2020 was a strong year for online casinos, and 2021 is looking to take this success one step further. As with every year since their inception, a big part of this online casino pie was taken up by slot games, with many entries new and old reaching millions of players. Taking a look at five of the biggest standouts, we want to see how 2021 in slot games is shaping up, and what new and returning players can expect.

Why Slots?
As explained in the free online slots guide at online-gambling.com, slot games make up the backbone of most online casino experiences. Major websites offer thousands of these, with new titles from major developers like Microgaming and NetEnt hitting digital shelves constantly. Simple to understand, impossible to master, and with an enormous range of themes and special features, slots represent the vanguard of digital casinos. While this is great in terms of accessibility, it also drives healthy competition, meaning new titles are always pushing the envelope of what's possible. With that in mind, let's get to the games.

Number 5: Primate King

Brought to players by the talented team at Red Tiger, Primate King is a high variance slot that draws obvious inspiration from King Kong. As noted at looper.com, this is a story about a fish out of water, or ape out of forest scenario, where adventures in an untamed land must brace the threat of the eponymous giant gorilla.

What sets Primate King apart is its progression features, where collecting gold coins increases the potential winnings of systems like wilds. Increasing multipliers and adding stickies puts a simple but effective twist on this formula, placing the king in high regard among slot players.

Number 4: Fruit Lines

Some slots like to push the boundaries of what is possible, and some just want to keep things simple. Fruit Lines is a game that is far more the latter than the former, following the streamlined approach that keeps many of the titles on our website like virtualworldisland.com popular.

Designed for ease of use over mobile and desktop, Fruit Lines uses bright color and simplified systems to distill the slot experience to its classical core. It might not set the world on fire, but that's okay because the game is great, and global warming already has that covered.

Number 3: Money Train 2

There are certain aspects of pop culture that always fascinate us, with cowboys and post-apocalyptic portrayals of humanity being famed in that regard. Perhaps this is an unusual combination, but it’s one that Relax Gaming has leaned into with their release of Money Train 2.

Taking place largely on a train as Rail Nation, this game sets itself apart by placing an enormous emphasis on bonus features. Including respins, growing multipliers, and magical combatants in the form of snipers and necromancers, Money Train 2 is not a slot wanting for imagination.

Number 2: Reactoonz 2

Reactoonz 2 is another game that wears its inspirations on its sleeve. Most obviously this could be seen in the layout, which looks like the kind of match-three games detailed here by gamersradar.com. Adding to this is a style of symbol that looks like they were lifted directly from the like of Minions or Monsters Inc. It’s an unusual direction, but which players have responded to well.

As for the gameplay, a lot of emphasis within Reactoonz 2 is based on expanding symbols and the avalanche features. Like match-three games, this gives big combos an especially appreciable feel, with enormous wins clearing out the entire screen.

Number 1: Gonzo’s Quest Megaways

Taking the number one position is the latest in the long-standing Gonzo series of slot titles. Brought to players by Red Tiger, Gonzo’s Quest Megaways doesn’t do anything too different, but it does include some world-class levels of animation and solid gameplay.

The biggest standout in Gonzo's Quest, apart from the always adorable Gonzo himself, is the avalanche feature. A constant addition since the first Gonzo game back in 2011, avalanche wins are now tied to growing multipliers which, when combined with massive paylines, is never not fun to watch.

2021, like 2020, was a huge year for slots

Though there are a lot of slots vying for attention in 2021, these are our picks for the best around so far. Whether you're a long-time fan of slots or are a new player looking for games to get started, the above list should provide a solid cross-section of what's on offer. On mobile or desktop, these games are only getting bigger, and we can't wait to see what comes next.