What do you think of when you think of Germany? Musicians like Beethoven and Bach? Philosophers like Kant and Nietzsche? Oktoberfest? Christmas markets? Beer and sausages? This is a big country with a long history, rich culture, and all sorts of fascinating traditions. It’s a fertile ground for slots, though we have to admit that beer does seem to dominate over some of the more intellectual aspects. As we explore the many games that take inspiration from Germany, let’s see just how developers have brought an entire nation to the reels. Click here to read more.
Germany Through History
Germany as it exists today is second only to Russia among the European states when it comes to the size of its population. It has a massive economy and global influence. It only became a unified country in the late 1800s though, having spent many years divided between different duchies and kingdoms, including as part of the Holy Roman Empire. Going even further back, Germanic tribes were a major enemy of the ancient Romans from the time of Augustus.
Germany-themed slots may be inspired by different aspects of German history and culture, but there are a few aspects that definitely seem to be more popular than others.
Tradition and Culture
Germany's long history has allowed for the development of many traditions, some of which have spread around the world. Among the most famous are probably its contributions to what are today considered standard features of Christmas celebrations, including Christmas trees and advent calendars. People travel hundreds or thousands of miles to visit German Christmas markets where they can drink mulled wine and eat stollen. In this way, it could be said that many Christmas-themed slots also have a German element.
Another big celebration that attracts tourists is Oktoberfest. Beer is Germany’s national drink and Oktoberfest is the biggest beer festival in the world. You’ll find similar events across German-speaking countries, where the classic beer, sausages and pretzels are joined by a travelling fair or carnival. The main Oktoberfest event, however, is the one in Munich, the capital of the German state of Bavaria, which sees around six million visitors every year. As well as drinking millions of litres of beer, the revellers take part in various games and rides and also just enjoy soaking up the atmosphere. This is probably the most common approach for a German-themed slot to take.
Many of the big German traditions can also be seen, sometimes in modified form, in neighbouring countries such as Austria and Switzerland, where German is widely spoken as a language and there’s a shared cultural history. They’ve also been exported further afield, with people everywhere trying to recreate the magic of German festivities, sometimes in the most unexpected places. This includes the slot developers who try to depict some of these customs and imagery on the reels, from the food to the lederhosen, with bright colours and some merry music to match.
A Matter of Geography
If you travel the length and breadth of Germany, you’ll see everything from the dark forests of Grimm’s fairy tales to parts of the snow-capped Alps. Both are settings that make regular appearances in slots, probably because they allow for such a distinctive, immersive atmosphere. After all, forests and mountains are both good places to situate a Medieval castle.
An Alpine setting is often combined with Christmas elements, whereby snowy streets sparkle with many-coloured Christmas lights. Look out for wooden cabins and blonde Bavarian maidens in traditional garb as further clues that you’re in Germany.
Germany on the Reels
There are many ways that developers could choose to depict Germany in slot form. However, as often happens when forced to condense an entire nation into 5 reels and some features, they tend to end up relying on the most recognisable imagery, drawn in the broadest strokes.
Some people will enjoy celebrating their favourite aspects of the culture, but others may find it a little reductive or stereotypical. You’ll see similar ideas in many of these Germany-themed slots, but they’ll be combined with different layouts and bonuses to try to ensure each one can stand on its own.
We said Oktoberfest is a particularly popular topic in the world of Germany-themed slots. If you don’t believe us, look no further than the game actually called Oktoberfest, brought to you courtesy of KA Gaming. It’s a bright and fun celebration of a slot, and you’ll soon see all those things we told you to look out for when searching for this theme. There’s a blonde Bavarian maiden serving you tall glasses of foaming beer, there are sausages, and there are less immediately obvious symbols like traditional hats and the barley used to make the beer. Your beer symbol can even expand to fill an entire reel. Other features include free spins.
You’d probably guess that Bier Haus Riches is a German-themed slot just from that title, which is pretty clearly German even if you don’t speak the language. A closer look will reveal that yes, you’re celebrating beer at Oktoberfest again. This is an interestingly formatted slot, with an initial 3x1 layout that can be expanded to 3x3. It’s a highly volatile slot with a 96.45% RTP (though this may be lower in some casinos) and a free spins bonus round to add a little more depth to the gameplay.
Less obviously Germany-themed from its name is Cashpot Kegs Megaways. The main thing you’ll probably take away from that title is the “Megaways”, which if you’re an experienced player you’ll know means a slot with thousands of ways to win. In this case, the 6x6 layout gives you 46,456 different options to combine winning symbols. You may have noticed that the title also includes “kegs” though, and kegs means beer, and in the world of slots that nearly always means Germany. Once you see the beer is joined by sausages, pretzels and an accordion, it’s even more clear that you’re at an Oktoberfest-inspired setting yet again, even if the background is a plain (some might even say dull) blue. You can still try to trigger the free spins or cashpot bonuses.