Board games are an all-time favorite with most people. Especially trivia board games that tax your brain and bring out the best in you. Did you know the board games market worldwide is worth $3.2 billion and is set to rise to $8.12 billion by 2021, according to Statistica?

 

Recent Google Trends indicate an upward trend in specific searches for board games. Why are trivia board games so popular? There are many reasons for its growing popularity.

 

Trivia Board Games are Easy to Find

You no longer have to walk into a store to inquire about a board game and buy it. Today, you have many ways to find out about exciting trivia board games and other tabletop games.

 

The ubiquitous internet is available in every nook and corner of the world. People can now find niche interests and games and share them with friends located far and wide. You can even find games for the much older crowd with Boom Again, a fun trivia game designed for people over the age of 50.

 

You no longer have to get people together to play a trivia board game. Technology has gifted so many apps and platforms online where you can play solo or with a group.

 

You can keep adding as many people you want as you go. It's not like your parents or grandparents haven't played trivia board games. It's a legacy they've passed down. The only difference today is that there are no restrictions on time or place. Today's generation is digital, and word of mouth is spread on social media, making this hobby so very popular with so many people.

 

Celebrities and Geeks Love Them Too

Celebrities like Vin Diesel and geeks like Wil Wheaton are die-hard board game fans. Wheaton says that he used to love games even as a kid. Answering the trivia questions correctly as a 10-year old made him feel smart and clever. Wheaton used to love challenging games and probably still does. He still remembers playing Candyland and Don't Break the Ice, apart from classics like Code Names.

 

The Feel Good Factor

Although considered a side effect of playing trivia board games, laughing is a significant benefit that makes you feel good. You have great fun while playing trivia board games, and you unknowingly increase endorphins, which are the chemicals that give you the feel-good feeling.

 

Did you know that endorphins are structurally similar to morphine and are known to reduce discomfort in you? It is no wonder then why everyone loves trivia board games without knowing the actual reason.

 

Improving Memory and Cognitive Skills

Another reason why trivia board games are so popular is that they help kids practice essential cognitive skills, especially problem-solving abilities, which will stand them in good stead in later years. Some parents are probably aware of such facts, so they encourage their kids to play trivia board games.

 

Researchers say that playing board games enhances your personal, social, and economic well-being. A Harvard Medical School study says that loneliness is more harmful than smoking.

 

Reduces Stress, Lowers BP

Trivia board games not only increase your endorphins, but they also help regulate your blood pressure. Endorphins help the muscles relax and enhance blood circulation. Board games help reduce stress by reducing the risk of cognitive declines related to Alzheimer's and dementia. Board games are the best outlet when you are bored and a great way to sit back and relax. Keeping your mind engaged makes it stronger and keeps away negative thoughts.

 

A study published in Frontiers in Neuroscience indicates that seasoned players of strategy board games increased the gray matter in the nucleus accumbens and decreased gray matter in the amygdala, specific areas of the brain.

 

Good for the Kids

Parents probably realize the importance of trivia board games for their kids. Such games play a vital role in a child's health and promote brain development. Kids develop better logic and reasoning skills, and board games also help boost critical thinking and spatial reasoning.

 

Some specific trivia board games help hone verbal and communication skills and help develop attention skills as well. Kids can concentrate better on given tasks because of unwavering focus.

 

Therapeutic Effect

Finally, as most trivia board games call for fine motor skills while playing, your coordination skills are enhanced, and you become more dexterous. Constant practice and playing of trivia board games help improve such basic skills and have a therapeutic effect on the elderly while making the kids sharper. Trivia board games are often recommended as a part of occupational therapy treatments and in the classrooms.

 

Summing it Up

Obviously, trivia board games are fun and are loaded with benefits that you cannot ignore. These great stress busters promote family bonding and are among the proven best ways of beating stress in today's fast-paced world, making them popular with everyone.

