Popular Slots Themes

On this page, you’ll learn everything you need to know about popular slots themes. We’ll cover why particular themes are popular, why UK players love them and even 20 themes you should start playing today. On each type of slots games, we will briefly describe what they are and why people love playing them. We’ll also recommend the most popular titles. Let’s get started! 

Slots themes are the concepts on which the game is based. In our time, we’ve found many themes varying from ancients and Irish to TV, sports and music.

Often, players like themes with strong cultural influences. Hence, historical, movie and hobby-based themes are very popular with UK players. People love different slot themes for a wide range of reasons. First, it could give them a nostalgic feeling, this is why classic slots still remain popular to this day.

Second, people enjoy themes for the gameplay, graphics and audio. For example, Wild West themes are a UK favourite because of the cool music, interesting symbols and bonus features.

Third, with many themes, there is a social aspect, especially when it comes to playing slot tournaments. Often, game developers such as Wazdan or Pragmatic Play run monthly tournaments where UK players can win a share of millions of pounds.

Lastly, specific slot game themes such as TV or movies contain popular culture references. For example, if you love the franchise, Rocky, the symbols are what you’d expect. Rocky, Apollo Creed and more, which are highly relevant to the movie. 

Why do people like to play themed slots?

Players enjoy themed slots for many reasons. We break down the main three below.

• Nostalgia: Many slots give UK players a feeling of nostalgia. This is particularly obvious with classic fruit slots but also with movie, TV and fairytale-themed online slots.
• Gameplay: Gameplay is crucial to any decent online slot game. Some players prefer it simple, whilst others enjoy features such as tumble down or Megaways. Also, many players love bonus features such as mini-games and free spin rounds.
• Popular Culture: Plenty of slots themes are based on popular culture. This is common in music, TV, movie and sports-themed slots. People enjoy a particular movie so it’s no surprise they also like playing the slot.

Now that we’ve explained what slot themes are and why folks love them so much, we delve into the most popular ones. Our experts have compiled the most popular slots themes you can play at online casinos in the UK. Check out below.

Ancient Egypt

By far one of the most popular themed slots in the UK is the Ancient Egyptian ones. The symbols take you back to the time of the Pharaohs and the Pyramids, with the graphics and gameplay reminiscent of that. 

Big game developers like Play n’GO produce tons of Ancient Egyptian-themed slots. One UK players are particularly fond of is Book of Dead. It follows the explorer Rich Wilde and is a 5x3 reel slot with 10 adjustable pay lines. The RTP is 96.21% and the volatility is high. 

When you register at many of our recommended online casinos, you’ll find free spins on the Book of Dead. If you’re lucky you might even get a massive 200 free spins! 

People love Ancient Egyptian slots because of the mystery of the civilization. The pyramids and the sphinx are often part of the gameplay along with hieroglyphics and ancient symbols such as the eye of Horus. 

Moreover, as Ancient Egypt is seen as one of the birthplaces of civilisation the cultural connotations draw many players to enjoy Egyptian-themed slots. 

The most popular games with the Ancient Egyptian theme include Book of Dead, Cleopatra and Age of Egypt. You can play all these at most online casinos in the UK and even try the demo version first. 

Ancient Greece 

Ancient Greek slots themes are popular for the same reason why Ancient Egyptian ones are. The mystery and the intrigue of one of the world's oldest and most sophisticated civilisations. 

The Gods play a big part in why Ancient Greek-themed slots are very popular in the UK. Often, the graphics will show legendary Gods such as Zeus, Hercules and Achilles. The gameplay will include Ancient Greek symbols such as The Parthenon, the Greek alphabet and of course, Greek Gods. 

One of the most popular game series that UK players cannot get enough of is called Age of the Gods. The main game game with the same namesake is made by leading game developer, Playtech. it features all the Greek Gods where you’re able to unlock up to 4 bonus features. The RTP of the slot is 96.14% and it’s a 5 reel 25 pay line game. 

The historical fascination keeps players hooked, and with excellent gameplay, bonus feature rounds, top graphics and enchanting sounds, Greek mythology slots remain a favourite in the UK. 

The most popular titles are Midas Golden Touch, Gates of Olympus and of course, Age of the Gods. 

Irish 

Irish-themed slots have always been a fan's favourite in the UK because of the cultural aspects and proximity of the UK to Ireland. 

