It’s been difficult for Star Wars lovers and fans of slot gaming to find a route into the Galactic Republic. Licensing issues have long plagued the franchise in the world of iGaming, even if the Star Wars Trilogy version continues to thrive within land-based resorts. Nevertheless, there are plenty of sci-fi alternatives for those keen to get their space age fix on the reels.
There are several other sci-fi-themed slot titles out there, many of which have taken inspiration from the Star Wars franchise through the years. Below, we’ll explore our favorite options for those seeking out-of-this-world slot experiences and intergalactic immersion.
Machina Megaways
There aren’t many better futuristic slot titles than Machina Megaways. Fusing space age vibes with Asian culture, Machina Megaways looks like a mix between I, Robot, and Star Wars. Powered by the Megaways game engine, this also means there’s a great chance of landing a victory, with up to 46,656 ways to be victorious during any base game spin.
There are five protagonist characters on the base game symbols, including a Cyborg and four humans. The Cyborg, a fascinating part-machine part-human phenomenon, is the most valuable base game symbol. There’s also a free spins feature where it’s possible to unlock up to 18 free games.
Starburst
Star Wars and Starburst are similar in that they were trend-setters in their respective niches. Star Wars paved the way for sci-fi entertainment, while Starburst led the way for cosmic, space-age slot themes. In fact, Starburst is one of the longest-standing slot titles in the iGaming scene today. Many casinos still list the game in their slot libraries and some even use it as part of their welcome bonuses more than a decade after its release, which is a testament to its durability.
The Starburst slot doesn’t even have any redeeming bonus features, apart from the Starburst wild. It’s more about the experience here, with a dramatic soundtrack setting the tone for an all-out cosmic battle on the reels.
Battlestar Galactica
The very mention of Battlestar Galactica is quite a controversial one. After all, this television series was sued by Fox and Lucasfilm for perceived plagiarism following the success of the 1977 Star Wars movie. Star Wars created a new demand for sci-fi entertainment. A demand that producers didn’t even realize existed.
The legal battle between the two franchises was eventually settled out of court after a protracted five-year battle. Nevertheless, Battlestar Galactica continued to flourish, returning in the early 2000s after 23-year hiatus. The Battlestar Galactica slot game is powered by Microgaming and comes crammed with features. It can also be played in three separate game modes – normal, run or fight mode. Each brings its own unique slot experience.
Stars Invaders
This slot is inspired by the threat of hostile aliens invading. Stars Invaders is a cosmic three-reel slot, set within an eerie outer space backdrop.
There is an old-school slot feel to this game too, given that there’s just five active paylines on the grid. Think vintage one-armed bandit meets extraterrestrial beings. This interstellar slot was designed for use at PokerStars Casino, with the game listed within the PokerStars Originals slot category. There’s even a rolling progressive jackpot attached for good measure.
Space Wars 2: PowerPoints
NetEnt is one of the big players in iGaming software development. They put their name to Starburst, as well as Space Wars 2: PowerPoints. This is another futuristic slot which is powered by a cluster pays game engine, with no conventional paylines included. Played on a 6×6 reel grid, this slot is centred around the PowerPoints feature. After every winning symbol cluster, PowerPoints are added to the meter, increasing future win multipliers.
There’s all kinds of aliens and extraterrestrial beings to discover on the reels of this slot. Although they’re more light-hearted, animated space friends than the immersive, authentic kind we find in Star Wars.
Hopefully this quintet of sci-fi slots scratch that Star Wars itch ahead of the planned rerelease of Dark Forces next year. As iGaming technologies continue to evolve, we can only look forward to the immersivity that’s in-store from future sci-fi slot themes.