Written by — March 21, 2025 at 07:00
Every few years, there’s a new game or genre of game that takes the world by storm. Everyone remembers where they were when Temple Run came bounding onto our smartphone screens. And before that, everyone who had ever had a Nokia 3410 would wax lyrical about the cutting-edge gaming of Snake. In 2025, though, it seems like there’s a brand new game on the market that could be this generation’s “it” game.
Crash games have very quickly become a popular choice across the internet and appear to be gaining a real head of steam. They’ve gone from being relatively unknown outside of a very niche world of gaming to becoming something that people are actively seeking out. With such a rapid ascension to the top of the cultural zeitgeist in gaming, many will be banking on them becoming staples of the scene.
So what exactly are crash games, where did they come from, and what is the outlook for these brand-new online titles?
A Game Born in the Rapidly-Changing World of the Online Casino
The online casino industry, known as iGaming, is one of the most rapidly growing sections of gaming in the modern day. This is largely due to the introduction of mobile technology and how this has allowed developers to experiment with offering new kinds of gambling games. Where it used to be that poker and roulette dominated the casino sites, video slots, live casino games, and new types of games have become the norm.
That’s where crash games come from. Put simply, these games see a player place a bet and try to hold their nerve while the multiplier grows. They can choose to cash out at any time, but the longer they are in the game, the higher the multiplier. However, if they “crash” out before they cash out, they lose their multiplier and their stake.
They’ve become so popular that even established sites like BetMGM, listed as the best online gambling site for US players by GameZinger, host crash games. In particular, they offer After Burner. In this game, players must place their bet before setting the jet flying into the air. If the jet crashes before they choose to cash out, they lose. That’s where the name crash games come from!
iGaming Has Become A Successful Industry Ripe for Experimentation
The success of the online casino in recent years has made it a fertile market for experimentation with different kinds of games. According to GlobeNewsWire data, the online gambling market was worth nearly $100 billion. When you consider that the entire video game industry revenue sits at around $140 billion, you get a picture of a market that is comparable.
This amount of money means that the operators providing gambling products have the finances to offer something a little more to players. In recent years, we’ve seen them move away from traditional online casino games that use random number generators (RNGs) and instead start live-streaming real-dealer games. This has been possible because of the investment in high-quality studio equipment.
Even at online sportsbooks, they are able to innovate. At some, you will find that they have invested in virtual sports that people can bet on. This doesn’t mean eSports tournaments - instead, it is fictional virtual sports like horse racing that are decided by an RNG where players can predict the outcomes. It’s safe to say that the iGaming industry has rapidly changed.
Gamification and Narratives Have Become Staples at Online Casinos
It must be said that crash games are not the only things that have changed about online casinos. Rather, they are the latest in a long line of developments coming out of the market. The introduction of video slots with stunning graphics has meant that there are Indiana Jones-like adventure-themed games, as well as horror and comedy titles.
Crash games are just one element of an industry that is looking more and more like one that is open to change and innovation. While they may eventually crash and burn out like all the best fads, it’s just as likely that they become a staple of online gaming. Time will tell on that front.
NOTE: The opinions within this article reflect those of the poster, and not of Adventure Gamers.