People love everything about Irish mythology because it goes hand in hand with betting. For example, the luck of the Irish is a perfect saying for when you play online slots. 

The symbols of Irish-themed slots are what you expect. You’ll find leprechauns, pots of gold, rainbows and clovers. The bonus rounds will often feature these symbols and the scatters and wilds will be quintessentially Irish. 

As Ireland is known as the Emerald Isle, green is the main colour for Irish-themed slot games. By far the most popular slot in the UK remains 9 Pots of Gold. The game is made by the top brand, Red Tiger Gaming and if you land all 9 pots of gold on the reels you stand to win 2000x your stake. The RTP is 96.24%, medium volatility and has 20 fixed pay lines. 

If you want to try your luck at Irish-themed slots, then there is so much to choose from for UK players. For example, you can try Big Irish Bucks, Irish Luck or 4x Clover at many of our recommended casinos on this page. 

Sports 

Sports are a huge part of popular culture in the UK, so it’s no surprise that UK players love sports-themed online slot games. You can play everything from football, rugby and cricket to motorsports, tennis and golf themes. Each one has its features and nuances, so finding your favourite can take time. 

Nevertheless, you’re able to play demo versions at online casinos before you play for real money. Just pick any of our recommended casinos, register for an account and start playing your favourite sport-themed slot now. 

Football slots themes are very popular, especially ones that have a central character such as Top Trumps Football Stars. The game, which is developed by Playtech features some of the biggest current and former stars in world football. We’re talking about Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane. 

Top Trump's Football Stars has an RTP of 93.97% and when you launch the game, you can choose the theme of top football nations such as England, Brazil, Argentina, Germany, Netherlands or Italy. It’s a 5 reel slot with 15 pay lines with a fun free spins feature. 

Other popular sports slots include Football Star by Microgaming, Tennis Stars by Playtech and Rugby Star by Microgaming. 

Fishing 

Fishing is a popular pastime in the UK, seen as relaxing and entertaining at the same time. As many people enjoy it, there are plenty of fishing slots theme games to play. 

The symbols are what you’d expect. A wide range of fish, a fishing rod, tackle, boats and even a fisherman. One of the best online slots in the UK is the Big Bass Bonanza series. 

It’s made by Pragmatic Play, which means it’s always part of the Drop & Wins monthly slot tournaments. You can play the main game: Big Bass Bonanza or tons of derivatives of it. Other popular ones include Big Bass Splash, Big Bass Amazon Extreme and Big Bass Bonanza Megaways. 

The regular Big Bass Bonanza game has an RTP of 96.71% and is medium volatility. It’s popular with high rollers because you can bet up to £250 per spin. Also, the free spins round is something the game is famous for. 

Besides the Big Bass Bonanza series, other fishing-themed slot games are becoming increasingly popular in the UK. These include; Gone Fishing made by Ruby Play, Lucky Fisherman by Skywind and Go Fish! from Inspired Gaming. 

TV 

Watching TV after a long hard day is the norm in the UK, and we all have our favourite TV shows and personalities. The great thing about slots themes based around the tele is that you can play hundreds if not thousands of slots. 

One of the most popular subsections of TV-themed online slots are ones based on game shows. Everyone in the UK loves them, whether Deal or No Deal, Who Wants to be a Millionaire? or Pointless, you’ll always find an online slot. 

As Deal or No Deal is all about chance, it goes without saying that the slot version is very popular in the UK. With 5 spinning reels and 10 pay lines, UK players love it because of the mini-games. You can unlock the banker's choice or the player's choice where you can choose a prize from the boxes. To do this, you must land 3 scatters anywhere on the reels. 

Developed by Blueprint Gaming, Deal or No Deal has an RTP of 95.34% and is a medium volatility online slot game. 

Besides game shows, you can also play popular TV series-themed slots. Try your luck at Family Guy, Narcos or Vikings. If you prefer something British, you can play Little Britain or X Factor themes.  

Movies 

Just like TV shows, movies are a staple in popular culture. People love their favourite films and consume many things from toys to video games with the same theme. You’ll also be happy to hear that tons of movies have online slots. 

You’re able to play as your favourite movie character when you spin the reels whether it’s Batman, Alan Parish from Jumanji or even Ace Ventura. 

