There is no denying that video pokies are the most popular online casino attractions. Game Providers have shown no signs of slowing down on the creative nature of pokies. The themes, graphics, music and animations are constantly refined, resulting in much slicker pokie games.
Mobile pokies in New Zealand are a great favourite at online casinos. Players can find the best online pokies games at SkyCity Online Casino, where online pokies are the most popular casino games, followed by progressive jackpot games.
Without a doubt, online pokies are attractive to both beginners and high roller players. Whether you are an avid pokies lover or new to these games, we have got you covered.
After much discussion and deliberation, we are going to present the top eight pokies in New Zealand released so far in 2021! The list is not shown in any particular order but rather full of your favourite games.
Are you ready to play pokies? Let us get started with the best online pokies list.
Juicy Fruits
We are kicking off this list with one of the juiciest games released this year, Juicy Fruits by Pragmatic Play.
Juicy Fruits is a very straightforward game set on a five-reel, five-row grid and comes with 50 pay lines. It also comes with the Scatter Symbols, Wild Cards, Free Spins Feature and some juicy wins.
The game design and the background music give it a fresh and summer vibe. The overall theme and presentation of it make this a fun pokies game.
Juicy Fruits comes with colourful fruit having different paying values. The lower paying symbols consist of lime, cherry, lemon and orange. The medium paying symbols are peach, bell, strawberry and kiwi. If you want to hit big, look out for the higher paying symbols: raspberries, watermelon, and lucky 7. Get five Lucky 7 symbols, and you will be awarded 24x your bet!
The crown symbol is the Wild in Juicy Fruits. Landing three or more Scatters will trigger the Progressive Free Spins, which awards you six Free Spins. A 1×1 Wild Card is also placed on the reels that will remain throughout this feature, creating new winning combinations. Get ready for mouth-watering wins if the Wild Card grows up to 5×5 in size.
Juicy Fruits also offers the Ante Bet, and you can double your chances of taking part in the Free Spins Feature.
Apart from being an entertaining online pokies game, Juicy Fruits can deliver some juicy wins of up to 5,000x your total stake. Watch out as it is a high volatility game and comes with an RTP of 96.51%.
The Amazing Money Machine
We are moving on to a completely different theme, this time The Amazing Money Machine by Pragmatic Play.
Set on a dynamic reel format, this pokies game comes with great game features, including the Money Respins Feature and the Jackpot Feature.
The theme here can be said to be of the steampunk era. The imagery, symbols, music and overall animation, is perfectly executed to take you back to the 19th century.
Of all the symbols in this pokies game, look out for the female engineer, the highest paying symbol. Whilst the blue heart is the Wild Symbol in this pokies game. The wild substitutes for all the standard symbols and also offers payouts of up to 50x your total stake when landing a combination of five.
On the left-hand side of the screen, you can see a virtual machine with coins stacked inside. During the game, the machine can throw random symbols on the reels. This is the Amazing Money Machine Feature.
The Amazing Money Machine comes with four money symbols.
These being:
- The Money Symbol: which comes with a money value;
- The Mystery Money Symbol: which reveals a random money value at the end of the respin;
- The Wild Money Symbol: which also reveals a random money value at the end of the respin, whilst also acting as a Wild;
- The Jackpot Money Symbol: which awards one point towards winning the jackpot bonus game and also includes a random money value.
The four symbols mentioned above can be thrown during a base game or a respin game in The Amazing Money Machine Feature.
Landing five, or more, of the above-mentioned money symbols will trigger the Money ReSpins Round.
The Money ReSpins Round is played on any of the three grid layouts available (3×5, 4×5 or 5×5). The number of respins awarded is dependent on the number of money symbols which landed on the screen in the triggering stage. Hitting three Jackpot symbols will trigger the Jackpot Bonus Feature.
When triggering the Jackpot Bonus Feature, the maximum win goes up to 5,100x your stake. RTP stands at a 96.42% chance of winning. This pokies game is set as a high variance; hence proceed with caution.
Are you ready to get the engine running?
Fire Joker Freeze
The next up in our best pokies list is Fire Joker Freeze by Play’n Go.
This game is set up on a three-reel, three-row grid and comes with five fixed pay lines. Do not be deceived by the grid set-up, as this game comes packed with great symbols and game features!
Both the Fire Joker and the Ice Joker are Wild Symbols, and they are ready to substitute for all other symbols. When landing a line of three, a fiery payout can be expected.
Let’s dive straight into the three fantastic features that make up this pokies game.
First up is the Re-Spin of Ice Feature, which is triggered when you land an ice joker symbol. This can land anywhere on the reels and not necessarily form a winning combination. The Ice Joker will expand to fill the reel until it locks into position. You will then have the opportunity to create a winning combination on the remaining two reels.
Secondly, the Re-Spin of Fire Feature. This is triggered by landing two stacks of the same symbol. Again, these do not necessarily need to be in the form of a winning combination. The stacked symbols will be looked into place until you land a matching symbol or a Wild. But things will get even hotter if you manage to will all the positions with the same symbols. This will trigger the next game feature!
