Top Online Slots Software Developers
One of the main reasons online casinos are able to host hundreds or even thousands of slot games is because of the range of top software developers working to produce them. Each provider has its own strengths and special areas of interest, which is what makes the online slots market so varied and exciting. Let’s take a look at a handful of the industry’s top online slots developers below.
NetEnt
Swedish developer NetEnt is truly one of the giants of the casino industry. Since its founding in 1996, it’s placed itself at the heights of the slots market, in part thanks to the successes of 2011’s Gonzo’s Quest and 2012’s Starburst. The company has gone bigger and better in the decade since, however — producing a number of popular titles such as Silverback Gold, Dead or Alive, Shangri La and Blood Suckers.
NetEnt is also known for its music-themed games, such as the Guns N’ Roses and Jimi Hendrix slots, and isn’t afraid to revamp the classics, with Gonzo’s Quest Megaways and Starburst XXXtreme cooking up a storm in recent years. The developer’s crowning at the 2016 EGR Awards as winner of Innovation in Slot Provision, along with the company’s acquisition by live dealer experts Evolution Gaming in 2020, further affirms its status as iGaming royalty.
Other popular slots in the NetEnt portfolio include:
- Dead or Alive 2
- Twin $pin
- Fruit Shop
- Divine Fortune
- Jumanji
Microgaming
Microgaming claims to have created the world’s first online casino software back in 1994 and it certainly hasn’t rested on its laurels since. The company boasts the largest progressive jackpot network in the world, which has paid out over £1.2 billion on games such as Mega Moolah.
The Isle of Man-based developer has also picked up multiple awards over the years, including iGaming Software Supplier of the Year at the 2018 International Gaming Awards and EGR’s Innovation in Slot Provision award back in 2011. In 2022, Microgaming sold its entire back catalogue of games to Games Global Limited, though this shouldn’t impact the availability of Microgaming slots at online casinos and slots sites.
Here are some of the top slots developed by Microgaming:
- Game of Thrones
- Thunderstruck
- Immortal Romance
- Break Da Bank Again
- Mermaids Millions
Playtech
Playtech was founded in 1999 and is one of the most versatile developers on the market. Indeed, many operators come to be known as ‘Playtech casinos’ as they feature games exclusively made by this developer.
Whether you’re looking for slots, blackjack, roulette, or live casino games, Playtech has you covered. Particular highlights include the Age of the Gods series, as well as the high RTP games Ugga Bugga (99.07%) and Goblin’s Cave (99.32%). As for Playtech’s live casino offering, it’s well worth checking out its augmented reality table games.
Here’s a selection of top titles from Playtech and its partner studios:
- Buffalo Blitz
- Legacy of the Wild
- Robocop
- Jackpot Giant
- Fluffy Favourites
Play’n GO
Play’n GO is known for being a market leader in mobile slots and won IGA’s Slot Provider of the Year award in 2017. Its most famous slots include Book of Dead from the Rich Wilde series, which takes players on a series of adventures to uncover ancient treasures and is frequently featured in free spins casino bonuses.
Other popular slots from this developer include Legacy of Dead, Reactoonz, Diamonds of the Realm, and Forge of Gems. And while this provider is less known for its table games, you can play blackjack games for free directly on the Play’n GO website.
Here are some other Play’n GO titles worth watching out for:
- Golden Osiris
- Piggy Bank Farm
- Sparky & Shortz
- Def Leppard Hysteria
- Fat Frankie’s
Yggdrasil
Founded in 2013, Yggdrasil is one of the younger developers around, but it’s still very much considered a market leader. Yggdrasil focuses on video slots; through its games such as Valley of the Gods 2, Football Glory, and Jackpot Express, you can explore a range of fantastic themes with this developer.
Bolstered by its Game Engagement Mechanics, the developer picked up wins at the International Gaming Awards five years on the bounce — an impressive feat.
Here’s a selection of popular slots from Yggdrasil and partners:
- Calavera Crush
- Cherry Pop Deluxe
- Hillbilly Vegas
- Prized Pets Gigablox
- Mega Cash Stacks
Novomatic
Austrian-based Novomatic is one of the industry’s largest software developers. Founded back in 1980 by billionaire Johann Graf, the company has locations in 50 countries and employs over 21,000 members of staff.
Novomatic offers just about anything you can think of related to the gambling industry — its services include land-based products, online and mobile gaming solutions, lottery and sports betting products, and cash management systems. As a result, you’ll find Novomatic games at just about every UK slots site.
Some of Novomatic’s most popular games include:
- Apollo God of the Sun
- Book of Ra
- Da Vinci Wins
- Lord of the Ocean
- Rio Carnival
IGT
International Game Technology (IGT) dates back to 1975 and was involved in a number of early industry developments, including frequent-player rewards programmes, and the first progressive jackpot slot, Megabucks — released all the way back in 1986.
Today, IGT is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and offers a range of products including land-based gaming and lottery terminals, online slots and table games, and sports betting technology. As you’d expect, its games regularly feature at all the best slot sites, so you’re never too far from an IGT title.
IGT’s most popular slot games include the likes of:
- Cleopatra
- Game of Gods
- Lobstermania
- Secrets of the Forest
- Triple Diamond
Pragmatic Play
Pragmatic Play is one of the newer software developers in the iGaming industry, having been founded in Malta in 2015. The provider is known for its mobile-first mindset and covers a wide range of games including slots, live dealer, bingo, virtual sports, sports betting, and more.
This developer was crowned iGaming Supplier of the Year at the Gaming Intelligence Awards Latin America 2021, while the individual brilliance of the Gates of Olympus slot was recognised with the Game of the Year award. Pragmatic Play’s slots are available to play in demo mode through its website in 33 different languages, so it’s easy to check out some of its titles before joining an online casino.
Here are some of this developer’s top slots:
- John Hunter and Tomb of the Scarab Queen
- Sweet Bonanza
- The Dog House
- Gates of Olympus
- Fury of Odin Megaways
Nolimit City
Founded in 2014 in Sliema, Malta, Nolimit City’s team of professionals extends to Sweden and India, producing a wide range of innovative slot games. Developing new mechanics for slots is very much the company’s focus — in recent years these have included the xNudge feature, originating in Hot Nudge, and xWays, as seen in Pixies vs Pirates and Dragon Tribe.
In 2022, Nolimit City joined NetEnt, Red Tiger, and Big Time Gaming as it was acquired by Evolution, one of the industry’s largest software providers. This was on the back of winning a number of awards the previous year, such as Casino Grounds’ Game Provider of the Year 2021, and Gaming Intelligence’s Game of the Year for San Quentin xWays.
Other popular slots in Nolimit City’s portfolio include:
- Dead Canary
- Pearl Harbor
- Rock Bottom
- Karen Maneater
- xWays Hoarder xSplit