There are hundreds of movie-themed slots to choose from, and many are made by top game developers such as IGT, Novomatic and NetEnt. 

So whether it’s a comic book movie like Justice League, or an adventure one such as Gladiator, you’ll find an online slot to suit your tastes. 

Our pick is Jumaji, based on the hit film with the same namesake starring Dwayne Johnson. It’s made by NetEnt, has an RTP of 96.6% and has 36 pay lines. 

You can trigger the bonus game if you land 3 or more scatters or choose to buy it before you start spinning the reels. 

Fruits 

When we say fruit-style slots, we are talking about the classic ones you used to play back in the day. The old-school slot machines were found at land-based casinos in the 20th century, but now you can play these games online. 

Fruit slots bring up a sense of nostalgia, for when we played one arm bandits in the pub or the casino. Everyone has played one in their time, so everyone is familiar with the symbols. You’ll find fruits, bars, bells etc. when you spin the reels, hoping to land on just 3 reels. 

Nowadays, game developers make fruit-themed slots with better graphics and gameplay. One of the most popular classic slots themes games is BerryBurst made by the top game provider, NetNet. 

BerryBurst contains classic fruit-themed symbols which turn into gold. The RTP is 96.56% and gives you the chance to win 5000x your stake. UK players love the game for its expanding wilds and exciting respins feature. 

Other types of slot games with a fruit theme include; Hot Chilli made by Pragmatic Play, Fruitoids by Yggdrasil and Fruit Shop by NetEnt. 

Wild West 

Wild West slot themes are one of the most popular in the UK. This is mainly because of the immersive gameplay, exciting characters and fun audio. 

The symbols are what you expect in Wild West slots themes. There will be a prospector (usually the main character), pickaxe, gold, gold cart, horses and often Jack - Ace playing cards. The mini-games and bonus features of Wild West slots are also something that makes these slot types popular. 

With all that being said, one of the most popular Wild West slot themes games is Wild Wild West: The Great Train Heist made by the leading game provider, NetEnt. The slot has terrific graphics and offers players loads of bonus features. 

Wild Wild West: The Great Train Heist has an RTP of 96.74%, which is on the higher side for online slots. In addition, it is a classic 3x5 reel slot with low to medium volatility. The only downside is the maximum amount you can win, which is 500x. Rather low for an online slot game. 

UK players are also big fans of Wanted Dead or Alive (NetEnt), Deadwood (NoLimitCity) and Wild West Gold (Pragmatic Play). 

Space 

Space types of slots have always been popular with UK players. Take Starburst for example, which remains one of the most played online slots in the UK, still after 10 years! 

Space-themed slot games provide exciting graphics and even better gameplay. Many feature symbols of aliens and planets of the solar system such as Jupiter, Saturn and Mars. 

The audio is uplifting and when you win the tempo will increase. The graphics will often be sharp and futuristic. You can play all types of slots such as Megaways and even slots with tumble-down features such as Reactoonz. 

Nevertheless, as we’ve previously touched upon, the king of space slots is Starburst. Made by NetEnt in 2012, the game still continues to be one of the most popular in the UK. The simplicity and free spins features set it apart from its competition. Also, when you register for a new online casino, often you’ll get free spins on Starburst. 

Starburst has an RTP of 96.2% and is perfect for beginners and high rollers. The betting range is 10p - £100 per spin, and you can even use the auto spin function in the bottom right corner of the game. 

Animals 

The amount of animal slot game themes is countless. Depending on what your favourite is, you can play everything from safari and fish-themed to pets and monkeys. Whatever animal you like, you’ll definitely find a slot theme based on it. 

The graphics of animal slots themes are cute and the animations make the gameplay fun and exciting. Often, the symbols will be animals and cards (10 - Ace). The scatter or wild will be the animal the slot game is themed on. 

One of the best animal slot-themed games is The Dog House, made by Pragmatic Play. Created in 2019, the slot features many different breeds of dogs across the reels. The gameplay is enticing and silly at the same time. 

The Dog House has an RTP of 96.51% and the different dogs have the best payouts. The maximum amount you can win is 9000x your stake. 

You can either play the classic version or try the Megaways one, where you have over 117, 649 ways to win. And with 20 pay lines and a great soundtrack, you’ll be entertained for hours on the slot! 

