eye of Horus

RTP: 96.31%

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Book of Ra Deluxe

RTP: 95.1%

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Pharaohs Fortune

RTP: 94.52%

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Fantasy-Themed Slots

We all love a little bit of magic and fantastical stories every once in a while and what better way to do so than by playing fantasy-themed slots? Fantasy themes encompass a huge variety of imaginative characters and mythical creatures such as dragons, unicorns, elves, mermaids, wizards and fairies, to name but a few.

You can usually find innovative bonus features and fast gameplay within these types of slots. Popular releases include Microgaming’s Thunderstruck II, NextGen Gaming’s Merlin’s Millions, IGT’s Pixies of the Forest.

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Thunderstruck Wild Lightning

RTP: 96.4%

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Goldwyns Fairies

RTP: 96.28%

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Wild Pixies

RTP: 96.5%

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Rise of Merlin

RTP: 96.58%

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Fruit-Themed Slots

Fruit-themed slots still hold the attention of players today, even though the visuals and features may not be the best you can get when compared to many other modern day themes. However, with a long sweeping history since the first slot machine displayed fruit, these still pull in the crowds, decades later.

You can play classic 3 reels or modern 5 reels, plus there’s a certain nostalgic vibe about spinning and watching fruits, bells and BARs land on the screen in front of you! Trending titles include NetEnt’s Mega Joker, Playson’s Imperial Fruits: 100 Lines, Play’n GO’s Inferno Star.

There's a whole feast on offer in fruit-themed slots, especially for fans of classic casino games! ▶ 

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Mega Joker Novomatic

RTP: 95.05%

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Jackpot Inferno

RTP: 96%

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Fruit Party

RTP: 96.5%

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Jammin' Jars

RTP: 95.25%

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Gems-Themed Slots

Similar to diamonds, slots with plenty of sparkling gems are real chart-toppers. Is it the burst of colour that comes to life on the reels that does it or is it the associated imagery of wealth that runs through a player’s mind when they sign up to play a gems slot? Who knows.

What we do know is that this theme type remains ever-popular amongst players on a global scale. Popular releases include the legendary Starburst by NetEnt, Big Time Gaming’s Bonanza, Betsoft’s Mega Gems.

Sparkling and richly-jewelled reels spin in these gem-themed slots. See if you'll be lucky with these crystals! ▶

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Starburst

RTP: 96.09%

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Bonanza Megaways

RTP: 96%

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Gems Bonanza

RTP: 96.51%

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Perfect Gems

RTP: 96.5%

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Horror-Themed Slots

Vampires, monsters, ghouls and zombies continue to capture the imagination of many and no casino games lobby would be complete without a few dastardly tales. That doesn’t mean to say that all horror themed slots feature blood-curdling plots or chainsaw massacres!

Some tell a story, such as Microgaming’s Immortal Romance, which is a heart-warming tale about love and vampirism, others feature a tongue-in-cheek cartoon vibe, such as Barcrest’s Ooh Aah Dracula, but of course, for the die-hard horror fans there are adaptations of iconic movies like 888 Gaming’s A Nightmare on Elm Street.

Ghosts, demons, and spooky stories abound in these horror-themed slot games. Get a fright or a great surprise if you win! ▶ 

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Immortal Romance

RTP: 96.86%

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Return of the Dead

RTP: 96.71%

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Dead or Alive

RTP: 96.8%

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Irish-Themed Slots

It’s often said, ‘let the luck of the Irish be with ya’ and we have to say, developers know the love that slot players feel for Irish-themed slots. You don’t have to be from Ireland to like or play these games, players from all around the world enjoy tapping into the cheeky green leprechauns, bedazzling rainbows with pots of gold, rolling green hills and lucky charms.

Popular releases include Microgaming’s Lucky Leprechaun, Scientific Games’ Rainbow Riches, Playtech’s Irish Luck.

Will the luck of the Irish be on your side in these themed slots? ▶ 

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Lucky Leprechaun

RTP: 96.33%

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Rainbow Riches

RTP: 95%

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Rainbow Riches Drops of Gold

RTP: 95%

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Rainbow Riches Pick 'n' Mix

RTP: 96%

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Movies and TV-Themed Slots

Top iGaming developers often work in collaboration with leading film or TV producers to create an officially licensed movie or TV-themed slot. These often feature video clips or sound effects from the actual movie in addition to the main characters.

Some of the most popular movie and TV-themed slots include Blueprint Gaming’s The Goonies, Playtech’s Justice League, Microgaming’s Jurassic Park.

