Narcos slot review

Checked by Lorella F.

One of the most iconic kingpins of the crime world has now been immortalized in NetEnt’s online slot Narcos. Released in 2019, this online slot follows the story of one of the most influential drug lords, the infamous Pablo Escobar.

With 243 ways to win, NetEnt invites you to play a slot game that is jam-packed with bonus features over 5 reels and 3 rows.

The Narcos RTP stands at 96.23%, which is slightly above average. The game enjoys medium to high volatility, which means that your wins will be substantial if and when they come around.

Keep on reading our Narcos slot machine review to learn more.

77 /100 Expert rating byChristopher G.
demo

Highlights

RTP 96.23%
Stakes range 100
Volatility Med-High
Max win 1,506x
Number of reels 5
Number of rows 3
Number of paylines 243
Software provider NetEnt
Slot type Video slots
Slot theme TV Series
Launch date 23/05/2019

General ratings

77 / 100 Expert rating by Christopher G.
75 Payouts rating
65 Stake limits rating
85 Bonus features rating
85 Audiovisuals rating
80 Game layout rating
70 Repeatability rating
How we rate
76 Playscore based on 6 critics
91
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Narcos slot casinos – the best deals for real play

The good news is that since this is a NetEnt production, finding this game at your favorite online casino or sweeps cash casino should be easy and straightforward. Software game developer NetEnt is well-known all over the world, and their portfolio features prominently in most major casinos. NetEnt games are known for their embellished graphics and stunning in-game features; this title offers both.

In this review, we’ll have a look at some of the best US online casinos that offer this game in their libraries.

Choose the best Narcos casino site based on your tastes and requirements from the list below.

Casino Logo Odds rating Bonus Go to casino Button Show more T&C
1
Caesars review
88/100 Games rating by Ian Z. 86% Playscore based on 100% up to $2,500 and 2,500 Reward Credits on a $25+ wager
Play now

Good to know

  • Caesars Rewards loyalty program
  • Quick registration
  • Over 1,000 games

11 payment methods

Visa
MasterCard
PayPal
Play+
PayNearMe
VIP Preferred
American Express
Discover
Bank Transfer
Cash at Casino Cage
Apple Pay
2
Borgata review
87/100 Games rating by Ian Z. 92% Playscore based on $20 Bonus Dollars + 100% up to $1,000
Play now

Good to know

  • 12 payment methods
  • 24/7 support
  • Quick sign-up process

13 payment methods

Visa
MasterCard
PayPal
Play+
Skrill
Apple Pay
PayNearMe
American Express
VIP Preferred
Discover
Bank Transfer
Cash at Casino Cage
e-Check
3
BetMGM casino review
85/100 Games rating by Ian Z. 91% Playscore based on 100% up to $1,000 + $25 Free Play
Play now

Good to know

  • 20+ software providers
  • 24/7 support
  • Play over 700 games

14 payment methods

PayPal
VIP Preferred
Play+
Visa
MasterCard
Discover
American Express
PayNearMe
Cash at Casino Cage
Bank Transfer
Skrill
TAPPP
GAME ON
Apple Pay

Scores Casino is an international casino that welcomes players with a plethora of seriously good deals. There is a bountiful welcome package and a lucrative VIP program amongst other things. This lesser-known online casino excels in an industry that is rife with competition. It brings to the table a huge range of top online slot games and generous promotions.

Players can enjoy the majority of NetEnt’s game catalog and participate in live casino games at Scores. In addition to offering a lot of exciting games, their generous online casino bonuses go toward helping to stretch out the ol’ bankroll.

Unibet, on the other hand, requires very little introduction. This is an online gambling site that has been around for decades. It offers a great no deposit bonus and an even better welcome deposit bonus.

Besides sports betting, it also hosts 100+ slot games, including all NetEnt favorites and the most thrilling jackpot games.

Narcos RTP and volatility

The Narcos RTP stands at 96.23%, which is slightly higher than the average. If we had to look at other games released by NetEnt lately, this RTP registers slightly lower than other offerings.

The only way to hit the big prize though is by landing 5x wilds on a single spin. You have to keep your fingers crossed on that one.

Payouts facts

CategoryDetails
RTP96.23%
Maximum win1,506x
Highest-paying symbolPablo Escobar symbol
VolatilityMedium to High

Though the variance might put some players off, there are quite a number of features that can lead to big wins. As usual, the free spins bonus round plays a huge part, but the walking wilds really boost your chances of hitting it big.

There are also multipliers available during the free spins round, which can go from 2x to 10x.

