Net Entertainment – known as NetEnt – are behind some of the biggest innovations in slot gaming at the moment. Cascading wins is the best in-reel feature from this Swedish company, which has been around for more than 2 decades. NetEnt are also known for big jackpots, their flagship jackpot game, called Mega Fortune – is the current world record holder, having paid out close to 20 million Euros in one go.
I count 4 NetEnt slots among my personal favorites – and the newest titles are a must-see as they are released. The attention to detail in the graphics and themes, and focus on game-play above break out bonus games is what makes these slots unique. Unlike many other slots software makers, NetEnt do not offer downloads, their games are designed to work in your browser.
As with many of the big international slots software houses, NetEnt does not make their games available to US friendly casinos. You will find these games powering a new generation of casinos which aggregate the best games from several software houses. Mr. Green is a great example. This award winning casino is primarily powered by NetEnt slots, though also includes titles from IGT and MicroGaming.
Best NetEnt Slots
There are some branded tie-in games available, though for me these are not the best games. Aliens (based on the Movie) and South Park are two examples which are worth a look. There are two areas where NetEnt stand out. First the cartoon-like ‘quirky’ themes and second the games which are a little more ‘etherial’ with symbols floating in 3D and interesting behaviours. Examples of the second category include Magic Portals and Elements.
It is the more entertaining themes which will really blow you away. It would be easy to pass over a slot based on Jack and the Beanstalk or the 3 Little Pigs. I recommend that you play them instead – these are not only entertaining, they include some of the latest innovations in slot technology in the form of cascading wins.
What happens is that your wins disappear (or explode, depending on the slot), the win amount is credited first. The reels then fall down to fill in the gaps created. This makes more gaps at the top of the reels, which are filled by extra symbols. Sometimes you will get one or two more wins this way. Occasionally, this will result in a literal ‘cascade’ of wins – all from within the same spin.
It is going to be hard to pick just 3 slots from the NetEnt range, there are a lot of titles worth a look. The titles below cover the main options,
#1 Gonzo’s Quest: Some brand new game-play in this ‘Quest for Eldorado’ themed slot. Instead of spinning, the reels are made of blocks which kind of drop into place. The ‘Avalanche’ feature sees any win lines explode, with more blocks replacing them from above. Each time, your multiplier increases – which can lead to big wins during standard play. There is a free spins round (well, Avalanches) and a 3D ‘Gonzo’ to the left of the reels to add some entertainment while you play. A must see game, you can read my Gonzo’s Quest review for more.
#2 Mega Fortune: Impossible to leave out the biggest jackpot slot anywhere online. This is linked between NetEnt casinos, and the prize pool grows very quickly. With 19.8 Million Euros won recently, you’ll see that the prizes can literally change your life. The game itself is a simple 5 reel video slot, featuring symbols of luxury. Where you want to get is to the spinning wheel feature round, where you’ll have a shot at the big money (and some big alternative prizes too). Find out more about the biggest jackpot slot anywhere online in this review.
#3 EggOMatic: This is the best example of the innovation and quirkiness which makes NetEnt slots stand out from the crowd. This game is based on Chickens, after their egg factory was taken over by an evil chicken with his EggOMatic machine. Eggs appear above the reels, moving from right to left, and will interact with the symbols to give you extra bonuses. I love this game, which manages to keep the fundamentals of a great slot, while adding a lot of extra entertaining features.
Other NetEnt Slots
There are more than 100 titles, which range from innovative titles through to the standard 5 reel slots you’ll find just about everywhere. The usual themes are all covered, Egypt, King Arthur, Zombies and the Wild West. I cannot recall seeing a single slot from Net Entertainment that did not feel super professional in the attention to detail and the game-play.
While a lot of the game have free spin features, break-out bonus games are less common with these slots. Some players will see this as a positive, since games from other manufacturers can get a little too intensive these days. There are plenty of big wins to be had, these come via the free spins or simply lining up the symbols.
Device Compatibility of NetEnt Slots
There is no old-school download option for NetEnt slots. All of the games are available in your browser, these games work for both Windows and Apple Devices using a mix of HTML5 and Flash code.
In addition there is a range of games which have been specially adapted to Smartphones. The NetEnt touch range currently covers 25 titles. These include some excellent games – Gonzo’s Quest and Magic Portals and of course Mega Fortune are all included.