Horror-themed slots have become a popular choice of game for players across the iGaming industry. These games can combine the scare factor that so many crave and enjoy with the tension that visuals and audio used can create.
Technology has played a pivotal role in ensuring gamers can receive the most immersive gameplay experiences possible. It has allowed software developers to create the themes that are synonymous with horror, while implementing various innovative features that can help to redefine the thrills that individuals are able to enjoy when they are played.
How are slot creators bringing horror to their players?
As highlighted, there are various ways in which software providers across the iGaming sector are bringing classic and inventive horror themes to their players with the game releases. Themes utilized, sounds and visuals have all played their own respective roles, as have the mechanics that have been used.
Themes
Online casino game developers have arguably been among the very best when it comes to creating a variety of different themes for the same genre and type of game. You only have to take a look at a casino game collection and see it for yourself. When looking at horror-themed slots, there are several usually on offer. To make them different, developers can often take inspiration from classic themes that have been used in other entertainment mediums.
It’s not unusual or uncommon to see films or TV shows be used as a source of inspiration. For example, Unibet Canada has online casino games based on popular TV series and blockbusters, with horror games in its library consisting of themes based on Dracula and other vampire figures and werewolves.
Sounds and visuals
The use of a familiar theme has been beneficial for players and developers. Gamers continue to receive the type of gameplay experience that they expect from horror-themed slots as they see visuals that fit the theme being used. It’s possible players may see imagery that creates an element of spookiness, thus accelerating any emotions that an individual might begin to feel when they play. They may see drawings of creepy characters and creatures or see visuals of an environment that is traditional of a horror-themed movie, such as an abandoned house or castle or a creepy-looking woodland.
At the same time, they can also expect to hear certain sounds that are familiar with the genre. This might be hearing screams, creeping floorboards, or sounds from creatures that are often used in horror settings. The sounds that are used can have an impact on how a player’s emotions unfold, as they may become uneasy or remain immersed and engaged in the gameplay.
Use of gameplay mechanics
The use of gameplay mechanics has helped horror-themed slots redefine the gaming thrills a player receives. These are arguably more important than the elements that create the actual horror theme, as these can be among the key drivers for a player choosing a game to play and sticking with it.
Gamers want to be able to experience immersive and engaging gameplay – which the themes, audio, and visuals provide – but they don’t want to become bored quickly. By providing gameplay mechanics that include bonus features like free spins or special symbols, players can remain engaged. Software developers can make these horror-themed, as they can use drawings, sounds, or even animations to bring these to life and make them scary, thus adding to the thrills that the theme can have.
Will horror-themed slots get better in the future?
Although it is possible to suggest that horror-themed slot games are already available at a high standard, with some being among the top games across the iGaming industry, it’s also easy to argue that they could get better in the future.
The online casino sector has been big adopters of the latest technology innovations, and with new forms of gaming potentially on the horizon in terms of virtual and augmented realities, we could see slots be transformed. If this is the case, the game experience and thrills that players could receive from horror-themed titles could be immense.
They could feel as though they are a part of the game’s environment, which could up the ante and create a level of adrenaline that has not been experienced before, as they could feel as though they are in their own horror situation.