Payouts rating

75/100 Walking wilds and other great features
  • Walking wilds mode is a nice touch
  • Varying multipliers during the free spins round
  • High variance
  • High variance may not be good for low-rollers
  • Free spins round is difficult to trigger

The Narcos game has got it all. The entertainment factor is huge. I was pleased to see that the walking wild feature, first seen in the Jack and the Beanstalk game, has made a return. Nothing is quite as thrilling as walking wilds, especially since the wins don’t come as frequently as I would like them to.

Even so, one should manage their bankroll and play it safe due to the varying volatility levels. While it can be challenging, it also adds to the fun factor.

Overall, the bonus features available in this game are more than enough to keep me pinned to my seat.

Narcos stake limits – how much can you bet & win?

Like most NetEnt games, the Narcos game has got a bit of everything to spice up your session. This is a game that comes with plenty of features and bonus rounds designed to keep players coming for more. Though this game was released in 2019, it is already somewhat of a classic. The game’s low minimum stake size can take a little credit for that.

Stakes facts

CategoryDetails
Minimum bet$0.20
Maximum bet$100
Adjustable paylinesNo
Bet per line$0.01
Buy featureN/A

Players can spin the reels at $0.20 a go, which makes for a pretty cheap date in this day and age. An increasing number of online slot games have higher minimum stakes. Indeed, most jackpot games and other online slot games by NetEnt have higher minimum stakes.

High rollers, however, may not be too pleased with the maximum stake of $100 per spin. It’s significantly lower when compared to $200 wagers accepted in other games.

Stake limits rating

65/100 High rollers look elsewhere
  • A solid range of bet sizes.
  • Ideal mostly for low rollers
  • Maximum limits could be higher

The maximum stake levels may not be up to high rollers’ tastes, but the low minimum stakes are great for low rollers. The minimum stake of $0.20 per spin is suitable for every type of bankroll.

I was quite delighted at seeing lower minimum bets. Sometimes games with higher than average payout percentages tend to have higher stakes. This is not the case here.

The autoplay function allows players to sit back and enjoy the show. Like most online slot games by NetEnt, you can stop the Autoplay function when you hit a win, if free spins are won, or if you hit a high win or low limit.

Narcos bonus features

This game is definitely not short on bonus features. It comes with no less than 4 in-game features, including the walking wild, the Drive-by, the Locked up, and the free spins feature.

Feature facts

CategoryDetails
WildsYes
ScattersYes
Other special symbolsN/A
Gamble featureNo
Reel featuresN/A
Free spinsYes
RespinsNo
MultipliersYes
Other bonus featuresWild, Drive-by feature, Locked up, Free spins bonus round

In order to activate the Narcos free spins bonus round, you would need to land a scatter on reels 1, 3, and 5. When this happens, you are immediately rewarded with 10 free spins. Of course, if you land 4 scatters, you get 16 free spins, while 5 scatters earn you 20 generous free spins.

During this round, a high-value symbol will magically transform into a walking wild. It gets better though. If any walking wilds are still available on the reels at the end of the free spins round, extra spins will be awarded until they drop away.

Bonus features rating

85/100 Free spins galore
  • You can land between 10 and 20 Narcos free spins
  • Narcos free spins and walking wilds combo
  • High variance can lead to few wins
  • Narcos free spins bonus round is not easily triggered

The Narcos free spins bonus round is where all the action takes place. While most games’ entertainment value is traditionally based around the free spins bonus, I have to admit that it feels like a welcome extra here.

There are plenty more bonus features that spice up the gaming session. That being said, the fact that you can re-trigger the free spins bonus round is always welcome. One must also hope on having walking wilds at the end of the round in order to land a few more spins.  Hitting the free spins round is also a challenge itself.

I experienced this game’s high variance firsthand. I could barely hit any wins during my dance with the drug lords and felt that my playing time could have been spent better elsewhere.

Walking wild feature

Symbolised as a shiny DEA badge, the walking wild feature acts as a regular wild, except for one distinctive feature. The walking wild shifts 1 position to the left with each spin until it drops off reel 1.

Unlike the Jack and the Beanstalk slot game, the walking wild does not trigger respins, so when they land on the reels, they’ll stay put until you click on the ‘Spin’ button.

Drive-by feature

The Drive-by feature is randomly triggered in the base game as a speeding car pulls up from behind the reels, and a gunman opens fire. The highest value symbol on the reels will be struck by a flying bullet and transformed into a wild symbol.

Locked up feature

To trigger this feature, you’ll need to land three or more Escobar Locked up poster symbols on the same spin. When this happens, you will be allocated a value of between 1 and 10x your total stake.

This feature kicks off with three respins on the reels made up of blanks. Only Locked up and golden briefcase symbols will pop up on the reels. When three or more symbols of a kind connect, they form a winning cluster, and a random value of 1 to 10x your stake is awarded.

