Wizard Games Software Review

Wizard Games started as an independent studio under Pariplay, itself a subsidiary of NeoGames. In a rather short period of time they have come up with a rather massive set of slots, closing in on several hundred individual titles. Still, the company itself has remained relatively unknown.

However, with such a strong portfolio it’s only a matter of time until this gaming studio makes it to the front row of developers. Already the games are available in hundreds of online casinos. This is further enhanced by the fact that the company is licensed in quite a few different jurisdictions.

For slot gamers, this collection presents a treasure trove of classic slots mixed with modern influences, as well as a cadre of games that take influence from contemporary titles. There are also scratch cards and other niche games to try out.

Let’s have a closer look at the history, the games, and other specifics of Wizard Games.

The Story So Far

As mentioned, Wizard Games began as a studio under PariPlay, a massive content aggregator itself. They inherited much of the selection, which at the time was made up of classic slots, and then continued to develop it in a more modern fashion. The company today has a pretty steady release schedule, often releasing one or two new slots every month.

After launching in 2021 the company concentrated on creating new games and building up their team. From the early hires, it’s quite obvious that growth was on the agenda. This was further proved by the fact that the studio wasn’t just set on one platform, as they signed up on Soft2Bet platform in 2022, and during the same year expanded into Italy by signing a deal with NetBet.

Expansions reached Canada when the company entered the Ontario markets in April of 2022. Within months the company expanded into the rest of the North American casino markets, whilst at the same time releasing their first Megaways games. The latest change in ownership wasn’t so much on the studio itself, rather the parent company of both PariPlay and Wizard Games, NeoGames, was acquired by Aristocrat Gaming. What this means in effect is that these games are likely to feature all around the world, in Canadian and foreign online casinos alike.

Online Slots

The count of games available keeps on growing, and one thing stays constant: the vast majority of games provided are online slots. That is why they are going to receive most of our attention when it comes to judging the quality of products and entertainment provided.

The original lineup of games was built on the foundation of classic slots. Paylines, easy-to-understand paytables, and lots and lots of fruits. But such products only go so far before you run into a wall when it comes to diversity. To spice things up, the company started eyeing for setups, specials and mechanics that were more in line with the audiences’ wants today. And with the obvious benefit of allowing vastly more freedom in the way the games are setup, so as not to offer unwanted repetition.

So let’s take a look at some of the more popular slots from both groups:

• Sizzling Mystery

Despite the name, this is a very chill slot with music to go with it. Low to medium variance, some bonus spins for extra, and mystery symbols to spice up things a bit further. Still, it’s the paylines and the normal paytable that pay up to 2500 times your bet.

• Mystery Fox Christmas Party

A seasonal slot with a bit of branding for adventurous spins. Of course, Mystery Fox is brand unto itself, so feel free to check the other slots carrying the same name. Here you are served with a rather conservative set of wins, full wild reels, and several bonus spin features that you can choose from.

• Fire vs. Ice

Ice would suffice, but you can choose a firestorm of spins too. The elements are pitted against each other via 25 fixed paylines, and a chance to score 5000 times your bet. There are several different bonus symbols, and two bonus games styled after the title.

• King of the Trident

Whilst the symbols are quite classic, the gameplay itself is all but. You are served with an asymmetrical reel setup that results in 972 different ways to win. There are giant symbols that can fill part of the screen, bonus spins, and giant re-spins. Lots of underwater action!

• BloodShot

A comic followed by a movie followed by a slot. A branded game that really goes in for the action. Be prepared for a bit heavier load than usual, as you are served with animations and graphics that are top-notch. And of course random wilds, random bonus features, Bloodshot attack, and wild nanite bonus spins.

• Wolf Riches

Jackpots are part of the deal in this slot. So are bonus spins and stacked wilds, not to mention random wilds. Perhaps a bit of a trope when it comes to the theme, but that doesn’t mean this isn’t a slot to enjoy.

• Dragons of the North

Here we have a fantasy theme, one that takes most of its inspiration from above. So if you want a bit different theme, but otherwise much the same gameplay, go for this one. A rare instance of a slot where Wizard Games recycles their content.

• Parrot’s Gold

You guessed it, the only way a parrot gets its hands, err… wings, on a treasure of gold, is if it is a pirate parrot. The reels setup is slightly larger than normal, with an extra row of symbols. There are also several jackpots to choose from, and several bonus spin features.

• Mystic Manor

This slot might not feature all that high wins, which makes it perfect for fans of low variance. It’s not just the paytable that you can rely on, but several specials such as random wilds, wild swaps that move around the reels, reel nudges, bonus spins, and even mystery cards.

• Grand Pepper Party

One of the latest slots from the company, with supersized reels, a fiesta theme, and a bonus buy feature. You can spin the reels or go straight for the bonus spins. You can also boost your chances of landing specials, which come in the form of bonus spins and roaming wilds.

