It might seem logical when you think about it, but when playing at an online casino, we are often under the assumption that the casino operator is running the show. Sure, they provide a platform to play the games, but, in truth, they have little influence over the games beyond choosing to host them on the site.
Of course, there is a myriad of factors that can make a good or bad casino site, but the brainpower behind the games lies with casino software developers, some of whom have become global brand names. The best software developers will have an avid following among players, who will eagerly await new releases much in the same way as video gamers will look forward to the latest releases of Rockstar Gaming and Blizzard.
But which software developers are the best around? Which are the most exclusive brands? Below we pick out the four who tend to dominate like no other:
NetEnt
A Swedish developer with a lot of style and creativity, finding an exclusive NetEnt casino is a must for any serious casino player. NetEnt covers live casino, tables games and slots, with the latter being the developer’s forte. Innovation is the keyword to describe NetEnt games, with the developer often ripping up the rulebook in terms of gameplay options and graphics. It’s also got one of the best in-house animation teams around, mastering 3D casino games long before many of its peers.
Best NetEnt Games: Starburst, Street Fighter 2, Narcos, Dead or Alive, Gonzo’s Quest, Steamtower, Finn and the Swirly Spin.
Playtech
Playtech is the undisputed king of branded casino games. By that we mean taking a bit of pop culture, say the Justice League movie or Elvis Presley, and turning it into ran officially-licenced slot machine. Playtech really likes to put some polish on some of these big-budget games, and we can’t think of any developer that pulls off video-game-like quality graphics. Playtech is now the world’s largest developer of casino software solutions, and it is now big enough to be listed on the London Stock Exchange as a FTSE 250 constituent.
Best Playtech Games: Age of the Gods, Justice League, Buffalo Blitz, Beach Life, Great Blue, Frankie Dettori’s Magic Seven.
IGT
Companies like IGT, which is the foremost creator of physical gambling machines, have faced a challenge from the raft of online specialists. However, far from being digitally disrupted, IGT is now a big player online and in land-based casinos. It had great success in translating some of its classic slot machines to the online market, and we would argue that IGT is a good brand to follow for novice casino players.
Best IGT Games: Cleopatra, Golden Goddess, Da Vinci Diamonds, Icy Wilds, Scarab, The Price is Right.
Microgaming
Last, but certainly not least, Microgaming, which has the honour of being the world’s first creator of online casino games. Microgaming’s 25 years in the business have yielded some brilliant games, based on everything from works of literature to popular movies to classic casino titles. Microgaming is also known for running the biggest progressive jackpot games online, with its Mega Moolah brand boasting the Guinness World Record for the highest-paying prize. The Mega Moolah jackpot regularly tops $10 million, and it has become recognised as the most sought after prize in online gaming. Some might argue that Microgaming isn’t as innovative as some of the new developers, but it’s back catalogue cannot be ignored.
Best Microgaming Games: Jurassic Park, Avalon II, Thunderstruck II, Tomb Raider Slot, Lucky Leprechaun.
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