Why is NetEnt so Well-Known?
NetEnt has been building games since 1996, and they even helped define the modern online slot. Their Starburst and Gonzo's Quest titles made them one of the most valuable providers. They were acquired by Evolution in 2020 for almost $2 billion.
Clarification on authorizations
NetEnt, a subsidiary of Evolution, is licensed in more than 40 jurisdictions. The Malta and Gibraltar licenses now operate under a corporate group arrangement, while in New Jersey, the DGE expressly ruled that the takeover would not void NetEnt's license.
While new NetEnt slots aren't making waves anymore, their current games still top the charts across most online casinos. Based on my research, hundreds of thousands of people play Starburst every month, slightly more than those playing Gates of Olympus.
What Makes Their Slots Stand Out?
You've got the Avalanche, Cluster Pays, and InfiniReels mechanics. NetEnt either built these mechanics themselves or has been known to use them.
- Avalanche: Winning symbols disappear from the grid, letting those above fall in the space and potentially creating more combinations. They were the creators of these types of games, also known as cascading reels slots.
- InfiniReels: After each win, the grid will be upgraded with one more reel, thus multiplying the number of ways to win. This will also reward a respin, and the additional reels will be removed after getting a dead spin.
- Cluster Pays: This feature pays out when similar symbols land next to each other. You either need 3, 4, or 5 of the same symbols to activate it. Nowadays, they're most commonly found within instant games at Bitcoin casinos.
Clearing confusion
You might think that Reelplay came up with InfiniReels. Well, they've actually created Infinity Reels, which mostly does the same thing. However, instead of dragging the matter through courts (as other providers do), they agreed to work together in expanding these mechanics.
While NetEnt hasn't been as innovative since its acquisition in 2020, that also came with some benefits. They can now use branded mechanics from the likes of NoLimit City, Big Time Gaming, and Red Tiger Gaming, as they all operate under Evolution's umbrella.
This also leads to crossovers between popular slots and mechanics, such as Gonzo's Quest Megaways. Still, these new additions can't beat NetEnt's original games in popularity. I've played their well-known titles over the years, and I'll tell you about them in the next section.
Which NetEnt Slots Are Worth Playing for Real Money?
I believe you should play their most popular titles for real money. You know, there's a reason they're being played by a ton of gamblers each day. They're not guaranteed to hand out wins, but the payouts are mostly balanced.
Besides, the following games are widely regarded as the best NetEnt slots.
Starburst
![starburst game layout]()
Starburst is NetEnt's flagship title, and it mostly runs like a regular legacy slot. It has an average RTP of 96.08%, medium volatility, and a relatively low max payout of 800x. It’s a legacy space-themed slot with 7’s, BARs, and sticky expanding wilds.
I've played this game a few more times than I'd like to admit, and my last session was similar to the others. You might combine a few crystals every 5 - 10 spins, but the real payout comes from the sticky expanding wilds. These also give you respins, which is the best part, in my opinion.
Gonzo's Quest
![base game of gonzos quest by netent]()
Gonzo's Quest was the first slot to use the Avalanche mechanic. This is probably the reason it got so popular. That, alongside its typical RTP of 95.97%, medium volatility, and 2,200x max win.
Despite its medium volatility and cascading mechanic, I’m mainly playing it for the Free Falls feature. It's a regular bonus game, where you land 3 Free Falls symbols for 10 free spins.
These will also increase the starting multiplier to x3, and the maximum one to x15. Last time I played, this feature handed out x54 of my stake.
Dead or Alive
![dead or alive slot gameplay]()
If you want a snappier experience and higher payouts at the cost of more dead spins, Dead or Alive is for you. It has an average RTP of 96.82%, high volatility, and an 8,600x max payout.
I started out my last session on a stake of $0.90, and once again, I was surprised at how good a 2009 slot can look. Anyway, my first 50 spins amounted to charity for the casino, after which I landed 3 Revolver Scatters. The feature only paid me x18 though, so I ended up at a loss.
How Do These Titles Usually Pay Out?
The 95% - 97% rate of pay is considered normal, but the medium volatility isn't. Most other modern games crank up volatilities, so you get one big win at the cost of many uneventful spins.
Watch out!
While NetEnt states an average RTP for each game, each operator can customize it. A slot with a 96% rate in demo mode might have it set at 92% when playing at some casinos. Always check the slot's paytable.
Theoretically, the games from this provider strike a balance between the payout rate and the amount. In practice, I can see that these aren't exactly the best payout slots, but some gamblers can swear by them.
Some slots are different
NetEnt is still releasing games every once in a while, so of course, they also built titles with "insane" volatilities and max wins of 25,000x or so. However, those are just a slight part of their overall selection.
Why Should (Or Shouldn't) You Play NetEnt Slots?
You should play NetEnt slots because they mostly have balanced payouts and have shaped the industry. However, they also started to show their age. Neither Starburst nor Gonzo's Quest has a lot of mechanics. Besides, the visuals are subpar for today's standards.
If you're looking to play this kind of modern, dynamic game, you're better off looking through NoLimit City's slots. NetEnt might also seem like coming up with such titles nowadays, but they simply feel like copies of NoLimit's releases.
Take your time with them
Having hundreds of options ahead of you is exciting, but it's one of the traps I fell into a few years back. Don't fall into it yourself. Play games only when you've got extra time, but don't ignore other things in life. For a complete guide, check out our responsible gambling tips.
Let It Burn
Honestly this slot is rigged. Played five hundred spins and the bonus hit just once for barely twenty times my bet. The volatility is completely broken. Avoid wasting your cash here.
CashoMatic
The math model feels a bit heavy on the dead spins. Managed a 4x multiplier on Cash-O-Matic, but the overall return barely covered my bet level. Not sure I would grind this one for long.
Demon Beats
Scored a tiny 4.80 payout with a 4x multiplier active. The math model here feels sluggish, and building up to those higher steps takes forever with zero decent returns.
Nunchucks
Played this for an hour and while the multipliers and nun symbols add some nice action, the feature frequency felt a bit too low to keep my attention fully hooked.
Busters Bones
Hit a nice 105.60 win on Buster's Bones. The 5x multiplier wild really delivered when it mattered. Solid mechanics and rewarding sessions on this NetEnt slot.
Blood Suckers Tap A Roo
I just finished a really frustrating gaming session and honestly cannot recommend this machine to anyone. The math model feels completely brutal with no decent payouts whatsoever.