Microgaming Games of the Month: January to August 2020

Having taken a look at September's top ranked slot games in a previous article, in this continuation of our ranking of each Game of the Month for Microgaming, we are going to look back over the first eight months of what has been a tumultuous 2020.

However, it is a year that has seen some absolutely outstanding slot games released by Microgaming and their partners and among them have been a number of outstanding progressive slot games, particularly in February, May and September.

Of course, as slot companies develop better technology and computers become more powerful slots can do more, which is why modern games tend to rank better than older slots, although when we review them, you will still find a few of the older classics will make it into the upper echelons of this chart.

Let's now quickly recap how the ranking system works for each of the games we reviewed for this article.

Recap of the Ranking System

• 95% - 100% - A Confirmed Slots Classic
• 85% - 95% - Outstanding
• 75% - 85% - Excellent
• 65% - 75% - Very Good
• 55% - 65% - Good
• 45% - 55% - Average
• 35% - 45% - Below Average
• 25% - 35% - Disappointing
• 15% - 25% - Very Disappointing
• 0%-15% - Terrible

It is worth noting here that it is unlikely that a provider like Microgaming, or one of their partners would release a very poor game. As such, most ratings tend to be good or above. It is relatively rare for a slot to rate average or below.

Let's now start our look through the best games of January to August 2020 by picking our top game of the month for each of those 8 months of the past year.

Microgaming Game of the Month - January 2020

We had five releases in January 2020 to consider in what was a rather quiet and uninspiring start to the year. I felt the Book of Atem just pipped the African Quest slot to the best game of the month, both of which were just ahead of the imaginative Incredible Balloon Machine game from Crazy Tooth Studios. Those releases I felt were stronger games than the Double Lucky Line and Lucky Twins Jackpot releases that also hit casinos in January.

1. Book of Atem - 74.2% - Game of the Month
2. African Quest - 73.5%
3. Incredible Balloon Machine - 71.1%
4. Double Lucky Line - 68.3%
5. Lucky Twins Jackpot - 59.3%

Microgaming Game of the Month - February 2020

The shortest month of the year saw just four releases but what releases they proved to be with a brand new addition to the Mega Moolah network and the first game in the new Wowpot Progressive Jackpot network hitting casinos on General release. We also saw the imaginative Seven 7s slot, featuring one reel and one symbol initially (expandable up to seven) and Wonder Woods, but those two releases were dwarfed by the release of Wheel of Wishes, the first Wowpot slot and Atlantean Treasures, a brand new 10-pay line, Win Both Ways Mega Moolah-linked slot game, which for me was not just the pick of the month, but perhaps one of the best games Microgaming have ever released.

1. Atlantean Treasures Mega Moolah - 97.2% - Game of the Month
2. Wheel of Wishes Wowpot - 94.3%
3. Wonder Woods - 66.3%
4. Seven 7s - 65.1%

Microgaming Game of the Month - March 2020

March was a busy month for releases with five slot games, two scratchcard games plus a new version of 6-Deck Blackjack also hitting casinos this month. The Scratchcard games were based on two older games from Microgaming, Sure Win (a horse racing slot) and the popular Avalon but both were perhaps the weakest of the reelases this month. Mining Fever was an interesting slot while the newly released Blackjack game from Switch Studios was well worth a look for casino game fans. We then get into the treasure themed slots with 9 Pots of Gold, Treasure Skyland, Treasure Heroes all well worth a closer look, but the game of the month for me was the excellent Attack on Retro slot.

1. Attack on Retro - 90.6% - Game of the Month
2. Treasure Heroes - 87.0%
3. Treasure Skyland - 86.1%
4. 9 Pots of Gold - 77.7%
5. Classic Blackjack 6 Deck - 73.4%
6. Mining Fever - 69.9%
7. Avalon Scratch - 68.7%
8. Sure Win Scratch - 58.8%

Microgaming Game of the Month - April 2020

There were just the four games in April released by Microgaming, perhaps not surprisingly after such a busy March and a busy May on the horizon too. The top slot was the excellent Diamond Force slot from Crazy Tooth Studios, which features their Any Adjacent Pays system. An impressive start to life for Snowborn Studios came in the form of The Vault, while the Stone Age inspired Anderthals and Roman-styled slot Arena of Gold rounded off a somewhat more sedate month of releases.

