The unprecedented rise in the online gaming community due to the Covid 19 pandemic has led to the creation of exciting new online games in the iGaming arena. Online casinos are coming up with a higher definition of graphics and in-depth characters and gaming premise to create a holistic gaming experience for gamblers around the world playing free slots Canada gamblers like or video poker games in online casinos and compete with the ever-changing character reel in the world of video games. While some characters remain a cult classic amongst loyal gamers, other new video game characters break through to create a steady fan base for themselves. Some popular online video games trending in 2021 are:

● Mario Kart
● Lara Croft Tomb Raider
● Mortal Kombat
● Grand Theft Auto V
● Gonzo’s Quest

Mario Kart


This video game is one of the earliest games in the Video Gaming repertoire. Developed in 1993 by Nintendo – this game became an instant classic amongst video gamers, catering to all age groups’ likes. In this video game, one can experience the inimitable style of the go-kart e-racing through Mario, and his brother’s characters, which have gained a cult status.

This video game soon became a symbol of nostalgia and childhood for Gen-Z and millennial young adults and served as a rite of passage for every novice video game player since 1993 with its iconic characters of Mario and Luigi. Mario is depicted as an Italian Plumber while his younger brother Luigi chases ghosts through the game even though he’s afraid of supernatural elements - creating a comedic relief in an otherwise simple e-kart game. Mario and Luigi have carved out loyal fans for themselves who support and adore these characters for more than a decade from a strong ensemble of amazing characters portrayed through the Mario Kart series.

Lara Croft Tomb Raider


Created for the gaming space in 1996, Lara Croft is easily one of the Gaming industry’s most recognisable characters. The Lara Croft game franchise has famous movies in tow to create a larger fan base for the character. However, the game went through a major reconstruction in 2013- where Lara’s character was revamped into a relatable tough feminist character- not created to appease the male Gaze. In the 2013 reconstruction, she is depicted as a naïve but determined character who is more focused on reclaiming tombs than adhere to the typical sexist tropes usually present in female-dominated online video games. SquareEnix rewrote Lara’s story and added more humane qualities of vulnerability and depth, making her one of the most popular characters in the GameVerse, boosting sales and selling almost 18 million copies of the game.

Scorpion from Mortal Kombat


Mortal Kombat is one of the best-selling games of the decade. It is majorly represented by Scorpion’s character, also known as Hanzo Hasashi- a resurrected ninja in the Mortal Kombat franchise. He is depicted as a misguided antagonist- bearing allegiance to the evil side to revenge the death of his family and clan, but after being resurrected to his human form and learning the truth about his clan, Scorpion returns as a supporting character in the series. Scorpion’s depiction of a classical anti-hero has secured support from loyal fans all across the globe of the Mortal Kombat franchise. He is portrayed as a mask-bearing ninja who is known as the Inferno scorpion when unmasked, and this character is first introduced in MK: Shaolin Monks. Gamers revere the Scorpion for his quintessential move- the spear attack, which is often accompanied by the catchphrase “Get Over Here” – a fan favourite catchphrase amongst Mortal Kombat players all over the world.

Trevor Philips from Grand Theft Auto V
One of the protagonists in Grand Theft Auto V, alongside Michael De Santa and Franklin Clinton, is Trevor Philips. He is depicted as a hardened criminal, a former bank robber with an interesting past. Trevor’s character is shown to be an aggressive one, which establishes a major trope in the game narrative while but is also very loyal and deeply respectable of tertiary characters. An otherwise brash and passionate character - Trevor Philips is a red-neck character with no specific goal but a well-rounded character adding to the world of Los Santos and its grimy underbelly of the crime world.

Gonzo’s Quest
One of the most popular online slot games on the internet- this game is a crowd favourite video game. Developed in 2011 by NetEnt, Gonzo’s quest has steadily captured the imagination of gamers worldwide. It follows the story of a famous conquistador Gonzalo Pizzaro looking for the gold in El Dorado - remixing a popular legend to introduce an exciting new way of playing online slot games.

The graphics keep up with the theme and title of the game by depicting intricate rustic, authentic designs as symbols on the spin-reel. The reel table is set against lush forest background with ancient Mayan pillars in the foreground on which Gonzo leans over, dressed like a Spanish conquistador, setting in the scene for the treasure hunt theme in Gonzo’s Quest. The symbols on the reel table depict the Mayan theme. Since this is an online slot game, players also have the unique opportunity to earn real-time cash while enjoying the graphical immersive journey that Gonzo’s quest has to offer. Gonzo’s quest, like most online slot games, provides a 5x5 into reel table with 20 paylines. There is a variety of special features, like the “avalanche” feature and great multipliers (a 15x multiplier) and mind-blowing offers for players to pursue along with the “Free Fall” option, which is triggered when the player lands on the scatter option, thereby unlocking a series of free spins. Gonzo’s Quest online slot game is available in the demo version on NetEnt for players to practice over this thrilling slot game before wagering real money and unlocking exciting rewards and payouts.

Concluding Thoughts
Video games are becoming one of the major means of recreational activities- its sales being boosted, especially after the pandemic lockdown. The video game industry is jumping on the amazing opportunity to revamp their pre-existing characters in a new look or introduce new themes into the video gaming arena. Each character of these classic video games is bestowed with intricate, detailed biographies making them compelling characters replete with flaws and special powers.

These exciting biographies add to the character, thereby capturing the player’s attention and ensuring a steady fan base to fall back upon. Online slot game developers rely on these video game trends to create slot games that grab the attention of online gamblers and players looking out to earn money while enjoying a riveting session of video gaming.