Focus On: Pragmatic Play
Pragmatic Play openly declares its intention “to be the world’s favourite game developer”. So in the first of our new ‘Focus On’ series of profile articles, we take a closer look at this innovative developer.
It’s time to give them their moment in our spotlight!
Exciting, iconic...
Just about every slots fan has played a Pragmatic Play game at some point. This prolific titan of the industry has been behind some of the most popular, exciting and iconic games out there, including Big Bass Splash, Cash Patrol and John Hunter and the Book of Tut.
In 2019, Pragmatic Play won ‘Best Gaming Company of the Year’ and ‘Best Game Vendor’ at the Malta iGaming Excellence Awards and the Malta Gaming Awards, respectively. These awards paved the way for many more high-profile wins in subsequent years.
Central tenets of the company include a persistent commitment to great quality work, respect for operators and players, and taking responsibility for their products.
Despite being a relatively young developer, Pragmatic Play has worked hard to cement its position as a top provider of games to some of the biggest and best slot sites. Today, the company holds numerous licences and its games are played widely around the world.
Early days
Pragmatic Play launched in 2015 and a few early nods from the EGR Awards clearly indicated they were heading in the right direction.
In 2016, the IBID Group acquired Pragmatic Play – their intention being to develop them into a “leading B2B digital gaming provider through strategic partnerships with first class licensed-content providers”. A bright and exciting future beckoned.
Developer highlights
There’s a lot to like about Pragmatic Play and after several years in the industry, they have created many noteworthy moments worthy of a place on the highlights reel. Here are some of our favourites...
Drops & Wins
Some of Pragmatic Play’s most popular titles feature the Drops & Wins promotion, which was launched in 2020 and has since been awarded many prizes. Many casinos now sport dedicated Drops & Wins categories/tabs, highlighting the massive, international popularity of this network promotion. For 2023-24, the prize pool was even doubled by Pragmatic Play, bringing its value up to €30,000,000 - the largest of its kind.
Awards
Despite technically only having been around since 2015, Pragmatic Play has racked up an impressive collection of awards. And it continues to add to that tally. Wins include both the Online Casino Supplier of the Year award and the Product Launch of the Year award at the 2024 Global Gaming Awards EMEA. Pragmatic also won big at the EGR B2B Awards 2023, taking home the coveted gold prize in the Best Casino Software Provider category.
In-game mechanics
One of Pragmatic’s key areas of expertise is the development of creative in-game mechanics, which help to keep its games fresh and distinct. The Hold & Spin mechanic, for example, triggers respins with the potential to reset multiple times.
Pragmatic’s Powernudge feature, which is triggered by winning combinations, automatically nudges reels containing a winning symbol by one position, giving the player the chance to bag a second win.
Pragmatic Play is no stranger to other feature and mechanic-related trends either, producing various Megaways titles and contributing Big Bass Crash to the increasingly popular world of crash gaming.
Success after success
Pragmatic Play has enjoyed massive success in creating multiple series of slot games and providing fans of these with a steady stream of new instalments. Examples include the Big Bass games and the John Hunter franchise. There’s no denying the popularity of these games, which is why Pragmatic keeps making more of them! Why fix what’s not broken? Their consistent success is testament to Pragmatic’s talent.
Beyond slots
In addition to slots, Pragmatic Play wins awards for their work in producing live casino games, bingo, sports betting and more. Versatility is clearly a key Pragmatic strength and the company's presence can be felt across many different areas of countless slot sites.
Landmark games
Pragmatic Play’s library contains no shortage of landmark titles, but here are some of the most significant and influential games they’re responsible for:
Big Bass Bonanza
As part of one of the most recognisable slot franchises of all time, and a glittering jewel in Pragmatic’s crown, Big Bass Bonanza helped pave the way for the many popular fishing games around today. This is a five-reel, ten-payline slot with medium-high volatility and a fairly high RTP.
Big Bass Bonanza is really all about the bonus features. Free spins – unlocked by hitting scatter symbols – will launch you into a bonus round and give you access to multipliers. Overall, Big Bass Bonanza is a straightforward flagship title for those who appreciate simplicity in their gameplay, and it’s the perfect place to start for newcomers to Pragmatic Play.
- Name:
- Big Bass Bonanza
- Developer:
- Pragmatic Play
- RTP:
- 96.71%
- Max payout:
- 2,100x stake
- Volatility:
- Medium-High
- Reels:
- 5
- Win lines:
- 10
- Theme:
- Fishing
- Release date:
- 3rd Dec 2020
Wolf Gold
Slot designs progress quickly, but Wolf Gold still looks excellent, despite having been around a few years. The gripping bonus round comes in two forms, free spins and money respins, both of which have the potential to set the player on the path to a big win. Hitting six or more money symbols unlocks the dramatic respin feature, and it’s through this that players can access the Mega Jackpot.
