The gaming and online casino sectors have both benefited from rapid technological changes and over the last 20 years, casino developers have been heavily influenced by the techniques and ideas that have emerged from the dynamic gaming sector.

The highly competitive nature of the online casino sector means that players always have lots of alternative casinos to choose from, and so site owners are always seeking an edge, and slot developers have frequently turned to the equally competitive video gaming sector for inspiration.

In fact, if you check out any modern casino site, you are likely to see many features more traditionally seen in gaming, such as storylines, endearing characters and a degree of gamification, with tasks, rewards and competitions. So it is no surprise to find that video games have also had a more direct influence on the casino gaming sector, and that licensing the use of popular video game franchises has been very popular with slot developers. Here are some of the best.

Resident Evil

Resident Evil is one of the oldest gaming franchises around, dating back to 1996 when it was launched on the PS1, and it has also inspired slot developers.

Party Gaming’s Resident Evil slot game operates over five reels and has an appropriate horror feel to the gameplay. It also offers more of a storyline than you’d expect in a slot game. There are two different games within the main game, based on how the reels land and players also have to obtain resources to boost the firepower of the heroes. With suitably spooky graphics and an immersive soundtrack, this game manages to convey a little of the atmosphere of the video game.

Lara Croft Temples and Tombs

Lara Croft is one of the most iconic characters in gaming, and the franchise based around her has inspired several online slot games. Perhaps the most successful of these is Lara Croft Temples and Tombs, produced by well-known casino gaming developer Microgaming.

In keeping with the franchise, this slot game is set in a series of underground rooms, with mystical symbols, stone slabs and a host of recognizable images from the games. Slot players can potentially win three different jackpots and there are multiple bonuses and player-friendly features to keep fans of the franchise and slots enthusiasts entertained.

Call of Duty

The Activision Blizzard game has become one of the most popular franchises in the world, with millions of sales recorded, and it is one of the most popular games for esports competitors and streamers, with a global audience of loyal fans.

It was no surprise that a slot developer, in this case, Slotzilla, designed a slot game around the Call of Duty franchise, and this game features many images from the original. There is an extremely immersive Call of Duty soundtrack and a variety of Call of Duty-themed bonus features.

Street Fighter

The original Street Fighter game was released in 1987, making it one of the oldest games around, and it has remained extremely popular to this date, proving to be an influential title, with numerous imitators. Like Call of Duty it has also become a well-known esports game.

The Street Fighter slot game was produced by NetEnt and offers a level of detail that is unusual for a slot title, allowing players to choose from five characters. All of the icons on the reels are related to the original game, including boxing gloves, skull necklaces and images of fighters, and there are wilds and scatters designed to fit the theme.

Super Mario

Few video game franchises can rival the fame of Super Mario, and this Nintendo classic is still going strong in 2023. Not surprisingly, it has also inspired several online slot games, with perhaps the most interesting being Mario’s Gold, produced by Proprietary Games.

This is a classic five-reel slot game, full of famous characters from the video game, including Mario and Princess Peach, and is set against the backdrop of the Mushroom Kingdom. The game is what is known as a ‘low volatility’ slot as it offers more frequent payouts with smaller prizes than high volatility games, and it is an amusing take on the Mario universe.