1. Diamond Force - 84.9% - Game of the Month
2. The Vault - 78.1%
3. Anderthals - 76.9%
4. Arena of Gold - 74.7%

Microgaming Game of the Month - May 2020

May saw a number of huge releases including a couple of football-themed slots, as well as a new Keno game and of course, the brand new addition to the Mega Moolah network. Unsurprisingly perhaps, Absolootly Mad topped the charts in May given it's fantastic progressive prizes but also its unusual set up and offering 243 Ways to Win for the first time in a while on the Mega Moolah network, Electric Avenue, the updated Immortal Romance slot, plus the second slot in the Football Star series, Football Star Deluxe are all well worth a look. Lady Earth, Lucky Riches, All Win FC and Bingo-inspired game Super Showball rounded off a busy month of releases.

1. Absolootly Mad Mega Moolah - 95.4% - Game of the Month
2. Electric Avenue - 84.6%
3. Immortal Romance (Update) - 80.1%
4. Football Star Deluxe - 77.4%
5. Lady Earth - 71.6%
6. Lucky Riches - 70.7%
7. All Win FC - 63.2%
8. Super Showball - 63.0%

Microgaming Game of the Month - June 2020

Seven games were released in June and there were a couple of absolute crackers in among them in what was a particularly strong month for Microgaming. Roman Power, Age of Conquest, 11 Champions all proved to be decent games and worth a look but the first top game was the excellent Aliya's Wishes, but that was pipped by the very unusual game play and the 'quest' style gaming on the imaginative Fortress Charge slot, another innovative game from Crazy Tooth Studios. However Wild Catch can count itself unlucky not to claim top spot as despite being a brilliant game, the superb Aurora Beast Hunter just pips it to the post with its plethora of bonuses and crazy fast-paced monster action!

1. Aurora Beast Hunter - 94.3% - Game of the Month
2. Wild Catch - 92.6%
3. Fortress Charge - 88.8%
4. Aliya's Wishes - 85.9%
5. 11 Champions - 80.3%
6. Age of Conquest - 78.0%
7. Roman Power - 62.1%

Microgaming Game of the Month - July 2020

I have to admit to not being hugely enamoured with the Gold Coin release Arthur's Gold this month, which for me is a passable slot but nothing more than that. Immortal Glory, the Olympic-themed slot, was a better option but also I felt not one of the highlights of the month. Mayan Eagle, Miami Glow and Playboy Fortunes were better fare but I felt the two games that did shine this month were Triple Edge's Diamond Inferno and the unusual and excellent Banana Drop slot from Crazy Tooth Studios.

1. Banana Drop - 86.4% - Game of the Month
2. Diamond Inferno - 82.9%
3. Playboy Fortunes - 77.6%
4. Miami Glow - 76.4%
5. Mayan Eagle - 73.3%
6. Immortal Glory - 67.9%
7. Arthur's Gold - 58.3%

Microgaming Game of the Month - August 2020

High quality games were the byword when it came to August 2020 releases. There was very little to choose between any of the seven slots released this moth and I am delighted to say that almost all games I felt were excellent and the one that wasn't only just missed out by a fraction. Goldaur Guardian's was that slot, but it is still a very good game, as is the Break Away Lucky Wilds slot, the third in the series of Break Away Ice Hockey-themed slots. Newer games populate the top places in the list including Wolf Howl, Ancient Warriors, Retro Galaxy and a new card game No Commission Baccarat. However, just sneaking into top spot was Foxium's 3 Tiny Gods.

1. 3 Tiny Gods - 88.8% - Game of the Month
2. Retro Galaxy - 83.9%
3. No Commission Baccarat - 83.8%
4. Ancient Warriors - 82.5%
5. Wolf Howl - 80.4%
6. Break Away Lucky Wilds - 78.3%
7. Goldaur Guardians - 74.6%

Microgaming game rankings table

Once the data for all Microgaming slots has been collated, we will be presenting the entire table (updated each month with all Microgaming releases) on a dedicated page.

However, we have collated the data for 2020 so far and present that to you in the table below. To help you identify the different features available in each slot, we have provided you with the following key.

Microgaming slot rankings January to August 2020

Do check back later this week too as we will be bringing you the first of our more detailed monthly game reviews for September 2020 releases from Microgaming and of course, adding them into the data for the list above and for the all-time list of Microgaming releases!