Drum roll, please!
The Wheel of Fire and Ice Feature!
As explained above, this is triggered when all reel positions are filled with the same symbol. This triggers four wheels with different Multipliers.
You will start by spinning the innermost reel, except the Ice Jokers forming part of the combination. With one stacked Ice Joker on the triggering spin, you’ll start on level 2 of the Wheel of Fire and Ice. When you have two or three Ice Jokers, you’ll begin on wheel three or four.
The Wheel itself is made up of snowflakes and multipliers. If the pointer falls on the snowflake, you’ll advance to the next wheel. Land on a multiplier, and that multiplier is applied to win from the triggering spin. The multipliers rise in value with each wheel:
| Wheel 1 Multipliers | 2x, 3x, 4x and Snowflake symbols |
| Wheel 2 Multipliers | 3x, 4x, 5x and Snowflake symbols |
| Wheel 3 Multipliers | 4x, 5x, 6x and Snowflake symbols |
| Wheel 4 Multipliers | 6x, 10x and 20x |
Adventures of Doubloon Island
Our next best online pokies game on the list comes with a completely different theme to the previously mentioned games. This is none other than Adventures of Doubloon Island by Microgaming.
A pirate-themed pokies game set on five reels and three rows. This game comes with 20 pay lines, and the winning combinations are formed in rows of three or more matching symbols. RTP stands at 96.02%.
The symbols included within this game are purple heart, diamond, club, spade, cutlasses, a parrot, the pirate and the ship’s captain. Watch out for the captain, as he is the highest paying symbol of them all.
The Wild in Adventures of Doubloon Island is a female pirate holding a pistol. In a winning combination, she replaced all the standard symbols. Landing three, four or five wilds deliver a payout of 2x, 10x or 50x your stake!
The Scatter is the overflowing treasure chest.
This pokies game comes with two great game features: the Free Spins Feature and the HyperHold feature.
Let us start with the Free Spins Feature. This is triggered when landing three, four or five scatter symbols anywhere on the reels. You will be awarded 2x, 15x or 100x your total stake, respectively. That is not all; as the name implies, you will also be triggering the Free Spins Feature.
Depending on the number of Scatters, you will be awarded Free Spins as per the table below:
| Landing Three Scatters | 10 Free Spins |
| Landing Four Scatters | 15 Free spins |
| Landing Five Scatters | 20 Free Spins |
The HyperHold Feature
The next feature is the HyperHold Feature. Look out for the gold coin and the skull as they are the HyperHold symbols. This feature is triggered by landing six or gold coins or skulls. The triggering symbols are held on the reels. You are awarded three respins.
The coins that land on the reels come with a cash value attached. You will be awarded the overall prize at the end of the respins round.
The skull symbols can award you one of the four Jackpots!
Get ready to fire up these freezing reels!
Fishing Reels
Are you ready to deep dive for our next pokies game? It is Fishin’ Reels by Pragmatic Play!
The name naturally gives away the theme of this fun game; it is all about fishing. The game is set in the ocean, with colourful symbols and joyful background music to set you up.
An upfront warning, Fishin’ Reels is a high volatility game and comes with an RTP of 96.50%.
The reels are filled with several colourful symbols, from snorkels to frogs and lobsters. Look out for the goldfish, which is the highest paying symbol of them all. You might need to wait a bit before you get to the fun part of this game.
Fishin’ Reels comes with two great game features. This is where the fun begins! Both these game features are triggered by landing golden symbols, resulting in Free Spins.
| 3 Bonus Symbols | 10 Free Spins |
| 4 Bonus Symbols | 12 Free Spins |
| 5 Bonus Symbols | 15 Free Spins |
Before firing up the Free Spins, you have to choose between Reel It In or the Big Catch game features. The Free Spins will then start to spin out automatically.
Reel It In
This game feature is all about the fisherman symbol. Landing symbols might have a coin value on top of them. If you land the fisherman on the fifth reel, you will bag the money appearing on the symbols. You also have the possibility to earn additional Free Spins! These are added to your current number of Free Spins.
Big Catch
This game feature plays about a bit differently. During the round of Free Spins, you will get the chance of seeing the Big Catch symbol. It can hit randomly as an overlay on top of other symbols. Hitting three or more will result in a mini bonus game. You will also be awarded an additional two Free Spins.
The mini bonus game will take you to a different screenplay. You have eight fish symbols on the screen, each with its own cash value attached to it. The fisherman will reel in one fish, and its value is added to the meter at the right of the reels. The fish is removed from selection for your next round.
At the end of your Free Spins round, you will be awarded the value caught by the fisherman.
Are you ready for the underwater world?
Dragon’s Luck Deluxe
We are moving onto an Asian adventure in the next best online pokies game of Dragon’s Luck Deluxe by Red Tiger.