Candy 

Candy, or for us Brits, sweets are amongst the top slot themes in the UK. The reels are full of our favourite sweets such as ice cream and lollipops. The graphics are first rate and the soundtrack is often fun and uplifting. 

Candy-themed type of slots are everywhere and finding the right for you can take time. However, our experts believe the best title in this slot game theme type is easily Sweet Bonanza. 

Sweet Bonanza is a highly-rated slot made by Pragmatic Play. With an RTP of 96.51%, the game features fruits, candies and tons of multipliers. To unlock the free spins round all you need to do is land at least 4 scatters anywhere across the reels. 

The scatter is the lollipop symbol. Yet, the highest-paid symbol on the game is the red heart-shaped candy, where if you land 5 or more on the pay lines you’ll win 21,100x your stake. 

If you want to play other excellent types of slot games based around candies look no further than Sweet Treats 2, by Nucleus Gaming and Chocolates by Big Time Gaming. 

Oriental 

The mysticism of the Far East appeals to UK players, as the audio transports you to an oriental adventure. Paired with top gameplay, these slot themes are very enjoyable. 

The symbols are dragons, Chinese characters, gold and playing cards, Oriental theme slots graphics are often red with golden symbols. 

A big favourite in Oriental-themed slot games is 88 Fortunes. You have the choice to play the classic version or you can try the Megaways one. Both are made by Big Time Gaming. 

88 Fortunes Megaways has an RTP of 96.27% and has over 117,000 pay lines. The betting range is from 8p - £88 per spin. The more gold symbols you match, the bigger the prize will be. The maximum amount you can win on this slot is 10,000x your bet. 

There are thousands of Oriential-themed slot games for UK players to enjoy. Other ones that must get a shout are; Fortune Girl by Microgaming, Koi Princess by NetEnt and Magic Journey by Pragmatic Play. 

Viking 

Viking slots themes are popular for the same reasons as Egyptian or Greek ones. It’s about mysticism, cool symbols and interesting main characters. Viking culture is intriguing, and slots copy this, with different Viking Gods and famous items. 

Symbols are reminiscent of the Viking times. That means you’ll find Viking Gods, boats, helmets, and playing cards. You’ll also see Norse Gods from Odin to Ragnar! 

The good news is that all the big game developers make plenty of Viking-themed online slots. But if we were to pick just one out, we’d have to go for Viking Forge. 

Viking Forge is made by Pragmatic Play and is a simple, 6-reel slot but with bonus buy features. The RTP is 96.05% and has a betting range of 20p - £100 per spin. 

It’s another tumble-down feature online slot by Pragmatic Play with no fixed pay lines. That means you’ll keep getting paid as long as you match symbols anywhere across the reels. To launch the free spins feature you can either buy it or land 3 or more scatters anywhere on the reels. 

Board Games 

Board games are a type of slots theme that has grown in popularity in recent years. The biggest board game slot game is the property trading title, Monopoly. 

However, UK players can enjoy other board game slot game themes. We’re talking about Cluedo, Risk, Game of Life, Mousetrap and even Dungeon and Dragons. 

Board game slots themes are great because of the graphics, gameplay, bonus features and enchanting soundtracks. 

Monopoly slot games top the list for us, and you’ll find many different variants made by several top game developers such as NetEnt and Pragmatic Play. 

Our particular favourite Monopoly slot is Monopoly Millionaire made by Bally Technologies. As the title suggests, you have the chance of becoming a millionaire. 

The 95.4% RTP slot has 40 pay lines and is medium volatility. There are three modifiers in the base games and up to 5 bonus round features. 

The symbols are classic Monopoly logos and the pieces on a Monopoly board such as a boat, car, motorbike and plane. 

The community chest feature can be randomly triggered and gives you a chance to multiply your winnings by up to 10x. 

Horror 

Horror slots themes are popular just like horror movies because of the mystery, intrigue and suspense. 

You can even find horror slot game themes based on famous movies. For example, you’ll find Dracula, Frankenstein and Nightmare on Elm Street online slots. 

Part of the horror theme is Halloween, which becomes very popular online slots in the month of October. Often, online casinos will run numerous bonuses including free spins, cashback offers and reload bonuses on Halloween-themed slot games. 