Thanks to its atmospheric visuals and score, as well as its excellent bonus round, Wolf Gold has stood the test of time and remains a prime example of how a well-made slot with attention to detail and design can have a long life.
- Name:
- Wolf Gold
- Developer:
- Pragmatic Play
- RTP:
- 96.01%
- Max payout:
- 2,500x stake
- Volatility:
- Medium
- Reels:
- 5
- Win lines:
- 25
- Theme:
- Animal
- Release date:
- 10th Apr 2017
Sweet Bonanza
Don’t be fooled by the sweet, colourful and cuddly aesthetic of Sweet Bonanza; it actually offers some intense and volatile gameplay! There’s a generous 21,175x max win up for grabs and some fun mechanics too. Players can expect free spins, wilds and multipliers, as well as a cascading tumble feature.
Sweet Bonanza’s success can be attributed to its bonus features, easy-on-the-eyes design, and the decent multipliers which make big wins possible. It marks another big success for Pragmatic Play, spawning yet another winning franchise. Those without a sweet tooth shouldn’t be dissuaded, as what’s behind the façade is surprisingly substantial!
- Name:
- Sweet Bonanza
- Developer:
- Pragmatic Play
- RTP:
- 96.48%
- Max payout:
- 21,175x stake
- Volatility:
- Medium
- Reels:
- 6
- Theme:
- Food
- Release date:
- 23rd Jun 2019
Alternative games
Committed to quality, Pragmatic has worked hard, successfully managing to keep on top of changing trends whilst continuing to push boundaries. Some other noteworthy Pragmatic games include:
Aztec Powernudge
A high volatility slot with no shortage of treasure, Aztec Powernudge features Pragmatic Play’s popular Powernudge mechanic. By hitting winning combinations, players unlock this feature which nudges winning symbols down one position for the chance to bank additional wins. Also, combining Powenudge with scatter symbols can award up to 35 free spins.
There’s something deeply satisfying about a chain of wins, with one leading to another as you watch your win total increase. Pragmatic Play’s Powernudge feature delivers this brilliantly, and Aztec Powernudge is a great introduction to the mechanic.
- Name:
- Aztec Powernudge
- Developer:
- Pragmatic Play
- RTP:
- 96.46%
- Max payout:
- 5,000x stake
- Volatility:
- High
- Reels:
- 6
- Theme:
- Mexican
- Release date:
- 4th Apr 2024
Peaky Blinders
The Birmingham boys are back, in slot form! Peaky Blinders marks one of Pragmatic Play’s earliest forays into the world of branded, IP-based slots. And it’s a winner. Fans of the show will appreciate the many references to it, including characters in place of symbols.
There are four bonus features altogether, including ‘Shelby Betting Shop’ scatters, which awards random sums of cash. The ‘By order of the Peaky Blinders’ mechanic locks reels with symbols on and respins the rest. Thanks to the engaging bonuses, Peaky Blinders proved tsuch a hit with players that Pragmatic Play followed it up with a sequel, Peaky Blinders 2.
- Name:
- Peaky Blinders
- Developer:
- Pragmatic Play
- RTP:
- 95.50%
- Max payout:
- 2,022x stake
- Volatility:
- Medium-High
- Reels:
- 5
- Win lines:
- 20
- Theme:
- Crime, TV/Movie
- Release date:
- 20th Aug 2020
Sugar Rush
With its tumble features and high volatility, Sugar Rush’s gameplay reflects the thrill of an actual sugar rush. It’s also a grid slot, so it plays out fast and there’s that added element of unpredictability.
The max win is 5,000x the stake, and there are loads of other multipliers too. With each hit, winning symbols vanish, enabling those above to tumble into their place, for yet another chance to win. Sugar Rush is a straightforward game with a cute, endearing design and a decent RTP. This makes it a great option for those who value uncomplicated entertainment.
- Name:
- Sugar Rush
- Developer:
- Pragmatic Play
- RTP:
- 96.50%
- Max payout:
- 5,000x stake
- Volatility:
- High
- Reels:
- 7
- Theme:
- Food
- Release date:
- 30th Jun 2022
'Out there' or WTF titles
Pragmatic’s games have a broad mainstream appeal, but that doesn’t mean they’re not adventurous. A number of more ‘out there’ titles have been released under the Pragmatic Play banner. These include Down the Rails, a quirky celebration of iconic Brits; and Gravity Bonanza, a kaleidoscope of cosmic weirdness.
Where to play
Pragmatic Play’s games can be found on most sites. In fact, you’ll probably struggle to find a casino that doesn’t host a Pragmatic title or two! Some of the best sites where you can play these games include:
Summary
Pragmatic Play is a big talker – one which it ultimately delivers on its promises. After a checkered start, it has grown into a force to be reckoned with. There are few developers who can claim to have had such great success across game series, network promotions and innovative in-game mechanisms. And that's on top of their immense and growing popularity.
Pragmatic Play is fully deserving of its status as an industry leader, and “the world’s favourite game developer” tag is one that's hard to dispute.