• Santa Bonanza

Another Christmas slot, one with a relatively classic setup, with five reels and 25 paylines, but also some surprises in the form of picking gifts for some surprise wins. Those same picks can affect the way the bonus spins play out.

• Treasures of the Count

Treasures and vampires hit the reels in this slot. Stylish graphics, enticing sound effects, and of course some magnificent fixed jackpots to make those spins truly exciting. You will also run into a special where you can collect cash prizes directly from the reels with a special symbol.

• Mammoth Mayhem

You’ll need that woolly protection to survive the icy winds of this slot. A unique reel design, much like in King of Trident, is used to create special opportunities together with giant symbols to claim wins in hundreds of different ways.

• Rumble Rhino Megaways

A special version of the Rumble Rhino slot, this one uses the Megaways system to up the gameplay to a whole new level. A total of 86 436 ways to win are laid across the reels. The max win is capped at 2000 times the bet, which makes it a rare Megaways medium variance slot.

• Spirit of Mustang

Well, if you’re active in the American markets, you must have one of these classic themes. The symbols come from the iconic Wild West, and so does the music. A special coin connect bonus game allows you to compete for several different jackpots.

• Aesir Treasures

Standard reel setup of 5×3, but this time around with 243 ways to win and up to 2000 times the bet to collect. The Nordic Pantheon comes with four unlockable bonus spin modes, on top of thunder spins!

• Tiki Magic

1024 ways to win are combined with tumbling tiles, wilds that rain on the reels, pick a prize feature, grand bonus wins via a special spin, and of course much more than this. For a slot rich in specials, check out this one.

• Madame Voodoo

Get ready for some magical action. In this slot, you can get your hands on up to 506 250 ways to win via split symbols. Up to 25 bonus spins make it even easier to go after the largest possible win of tens of thousands of times your bet.

Some Conclusions

Wizard Games trusts in time-tested slot mechanics. And whilst some of the slots are copies of each other with a different theme, these are very far and few in between. Most of the games trust in some combination of modified wilds and bonus spins. Contrary to the popular trend, the company is clearly more invested in low to medium-variance slots, often capping the wins under 5000 times the bet, although some notable exceptions to this do exist.

There are some indications of things changing, as some of the later titles have added more complex mechanics, and more emphasis on special features. Not to mention adding in prizes that are tenfold what they are in most of these online slots. It’s a matter of time and direction on how that will affect the core selection of slots.

All in all, we would suggest these games for anyone who is more interested in relaxing spins with entertaining themes, and the occasional chance of withdrawing considerable wins. If you’re looking for the biggest jackpots or a fanfare of constant special features, Wizard Games isn’t at the top of the list.

Unique Mechanics

So far the company seems to have come up with a single unique mechanic, called the Digidrop. First introduced in Teddy’s Tavern, where you only have three reels and a single payline. Rather than using symbol combinations, what falls on the reels are numbers, or scatter symbols that activate bonus spins. When the numbers land in specific configurations, you win a prize. For example Ten, Nine, and Double Zero will yield 10 999 times the bet.

You will also run into Bonus Buy, though this is by no means unique to the company. It’s something that simply allows you to skip straight to the bonus feature, usually bonus spins, of any slot.

Other Casino Games

You will find two versions of blackjack, of which one is the mandatory basic blackjack. The other is Dragons of the North blackjack, which however only improves the game by adding in the theme. Otherwise, you’ll find the house edge using perfect strategy the same as in any other similar game.

And the same applies to roulette too, with two versions each of European and American roulette. One for normal gameplay, and another for higher stakes. There are a couple of video bingo and keno games, which again deliver the standard gameplay experience.

Scratch cards number about a dozen or two. These offer no big surprises, but then they hardly ever do. It’s a solid collection nonetheless. All of the scratch cards seem to follow pretty much the same formula: scratch out three matching symbols, and win up to 10 000 times your bet. Luxor Scratch seems to be the sole exception to this, where you need to match symbols to four randomly drawn symbols. The wins go much higher, up to 50 000 times the bet.

It doesn’t seem like much activity is going on in this area, with most games developed and released between 2016 and 2019, with no further advances since then.

The Legal Side of Things

Let’s start with the important bit: Wizard Games, or its platform PariPlay, or its parent company NeoGames, is very active in the North American market. They hold licences in the USA, and more importantly in Ontario, Canada. They’ve also partnered with local companies, like Atlantic Lottery.

And then there are all the other licences: UK, Malta, Greece, Gibraltar, Romania, and many others. On top of this, testing done by BMM Testlabs and others. Really, you’d be hard-pressed to find a gaming company with more licences and better security and safety.