FIFA 22
Sure, rugby might be the national sport in New Zealand. But higher on the list of popular sports simulation games is FIFA 22. Yes, FIFA 23 has its followers, but it was last year's release that took the game to a whole new level. Firstly, it was released with plenty of new modes. And unlike its predecessors, it focuses on football as a sport, as opposed to being limited to popular competitions and leagues. Its Volta football mode even allows players to enjoy street football.

Of course, there's no shortage of options when it comes to traditional football. There's a career mode, for example, or the option to play with friends online. And there's even five-a-side football. The best thing about FIFA 22, though, is that it upped the game when it comes to skillsets, speed, and mechanics.

Of course, FIFA 23 is more advanced - there was no point in it being released otherwise. And it provides an updated player list, with some players having moved to different clubs, as happens every year. It even comes with a Ted Lasso mode - how cool is that?

Online Slots

Slots (or, as New Zealanders call them, pokies) are very popular in the Kiwi nation. Unlike traditional slot machines, online slots provide higher RTPs and advanced graphics. So those are two big reasons that explain their online popularity. There are also plenty of ways to pay, with some casinos even dedicating themselves to a particular payment method. You can use your phone and play at a pay-by-phone bill casino, for example, if you enjoy your gaming on the go. And there are a ton of themes to choose from, such as sports, entertainment, and historical periods. Oh yes, slots can be educational too.

Starburst, Beach Life, and Age of the Gods are just a few of the world-famous titles enjoyed by New Zealand gamers. In fact, New Zealand's best slot sites offer literally thousands of titles to choose from on their sites.

Sonic Origins

Here's a collection of four absolute classic video games from the '90s: Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic CD, Sonic 2&3, and Knuckles. Yes, gaming giant Sony breathed new life into these titles to give them improved mechanics, more characters, infinite lives, and contemporary graphics.

Of course, Sonic games have long been popular. So, it was hardly surprising when so many New Zealand gamers wanted to check them out when they were re-released. Sure, there will have already been those who played Sonic titles regularly. But the new release offers new box art, rarities, and more features, including a boss rush, a mission mode, and a mirror mode.

Fortnite

Fortnite is one of the most popular online games in the world, and that includes New Zealand. But what is it about the game that makes it so popular? Well, it's incredibly competitive for one.

Every year, over 80 million gamers compete to win various prizes. Mobile players seem to particularly enjoy Battle Royale, the most popular of Fortnite's several modes. Players compete with 99 others in a bid to be the last person standing on a shrinking island. While the game can be played solo (and usually is), it can also be played with four partners or even a team of 20. That's a lot of competition indeed.

Grand Theft Auto V

Grand Theft Auto has shifted over a ridiculous 170 million copies since it launched back in 2013. To illustrate how significant that is, there are just slightly more than five million people living in New Zealand. So, if each one of those copies was sold in New Zealand, every single Kiwi would own at least 34 of them, on average. That just goes to show the sheer popularity of GTA around the globe. But what is it about GTA V that gamers love so much?

Well, for starters, it offers no end of exciting moments. You can engage in shootouts with the police, ride dirt bikes on top of trains, or hijack planes. Basically, the game is insanely versatile. Of course, the typical missions found in all action games are present. But then, so are side quests, along with an ability to trade stocks and manage properties such as clubs. It really is an entire world within a game.