If, on the other hand, three or more golden briefcase symbols connect, you will receive one of the following:

  • Multiplier: All coin values connected to the cluster will be multiplied by 2x or 3x.
  • Upgrade Symbols:  Multiple upgrade values in increments of 1x your wager are added to the symbols.
  • Big Starting Value: The golden briefcase symbol is awarded an extra starting value.

Every time a symbol connects to a cluster, the spin count is reset to three. The feature comes to an end when no new symbols form part of a cluster.

Free spins bonus round

Land three or more scatter symbols on reels 1, 3, and 5 to land between 10 and 20 free spins, depending on the number of scatters landed. When initiating the bonus round, you’ll benefit from the Drive-by feature which is available on every spin. The walking wilds are also available during this round.

Narcos audiovisuals

Since this is an online slot game that is based in South America, the soundtrack has a special Latin tinge to it. The Mariachi-style music sometimes makes you forget that this is a crime-themed game and instead puts you in the mood to dance.

Audiovisuals facts

CategoryDetails
ThemeCrime
GraphicsRetro
AnimationsYes
Sound qualityGood
Mobile compatibilityGreat

The graphics of the slot game are retro-based and come with vintage imagery. That being said, NetEnt has done an exceptionally good job in marrying vintage and modern imagery. The Drive-by feature sees some cool animations in the background.

And since prominent software game developer NetEnt is behind this game, the slot game was created fully optimized and responsive to work across a variety of devices, including mobile, tablets, and desktop.

Audiovisuals rating

85/100 Entertaining gameplay
  • Retro graphics and superb animations
  • Subtle and catchy soundtrack
  • None

This is a game based on a series about violence and illicit drugs; however, NetEnt decided to tone down the morbid aspects of the storyline and give it a more jovial feel. Nevertheless, this slot is as exciting as a night in Tijuana. I have to admit the soundtrack is quite catchy, and I caught myself humming along numerous times.

The graphics are also well-done and embellished to high standards. The animations are a nice touch and really bring the game to life. Overall, the game’s graphics and soundtrack were a delight. They were a welcome distraction from the losing streaks.

Narcos game layout

The Narcos slot machine follows the traditional reel setup of 5 reels and three rows. There are no expanding reels here, so the game is quite basic in that sense. With no cascading or tumbling reels, the game follows a conventional model that should appeal to most players.

Layout facts

CategoryDetails
Reel layout5×3
AutoplayYes, with win and loss limits
Turbo modeNo
Ease of useEasy
Game historyYes

The autoplay is akin to that found in most slot games by NetEnt. You can apply win and loss limits, and stop the autoplay function if you hit a win or when you enter the free spins round. This gives you ample control over your gaming session.

Game layout rating

80/100 Simple with a high variance
  • Traditional reel setup
  • Very easy game to grasp
  • High variance throws a damper on things

NetEnt took a hit series and turned it into a superb online slot game with plenty of bonus features. Though the reel setup is quite basic, the additional features make this one a must-play.

Other crime-themed games from NetEnt, such as Scarface, come with some additional features like stacked wilds. This game could have gone from great to amazing with a few more of those types of added features. Its high variance is somewhat of a drawback as well.

Expert verdict: Is Narcos worth playing on repeat?

It is definitely an online slot game worth checking out. Thanks to the minimum bets, players with different bankroll sizes will be able to spin this game. Its many bonus features compensate for the long losing streaks you’ll endure.

Hitting the free spins round is also very difficult. Though there will be many times when it appears you will land that third free spins symbol, chances of doing so are slim.

The volatility levels also have a huge role to play here, so things can be difficult if your bankroll is scant.

Nevertheless, I think there are many positives to this title. If you love high variance games, by all means, give this one a go. If you also love games packed with bonus features, this could easily become a favorite.

Just make sure you have a good bankroll strategy in place before setting off. The dry losing spells can be brutal.

Repeatability score: 75

  • Several bonus features
  • Stunning graphics and immersive soundtrack
  • Wilds and multipliers boost wins
  • Long losing streaks due to high variance
  • Narcos free spins bonus rounds don’t come by too often
  • High variance can be brutal to one’s bankroll

FAQs

Where can I play the Narcos slot machine?

NetEnt’s Narcos slot machine is widely available across the US market. We highly recommend trying it in demo mode first before buying in with real money at 888Casino and Scores Casino.

What was the Narcos slot game released?

The Narcos slot machine was released in May 2019.

Can I play Narcos for free?

Yes. You can play this game in free demo mode before playing with real money, which gives you plenty of opportunity to learn the mechanics of the game.

What is the Narcos RTP and volatility?

The Narcos RTP stands at 96.23% and comes with medium to high volatility.

Does Narcos come with jackpots?

Although Narcos does not come with any jackpot prizes attached, you have the chance to win a maximum of 1,506x your stake if you land 5 wilds on a single spin. Check out our bonus section to find out more.

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