Aficionados of online casinos, and slots in particular, will know that there are a number of developers whose games are popular pretty much everywhere. These include names like IGT, Playtech and Quickspins. But, while these might all be the high-profile names, there are many others who may not be as well-known but which still offer first-rate gaming experiences and exciting themes too.
Aristocrat Software is just one of these. While you won’t be able to find a huge number of casinos that feature their games – although it’s certainly worth checking out this page about Aristocrat online casinos – their growing reputation means that we can expect to see many more in the future.
A noble history
The history of Aristocrat is a long and interesting one. The company was started in Sydney, Australia back in 1953 by a businessman called Len Ainsworth. The Ainsworth family still hols a significant shareholding in the company today but it’s a very different organisation to the one that was established nearly seventy years ago.
The business was set up to produce so-called “pokies” for the Australian market. From the earliest days, the company became famous for introducing innovative mechanical solutions into their machines. Soon, their reputation spread and a lucrative export market grew up. Today, their machines are licensed for play in no less than 300 jurisdictions across the world.
But it wasn’t until 2013 that the business first moved into online casinos. This came as a result of them acquiring the mobile app and online gaming company Product Madness. While their late entry into the sector is one of the reasons why they are still establishing themselves, the quality of their games is ensuring that they are fast catching up on rivals and securing their place as a players’ favourite while still remaining very popular in “bricks and mortar” casinos too.
Of the many games that Aristocrat produce, there are some outstanding examples, including these five.
Ted
Fans of the 2012 gross-out comedy starring and written by Seth McFarlane aren’t the only people who have been won over by this, one of Aristocrat’s highest profile games. Not only does it perfectly capture the anarchic fun of the movie in which a childhood cuddly toy comes to life as a hard drinking buddy, it also offers plenty of opportunities to win. There are plentiful bonus rounds, features that can win multiple free plays and a multiplier than can make your winnings up to 500 times higher. As one of the company’s first forays into a movie tie-in, this is certainly a winner.
Big Ben
It seems a little strange that an Australian slots developer would create a game that so successfully celebrates many forms of Britishness – but no-one who plays Big Ben is complaining. You might think that you’ve tumbled into an old-style London souvenir shop when you see the symbols on the reels that include the Crown Jewels, guardsmen in busby hats and the famous clock tower in which Big Ben is housed, but don’t let that put you off. Of the many involving features of the game, one of the very best is when you get the famous bell to chime to mark a big win.
Pompeii
Our next Aristocrat game takes you to a very different kind of place – the ancient Roman city of Pompeii that was destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius back in AD79. The game is available in both Classic and Deluxe versions with the latter offering five extra game features over the Classic. One of the most appealing aspects of the game is that, like a number of Aristocrat titles, winning lines go from both left to right and left to right which, in theory, gives players even more chances to win.
Queen of the Nile
Ancient times are an undeniably popular theme for games developers and Queen of the Nile takes us to the time of Cleopatra. Although it was first introduced in 2004 as a free-standing slots game, its simplicity and playability means it remains fresh and entertaining sixteen years later, especially in its online form. You’ll find all the symbols you’d expect across its five reels including pyramids, the eye of Horus and even scarab beetles. Its origins as a slot machine come through in its simplicity. But, for players who just want to spin and win, this is a real plus.
Buffalo
Finally, Buffalo takes to the wild west where the beasts of the title used to roam in their millions. They are joined on the reels by other typical animals of the prairie including deer, wild cats and dogs. Like Queen of the Nile, it originated in casinos but it proved so popular there that it was only logical to take it online. The really great aspect of Buffalo is its progressive jackpot. For the uninitiated, this is when a number of different games link up with just one of them offering the chance to win a potentially life-changing amount.
So, whichever of the Aristocrat games you decide you’re going to play there’s one thing you can be sure about: a slots experience that’s in a class of its own.
