Popular Slot Themes in 2024
There are hundreds of slot machine themes featured on the best online casinos in the UK. It would be close to impossible to list all of them, so in this guide, we’ve focused on the most popular ones. In addition to providing you with an overview of top themes you'll find at slot sites, we’ve also listed the best slots for each.
No matter which online slot you’re playing, it falls within at least one theme, or sometimes a combination of two. Just like Hollywood movies, popular slot themes vary over time, and in 2024, fishing and adventure themes are proving to be the hottest new slots in the UK. In the following section, we’ve highlighted these and other top themes and offered our recommendations for the best slots in each category.
The Hottest Slot Themes for UK Players
Fishing Themed Slots
Until just a few years ago, slot game themes based on fishing would be extremely rare. Since then, this popular hobby has found a growing number of enthusiasts among the online slot player community, and numerous brands have released their own fishing adventures. Whether you enjoy sea angling, coarse fishing, or game fishing, you’ll find a growing choice of hot or new releases. You don’t even need to enjoy this sport to get a thrill out of the fishing-themed bonus features that are offered by these top slots.
Best Fishing Slots
Adventure Themed Slots
It’s difficult to describe adventure-themed slots since they’re so varied and surprising. This type of slot theme can immerse you in an exciting and breathtaking experience where you need to raid ancient tombs, explore dense jungles, or escape dangerous monsters. In addition to well-developed backstories, the top slots in this category offer creative bonus features and high-value max wins.
Best Adventure Slot Games
- Mining Fever
Egyptian Themed Slots
Ancient Egypt has been featured as a slot theme since before online slots even existed. The mystery, luxury, and intrigue of the Pharaohs and their majestic temples and pyramids are simply too enticing for slot developers and players to overlook. The best Egyptian-themed slots include minigames and bonus features that can reward you with valuable prizes that might make you feel like an ancient ruler.
Best Ancient Egypt Slot Games
Viking Themed Slots
The Viking civilisation has often captured the imagination of slot developers. Partly based on history and partly on legend, the story lines of Viking-themed slots include treacherous sea voyages, epic battles for dominion, and almighty Norse gods. Just like with a clan of Vikings, you can never really know what to expect from these top slots until you start playing them for real.
Best Viking Slot Games
- Vikings
- Amazing Link Zeus
- Vikings Go To Valhalla
Mythical Themed Slots
There are plenty of mythologies that developers can use when choosing their next slot machine themes. From the ancient Greeks, Romans, and Egyptians to the gods of Asia or the Americas, it’s certainly a thrill to have a chance to come face to face with an almighty being. Mythical-themed slots, especially these top ones, are also known for featuring awe-inspiring graphics and soundtracks that enhance the player’s overall experience.
Best Mythology Slot Games
- Divine Fortune
Irish Themed Slots
The luck of the Irish is well-known around the world, but you’ll need to decide for yourself whether it’s real or not. Fortunately, there are almost as many Irish-themed slots as there are clovers in the Emerald Isle. The best of these celebrate Irish culture and legend with a number of unique bonus features or minigames. Moreover, just like an Irish pub, these games offer plenty of entertainment and lots of merry soundtracks.
Best Irish Slot Games
Fruit Themed Slots
A tasty bit of fruit has been appearing on slot machines since the start of the 20th century. Online video slots have made lemons, cherries, plums, and all other types of fruit look more appetising, and the potential of winning 5,000x or more has sweetened the experience even further. Moreover, thanks to the creative capabilities of top slot software providers, fruit-themed slots are packed with bonus symbols and juicy free spins.
Best Fruit Slot Games
- Extra Juicy
Horror Themed Slots
Slot themes aren’t all rainbows and fruit and can sometimes provide more thrills than you might have bargained for. Creative developers, especially less mainstream ones, are eager to tap into a relatively untouched theme and create immersive, terrifying, and exciting games. Some brands are also able to combine horror with humour to offer unusual bonuses and plenty of surprises.
Best Horror Slot Games
- Halloween
Music Themed Slots
Slot soundtracks are an integral part of the experience and offer just as many thrills as animations. Sometimes, developers make the music the focus of the slot machine themes and celebrate famous musicians, successful songs, or anything else that’s popular and music-based. From punk rockers to jars of jam, top music-themed slots are successful as they do not conform to any norms and represent the talent of their creators.
Best Music Slot Games
Movie Themed Slots
Hollywood, Bollywood, and other movie lands have provided inspiration for numerous popular slot themes. After watching the film, you can revisit the adventure or experience by spinning the reels and unlocking theme-based bonus features. The best examples of movie-themed slots, including the following, stay true to the source material, so you’ll already be familiar with the main characters or the plot.
Top Slots Based on Movies
- Jurassic Park
- Ted
- Jumanji
Game Producers with the Most Creative Slot Themes
Elk Studios
This Swedish company prides itself on its mobile-first approach to game design, crafting stunning games that provide immersive experiences.
Best Elk Studios Casinos
Microgaming
Since its launch, Microgaming has managed to stay at the forefront of game development and is considered to be one of the best software providers in the industry.
Best Microgaming Casinos
NetEnt
Launched in 1996, NetEnt is home to some of the most popular games in the casino business – we're talking games like Gonzo's Quest, Starburst and more.
Best NetEnt Casinos
NoLimit City
Founded in 2013, NoLimit city burst on the online gambling scene with the aim of exceeding anything that players expected from casino games.
Best NoLimit City Casinos
Play'n GO
Their story began in Sweden, and the rest is history. Known for popular slot titles like the Book of Dead, Legacy of Dead, Troll Hunters and so many more.
Best Play'n GO Casinos
Playtech
Playtech was founded in 1999 and has since grown to become one of the most reputable and prominent studios in the online gaming software industry.
Best Playtech CasinosSlot Themes FAQ
Slot themes exist to make a casino game more appealing by offering a familiar or intriguing experience. While most slots feature very similar mechanics, they offer a variety of thrills and surprises by wrapping their standard and bonus gameplay with different themes.
Thousands of online slots are available in the UK and some of the most popular themes include ancient Egypt, adventure, and movies. Irish and mythical themes are also very popular while horror and fruit slots are growing in popularity.
Every online slot features its own theme and associated bonus features and special symbols. Some of the best brands that incorporate their theme throughout the slot include Pragmatic Play, NetEnt, and Yggdrasil.
Slots featuring a mainstream religion or politics are usually less popular in the UK. Such games are, unsurprisingly, rare and tend to be found in less popular online casinos.
Yes, competition between slot developers has led to the creation of some truly surprising themes. Sneak a Peek: Planet Exotica, for example, is a Microgaming creation that features alien strippers. Play’n Go, meanwhile, has combined two popular themes, namely Irish and Horror, to create Leprechaun Goes to Hell.