There’s a good reason NetEnt became a major name in online slot development. The company’s slot-making roots go back to the 1970s, when its original brand, ‘Cherry’, supplied land-based casinos with mechanical slot machines.
Two decades later, the internet opened up new opportunities. To keep up with a changing market, Cherry’s founders moved into iGaming and established NetEnt in 1996.
NetEnt is now one of the best-known and largest online slot developers. Its catalogue includes more than 200 online slot titles, alongside partnerships with 20th Century Fox and Universal Studios. The company also describes itself as a serial award winner.
Among its notable honours, NetEnt received ‘Slot supplier of the year at the EGR B2B Awards 2019’, while its Jumanji slot won the ‘GGA Casino Product of the Year 2019’ award. Gonzo’s Quest ‘Touch’, NetEnt’s first mobile slot, also helped the company win awards for Innovation in Mobile and Innovation in Slot Provision at the EGR 2016 awards.
NetEnt’s award record is extensive, with at least one slot-related honour—and sometimes more—listed for every year from 2012 to the present.
This review looks at NetEnt’s reputation as an online slot innovator. It covers some of the studio’s most-played titles and its wider catalogue, exploring why the brand has become popular with players and casino operators.
High RTP (Return to Player)
NetEnt video slots are noted for their high RTP percentages. Titles with an RTP below 96% are said to be uncommon, while some NetEnt games are listed with RTPs as high as 99%. These are theoretical figures, not a promise of any individual result.
- Mega Joker – 99%
- Blood Suckers – 98%
- Secrets of Atlantis – 97.07%
- Blood Suckers 2 – 96.94%
- Jimi Hendrix – 96.90%
Jackpot Slots
NetEnt’s progressive jackpot network is described as the second-largest online network, after Microgaming’s MJPN. Its best-known titles include Arabian Nights and Mega Fortune, and Divine Fortune has also built a loyal following.
NetEnt’s Top 10 Progressive Jackpot Titles:
- Mega Fortune Dreams
- Mega Fortune
- Arabian Nights
- Mercy of the Gods
- Hall of Gods
- Divine Fortune
- Grand Spinn
- Super Lucky Frog
- Trollpot 5000
- Imperial Riches
No-Payline Slots
NetEnt was the second slot developer to bring the no-payline format to online games. In 243-ways-to-win slots, matching symbols need only appear on adjacent reels to form a winning combination, which can make wins easier to achieve. NetEnt later introduced reels in a 5x4 layout for 1024 ways to win, followed more recently by MegaWays slots, where expanding reels can offer up to 3,000 ways to win.
243-Ways-To-Win Slots:
- Alien Robots
- Victorious
- Temple of Nudges
- Twin Spin
- Jungle Spirit (expands to 1024)
1024-Ways-To-Win Slots:
- Gorilla Kingdom
- Rage of the Seas
- Cash-O-Matic
- Cash Noire
MegaWays Slots:
- Twin Spin MegaWays
- Divine Fortune MegaWays
Slots Inspired by Movies, Series and Music
NetEnt has become a leading developer of some of the best online slot titles inspired by musicians, films and television series.
NetEnt once had a larger selection of movie-themed slots, but titles such as Alien, Scarface, Frankenstein and South Park have since left its catalogue. The list below features some of the studio’s most-played games based on films, series and music.
NetEnt Slots based on series:
NetEnt Slots based on movies:
- Jumanji
- Robin Hood Shifting Riches
- The Invisible Man
- Planet of the Apes
- The Creature from the Black Lagoon
NetEnt Slot based on musicians:
- Jimi Hendrix
- Guns N’ Roses
- Motorhead
Classic slots
NetEnt’s classic collection now has only two titles as the developer focuses on 5-reel games. The studio is unlikely to release more 3-reel slots in the near future.
- Jackpot 6000
- Mega Joker
Cluster Pays Slots
Cluster Pays slots are becoming increasingly popular, and NetEnt has joined the trend. Its collection currently includes 10 cluster slot titles, with more releases in the pipeline.
- Aloha! Cluster Pays
- Berryburst Max
- Lost Relics
- Wild Worlds
- Emoji Planet
- Finn’s Golden Tavern
- The Legend of Shangri-La
Other Popular NetEnt Slot Titles
Evan Carrington highlights Street Fighter II, a slot based on a Nintendo game, as one of the more impressive recent releases. It’s a notable addition to NetEnt’s wider catalogue.
Starburst has also become one of Europe’s top 10 online slot titles. Each game listed below is described as ranking among the world’s 50 most-played slots.
- Street Fighter II
- Dead or Alive I and II
- Starburst
- Reel Rush and Reel Rush 2
- Finn and the Swirly Spin
- Scudamore’s Super Stakes
Why Play NetEnt Video Slots?
For dedicated online slot players, the question may be: why not try NetEnt? The main drawback is its relatively small selection of classic slots.
Beyond that, Evan Carrington describes NetEnt as arguably the world’s best slot developer, pointing to its impressive titles, features and design. This is an assessment of playability and enjoyment, not a promise of results. NetEnt’s desktop and mobile games continue to draw players worldwide.