The camera is rolling at this fest of movie-themed slots. See the big picture by giving them a spin. ▶ 

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Jurassic World

RTP: 95.45%

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Little Shop of Horrors

RTP: 96.1%

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Rick and Morty

RTP: 96.55%

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Sucide Squad

RTP: 94.14%

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Music-Themed Slots

One way to attract a captive audience is through the art of delivering what the fans want, especially when it comes to music. Developers know that die-hard fans are always on the lookout for something related to their favourite pop group, star or band. But it’s not just groupies who go for these types of slots, many other players also check them out.

Popular music-themed slots include NetEnt’s Guns N’ Roses, Play’n GO’s ZZ Top Roadside Riches, Bally’s Michael Jackson King of Pop.

Will the reels dance to your tune when you give these music-themed games a spin? ▶ 

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Guns N' Roses

RTP: 96%

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Ozzy Osbourne

RTP: 96.67%

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Michael Jackson King of Pop

RTP: 96.01%

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History-Themed Slots

For players who have an avid interest in history or those who like to play and learn about something new, there is an abundance of history themed slots. These may include topics like the Vikings, Greek Mythology, Ancient Egypt, King Arthur, the Renaissance era and more.

Popular history-themed slots include High 5 Games’ Michelangelo, Nolimit City’s Pearl Harbor, GameArt’s Joan of Arc.

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Spartan King

RTP: 96.6%

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MegaJackpots Cleopatra

RTP: 93.03%

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End of Edo

RTP: 96%

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Vikings

RTP: 96.05%

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Pirates-Themed Slots

Pirate-themed slots have long since become one of the most popular genres to play. Swashbuckling on the high seas, following treasure maps, searching for loot and looking for other ships to pillage seems to be a favourite pastime for some slot players!

Popular releases include Pragmatic Play’s Pirate Gold, NetEnt’s Ghost Pirates, Leander Games’ Blackbeard.

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Pirate Gold Deluxe

RTP: 96.48%

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Pirates Charm

RTP: 96.48%

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Blackbeards Compass

RTP: 96%

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Treasure Island

RTP: 97.06%

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Space-Themed Slots

The mystery of outer space has captured man’s imagination since the dawn of time. Whether it’s alien invasions, the cosmic universe, the solar system, moon landings, spaceships or little green men, there is an excellent selection of space-themed slots to quench your appetite.

Popular titles include NetEnt’s Space Wars, Wazdan’s Burning Stars 3, Play’n GO’s Reactoonz.

Try an out-of-this-world space-themed slot and see if your wins will be blasting off to the stars. ▶ 

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Reactoonz

RTP: 96.51%

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StarQuest

RTP: 96.9%

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Spaceman

RTP: 95%

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Starburst

RTP: 96.09%

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Sport-Themed Slots

Sports fans are a die-hard breed, they’re not about to give up on their team for anyone! Sport is the one topic that can bring nations together. Slot developers have capitalised on the world’s love of sports and incorporated innovative mechanisms and features into a whole host of sport-themed games.

Popular sports themed slots include Playtech’s Frankie Dettori’s Magic Seven, Microgaming’s Football Star, Quickspin’s Spinions Game Day.

Will you be able to get a big win on game day at one of the top sports-themed slots? ▶ 

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Football Finals X Up

RTP: 96.4%

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Second Strike

RTP: 96.22%

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CricketX

RTP: 98%

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Roller Derby

RTP: 94.26%

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Wild West-Themed Slots

The Wild West has long since been a firm favourite amongst slot lovers. The idea of capturing the bad guys to win big or playing the bandit and making off with the loot is most appealing whichever way you look at it! Dusty towns and bustling saloons are often the setting for these types of slots. Will you be the dutiful sheriff or gunslinging cowboy just travelling through?

Popular wild west themed slots include Quickspin’s Sticky Bandits, NetEnt’s Wild Wild West, Pragmatic Play’s Bronco Spirit.

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Cowboys Gold

RTP: 96.5%

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Wild Wild West: The Great Train Heist

RTP: 96.7%

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Bronco Spirit

RTP: 96.63%

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Wild West Gold

RTP: 96%

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Robin Storm

Robin Storm

Author & Casino Games Expert

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Robin works tirelessly to make gambling fun and worry-free for all players. With his impressive industry experience, he is passionate about being able to play casino games in a fun and safe environment, ensuring players avoid all the hassles that may appear.
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