Many top game providers have given us some impressive slot titles, some that will even go down in history as some of the best casino games of our time.
Under the circumstances, we feel that it is more than appropriate to dedicate an entire article to new pokies in New Zealand!
We’ll also share with you the best online casinos to join in NZ and tips on how to recognize the best new slots to play.
So, let’s get it started!
Top 10 Latest Slots in New Zealand 2021
To starts this article off, let’s begin with the top 10 new pokies in NZ that left quite an impression during 2021 and are viewed by most Kiwi players as the best online pokies to launch recently.
1. Starburst XXXtreme (Netent)
| Release Date: 15.07.2021 | Paylines: 9 |
| Min Bet: NZ$0.10 | RTP: 96.26% |
| Max Bet: NZ$50.00 | Max Win: NZ$10,000,000 |
Starburst XXXtreme is the long-awaited sequel to NetEnt’s iconic Starburst game.
Similar to the original, Starburst XXXtreme’s theme transports players to outer space in search of riches concealed behind gleaming space diamonds.
With this new edition, players will notice new features like increased volatility and greater functionality.
On the reels, there are coloured diamonds, BARs, and scarlet 7s, as well as multi-coloured star wild symbols. These provide respins as well as random multipliers of up to 150x.
When you combine the maximum number of wilds with multipliers, you can win a whopping 200,000x your stake in this game. If you’re betting the maximum, that equals a massive $10,000,000!
2. Fire in the Hole (Nolimit City)
| Release Date: 02.03.2021 | Paylines: 20 |
| Min Bet: NZ$0.20 | RTP: 96.06% |
| Max Bet: NZ$50 | Max Win: 60,000x |
Over the last few years, Nolimit City has taken a simplistic theme and created games with an unscripted twist, creating fun and innovative pokies.
Fire in the Hole falls right into this category with its mining theme unique features.
At the heart of the game is the new feature XBomb, however you can also set off other features like Lucky Wagon Spins, Collapsing Mines, and Wild Mining symbols. There’s even a feature buy option.
The best part of this new online slot is the maximum winning potential of 60,000x your stake!
3. The Green Knight (Play’n GO)
| Release Date: 04.03.2021 | Paylines: 20 |
| Min Bet: NZ$0.10 | RTP: 96.27% |
| Max Bet: NZ$100.00 | Max Win: NZ$1,000,000 |
Return to the days of King Arthur with Play’n GO and The Green Knight new online pokie.
Beautifully detailed pictures of shields, axes, a wild-looking horse, a courageous knight, and rune stones, show on the 5 reels of this 20-line online slot.
The action takes place against a backdrop of woodland and a ruined castle. Each sign has detailed images, and the epic story of knights, damsels in distress, and weapons is accompanied by an appropriately dramatic soundtrack.
With the ghostly horse and knight shining with green magic, there’s a mystical element here.
4. Basketball Star on Fire (Microgaming)
| Release Date: 11.03.2021 | Paylines: 25 |
| Min Bet: NZ$0.25 | RTP: 96.12% |
| Max Bet: NZ$100.00 | Max Win: NZ$250,000 |
Basketball Star on Fire is a 5-reel, 25-line new slot online by Microgaming with high volatility and a 96.12% average payback rate.
It incorporates all of the design elements that made the original Basketball Star so popular while also introducing exciting new components such as a respins bonus round, free games with totally wild reels, and jackpots.
You can win up to 2,500 times your deposit if you play at the maximum stakes!
5. Bompers (ELK Studios)
| Release Date: 02.03.2021 | Paylines: 4-8 |
| Min Bet: NZ$0.20 | RTP: 95.80% |
| Max Bet: NZ$100.00 | Max Win: NZ$500,000 |
If you enjoy games with clever features and exciting gameplay, be sure to check out ELK Studios’ Bompers online pokie.
This 6-reel game has conventional fruit symbols that vanish after winning, activating extra rows and potentially leading to numerous prize-winning combinations.
You’ll see right away that this isn’t your typical new slot.
The Bompers slot machine features cherries, watermelons, red 7s, and other classic symbols in circular symbols that interlock on a massive 6×8 grid.
6. Temujin Treasures (Pragmatic Play)
| Release Date: 18.03.2021 | Paylines: 1,024 |
| Min Bet: NZ$0.38 | RTP: 96.55% |
| Max Bet: NZ$190.00 | Max Win: NZ$1,765,480 |
Pragmatic’s Temujin Treasures is a Genghis Khan-themed pokies game with a classic Asian style. Players can enjoy lucky coins, vases, and jade statues on the five reels.
The top awards are awarded by a smiling Temujin, while the numerous bonus symbols activate some intriguing extra features.
Symbols can change into extra wilds to create winning combinations, and a wheel of fortune can provide free games or jackpots worth up to 9,292x your bet.
At the highest stake, that is worth $1,765,480. Temujin Treasures is a very volatile game with a 96.55% average return to the player.
7. Solar Wild (Microgaming)
| Release Date: 17.03.2021 | Paylines: 10 |
| Min Bet: NZ$0.10 | RTP: 96.27% |
| Max Bet: NZ$100.00 | Max Win: NZ$100,000 |
Get ready to embark on an interstellar adventure when you play the Solar Wilds pokie from Microgaming!
This new online slot has five reels and three rows full of colourful planets, moons, and other galactic planets. There is also a valuable wild symbol essential to the primary features.
A maximum gain of 1,000x your wager is a little low compared to other new titles on this list, but not that bad.
Plus, the reasonably high average returns means this is a game you can play for longer, with less risk.