 

The mobile gaming market rose to such prominence over the last ten years that it was impossible for online casino operators and developers to ignore it. It's only going to get bigger, with mobile revenue projections set to exceed $1.8 billion in 2021. In the early days of the growing mobile market, some online casinos had dedicated apps for the smaller screen. Now, HTML5 has made it possible for users to switch seamlessly between desktop and mobile. Thanks to continually improving smartphone and tablet technology, a lot of casino games arguably look better on the portable platform. The question is, which game has been best adapted to suit mobile?

 

Slot Games

A lot of casino players would agree that slots have made the best transition to mobile. The games seem ideally suited to the portable screen, as their elements are adapted to fit the whole device. This makes for an immersive and entertaining experience and means that players won't get distracted by other things occurring on their phone or tablet at the same time. Developers have now begun to consider the portable platform first when making new titles, as this is where the vast majority of players now prefer to access them.

 

Thanks to their popularity on mobile, slots have continued to evolve and there are now different ways to enjoy them. For instance, daily jackpot games like 5 Families and Atlantis at Royal Panda, give players the chance to win higher prizes in a progressive lottery system. This accumulates over time and across thousands of games that are interconnected. So, the more people that play them, the greater the payouts. This is a different, more communal way to play than the original, one-player method. Another benefit of slots' transition to mobile is that the designs of these games, from ocean themes to lucky leprechauns, look more attractive played when utilizing modern mobile devices' enhanced graphics displays.

 

Live Casino

One way of playing on mobile that could be set to challenge slots for supremacy is live casino. Online casinos have been offering live casino games for some time, but it wasn't until recently that this became an essential aspect of the gambling sites. Live streaming was arguably made mainstream by Facebook in the last decade, and now it is easily one of the biggest technological crazes in recent years.

 

What's more, mobile is one of the most popular ways to watch and record live streams. These numbers are on the rise as well, with CNBC reporting that analysts expect 72 percent of internet users go online solely using their mobile device by 2025. This is highlighted by the vast number of people using mobile for internet in leading countries like China.

 

 

Live streaming of online casino games through a mobile device offers players an immersive experience that can make them feel as though they are actually sitting at a roulette or blackjack table. In the early days of live links to table games in studios, online casinos mainly focused on traditional classics. But now the options have become much more varied, indicating that the player demographic for these games is broadening. Some of the more recent additions to live casino libraries include games like Crazy Time and Monopoly Live.

 

The reason why slots are best suited to mobile is that they can be played in short bursts, much like other popular games created for the platform. Developers know that the mobile audience for these offerings is large, so they have optimized them for the small screen well. Live casino is on the rise, though, and could soon tussle with slots for supremacy on mobile.

 

Slingo began as an online casino game, which combined elements from both Slots and Bingo - hence the name. The premise of the game was fairly simple; on the screen would be a virtual Bingo card whereby the player has to spin the reels below it to reveal the numbers that are being called. If these numbers appear on the card, then they'll be marked off. There would be special icons and bonus rounds within this game, much like the Slots that we know today. This style of gaming has now made its mighty return, with a few added extras to grab your attention.

 

Sound like something you'd enjoy? Read on as we take you through some of the latest Slingo games on the market!

 

Slingo: Extreme

Here we have a high-paced rendition of the classic Slingo game, giving diehard fans a little something extra to add to their gameplay. At the beginning of the game, you will be given 11 spins on slot filled virtual Bingo ticket, hoping to match the up with symbols and numbers on your own ticket. The basic objective of this game is to match up numbers from your virtual Slingo ticket, with those that are chosen from the accompanying wheel.

 

Taking inspiration from regular Bingo, the prizes will be paid out from getting horizontal and vertical rows of matching symbols, as well as a few other combinations, containing a total of 12 possible win lines. Get any of these and you'll be shouting Slingo!

