It’s spooky season, and you know what that means? It’s time for every online casino to put their spooky-themed slots front and centre.
I used to be kind of annoyed about this. Perhaps it’s because I never got the biggest ‘trick or treat’ hall, or perhaps it’s because I’m terrified to death of horror movies, but I’ve never been a massive fan of Halloween. I always tend to keep my head down during October, just riding the back of the wave until November comes along and everyone starts talking about Christmas instead – there’s nothing scary about Christmas, so that’s a holiday I can get behind!
But while this is still the case, I have come to be a little more accepting of casinos pushing their Halloween-themed titles. That’s because, just last year, I tried one of these titles out for the first time, and was pleasantly surprised. While I always thought these slots were more of a gimmick, I realised that they do actually offer something different to regular games.
The Thematic Design
The theme, for example. Now I know you’re probably thinking: well, duh. But hear me out. I always assumed that a Halloween-theme would mean slapping a few ghouls or ghosts into the mix and leaving it at that, but the title that I played was clearly influenced by the aesthetics of the holiday, and the developers had done a lot of hard work to incorporate them more fully.
Found on www.johnslots.com/en/, the title in question was Big Bass Halloween; I played it because I was a fan of its traditional counterpart. I was surprised, therefore, to find the usual vibrant fishing backdrop had been transformed into a spooky, fog-filled environment, complete with a night setting and a creepy silhouette of trees, haunted lakes and dark shadows.
The symbols were different too. Instead of the usual fishing-related icons, the symbols of Big Bass Halloween were dressed up for the occasion, with pumpkin jack-o’-lanterns, skeleton fish, witches, and bats taking centre stage. Were any of these costumes as good as the costumes I wore when trick or treating? Well, let’s just say the game itself got a better haul than I ever did, and most of it came from me!
The Soundtrack
Another thing I loved about Big Bass Halloween – and other Halloween-themed features that I’ve come across – is the change in music. Sound design plays a huge role in adding to the atmosphere and making things feel just a little bit more eerie. Whether it’s the howling wind, eerie whispers, ghostly moans, or Halloween-inspired tunes, the soundtrack completely changes the feeling of the game and, in doing so, makes it feel unique and engaging.
If you get a bonus, for instance, rather than a dazzling ‘reward sound’, you’ll get something more creepy, like a scream or a ghostly wail. And yes, while this made the moment a little more intense and scary than positive and thrilling, I still appreciated it! Oh, and I should mention the voice overs too. So many of the titles I’ve played include a number of cool voiceovers, including:
- Witches
- Ghosts
- Monsters
And more specific voiceovers like:
- Frankenstein
- Dracula
- The Mummy
- Pennywise
- The Grim Reaper
Special Halloween-Themed Bonuses
Last but not least, the bonuses! Okay, I’d be lying if I said the prospect of new and exclusive bonuses wasn’t the reason why I tried out Big Bass Halloween in the first place, but a lot of them are too generous to resist! Across multiple platforms, Halloween titles often feature exclusive in-game bonuses and mechanics, including bonus rounds where players can enter a haunted house, uncover ghouls and ghosts, and land on specific monsters to increase payouts.
You can tell they’ve also been using analytical tools to find out what visuals will be the most appealing for the audience, with unique Halloween symbols like black cats, witches’ cauldrons, and full moons often acting as wilds or scatters, and some games even integrate the jackpot feature into the horror-themed narrative. These bonus features go beyond the standard wilds or multipliers found in other offerings, and not only do they add to the immersive, spooky theme, but they give you as a player the opportunity to pick up some generous, exclusive, seasonal-based rewards in the process!
Conclusion
Even if you’re like me, and you’re not a fan of the Halloween season, I’d recommend at least trying out one of the Halloween-themed titles you’ll undoubtedly come across. As I mentioned before, for businesses, changing up what is being offered is a key strategy for success, and many developers have done exactly that – and done it well, too. What’s more, they might be your only chance to pick up some seasonal bonuses, and they do offer something different and unique which keeps things interesting. There’s plenty of time to play all your favourite titles year-round, but there are many that are exclusive to this season, so don’t let them pass you by!
