Who are Novomatic?

Most of us who dabble in casino games will have heard of Novomatic. They've been around for donkey's years, cropping up way back in 1980. Although the company was founded in Austria you can find their games in more than 80 countries, and I certainly never fail to spot their machines whenever I'm in Las Vegas. In fact, Novomatic are probably better known for their real life slot games than their online ones, considering they have around 20,000 employees.
I personally prefer online gaming to physical gaming, mainly due to the fact that it's so easy to access whenever you fancy a few spins, but on the occasions I do enter a casino for a slot session I would definitely put Novomatic right up there on my list of software providers to look out for as you scan the casino floor like a coin-hunting hawk.

Best games

As mentioned they are best known for their physical slot games, but many of these have been ported to the online realm which is how they have continued to grow in popularity ever since the online casino boom changed the market forever.
Book of Ra is definitely one of their most popular games and one I highly recommend. Like certain games from Microgaming, IGT and many other games providers before it, Book of Ra plays upon that old favourite, the theme of Ancient Egypt. Yes it's become a bit cliche, but I always think the only reason they'd make similar slots is because they must be popular, so where's the harm in throwing in a new option for people who are a bit tired of Cleopatra's Gold?
Gunslinger is another personal favourite of mine. I've been a sucker for Western films ever since I was a kid so whenever a slot game pops up with a Western them I always make sure to check it out. This one had me hooked instantly with some classic poker hands, cowboys and bags of treasure making up the symbols with a Western backdrop, but it's not just the way it looks that makes Gunslinger such a great game. The game has a solid RTP and there are three bonus features triggered when you hit the Wanted or scatter symbols, as the music speeds up and really gets the adrenaline pumping.
Just because their slot machines are famous it doesn't mean there's nothing but slots from Novomatic. Since they made the move online I've noticed they've gradually increased the amount of table games available. Their baccarat and blackjack tables have just the right amount of animations to make you feel like you're in the casino whilst also keeping everything clean enough that you can see your hand and chip stack in an instant.

What makes them different?

One neat feature that seems to pop up in a lot of the Novomatic games I play is a gamble feature which increases the amount that can be won at any time. Basically, you can choose to gamble your winnings by predicting whether a face-down card will be red or black, giving you a chance to double your money. If you fancy yourself as a bit of psychic you can even plump for which suit it will be and if correct you'll win four times what you would've.
Extra ways to win are a bit of a recurring theme with Novomatic games as I've also noticed a lot of free spins in their bonus features - much more often than I'm used to with other software providers.

Jackpots

Novomatic games often come with their own jackpot. Now, we're not talking the same insane figures of games like Mega Moolah (I've read about people winning tens of millions in one spin, which is just crazy to me) but they're still big enough that if you hit them it'll likely be the biggest casino payday of your life.
I can't speak for everyone here, but when I see a multi-million jackpot a large part of me assumes I have no chance of winning it. That's not to say I don't still enjoy the games - I do - but it almost feels like a lost cause. By contrast, playing for a more realistic jackpot makes me feel like the chances of winning are increased. I guess you could compare it to betting on one football match as opposed to a massive accumulator; the latter offers a bigger reward, but you feel like you have a better chance with just the one.
With that in mind, I particularly enjoy Novomatic games like Golden Sevens and King's Treasure, where you can win thousands and thousands of dollars with one lucky spin.

Summary

Novomatic isn't the biggest online software provider, but it is one of the biggest in real casinos. Any company that can survive in a cutthroat casino industry must know what they're doing, and this is something Novomatic has shown when it started transferring its physical casino games into online versions. It was a smart move that meant the games have stayed relevant and also have a much wider reach to players around the world. The games are fun, varied, and many are among my favourite slots.