Best Pokies for Beginners in New Zealand
Looking for the Best Pokies for Beginners in New Zealand?
Pokies are an intensely popular pastime for Kiwis across the country, but where do you start? Learning how to play online pokies can definitely be daunting, especially when coming across titles like Megaways with 117,000+ ways to win. Due to this common issue, those looking to start their gaming journey can become overwhelmed, confused, and frustrated with all the different ways to win, bonus features, paylines, reels… so what are some titles that beginners can play? To help solve this question, I have searched the internet and found some beginner-friendly pokies for Kiwis to play, helping you get started in your journey.
Top 10 Best Pokies for Beginners
To help with the time-consuming task of finding the perfect pokie for beginners, I have constructed a list of the top 10 best pokies for Kiwis who are just starting out on their online gaming journey:
| Pokie Title | Provider | Theme | No. of Reels | RTP | Max Win | Where to Play | Beginner’s Help |
| Wacky Panda | Games Global (Microgaming) | Animal/Fruit | 3 | 95.94% | 222x | PlayOJO Casino | Simple gameplay and clear winning combinations |
| Starburst | NetEnt | Gem | 5 | 96.09% | 500x | Wildz Casino | Easy to understand icons and straightforward play |
| 1 Reel Santa | Spinomenal | Christmas | 1 | 95.42% | 500x | King Billy | Single reel, seasonal symbols, and visible multipliers |
| Black Horse | Wazdan | Wild West | 3 | 96.07% | 3,100x | Joo Casino | A clear paytable |
| Thunderstruck | Games Global (Microgaming) | Nordic Mythology | 5 | 96.10% | 15,000x | Rizk Casino | Simple combinations accessible via the menu icon |
| Book of Dead | Play’n GO | Ancient Egypt | 5 | 96.21% | 5,000X | HellSpin Casino | Classic layout with few symbol combinations to track |
| Fire Joker | Play’n GO | Fire | 3 | 96.15% | 800x | Guts Casino | Basic 3 reels and 9 symbols for straightforward play |
| Pixie Wings | Pragmatic Play | Fantasy | 5 | 96.7% | 500x | 7Bit Casino | Clearly displayed paytable for winning combinations |
| Fruit Salad 3-Reel | Games Global (Microgaming) | Fruit | 3 | 95.75% | 480x | iLucki Casino | Bright and easy to follow game |
| 5 Reel Drive | Games Global (Microgaming) | Driving | 5 | 96.95% | 10,000x | LeoVegas Casino | Convenient paytable |
1. Wacky Panda
Wacky Panda is a simplistic pokie that was released in 2017 by the popular software provider Games Global; also known as Microgaming. This title brings a fun Animal and Fruit theme, showcasing a range of colourful pandas and juicy pieces of fruit. Wacky Panda has 3 different columns, also known as reels, with a handy fruit board on the side to showcase the different winning combinations within the game. This easy and exciting title can be played at PlayOJO Casino; my all-time favourite place for online pokies!
2. Starburst
Well-known developer NetEnt released Starburst in 2013, providing another modest game for Kiwis to admire. This title boasts fun Space and Gem themes with vibrant colours and cool sounds. This game has 5 different reels spanning across the screen, with handy icons at the bottom to signify the Level a player is on and how much their bet costs. There are 7 different symbols within the title; not too many to keep track of! Starburst is also mobile-compatible, so gamers like me who are always on-the-go can still enjoy this simplistic pokie on their phone through Wildz Casino.
3. 1 Reel Santa
1 Reel Santa has just that; 1 reel and Santa! This very simple pokie was released in December 2023 by developer Spinomenal just in time for the holiday season. With a singular reel, seasonal-themed symbols, and a handy multiplier tracker on the side of the screen, Kiwis can enjoy the magic of Christmas without worrying about remembering difficult symbol combinations. I found that this fun game was available to play at King Billy; a cult-classic casino!
4. Black Horse
Giddy up, partner! Wazdan – another popular provider of pokies – released Black Horse in 2012; a very fun, easy-to-play title. This game promotes a 3-reel style that is a beginner player’s best friend. Black Horse also has a cartoonish Wild West theme and a paytable where players can find the winning combinations list easily. Beginners can access this laid-back game at Joo Casino, which is another hotspot for Kiwi players like me across the country.
5. Thunderstruck
Games Global, also known as top-tier pokie developer Microgaming, announced the release of Thunderstruck almost a decade ago in 2004. This cartoonised, Nordic Mythology themed title promotes an Asgardian feel with the power of Thor across different symbols and design graphics. The combinations of this game are simple and can be found in the handy menu icon, which is a perfect element for beginner players! Kiwis who are looking to indulge in this classic title like I did can find and play Thunderstruck at Rizk Casino.
6. Book of Dead
Every single player on Earth knows about Book of Dead, but did you know it is a beginner-friendly title? Play’n GO released this ever-popular game back in 2016, releasing one of the best pokies on the market to Kiwis. Book of Dead boasts a simplistic 5-reel layout, a classic Ancient Egyptian theme, and only a few different symbol combinations to keep an eye out for. I loved playing this fan-favourite title for hours on end at HellSpin Casino!
7. Fire Joker
Fire Joker is another Play’n GO classic which was released in 2016. This title brings a fiery theme with a handy-dandy combination menu available for Kiwis to access right within the game. With only 3 reels and 9 different symbols to focus on, this is one of the easiest games to play across all of Play’n GO’s library. I had loads of fun trying out this game when I visited Guts Casino.
8. Pixie Wings
Pragmatic Play – yet another well-known top-tier pokie developer – released Pixie Wings in 2017, adding another simple title to any gamers’ collection. This game also features 5 reels to make it nice and easy to get the hang of. Kiwis can also access an easy-to-read paytable for all the winning combination information. I discovered and played this fun title for several hours whilst I was at 7Bit Casino.
9. Fruit Salad 3-Reel
Fruit Salad 3-Reel is just how the name describes it; a 3-reel pokie with a fresh Fruit theme. This game was released earlier in 2023 by Microgaming. This bright game showcases 5 different multipliers and 5 different symbols which are displayed on the screen during gameplay; how convenient! I absolutely love this game, and I play it frequently when I am at iLucki Casino.
10. 5 Reel Drive
Another beginner-friendly game by the famous Microgaming, which is now known as Games Global! 5 Reel Drive has exactly 5 reels and a unique Driving theme, fit with snacks and food that would be found during a road trip. This game also has a convenient paytable which showcases all the potential winning combinations, and is a load of fun for any Kiwi player. I was able to dabble in this title at the ever-popular platform LeoVegas Casino.
Conclusion
Pokies are the driving force of any avid gambler within New Zealand, so being able to find beginner-friendly games for those first starting their journey is a very helpful tool. This also allows experienced players some additional titles to wind down and relax after a massive gaming session on more strenuous pokies!
NZ Online Pokies for Beginners’ FAQs
- What are ‘reels’?
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Reels are simply the horizontal columns that are displayed in online pokies where all of the symbols are showcased.
- Where can I find pokies for beginners?
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All of the above pokies have a dedicated casino, which are all safe and trusted sites, where players for New Zealand can find them at.
- Can I play beginner-friendly pokies if I am an experienced gamer?
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Yes! These pokies are specifically listed for beginner Kiwis looking to find their way in the gaming world, however these are also available options for veteran players who are looking to take a break from big-time pokies!