The start of a new year is always an exciting time for many reasons, and if you are a slot gamer then you will no doubt be excited about the releases to come this year.
As ever, many companies try to start the new year with a bang, and for that reason, we have some great titles for release in January to start things early. There is always an appetite for new games to be released so that players can see the latest technology and while ever that remains, a flood of new titles will come at us every month.
For those looking for something new to capture their imagination from a gaming perspective, here is a look at the best new slot games that will be released in January 2021.
Pragmatic Play GrabEarly Headlines With Two Big Releases
If you want to know which company has hit the headlines early then look no further than Pragmatic Play. They have not only hit the headlines because they have released two games, but these look set to be big-name titles for 2021, so it is big to see them getting these two out together, and early in the year.
First up from Pragmatic Play we have Congo Cash, which looks set to be a game that many are going to love. This title is one of the first to get out there, but don’t be surprised if we are still talking about this game at the end of 2021.
Congo Cash is a game that has a really impressive RTP%, the first thing you will notice, which is at 96.51%. On top of this, the game has 432 ways in which you can win, and a healthy maximum win of 5500x your stake money.
The game has five reels, with four symbols on the outer two and three on the middle three, to add a different dimension to the game and give you something to look out for that feels fresh. On top of this, the game has some great bonus features to look out for. If you are a little bored with regular gaming and you want something to re-ignite your love for slots, this could be the game to do that.
The first feature to mention is diamond wilds. These can be substituted for any other symbol on the reel, and appear on reels 2-5, so they can help you combine what you have on the first reel to make up some big wins.
The main game inside this slot is the jewel board, you will find this at the top of the middle reels. Here you will see jewels appearing after a spin and reveal three prizes. Get the butterfly scatter on the first and fifth reels to go with these prizes on reels 2-4 and you are going to get a nice win.
You can win up to 200x your stake, one of the three fixed jackpots that are in the game or win free spins, which range from eight up to 100.
With these features, a strong RTP%, a nice maximum win and a lot of lines you can win from, there is a lot to like here and this game is expected to be a real hit, not only this month but beyond.
Voodoo Magic the Second Pragmatic Play Release for 2021
The second game from Pragmatic Play to talk about is Voodoo Magic. This is a pretty simple game to play and enjoy, perfect for those who are not looking for something too heavy and just want something fun and enjoyable to play along with.
The game has a spooky, magic and voodoo theme to it, with some great graphics that certainly make it interesting. As for the basics of this game, it has five reels to play on and a total of 40 win lines, with a maximum payout of 1000x your stake, so the winnings aren’t huge here. However, with an RTP% of 96.50%, when you do win it should come on a regular basis.
If you are looking for features, then this game has stacked wilds to help build combos and scatters that take you into the free spin game. From here, you can change the board into the Voodoo, Super Voodoo or Mega Voodoo look, giving you the chance to win more.
This game doesn’t have the same in terms of features as the first Pragmatic Play release Congo Cash, but it certainly has enough to grab your attention. Combine that with the simplicity of this game and it offers a great slot for those who want to jump on something and play some spins without taking it too seriously.
Microgaming Release Animals of Africa in January
Another simple but very impressive game to hit the market this month comes from Microgaming and is called Animals of Africa. There is no question that Microgaming could have done something a little better with the name, this slot is pretty obviously a game about animals from Africa.
The simple name matches its simple gameplay, perfect for new players who are looking to find their feet with something easy. The game has five reels and 20 pay lines in total, so nothing too complex for you to follow. The RTP is good at 96.18%, which is another positive of this game and something else that new players are going to like.
Key to this game is to watch out for the premium symbols, as these have a different number of animals on them. If your symbol has two lions, for example, you will have two winning lines as the lines are based on the number of animals rather than single symbols.
The African tree is the scatter symbol, look out for this too as three or more of these on the reels will give you free spins and the chance to land some expanding wilds.
All in all, this is a very nice release from Microgaming, and with a simple name and feel to it, this is the type of game that will no doubt appeal to new gamers who are looking for an easy starting point.
The Ruby Sequel Released by iSoftBet with Megaways Engine
The Ruby was released a couple of years ago by iSoftBet and it was a game that many people enjoyed playing. Fast forward two years and we now have a sequel to that game, The Ruby Megaways.
Alongside an update to the gaming engine to bring Megaways gaming into the equation, we have a better-looking slot, taking advantage of the advancements we have seen in slot gaming over the past two years.
This game has the standard Megaways features on it, which includes six reels and a maximum number of 117,649 ways to win. It should come as no surprise that there is a big reward here because the game uses Megaways, and the biggest payout stands at an impressive 35,000x your stake, so certainly worth chasing.
Look out for the mystery symbol on this game, which will change into a regular symbol after your spin but the key with these is that the mysteries will all turn into the same symbol. So, if you have four mystery symbols on the reels, you know you are going to have four of the same symbols when they reveal themselves.
Scatters are also important, they give free spins and you will receive between 12 and 22 of these, depending on whether you have four, five or six scatters on the board.
If you are a fan of Megaways then this is a new title you are going to enjoy playing. Or, if you previously played the original game, this new look adds many new elements while still remaining an excellent slot.