 

There are special symbols to be found in this game, such as jokers, super jokers and the demonic devil. The jokers can go on and cover numbers on single lines, whilst the super joker has the potential to cover any number on the board. Roll in three or more of these jokers on a single spin, then you'll get given another special prize, on top of your original winnings. The key to bagging the big bucks is to utilise these special symbols in combination with other lines. However, the devil symbol is not so generous. Roll in this feisty fella and he'll begin to block out other beneficial symbols on the grid.

 

Deal or No Deal: Slingo

If you love all things Deal or No Deal and jump at the chance for a good spin on the latest Slots, then we have the perfect game for you! You'll be presented with a grid filled with numbered boxes, close to the way that the original game is played. Surrounding unmatched boxes will be gradually eliminated, just like the tv show, whilst remaining symbols will have their totals multiplied, upping the ante! Match four Slingo symbols or numbers and the iconic Banker will come forwards with an offer.

 

Much like the previous game, there are several special symbols to be found within Deal or No Deal: Slingo such as: jokers, super jokers, free spins and the devil symbol. The standard joker icons can be used to open up any box in the column that they appear on, whereas the super joker symbols will be able to open any box on the entire grid. The free spin symbol will award players with an additional spin at the end of the game, guaranteeing that you'll finish with a flourish! The aforementioned devil icon is still one to watch, as he has the power to block potential matches on the reels.

 

2020 has already seen more video slot releases compared to subsequent years. With licensing and regulations now safer than ever, a flurry of new software providers hitting the online slots scene, and a consistent HTML5 technology so players can easily play slots via their mobile or desktop, have all helped to make 2020 the most flamboyant year yet for online slots players, aggregators, and developers!

 

Perhaps the most appealing aspect to online slots gaming is that they are available to play on both tablets and smartphones. Casino players love to bet while on the move and thanks to HTML5 web browser tech and mobile apps, online slots and online casinos are becoming the most popular mobile games online.

 

However, not every new slot release is popular. Some start by being popular and fade away, others never really pick up any steam and are eventually trashed, while there are those video slots that hit the ground running and become an instant hit amongst slot fanatics!
We are going to look at 3 video slots that made it to the top of the iGaming industry's ‘most played' slots this 2020. Check out each slot's amazing combination of feature and high RTP!

 

1. Dead or Alive II (96.82% RTP)

This HTML5 mobile and desktop online slot is the sequel to the original Dead or Alive produced by NetEnt. Of course, this title was always going to become a hit because its prequel Dead or Alive was already one of the most popular video slots by NetEnt produced.

 

The slot's theme is set in the good old Wild West of USA and gives players a treat of 3D graphics and outstanding animations while shooting their way through some amazing features.

 

Features include Buy Feature, Free Spins, Free Spins Multiplier, Multiplier, Respins, Scatter symbols, Sticky Wilds, and standard Wild symbols. With combination win and bonus features, players get an incredible 96.82% RTP. As for the gameplay, you will spin on 5x3 reels with 9 pay lines making this slot ideal for low stakes players that want to spin at just 0.09 a go while you can ramp up spin bets to 19.00 a spin!

 

If you enjoy Dead or Alive II, then check out Dead or Alive too!

 

2. The Immortal Captain Rizk (96.86% RTP)

There is no shortage of slot players that love their fantasy cartoon style superhero games, and that's exactly why ‘The Immortal Captain Rizk' by Microgaming hit the online slots scene with an almighty bang.

 

New slots site reviewed on JustSlot gave this slot a great review and reveals this superhero themed slot only just came to the online slots arena just this month and provides us with stats such as the incredible 96.86% RTP. This slot also has a 31.21% hit frequency and when you win, you win big making it a high variance game.

 

For those that spin the reels on this superhero adventure, there are 243 ways to win on any spin and tons of features. Hold your breath and see if you can read them all in one spurt - Avalanche/Cascading wins a.k.a. Tumbling Reels, Free Spins, Free Spins Multiplier, Random multiplier, Random Wilds, Additional Wilds, Scatter symbols, and Symbol Swaps.

 

Pretty impressive, and there is the chance to win 12,000x your spin bet!

