Although Ferris Bueller warned me, I still get caught off guard sometimes with just how fast life moves. Just this time last week I was surrounded by tens of thousands of slot machines and an equally impressive number of industry professionals at Global Gaming Expo 2026.
Now that I am back home, surrounded by cattle dogs instead of slots, I’ve had a moment to reflect on some of the overarching trends and themes that will be making their way to a casino floor near you in the coming months.
If you were following our daily coverage, you’ve already heard about one of the biggest emerging trends- spooky games! While spooky games have always had a place on the gaming floor, represented by classics like Wicked Winnings II and things a little more recent including Spooky Link, this year really kicked up the spook factor.
At this year’s G2E, it seemed like there was at least one, if not a few, titles that were all about the spook. In the Bluberi booth, for example, the manufacturer unveiled a brand new title called Monster Manor, while Aristocrat Gaming built out a few new options in their Spooky Link series that we briefly mentioned above.
Out of the two, I was able to find a cabinet of the new Spooky Link games at Plaza Hotel & Casino before I headed back home. Seeing the games in demo mode is always exciting and educational, but I wait to make a full judgement until I am actually running some money through the machine.
The game plays very similarly to “Go Ghost,” “Mo Mummy,” and “Yo Yeti,” something that I find comforting as opposed to learning a whole new structure. I took Wo Wolfie for a spin on a $5 (real) bet and was delighted to get a shaky shaky within just a few spins that turned my $5 bet into something north of $500. We know results are never guaranteed, but it doesn’t hurt when I get a big win on a new title.
Monster Manor and the Spooky Link expansion are just two examples we found on the expo floor, but we saw more in the form of Incredible Technologies’ “Just Buried” and a new “Lock It Link Triple Boost Cats, Hats, & More Bats” by Light & Wonder.
Next up, are the ever toxic “accumulators.” Accumulators are a visual representation of real or imaginary progress on a slot machine. Most of the time, accumulators are just a tool to help you keep locked in thanks to perceived persistence.
Perceived persistence is the inclusion of an element in a game (pots, bags, etc.) that are created to look like they are accumulating something. In actuality, there is nothing being collected and counted towards triggering a bonus or feature. The game is designed to make it feel like you are achieving something and at any moment the title could cough up a lucrative feature.
I joke that these visual elements, often portrayed as pots or buckets, are toxic because despite knowing full well that 99.9% of the time they mean absolutely nothing, I get sucked in. It’s almost as if they are designed to do that. They are – that is the whole point.
Despite my personal beef with accumulators, there is no denying that this specific mechanic has resonated with slot players. If slot players truly didn’t like accumulators, they would not play them. When slot machines are not played, they are yanked from the floor and replaced with a new title that more than likely includes different elements.
No, these games that feature accumulators were not yanked from floors and design labs. Instead, manufacturers decided to increase the number of pots and buckets. Gone are the days of three accumulators; now, four seems to be the minimum with some titles including up to six or even eight.
Lastly, there was an air of familiarity at this year’s event. This isn’t something new, as over time slot manufacturers will dig back into their catalog to revive old friends or harvest elements of fan favorite games to plug into a new theme.
One of the most anticipated examples of bringing back an old friend is a reimagined Gremlins title. We were able to get up close and personal with the new game during a creator event at the Light & Wonder booth. Despite never seeing the movie, I instantly was drawn to the cabinet because I have played the OG Gremlins game in the past.
Within a couple spins at the event, the various Germlins started offering up various bonus features and mini activations. I absolutely loved the one that was connecting wires together until he got electrocuted… but in a cute way.
Another welcomed blast from the past came in the form of The Jetsons by Gaming Arts. I’m telling you right now, if you ever watched the TV show, you will love this game. The nostalgic subject matter is complemented by a beautiful, bright cabinet and detailed graphics. Keep an eye out on our Flip The Switch social media channels to see a game demo.
This title also holds one of the most catchy soundtracks I have ever heard in a slot machine. The music of the show has been clipped to match what is happening in the feature. When various characters are dropped off by their floating car, you will hear the familiar theme voice sing lines like “meet George Jetson” and “his boy Elroy.” These little snippets of the theme song will 100% earn a place in the slot ear worm hall of fame.
What a wonderful G2E it was. I am already looking forward to next year’s installment of the annual conference!
