Most Iconic Slot Characters Of All Time

6 Most Iconic Slot Characters Ever Made

Whether it's binge-watching a TV show for the 10th time, replaying a classic video game, or spinning the reels on your favourite slot, there's always a certain je ne sais quoi or lil' extra something that keeps you coming back for more.

Sure, it could be the flashy graphics, cool features, or dopamine hits, but memorable characters are what truly stick in our brains, especially when it comes to slot machines. 

Slot mascots and protagonists give some much-needed personality to the reels, turning random spins into storylines we actually care about. 

In this post, we're going to be counting down some of the most iconic slot characters ever to grace the reels. Let's dive in. 

1. Rich Wilde

Every slot studio has their own answer to Indiana Jones, like Pragmatic Play‘s John Hunter.

But the crown belongs to Play'n GO's dashing intrepid explorer, Richard “Rich” Wilde. 

He debuted in 2012 with Riche Wilde and the Aztec Idol. Since then, he's gone on a whole range of adventures, basically creating his own franchise that feels akin to Marvel's multiverse.

His charisma made Book of Dead one of the biggest slots ever that is still popular to this day and is the game slapped on many casino welcome bonuses. 

It seems that danger runs in the family, as dear ol' Rich Wilde passes the baton (or torch) on to his daughter Cat Wilde.

She's already starred in an impressive number of games, including Cat Wilde and the Pyramids of Dead and Cat Wilde and the Incan Quest. 

Rich Wilde and The Wandering City Base Game

2. Lara Croft

You can't speak about adventurers and not mention one that really started it all: Lara Croft. 

Now, some of you may know her from the 1996 PlayStation 1 game, Tomb Raider, as the triangle-busted, pistol-totting heroine.

Ms. Croft rose to fame in the 2000s, appearing in several games and reboots as she battled against long-thought extinct T.rexes and wolves in the depths of the Peruvian mountains, and looked good doing it. 

Our favourite female archaeologist has also even starred in several top-grossing movies, portrayed by the likes of the pouty Angelina Jolie and stoic Alicia Vikander, animated TV shows, and, you guessed it, even slots. 

Created by Microgaming (now Games Global), Lara has been on many reel-spinning adventures, including: 

• Lara Croft: Tomb Raider
• Lara Croft: Tomb of the Sun
• Lara Croft: Secret of the Sword
• Lara Croft: Fortune of Eclipse

Lara Croft: Fortune of the Eclipse MultiChase Base Game Play

3. Gonzo

Taking a trip to South America, there's Gonzo, the friendly Spanish Ecuadorian who stars in the Gonzo's Quest series by NetEnt in 2011.

He's actually based on a real-life historical figure: Gonzalo Pizarro y Alonso, a Spanish explorer born in the 16th century who led an expedition to the lost city of gold, El Dorado. 

It may have felt like this bearded explorer fell by the wayside in recent years, but NetEnt have revitalised the old fellow in the recent Gonzo's Quest 2, where he looks like he hasn't aged a day. 

Gonzo is an OG slot character on the reels, and even in the broader iGaming space, with his own live casino game show: Gonzo's Treasure Map from Evolution.

Gonzo's Quest 2 Base Game

4. Smokey The Raccoon 

Next up is Smokey the Raccoon, the furry fiend who's been causing chaos and carnage across time and space.

Developed by Hacksaw Gaming, Smokey is the star of the “Le” series, which encompasses titles like Le Pharaoh, Le King, Le Zeus, and Le Cowboy, where he's decked out in an…interesting new costume in each.

Each new title transports Smokey to a different era, but his goal is always the same: loot, loot, and more loot. 

His adventures have taken him through the gritty backstreets of 1920s Paris to the peak of Mount Olympus, and even to gun-slinging the Wild West. 

No matter where he is, though, it's important to remember that if you're Smokey the Raccoon, crime does pay. 

Le Pharaoh Base Game

5. Chaos Crew

It's clear that Hacksaw Gaming excels at creating characters that stick, as we've already seen with Smokey the Raccoon.

And let's just say that the best things in life always seem to come in pairs, like Tom and Jerry or Pinky and The Brain.

Next up on our radar are the stars of the Chaos Crew series: Cranky Cat and Sketchy Skull. 

The twosome are compounded with gritty neon-drenched visuals with a signature graffiti-style that instantly sets the scene, with their looks evolving as the series continues. 

This iconic duo are basically the poster children of Hacksaw's success to date, with three high-volatility games under their belts. 

The third instalment, Chaos Crew 3, even introduces a new character, Glitch Dog.

While three may usually be a crowd, it definitely isn't in this case, with us rating the most recent game a solid 9.2 out of 10. 

Chaos Crew 3 Base Game Play

6. Rainbow Riches Leprechaun

To end this off, we've got another oldie but goldie slot character: the cheeky ginger Leprechaun from the Rainbow Riches slot series.

Playing fully into Irish stereotypes, he's aptly named Lucky O'Leary and encompasses everything you can possibly think of when it comes to Irish folklore:

He's (Guinness) pint-sized, green-coated, with the iconic hat, fiery red beard, and mischievous grin to complete the look. 

This Leprechaun mascot first made his appearance in the 2008 slot, Rainbow Riches by Barcrest, which was exclusive to land-based casinos.

Since then, he's sprinkled his magic across a wide array of games, including Rainbow Riches: Road to Even More Riches and Rainbow Riches Pick ‘n' Mix Dream Pots.

Keeping up with the times, he's even made his way to the digital space with tons of spin-offs, sequels, and new innovations since provider Light & Wonder have taken over the mantle.

Rainbow Riches Road to Even More Riches Base Game Play