Superhero Slots

It was back in the first half of the twentieth century when superhero comic strips were initiated. From then on, they kept gaining popularity. Very soon, they also appeared in serials and films. Therefore, it was only a matter of time before their presence was felt in online slots.

The Journey of Superhero Slots

The first to explore the brand value of superheroes was Cryptologic. They entered into a contract with Marvel Comics to introduce these heroes on slot reels. Over a period of two years, more than fifteen superhero slots were introduced. Spider-Man was one of the most renowned superheroes, along with the Incredible Hulk, who was featured in two online slots.

The themes of these slot games were based on stories related to the superheroes. Their sources of superpowers, the weapons they employed, and their challengers were represented as symbols. Fans who recognized these connections found more enjoyment in these games. The branded slot games proved to be the main competitive advantage for Cryptologic, and they were also offered to other gaming operators using different software platforms. For this reason, other developers entered the field.

Further Developments

Cryptologic faced tough competition from Playtech. Playtech also struck an agreement with Marvel for bringing the same superheroes to slot games. The main difference between the two agreements was that Cryptologic's graphics were based on images from Marvel comics, whereas Playtech's were based on images from Marvel movies.

Playtech has released over seven branded slots so far, including The Hulk, Iron Man, Punisher, X-Men, and Blade. With advancements in software technology, enhanced audio and visual effects have been introduced in these games. The four-level Marvel progressive jackpot is the most exciting feature of these slots. It is played on a 20-square grid, where players click on squares to reveal symbols corresponding to jackpot levels; matching three symbols wins the corresponding jackpot.

Thereafter, Cryptologic made an agreement with DC Comics, featuring brands like Batman, Superman, Green Lantern, and Wonder Woman. All these are now featured in slot games. Cryptologic pioneered an innovative feature called the bonus bet to distinguish their slots from Playtech's. Playtech and Cryptologic remain the two primary gaming software developers offering superhero slot games.