As 2021 draws to a close, it’s always interesting to look back at the year and think about what has changed, which were the greatest sporting events, and how the year was different from what came before it. As slots players, there is one definite area of interest that is never lost on us – which were the best new online slot machines to find their way onto the web this year?

Admittedly, there are so many games released each year that you’d probably have to spend the entire year slotting to really give the most reliable verdict – therefore, we looked at a few of the biggest online casino sites and determined a selection of the best new slots through player numbers and revenue figures instead.

So, have you tried each of these new games? We all have our favorites – those games which we tend to fire up every time we make a deposit. With that in mind, perhaps it’s time to break out of your comfort zone and try a new machine or two before the end of the year? If you do, these four titles might be a great place to start…

Power of Thor Megaways (Pragmatic Play)

Megaways slots have been some of the hottest games around for years now. The creators of Big Time Gaming changed the industry forever when they created Extra Chili – the sequel to their previous smash-hit Bonanza – and decided to patent many aspects of the way the game worked. Collectively, these ideas defined a new type of slot game – the Megaways slot.

When slot producers such as Pragmatic Play want to create a Megaways slot, they need a license from Big Time Gaming. The fact that other slot producers are willing to pay just to attach the “Megaways” moniker to their machine demonstrates just how much money their Megaways slots were stealing away from other developers.

What to do with a Megaways Title?

Whilst some developers such as Blueprint are happy just to completely copy the Extra Chili formula – that is what they are paying for after all – others such as Pragmatic Play do interesting things with the Megaways concept, as they have in Power of Thor.

The only downer to this six reel, two-seven row game with up to 117,649 paylines is the limit on how much you can win – the bonus round can hit 5,000x your stake – Pragmatic Play are even kind enough to tell you the odds of hitting such a win – 1 In 867,302.

The RTP depends on whether you chose to play the game normally or go for purchasing the bonus rounds. The top figure of 96.55% isn’t bad at all, and of all the Megaways slots released in 2021, this one is surely the most interesting.

Amulet of Dead (Play’n’Go)

First a warning: one of the reasons Play’n’Go have become the formidable force in slots that they have so quickly is that they offer a wide range of RTP options to online casinos who license their slots. This one, Amulet of Dead, can be set to one of five different settings – roughly 96%, 94%, 91%, 87%, and… 84%! I’m guessing the last option isn’t intended to be used online, as it is very greedy indeed, and every time I load up this slot at an online casino it seems to be set to one of the top two modes. Look out for the 96.29% version – it makes a big difference to your playtime.

Is Amulet of Dead Really Just Book of Dead 2?

Amulet of Dead borrows more than a few hints from Play’N’Go’s smash hit Book of Dead slot – it uses the same symbols, the same five by three layout, but has a much higher maximum win of 5,000x your stake – typical of slots being made in 2021. You might well say that Amulet of Dead is really just a sequel or update to Book of Dead – but in truth, it really doesn’t matter, Amulet of Dead is one of the best slots of 2021, period.

Big Fin Bay (Thunderkick)

Thunderkick has been producing smash hit slots for a while now, and Big Fin Bay has more than a few similarities to the Megaways range of slots – though it doesn’t carry the title, telling you there’s enough new ideas here to get around Big Time Gaming’s licensing rules.

This six-reel, two to seven row slot boasts 5,040 to 117,649 paylines – that magic number that pops up so often in slots these days. The difference with Big Fin Bay is that they haven’t capped the wins you can hit with this slot – this is a super high volatility game with a maximum 2win of 15,040x your stake.

That’s some serious money – even when playing in penny denominations. With such high winnings on offer, you can be sure that Big Fin Bay is one of the most exciting releases to hit the online casino scene in 2021. Give this one a go – you definitely won’t regret it!

Hell’s Kitchen (NetEnt)

Completing our list of 2021’s greatest new slots is NetEnt’s take on the phenomenally successful Hell’s Kitchen – a Gordan Ramsay show that showcases everything we loved about shows such as Kitchen Nightmares. The thing about Hell’s Kitchen is that all of those elements have been turned all the way up to 11, to borrow one of Spinal Tap’s best lines.

The RTP of Hell’s Kitchen ranges from 96.07% to 91.02%, depending on the casino you are playing at, the options you choose to use in the game itself, and whether you prefer to spin the reels normally or skip straight to the bonus using the bonus buy feature.

But it’s a Low Variance Game – Does it Really Deserve a Place on this List?

It’s a five-by-three game with 20 paylines, so the layout will feel instantly familiar to every slot’s player out there. The maximum win is rather low at 500x your stake, though. This can be doubled to 1,000x if it’s your lucky day, and the special feature happens to activate at the same time as your jackpot spin – In truth, however, the probability of this happening is extremely low. It’s best jut to think of Hell’s Kitchen as a low volatility game, but one that offers a ton more fun than games with similarly low jackpots.

What matters is that Hell’s Kitchen is one of the most fun slots you can play right now, and the bonus features will appeal massively to fans of the TV show. NetEnt did an excellent job with this one, capturing the feel of the TV show and infusing it with the best ideas and features from their most successful online slots.

The addition of a huge range of exclusive Ramsay audio quotes makes Hell’s Kitchen one of the best licensed slots we’ve ever seen – not just in 2021. You’d be mad to miss this one, and could well find yourself seeking out the TV show after witnessing the red/blue team rivalry which is captured perfectly by this culinary delight of an online slot.