MikoApps Slot Machines
Although slots developers often claim to offer something new to players, a closer look at their games can sometimes reveal familiar features and nothing new on the style front. That’s not the case with MikoApps however.
This start-up company has a small but growing selection of slots which add elements of arcade skill games and social gaming to each title. The impressive graphics and 3D animations also help to turn MikoApps slots into games that will have a broad appeal.
You can probably tell from the name that MikoApps slot machines have been designed for playing on mobile devices. In fact, the company website promotes the games as ‘’HTML5 dreams’’, referring to the coding protocol that’s used to develop each slot, which works beautifully across desktop and mobile platforms.
MikoApps launched in 2016 by video game enthusiasts Amir Hershowitz and Michael Katz. Based in Raanana, Israel, the company has assembled a small team of highly talented artists, designers, and software specialists. The business has slowly but surely seen more and more casinos, as well as gaming platforms such as Quickfire and Playzido, take an increasing interest in their games.
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MikoApps has developed its own 3D graphics engine to power the slots. By using bespoke software, the company has ensured that the games work perfectly well across multiple devices. While several games developers use 3D graphics, notably in BetSoft slots, MikoApps have taken the concept further.
Games are ‘hosted’ by animated characters whose job is to guide players through each stage. As you spin the reels, you will encounter skills-based rounds along the way, which helps to turn MikoApps slots into adventure stories, or quest games. You travel through to different destinations in each game, finding new rewards and features, while tackling a variety of challenges along the path.
The range is particularly targeted at gamblers who have grown up playing arcade and console games, and who may not want to play classic slots filled with traditional symbols such as fruit, bells, and BARs.
As we said, the range is still quite small, with just a handful of slots released to date. But rather than launching a large number of games, MikoApps is a company that’s focused on delivering the best possible slots. Perhaps the biggest game in this range is the Back to the Wild online slot. Unlock the powers of four animals to turn symbols into extra wilds, and a bonus wheel can unleash generous multipliers.
Objective: Jupiter is an excellent example of how MikoApps slot machines work. It features computer graphics that would make Pixar proud, with symbols of an astronaut, planets and high-card icons in a futuristic style landing across the five reels. Standard gameplay works in much the same way as most other slots, with three or more matching symbols landing across a payline being the most common way to win a prize.
But you won’t have to spin the reels for too long before triggering a bonus feature. Each spin gradually fills up an energy meter, and once it’s full, you are transported from Earth to Mars. On Mars, the meter starts to fill again, eventually taking you to Saturn, and finally arriving at Jupiter. You can convert energy into free spins at any stage, and when you move from one planet to the next, there’s an asteroid-catching game to play on your travels.
Coral Treasures is an undersea-themed slot machine, hosted by a mermaid. There are five reels and 25 paylines filled with fish, crabs, seahorses, and a wild octopus. New game levels are unlocked when you collect oxygen tanks, taking you through the Reef, Atlantis, Titanic, and El Dorado stages. Objects pass by on the way to each location, and you win coins by catching as many of them as you can in 30 seconds. But look out for anchors, as they shorten the round.
Other slot machines in the MikoApps range include the fairy-themed Golden Starlight and Ninja Fortune, which has a classic Asian theme. Candy Barx is a colorful three-reel game that’s presented by a smiling gingerbread man who accompanies you on a fun adventure through a chocolate factory.
Each of these slots will take you through several different layers, with mini-games to play in between stages and free games at the top levels. They also come with features such as expanding wild symbols and scatter awards, which are conventional, but popular bonuses.
MikoApps is licensed as a gambling software provider by the UK Gambling Commission. The UKGC applies some of the strictest rules and highest standards in the world, guaranteeing that a Random Number Generator determines all game results. High return-to-player percentages can also be assured, with on average, around 95% of your wagers paid back as winnings at some of the best regulated casinos online.
Although at present, just one gambling authority licenses MikoApps slots, which limits the number of countries they can supply games to, we hope this situation changes. Players from much of the world are missing out on some exciting slots, with truly unique gameplay. Those based in countries covered by the UKGC, however, will find MikoApps slots at some of the best-known casino and Bingo sites.
Because they are developed using the HTML5 software solution, MikoApps games can be integrated easily into most online and mobile casino platforms. This is a widely used programming system across the industry. HTML5 slots load quickly, and can function on Android and iOS devices, such as iPhones and iPads. They also use very little processing power and bandwidth, which is ideal for older phones, or when network connections are poor.
While many studios launch feature-filled games, with the Nolimit City slots range being a good example, MikoApps has managed to achieve something that many slots developers attempt to do and fail. Games from this company have a genuine difference from others on the market. The impressive graphics give them instant visual appeal, but it’s only when you look a little closer at how the slots work that you realize just how unusual they are.
These games engage players like few others. Unlocking new levels and having arcade-style rounds in between each, is an ingenious idea. We’re actually surprised that other slots developers haven’t copied this innovation.
It’s unusual for a new games developer to come up with a fresh concept, and we congratulate MikoApps for bringing something new to online and mobile optimized casinos. Let’s hope that these games are soon made available to a much wider audience around the world.
