Leading game supplier Play’n GO takes storytelling in slots to a new level with its latest release Gargantoonz. As the sixth in the Reactoonz series, George Olekszy, Head of game retention at Play’n GO explains how the latest instalment will take players on a fun-packed alien adventure with lead character Gargantoon at the helm. Strap in – it’s set to be a wild ride!

With 15 years of industry experience and a games portfolio boasting over 280 titles, it’s no surprise that Play’n GO is one of the most well-known, and used, suppliers in the slot world. But how does it keep creating new and engaging slot games that players come back to time and time again?

Olekszy believes the secret to success is all in the storytelling. And when it comes to the Reactoonz series, it’s a story that players enjoyed from the get-go, making Gargantoon, Dr Toon and their fellow characters instant fan favourites. And though it’s the sixth edition in the series, Gargantoonz is set to reach the same successes as it’s predecessors, a rarity when it comes to sequels.

Hitting the sweet spot: Success in sequels

In the original edition of the slot game released in 2017, Energoonz, players saw the alien-themed characters on a 4×5 grid with a x1000 win multiplier. The original edition ran on a cluster mechanic, with groups of five or more symbols needing to be matched vertically and horizontally to score wins.

The game scored huge success, with 10/10 reviews across the board. One leading review site gave a rave review – “Reactoonz is simply one of the best grid slots ever made”, whilst another said “it is that rare kind of slot where it feels like there’s always something going on.”

After the initial slot release, Reactoonz and Reactoonz 2 followed, elevating the initial game to a 7×7 grid with an abundance of wilds and electrifying rewards. Dr Toonz came in quick succession with a slightly trickier formation to crack, narrowing the grid to 6×4 slot with three charger metre features to unlock.

With such success comes pressure for Play’n GO to bring out something equally as engaging for its already anticipant audience. Olekszy believes that sometimes the best games don’t need too much in the way of change.

“First and foremost, we try to keep all games and series fairly similar, adding small twists and new features to build on that proven success and popularity. If we can see what already works, we don’t want to change too much of it for the players, we just want to build on it.”

The secret is the story

Olekszy believes it’s the longevity of a story, like in the Toonz series, which keeps the audience coming back for more.

“In terms of sequels, we like the continuation of stories. A lot of sequels that you’re seeing in the slot space don’t necessarily always add up to what came first. Often, they don’t have the same features or characters – it’s just a title that shares some similarities. At Play’n GO we like to build on an initial story, incorporating a few new exciting features along the way.”

“For new customers, we like to feel like we have enough information in the story of the game and the mechanics for them to pick up and understand where we’re at in the series without necessarily playing the first game. We see existing players still playing the original games but having a go at the new one, and then dipping between the two.”

Winning characters

Though all the Toonz characters are instantly recognisable, it’s Gargantoon that takes centre stage in this latest instalment. But how did Play’n GO choose this three-eyed, three-horned character to be the protagonist of its latest game release?

“Although we’ve not ever built a game around Gargantoon specifically, if you look at a lot of our merchandise and game artwork, he is a prominent character in our portfolio. So, I think it was a natural move to build a game around him solely.”

Picking the right theme for the character and the player