NetEnt

In one paragraph

NetEnt is one of the studios that set the basic rules of the online video slot. Features that are now standard, such as cascading reels, two-way paylines, respins and expanding wilds, appear in its early catalogue. Many of its best-known games are simple by today's standards, and that is part of why they still get played. If you want to understand where modern slot design came from, NetEnt is a good place to start.

We don't list any NetEnt games on SlotsRanker yet. The demo network we use carries 210 titles from this studio.

A 1996 company that became an Evolution brand

Evolution says NetEnt has been shaping the online video slot "since 1996". NetEnt was a listed company in its own right until Evolution bought it. The acquisition was completed on 30 November 2020, when Evolution held about 96.8% of NetEnt's shares. From 1 December 2020 the two companies operated as one group under the Evolution name, and Evolution's management took operational control of NetEnt.

The deal also brought Red Tiger, which NetEnt had bought in 2019, into Evolution. Today NetEnt is one of several Evolution brands, alongside Red Tiger, Big Time Gaming, Nolimit City and Ezugi. Evolution's brand page says NetEnt also supplies a selection of classic RNG table games as well as slots.

The mechanics NetEnt helped popularise

Evolution's page lists NetEnt's early contributions. Each one is common today:

• Avalanche. Instead of spinning, symbols fall into place. After a win, the winning symbols are removed and new ones cascade down, which can create more wins in the same spin. Gonzo's Quest is the game most associated with it. Many studios now use their own versions, such as Pragmatic Play's tumbles.
• Two-way paylines. Wins count from left to right and from right to left, so more combinations pay. Starburst is the best-known example.
• Respins and expanding wilds. A wild expands to fill its reel, stays in place, and the other reels spin again.

Put Starburst next to a modern six-reel grid slot and the difference is clear. NetEnt's classics usually have one main feature, a clear display and few menus.

The catalogue's anchor titles

Evolution names these as NetEnt's key games:

These games are very different from one another. Finn and the Swirly Spin replaces reels with a spiral grid, and Twin Spin is built around adjacent reels linking up. That variety is typical of NetEnt's older games. Each one tried a different layout rather than reworking the same grid.

RTP and volatility

We haven't found a NetEnt or Evolution document that sets out a studio-wide RTP policy or the number of RTP versions per game. We don't make general claims about lower-RTP builds here. When NetEnt games are added to SlotsRanker, each page will show that game's verified RTP and volatility.

How NetEnt differs from its Evolution sister studios

All three Evolution slot brands we review have different styles. NetEnt is the classic designer, with simpler rules and familiar layouts. Red Tiger is built around its jackpot network and engagement tools. Nolimit City sits at the other extreme, with dense mechanics and very high volatility. If Nolimit City feels like too much, NetEnt's catalogue is the calmer alternative under the same parent.

Who NetEnt suits

NetEnt suits players who want to understand a game within a few spins. It also suits anyone interested in slot history, because many features in newer games started here. Players looking for 25,000x-style ceilings and layered bonus menus will probably find the classic titles too simple.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Easy-to-follow classics with one clear main feature.
• Early versions of mechanics that are now standard, such as Avalanche.
• A varied range of layouts, including the swirl grid and linked reels.

Cons

• Many of the best-known titles are older and simpler than current releases.
• None of its games are on SlotsRanker yet.

NetEnt FAQs