If we had to pick the best horror slot game we would go for Blood Suckers made by NetEnt. The 25-pay line, medium variance slot has an RTP of 98%, which is very high for any online game in any slots theme. 

Blood suckers is based on zombies, vampires and gore, and has frightening audio to go with it. The maximum amount you can win is 1014x your stake. 

It’s perfect for beginners and high rollers alike, as the betting range is 25p - £50 per spin. 

If gore, vampires and zombies are what you love on the reels, we also have some other online slot recommendations. Take a look at Walking Dead by Aristocrat, Immortal Romance by Microgaming and Frankenstein by NetEnt. 

Pirates

Take a journey on the high seas with pirate-themed online slots. You can find popular pirates as the main characters such as in Treasure Island or Disney’s The Pirates of the Caribbean. 

The symbols are often ships, treasure, parrots, rum, anchors, gold and famous pirates like Blackbeard. On many, you’ll also find exciting bonus buy features and mini-games where the main character is the pirate. 

Our number one choice is Boom Pirates which is a Wonderways online slot so there are over 100,000 ways to win. 

Boom Pirates is made by Foxium and has an RTP of 96.19%. In the game, you can trigger the free spins round by landing three or more scatters anywhere on the reels. You also have the option of purchasing the free spins round at any time. 

Yet, if you want to play other slots themes on pirates have a go at Skulls of Gold, Blackbeard, Blackbeard: The Golden Age and Cursed Seas. 

Fairytales 

Fairytale types of slots are popular because they transport you into a world of magic and mystery. You can find thousands of online slots on this subject and many are based on the classic ones we read when we were young. 

For example, everything is offered, from Jack and the Beanstalk to Red Riding Hood. Also, you’ll find many slots made by top game developers such as Red Tiger, Yggdrasil and NetEnt. 

The best thing about fairytale slots themes is the enchanting audio, graphics and fun gameplay. With many, you can unlock the free spins round or other bonus features. 

Our first pick in this slots themes category is Twisty Fairytales because the RTP is very high at 99.1%. That gives it a house edge of just 0.9%! This is amazing for any online slot game. 

Twisted Fairytales is made by Concept Gaming and is a 5x3 reel game with 20 pay lines. The maximum amount you can win is 400x your bet. You can bet from as little as 1p per spin all the way up to £100. 

Music 

UK players are able to enjoy music-themed online slots about instruments, bands or even their favourite stars. 

For the latter, you can find slots based on iconic names from Elvis and Jimi Hendrix to Ozzy Osbourne and Michael Jackson. 

Yet, if you enjoy a particular band then you can play it all from Motorhead and Guns n’ Roses to Kiss and the Rat Pack. 

All the soundtracks are reminiscent of the music and the gameplay will have symbols catered to each band. With some, you can even unlock free spins and bonus rounds, which adds to the suspense of each slot. 

Our hand-picked music theme slot has to be Elvis Lives, which is all about the Rock and Roll legend, Elvis Presley. 

Made by WMS, Elvis Lives has an RTP of 95.72% and is a 5 reel slot with a whopping 60 pay lines. When you spin the reels you’ll hear all the classic Elvis sounds which give it that special touch. 

Other music theme slots UK players enjoy are Karoeke Party, Phantom of the Opera and Disco Spins. 

Unusual Slot Themes 

Our final slot game themes category is unusual. What do we mean by this? Well, something that is different, unique and cannot be classified into other themes. 

In our time, we’ve come across slots based on literally everything from curries and fish and chips to Santa Claus and Barack Obama. 

UK players enjoy playing unusual slots themes because of the randomness and fun associated with them. Also, on many, just like with most slots, there will be exciting bonus features waiting to be unlocked. 

Our favourite unusual slot theme game is called Cash n Curry. It’s based around Indian food and all the symbols are too. 

You’ll find different curries, spices, chillis and more across the reels as you spin to win. 

If you love Indian food, then you’ll love this slot. It’s made by Microgaming and has an RTP of 96.5%. It’s a simple game which is a pub-styled video slot, so it will not take you long to learn the rules.

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Now we’ve given you 20 of the most popular slots themes available online. You can play all these either on your PC or if you prefer a smartphone or tablet. 

Which one do you prefer? And why? So, whatever mood you’re in, you’ll most certainly find a theme for your tastes!