If you prefer a more prudish or Victorian adaptation of the theme, you can of course try KA Gaming’s release Romance In England, where a bowler-hatted gent courts an HRH lookalike, treating her, it seems, to a chaperoned cup of tea, atop a big red bus! This strong brand plus some popping and expanding wilds designed, they say, to “fill up our love meters” (oo’ er madam), was lush and bountiful in reach. The big new Valentine’s release this year emerged from the Yggdrasil stable, where Reel Life Games treated us to the Power Of Love. Meanwhile, Heart’s Desire by Betsoft Gaming offered us a passionate backdrop to some classic symbols. Romantic variations that performed nicely (as per our Christmas analysis) included a couple of top performer “editions” from Spinomenal, including Book Of Aphrodite. Perhaps, like Bgaming, they’re keeping their powder dry for Easter. Love Joker from Play’n GO performed nicely too but it was unusual that these seasonal masters didn’t treat us to a new release this year. Romantic romps still charming us from yesteryear were Lucky Valentine (Red Tiger), Heartburst (Eyecon), and Lucky Lady’s Charm (Novomatic).

While we are on the romance theme, we don’t publish a Valentine’s chart as such but do give a nod to the amorous studio directors out there. It always performs well during Halloween, gets nudged out for a few weeks by Christmas titles, but come Valentine’s Day, the game is back! That magic combination of romance and horror gives it two bites at the seasonal apple and a thematic cadence to its success. The golden oldie Immortal Romance (Microgaming) has been in the top 20 for most months over the last two years.

Here’s a bit more colour to the same idea, somewhat anecdotal perhaps, but still grounded in numbers. All other things being equal – and they nearly are between Sweet Bonanza and Starburst – it might just come down to a seasonal swing toward the sweet tooth. They can often tip the balance, especially when a seasonal overlay is applied. Themes play a massive role in chart success – not as much as distribution reach, but arguably on a par with maths models or game mechanics.

Sweet bonanza biggest win