Casino games have evolved with astronomical speed, especially within the last two decades. One game type that has particularly been at the heart of this evolution is slots. The world of casino gaming seemed to have quickly moved on from the days of One-Armed Bandits lever-style slot machines to sleek, modern reels on mobile devices.
In addition, there’s been a pivotal shift from the classic, almost-recurrent fruity and joker themes to more sophisticated and diverse animations. Overall, the gaming atmosphere in recent times appears a little more immersive than ever before. But in truth, is there really a world of difference in the experiences that retro games afford, compared to modern casino titles?
Considering that both brands of games have one ultimate objective, which is delivering real money wins to players, many often wonder what then sets them apart. Well, in this article, we explore four characteristics that distinguish retro casino games from their modern counterparts, and why both still hold a place in the hearts of players.
Design and Graphics
Definitely one of the standout differences between retro games and modern slots is the design. For fruit machines, as they are more commonly called in the UK, the game typically has a minimalistic interface with singular solid color fills and limited symbols. Some of the popular symbols you’ll find are the lucky 7, joker, BAR and fruit icons.
On the flip side, modern games have a lot more animations to play around with. Thanks to 3D visuals and entertainment adaptations, modern casino games have themes of sci-fi, adventure, mythology and fantasy. There are also the expanded reels and crispier images that make the experience doubly exciting.
Payout System and Jackpots
Back in the day, the payout structure on retro games was fixed. Single-reel game designs meant you could only land winning combinations on one payline. And if you walked into a UK brick-a
nd-mortar outlet, you had to use coins or chips to boot the game up and potentially win some money.
Today, five-reel slots are the norm at UK online casinos, thereby affording an even better opportunity to land winning combinations. Game developers also now have the advanced technologies to support a progressive jackpot system for even more elevated payouts.
Technology and Accessibility
In the late 1900s and early 2000s, the bulk of retro games available were mechanically-designed and you had to visit a physical casino or arcade to access them. Modern games, on the other hand, are developed using cutting-edge technology like Random Number Generator (RNG).
Nowadays, not only do you have access to games on your smartphones and tablets, but many titles are now available on virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) platforms. It’s also worth noting that many retro games are also now available on mobile devices.
Game developers and casinos appear to be feeding off the nostalgic appeal by introducing retro games with all the modern technology features but the same old design and payouts.
Cultural Appeal
Finally, the level of sentiment attached to both brands of games is entirely worlds apart. Retro game players, whether on the One-Armed Bandit machines or smartphones, link the experience to the old-school Las Vegas golden era and all its glamour. But for many modern game players, there is extrinsic cultural appeal beyond the regular entertainment and real money rewards.
Final Thoughts: Which is Better?
With both types of games now available from the comfort of your mobile devices, you might be tempted to compare and find out which is better. Modern games are designed for a more technologically-savvy audience and would typically load faster, have better picture quality and payout more cash.
Retro games, however, have a nostalgic charm and simplicity that’s hard to put a price tag on. Plus, with revamps, most retro games could match modern titles in terms of high definition and speed. So, rather than choosing one over the other, players today should consider themselves fortunate to be able to enjoy the best of both worlds.