Dragon’s Luck Deluxe comprises a five reel and four-row grid. It comes with 20 fixed pay lines. The game grid is set in a pagoda, and the design, along with the background music, do a great job in transporting you to ancient China. The game screen comes with two coiled dragons, one on either grid side. Read on to see that they actually have a function within the game and not only a great design.
Once again, this is a fiery game with high volatility. In these kinds of games, it would be ideal to start wagering with smaller bets to get to understand the game better. It is also a way to experience as many game features as possible.
RTP stands at 95.77%, and the maximum win stands at 3,999x your total stake. But the best part about this pokies game is actually the Dragon Coin. Let us understand this better.
The Dragon Coin
This lands randomly on the reels, and once it lands, it flips and reveals symbols for potential winnings. Revealing matching symbols can also potentially trigger a round of Free Spins.
The fire-breathing beast can also come alive and breathe fire onto the mystery coin. This will again flip to upgrade the chosen symbol for bigger wins or reveal a Free Spins Symbol.
The mystery coin can also trigger the Free Spins Feature. Each coin can reward one Free Spin.
To make things even better, we get the Mega Coin Feature. A 3×3 Dragon Coin can potentially land on the reels with every spin. Just like a smaller Dragon Coin, this flips to reveal a symbol. But, it is safer to say that when this feature is put into play, you will be awarded a more significant potential of a win.
Will you be visiting the mystical orient and face the fire-breathing dragon?
Gates of Olympus
The ancient Greek Gods are up next in this online pokie game. It is none other than Gates of Olympus by Pragmatic Play.
A bit of a different grid to the pokies games mentioned above. Gates of Olympus is made up of a six-reel and five-row grid with Zeus standing proudly as the side ready to strike at any moment.
This game comes with 20 pay lines and the fantastic Tumbling Feature. Any winning combinations formed will come tumbling down, making way for more winning combinations through the same spin. This has to be our favourite feature of this game.
We are moving on to the Multiplier Symbols. These can appear on any of the reels and contain a random value. The present value is applied to the total value. In case of more than a single multiplier on the reel, these are added together and then applied.
Landing the Scatter symbol also comes with its own rewards. Landing four, five or six scatter symbols award 3x, 5x or 10x your bet, respectively. You will also be awarded 15 Free Spins.
Gates of Olympus comes with the Ante Bet. When choosing to proceed with the Ante Bet, the stake cost increases by 25%. This adds extra scatters and also increases ou chance of triggering Free Spins.
This game is attractive to both beginner and more experienced players. Wagering starts at as little as $0.20 and goes as high as $125.00 per spin. When it comes to possible payouts, Gates of Olympus is a high VOLATILITY pokies game with the maximum payout being 5,000x your stake per spin. RTP stands at 96.50%, which is considered to be on the high side.
Are you ready to knock on the Gates of Olympus?
Dazzle Me Megaways
Excitement goes through the roof in our next best pokies game! Rediscover an all-time classic in Dazzle Me Megaways by NetEnt.
This pokies game is played using six reels and the Megaways mechanic. Since it has a dynamic format, the symbols landing on the reels are randomly chosen in each spin, which can be between two to nine symbols. Hence, bringing the total number of ways to win up to 99,225!
The Avalanche Feature is active in this pokies game. It surely needs no introduction, but as a small reminder, they are removed and replaced with new symbols whenever winning combinations form on the reels. This allows new winning combinations to be created through the same spin and boosts the excitement.
The Wild Symbol creates even more winning combinations. It does this by substituting for all other symbols except for the scatter.
The Dazzling Wild Reels feature
This brings us to the next great feature in Dazzle Me Megaways, the Dazzling Wild Reels feature. This can trigger at any point during the base game. It randomly fills the reels with wild symbols. Up to three reels can turn into the Wild symbol, except for reel one. This enables even more dazzling wins!
This game is appealing to a wide range of players. You can place a bet from as little as $0.10 and go up to a maximum of $50 per spin. Dazzle Me Megaways comes with medium to high volatility regarding possible payouts. The maximum payout here is 50,000x your stake per spin. Whilst RTP stands at 96.1%.
Dazzle Me Megaways is a fun pokies game to play with the potential to land some great wins! To learn more about the Megaways features, you can head to our blog post, where we go through the features in further detail.
A world of dazzling gems awaits in Dazzle Me Megaways! Will you be trying it out?
Our Last Thoughts
Oh, what a journey going through the best online pokies!
Going through eight different online pokies games, with different themes and gameplay. We hope that you actually made it this far, but here are our final overall comments.
As can be attested, the majority of the online pokies mentioned here are of a high volatility nature. Therefore it is sensible to understand what this means and to also proceed with caution when you play online pokies.
On a different note, the above online pokies are both fun and entertaining, hence be sure to set your wagering limits before starting. This helps you to stay in control of your limits and not get in the habit of betting money that you cannot afford to risk.
We also recommend that you take a look at our Responsible Gaming section to set limits for yourself beforehand and play responsibly.
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About SkyCity Online Casino
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