Pub fruit machines are certainly eye-catching with their colourful glass fronts and flashing lights, but what keeps customers attracted to their favourite fruit machine?
It’s not all about how much a fruit machine pays out. Players will come back again and again to a machine as long as they feel entertained, and understand the features and gameplay.
Some of the best fruit machines for pubs actually have very simple gameplay or features that are intuitive or recognisable so new players can immediately understand them.
Here are five of the best themes for fruit machines to keep players coming back for more…
1. Fruity fruit machines
It might sound obvious, but many players appreciate a theme that pays homage to the origins of fruit machines, with reels and features based around the classic fruits.
Despite decades of new games and new gameplay, for these players you can’t beat the appeal of cherries, oranges and plums.
2. TV & movie tie-ins
Favourite TV shows and movies make popular themes for fruit machines too. Whether it’s the latest superhero or a popular daytime TV show, fruit machines span the gamut.
Again, although the theme might be purely visual rather than directly affecting the gameplay, it’s the familiarity that players like, and they may naturally feel more trust towards a machine themed around their favourite comic book hero.
3. Game themed slot machines
There’s some crossover between this category and the one above, as many of the most popular daytime TV shows are game shows.
But all kinds of games – including classics like snakes and ladders – can translate across to slot machines to make a feature-packed theme that requires no introduction.
4. Computer game themes
Again, there’s some crossover here, but this time we’re focusing purely on videogame themed slot machines.
The features that appear on computer game themed fruit machines can be more complex, representing the authentic gameplay of the relevant title.
Again, players might already be familiar with the basics of the game so they can get right down to enjoying the fruit machine version of it.
5. Brand new fruit machines
Flying in the face of everything we’ve said above about familiar themes and titles, some players are always looking for the next new experience.
Brand new fruit machines can freshen up what you offer to your customers, with the latest jackpots, video displays, touchscreens and modern capabilities like polymer note feeders and contactless card readers.
All of these make it easier for players to engage in a variety of different ways, helping to keep them entertained and playing for longer.