The iGaming industry is, easily, one of the most successful industries in the entertainment sector today. It encapsulates online slots, poker rooms, sportsbooks, and of course, casinos.
Though the first online slots websites launched in the 1990s, it wasn’t until the 2010s that they truly got off the ground. Today, gambling online is a standard practice for most fans of the hobby.
Most people have heard of the classic gambling games. Anyone can instantly recognize a slot machine or a roulette wheel. Even blackjack tables are deeply ingrained in the population’s subconscious.
But recently, many gambling websites have begun to introduce a whole new brand of games. These new titles have been labeled as specialty games.
These new formats are designed to keep players engaged with fresh challenges and unique mechanics. They often blend elements of chance with strategy, giving a modern twist to traditional gambling.
As innovation continues, these emerging options are quickly becoming favorites among online players looking for something different.
What are Specialty Games?
Online casinos have evolved far beyond their early days of simple digital slot machines. With new technology and shifting player interests, platforms now offer a wider variety of interactive and immersive experiences.
This transformation has opened the door for innovative titles that break away from traditional casino formats.
Specialty games are gambling games at online casinos that don’t typically fall in the category of “casino games.” Players can have a thrilling experience at NetBet’s live casino which features game shows and other alternatives to classics. You will also find classic blackjack variants and roulette.
One notable correlation is that online casinos tend to share a customer base with video games. So, casino game developers are now trying their best to appeal to the gamer subculture.
To do this, they’ve created specialty games that resemble classic video games from the Arcade era.
This crossover has introduced a fresh layer of creativity to the online gambling world. It blurs the line between pure entertainment and wagering, making the experience feel more dynamic and engaging.
For players, it means that logging into an online casino can feel just as exciting as booting up a favorite video game.
Now that we understand what specialty games are, it is time to take a look at the most popular games on the current market. Without further ado, let us delve into the world of online casino games.
Fish Table Games
There is no denying that the most popular specialty game around right now is the fishing game. For the unaware, a fish table game, or simply fishing game is an online casino game genre that sees players take control of a fisherman, a deep-sea diver, or even a submarine.
The goal in these games is simple; catch as many fish as you can. Each of the fish presented on the screen come with a different score. The more of these fish you capture, the higher your score will become. Of course, some of the critters won’t go down quietly.
Just like a classic shooter game, fish table games have different enemies and even may feature a stage and final boss. If you manage to overcome all of them, you will have won the game, and perhaps a cash prize. If you enjoy games like Space Invaders, then fish table games are just what you are looking for.
Shooters
Speaking of Space Invaders, we would have to bring up Shooter games next. That is right, online casinos now feature outright shooters, reminiscent of old-school classics.
In these games, players take control of a combat drone, and are tasked with stopping an advancing invasion from taking over the Earth.
The goal is simple, take down as many space invaders in the allotted time. In doing so, you rack up points that correlate to the bet you’ve placed. If you manage to score enough points, you win the bet, and therefore get your cash prize.
One of the more popular shooter games is actually called Space Invasion, openly referencing that the classic arcade game hugely inspired this genre of casino games. The game was created by the Art of Games, and is a popular staple at quite a few online casinos.
Minesweeper
Microsoft users from the early 20th century will certainly recognize Minesweeper. Critical thinking and a bit of foresight are crucial in winning this grid game.
Those who might never have played the game have certainly heard about it. But gamblers might be familiar with a different version of the PC classic.
The player faces a grid of small squares. By pressing a square, the player opens a portion of the grid, revealing numbers, which represent points. However, throughout the grid, there lie mines. By pressing the mines, the player loses the game, and must start all over again.
But, what does any of this have to do with gambling? Well, some online casinos have managed to adopt the simple mechanics of Minesweeper, and create a gambling game out of it. The game Kaboom is a perfect example of this.
In Kaboom, players wager on whether or not they will be able to solve the grid. It is then a simple matter of actually playing the game. If they manage to win, they get their cash prize. If they step on a mine, there is more at risk than just starting the game from the beginning.
Scratch Cards
Scratch cards, scratch tickets, or scratch offs, whatever you want to call them, there is no denying that these types of games are extremely popular. Scratch offs are usually quite cheap, so their success is obvious. The goal of the game is simple.
A player purchases a scratch card, and using something sharp and hard like a coin, a thumbtack, or even a fingernail, scratches off the thin, silver bit of plastic that obscures the reward. More often than not, scratch cards don’t carry a reward. But the ones that do really make the winner feel lucky.
Online casinos have managed to adopt virtual scratch cards, and just to make them more entertaining, they’ve given these games certain themes.
Scratch card games can take on just as many themes as online slots. Nordic gods and historical figures are especially popular. But the game does not change much because of the different themes.
Why are Specialty Games Popular?
Blackjack and roulette remain a staple of the gambling market. But innovation is always a welcome addition to any industry. The alcohol sector has David Adelman and likeminded brew masters who are changing the way we drink vodka.
The iGaming industry has innovative game developers that bring incredible ideas to life. Their influence on the industry is indisputable.
With specialty games, there are already pre-existing skills, especially among gamers who’ve already played much more complex games, and developed their hand-eye coordination.
In other words, playing these games not only scratches the gambling itch, but also the gamer itch, making them perfect for people who love video games.
