Animals are a popular theme for developers because they are so easy to integrate into a wide variety of games. Sure, you can base an entire title around one kind of animal, which allows the game to write itself: just put in a few pictures of different kinds of birds, and you have yourself a bird-themed machine. But you can also go with a variety of creates that each offer different prizes, choose a grouping that belongs to a certain region, habitat or climate and base the game around that area, or even just use the animals as a few of the decorations for a broader theme.

Perhaps the best part of this, from the perspective of a game creator, is that everyone knows what these symbols mean. It is always helpful if the icons being used are as universal as possible: that allows anyone, from anywhere, to play the game and have an idea of what you’re going for. Just about everyone can identify hundreds of different animals by their pictures, making nature-based games some of the easiest to sell to markets throughout the world without any real translation required.

There is about as much diversity in animal-themed slots as there is in nature itself. It’s hard to come up with a definitive list of these games, because so many machines could potentially be classified in the category. If you count every game where an animal shows up at all, you’ll quickly find yourself listing hundreds, or maybe even thousands of slots!

However, there are some titles that are clearly focused on lions, tigers and bears (oh my) more than others. And while most of these games are enjoyable on some level or another, we’ve chosen a few of our favorites to spotlight below.

Mega Moolah (Microgaming): This may not be the most obvious pick based on its name, but Mega Moolah features a full collection of animals from Africa, ranging from monkeys to elephants to lions. Why not mention any of them in the title of the game, then? Because the real focus here is on one of the most impressive progressive jackpots in the industry, as this machine has paid out millions (and even tens of millions) of dollars to some lucky winners!

OMG Kittens (WMS): Is there anything more adorable than a tiny little kitten? These fur balls are bundles of energy and as playful as anything on the planet, which helps explain why cats are the most popular pet in America. This game is crawling with cuteness, but don’t let that distract you: there are also some big prizes that can be won, especially if you can line up the game’s stars: Tiger, Bubbles, and Mr. Whiskers.

Untamed (Microgaming): This series of slots by Microgaming covers some of the world’s most majestic creatures, and while each one shares some similarities, the various titles in this line have been crafted so that each one truly evokes the spirit of the beast it is named after. You can choose to play with a Wolf Pack, the Bengal Tiger, the Giant Panda, or the Crowned Eagle, each of which is presented in a well-crafted and gorgeous setting befitting that creature’s native habitat. And with the 243 Ways play format present in each of these games, you’ll never run out of ways to win.

Wolf Run (IGT): This innovative game from IGT was first seen in live casinos, but is now popular online as well. Using a Native American theme that features plenty of wolves throughout, big wins are possible thanks to the presence of stacked wilds – a feature that, at the time this game was first released, was revolutionary in the gaming world. With a bonus round that makes it even easier to fill the screen up with wild symbols, these are some wolves that you’ll be more than happy to run with anytime they like.