Slots have come a long way since the first slot machine, the Liberty Bell, was invented in San Francisco, in 1894. Over the years, slot machines experienced many changes, with the fruit symbols introduced in 1907 and the first progressive jackpot in 1986 being a couple of the more significant modifications.
Yet, as slots gaming has moved online, we see constant transformations; there are simply thousands of slots to choose from now. While there are many themes to select from, one that is becoming more prominent is the action-adventure slot, for good reason.
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Adventure as a source of inspiration
You can still find the classic form of slots at an online casino for cash or free play, but these retro slots don’t garner the same amount of attention as the latest offerings. Branded slots that take a blockbuster movie or popular TV show are well-liked. Seasonal slots also appear for Halloween, Christmas or other dates that offer the chance for developers to use familiar symbols on the spinning reels.
It won’t have escaped your notice that cultural aspects are also used frequently, with the luck of the Irish a common theme in slot gaming. While these genres of slots are abundant, more and more we’re seeing the theme of action-adventure become the most prized type of slot available. These slots aim to transport players to exciting locations through the aesthetics and audio while providing engaging gameplay and features that take inspiration from franchises like Indiana Jones.
Indeed, many characters have emerged from the slot genre that strikes an uncanny resemblance to the beloved archaeologist created by George Lucas and Harrison Ford.
Timeless action heroes
Casino game developers Play’n GO have a character named Rich Wilde, who is clearly based on the Raiders of the Lost Ark, Temple of Doom and Last Crusade hero. First introduced in the Aztec Idols slot, Wilde now has several slots as the handsome archaeologist protagonist, but he is not alone.
Rich Wilde and the Shield of Athena marked Cat Wilde’s first appearance with her father and the Lara Croft-like character subsequently appeared in Cat Wilde and the Doom of Dead and some other solo adventures.
Source: Pexels
Not to be outdone, other prominent casino game developers have also created their own adventurers, often with one male and one female character to appeal to a wide range of slot gamers.
Spanish explorer Gonzo is no doubt familiar to anyone that regularly plays slots and the new NetEnt slot, Gonzita’s Quest introduces a female character who is presumably related to Gonzo. John Hunter is a treasured hero from developers Pragmatic Play and several other characters offer slot fans some action-adventure.
The advantage of using these characters is that developers can build a series of slots and new releases become highly anticipated. The characters generally travel back and forth in time, with ancient Egypt a popular destination with some familiar foes to overcome.
This results in a healthy equilibrium of continuity and uniqueness, as the well-known characters appear in different periods of human history for new adventures.