 

3. Gonzo's Quest Megaways

As soon as Gonzo's Quest Megaways came out in July this year, it was an instant hit. Produced by Red Tiger and Netent, this is an online slot that takes you on a historical journey with Gonzo. The original Gonzo's Quest video slot came out in 2011, courtesy of NetEnt. Its popularity never seemed to die off, and so in conjunction with Red Tiger, NetEnt decided to release a brand new Megaways version.

 

Megaways are a novel way to play ‘no pay line slots' which derive from the original 243 and 1024 ways to win concept. Except Megaways takes things a step further, giving you 6 ‘shapeshifting' reels that give you a random number of symbols between 2 and 7 every spin. With this many symbols, the slot can offer you massive 117,649 ways to win!

 

On top of this, there are Avalanche/Cascading wins, Free Spins, Multipliers, Scatter symbols, and Wildcards. The only let down that we did spot was the RTP is a little low at 94.66% but that has not deterred slot players who seem to not mind about the low RTP because this is now the most played video slot released in 2020.

 

Choosing the Right Online Slots

When looking for online slots you will find that there are thousands of slots with multiple themes and features.

 

To choose the right slot for you, make sure you understand the slot's min-max bet limits, the slot's RTP, and of course, always choose enjoyable slots. For example, despite NetEnt and Red Tiger's low RTP Gonzo's Quest Megaways, slot players seem to love this title and its gameplay, and an RTP of 94.66% isn't that low, anyway.

 

The rise of mobile phones has transformed the gaming industry, with mobile applications becoming one of the gaming market's highest-grossing formats. Luckily for mobile gamers out there, this means that gaming companies are increasing resources for mobile game development but, with so many different mobile gaming applications on offer in 2020, it can be difficult to find those real gems. This list is here to help you by showing you the most popular mobile gaming apps of 2020.

 

Shooter Games

According to market analyst Tom Wijman, the revenue of mobile gaming is set to be $77.2 billion in 2020, which would mean it rose by 13.3 per cent from 2019. This rise in income is not purely due to the adoption of mobile applications within the gaming community, but rather the expansion of the gaming community. Research has shown that there are more than 2.5 billion people playing mobile game; that's a third of the global population. The most popular game of this huge market is shooter games. The biggest shooter game of 2020 has to be PUBG Mobile, being the most popular application download in over 100 countries this year. PUBG Mobile is closely followed by Call of Duty which has over 270 million downloads in the Play Store and the App Store.

 

Multiplayer Games

Another popular mobile gaming format in 2020 is multiplayer games. As people have to spend less time with their friends and family in person, many are choosing to spend time with their loved ones in the mobile gaming format. One game of this format that has been hugely popular so far this year is Among Us. Among Us is a space-themed multiplayer social deduction game where players take one of two roles, either they are crewmates or imposters.

 

Casino Games

Another market which has been growing in popularity this year is gambling, particularly casino games. One of the reasons that casino games are so popular this year is due to the huge variety of choice available. Just looking at OnlineCasinos shows you that players can choose from hundreds of different options, so whether they want to play slots or try their hand at poker, they are easily able to from their mobile device.

 

Role-Playing Games

RPGs are a hugely popular gaming genre, offering hundreds of hours of gameplay, with customizable player options and a huge range of varied and convincing storylines and characters. One of the reasons that RPGs are so popular in 2020 is thanks to Apple Arcade. The Arcade has made it easier than ever before for mobile users to access high-quality RPG games. The most popular RPG games on Apple Arcade are Oceanhorn 2 and Various Daylife. Both games have been engineered to be played on Apple devices which means that they offer higher-quality graphics, increased user experience and reduced lag time.

 

Casual Games

Casual games continue to gain popularity, and it isn't hard to see why. Casual games are designed to appeal to a broader audience; it appears developers are managing to do so very successfully. Games like Tangle Master 3D and Money Buster both continue to experience high downloads.