Online casinos add new Zeus titles to freshen up the classic brand

The Zeus brand has long been a staple at both online and land-based casinos. The original Zeus slot machine was released by WMS Gaming way back in 2003, featuring the King of Gods from Greek mythology as the protagonist. This was the first-ever slot machine to have a cinematic bonus feature, transporting players to Mount Olympus when the bonus was triggered. Fast forward to 2023, and the Zeus brand is still going strong after two decades. Competition is fierce in the online slot market these days. New slots with innovative features and themes are released every week.

Zeus II

The first modernized Zeus slot was Zeus II. Released by WMS in 2011, this sequel stayed true to the original in terms of overall look and feel. The setting is still Mount Olympus and Zeus remains the main character. The structure of 5 reels and 30 fixed paylines is also the same. Where Zeus II differed was through the addition of new features. Expanding wilds were added, which take up an entire reel when they land. The free spins bonus also includes a unique ‘Reel Blast’ feature. If a full stack of wilds lands, it blasts away lower-paying symbols for even more ways to win big.

Zeus III

In 2016, WMS released the third title in the series, Zeus III. As you might expect, this iteration builds upon the Zeus II formula by adding even more bonus features and ramping up the graphics and sound. One new addition is the ‘Wheel Blast’ bonus. After any winning spin, there is a chance the wheel symbol above the reels will light up. It triggers the wheel blast feature, where a spinning wheel of fortune pops up. Any cash prize, coin prize, or lightning bolt on the wheel provides an instant bonus for players.

Zeus – Ancient fortunes

This 2020 release from WM Interactive put a fresh new spin on the Zeus brand. Rather than just improving upon the classic format like previous installments, Ancient Fortunes gives the Zeus theme an entirely new look and gameplay style. Ancient Fortunes has a new visual theme of ancient Greek treasure instead of Mount Olympus. Gameplay-wise, it uses a Megaways engine under the hood. It provides up to 117,649 ways to win on each spin for big payout potential.

The most exciting new addition is the ‘Fortunes of Ancient Greece’ free spins round. Not only does this trigger an unlimited number of free spins, but it also includes a unique bro138 login selection mechanic. Players get to choose a Greek hero – Aphrodite, Athena, Poseidon, or Zeus – which changes the bonus features during the round. For example, choosing Poseidon makes symbols drip down like water for bigger cascading wins. Although Zeus is still present, Ancient Fortunes succeeds in making the brand feel fresh again through a completely revamped format. It retains the appealing Greek theme but in an innovative new package.