8. Wizarding Wins (Booming Games)
| Release Date: 11.03.2021 | Paylines: 25 |
| Min Bet: NZ$0.25 | RTP: 95.85% |
| Max Bet: NZ$500.00 | Max Win: NZ$500,000 |
When you play the Wizarding Wins online pokie from Booming Games, you may live out your fantasies of becoming a famous wizard.
Over the five reels, 25 pay lines, and three rows of symbols, you’ll see pointy hats, owls, broomsticks, and a red steam train.
It’s a high-volatility slot machine with a 95.85% average return to player percentage.
The Wizarding Wins pokies game allows you to win up to 1,000x your total stake, which can add up to $500,000 in a single spin thanks to an extensive wager range.
9. Land of Zenith (Push Gaming)
| Release Date: 11.03.2021 | Paylines: 30 |
| Min Bet: NZ$0.10 | RTP: 96.29% |
| Max Bet: NZ$100.00 | Max Win: NZ$2,100,000 |
The Land of Zenith online pokie is a Steampunk-inspired slot with a bizarre flying machine crew and diamonds shaped like planets and stars.
This new pokie game has six reels, four rows of symbols, and thirty pay lines, as well as a bronze mechanism to the side that revolves to reveal some exciting extras.
Mystery symbol transformations can occur at any time, and there is an excellent Hypermode free spins round in which the reels speed up whenever wild symbols emerge.
You can add more free games with no upper limit, which will help you reach the massive 21,000x maximum prize.
10. House of Doom 2: The Crypt (Push Gaming)
| Release Date: 11.03.2021 | Paylines: 20 |
| Min Bet: NZ$0.01 | RTP: 96.25% |
| Max Bet: NZ$100.00 | Max Win: NZ$600,000 |
Play’n GO returns to the horror genre in House of Doom 2: The Crypt. It builds on the massive success of the original House of Doom slot by featuring updated graphics and new features.
Stacking wilds, respins with wild modifiers, free games, and Crypt Spins are all included in the House of Doom 2: The Crypt pokies game, which also adds new wild symbols.
On Play’n GO, this game has a 96.25% average return to player % and a 7/10 volatility rating.
If you play this spooky game at the maximum stakes, you have a chance to win 6,000x your initial bet, or $600,000!
Did you know
All online pokies you’ll find at licensed online casinos have been tested and certified by third-party auditors like eCogra.
Upcoming Pokies Launching in New Zealand
Below is a list of some upcoming online slots that are expected to launch in New Zealand before 2022.
Make sure to mark the below dates on your calendars and check back regularly to see which new releases are added to the list!
- Treasure Wild (Pragmatic Play): 30/09/2021
- Mice N Easy (Microgaming): 30/09/2021
- Piggy Bank Bills (Pragmatic Play): 07/10/2021
New Slots vs Popular! Which do you choose?
| New Slots | Popular Slots | |
|---|---|---|
| Pros | 1. Attractive bonuses are often used to encourage new players to play. 2. More fun to play a new game. 3. Improvements in security technology enhances player safety. 4. Crisp, fresh themes are often seen. | 1. Easy to find lots of reviews and player feedback. 2. The game must be doing good to remain popular in such a competitive market. |
| Cons | 1. You may be uncertain how reliable it is. | 1. The mobile version might not be cutting edge. 2. It could be slow to respond. |
How to choose your new slot
With so many new online slots launching over the course of a year, players might find it hard to choose which ones to spend their money on. No worries!
To help you choose wisely, we have put together the below checklist of things to look for before you hit that spin button.
1. Look for High RTP
The Return To Player percentage is an important factor to keep in mind as it determines how much you will make back in the long term.
It is always advisable to favour pokies that come with an RTP of 95% or higher.
2. Volatility
Slots are released with a variety of variances, so it is always good practice to keep in mind your risk appetite.
If you’re a player on a budget, you might want to stick to low or medium volatility slots, as these are known to deliver frequent, small rewards.
On the other hand, if you love the chase of a big win, then there is a wonderful choice of high volatility pokies that will have you perched on the edge of your seat!
3. Hit Frequency
It is safe to say that we play to win, so it makes sense to check the hit frequency of a game. This is calculated in percentage and will tell you how often you should expect to hit a win.
Choosing slots with the highest hit frequency will ensure that you are always playing the best payout pokies!
4. Features
It really comes down to preference, however, choosing a game with special features like bonus rounds is a great advantage.
Why?
Usually, these features allocate a good number of free spins that might come with multipliers, special wilds, expanding symbols and even pick and click mini-games that hand out some great rewards.
Did you know?
According to a 2014 estimate, pokie machines accounted for 60% of gambling revenue in Australia.
New Slot Trends, Bonuses and Features in 2022
As providers continue to release new online slots, players will notice new features they maybe haven’t seen before in a game. That’s what we’ll take a look at in these next few points.
Bonus buy feature
Now, some online pokies have been designed to allow a bonus buy feature. Basically, players in New Zealand can pay a set amount in the slot game to bypass and go directly to the bonus round.
This is an exciting new feature that can lead to some huge rewards in the end!
Megaways slots
By now, most experienced NZ pokie players are familiar with Megaways. These new types of slot games launched by Big Time Gaming offer players 1,000+ ways to win on a single spin.
Just in the last year, they have become extremely popular across the world in iGaming.
It would be difficult to go to an online casino in NZ and not find a variety of Megaways pokies.
What we like most about the recently launched slots
As the industry continues to get more competitive, game providers will need to keep up by releasing new slots with new features players haven’t seen before.
This is what we love most about new online pokies – you never know what new feature might debut!
To stay up to date on the latest online slots launching in New Zealand, make sure to check back here regularly!