Narcos Slot Review
Narcos transports you straight into the gritty world of 1980s Medellin, where NetEnt has transformed the hit Netflix series into an action-packed slot game. Released on May 23, 2019, this officially licensed game captures the high-stakes drama of Pablo Escobar’s empire with stunning visuals and immersive gameplay. Our team tested Narcos extensively to see if it delivers on its promising theme, and we’re pleased to report a feature-rich experience with multiple bonus rounds and innovative mechanics. The game operates on a 5×3 grid with 243 ways to win, offering an RTP of 96.23% with medium-high volatility. Players can join the chase for Escobar with bets ranging from £0.20 to £400, targeting a maximum win of 1,506x bet. With four distinct bonus features including Walking Wilds, Drive-By transformations, Free Spins, and the Locked Up bonus, Narcos combines NetEnt’s trademark production quality with engaging mechanics. However, our testing revealed some challenges with feature trigger rates that affect the overall experience.
Base Game & Features
The base game immediately immerses you in the Colombian cartel world with richly detailed symbols and atmospheric sound design. NetEnt’s attention to detail shines through in every spin, from the period-accurate styling to the tension-building soundtrack. The 243 ways to win structure creates frequent winning combinations, supported by a solid hit frequency of 26.70% – that’s more than one win every four spins on average.
During regular gameplay, you’ll encounter the Drive-By feature at random. This clever mechanic sees a cartel member fire at the reels, transforming high-value symbols into Wilds. It’s a nice touch that keeps base game spins engaging between the bigger features.
The Walking Wilds mechanic adds another layer of excitement. When a Wild symbol appears in a winning line, it locks in place and shifts one reel left after each subsequent spin. Our team found this feature particularly satisfying during longer sessions, as multiple Wilds can accumulate and move across the reels together, creating extended winning sequences.
Bonus Features
Narcos packs four distinct bonus features, each offering different win potential and playing styles. Here’s what our testing revealed about each mechanic:
Walking Wilds
Wild symbols that appear in winning combinations don’t disappear. Instead, they stay on screen and move one reel to the left with each spin. This creates opportunities for consecutive wins as the Wilds traverse the reels. When multiple Wilds land simultaneously, they move together, potentially creating substantial win chains. Each time a Wild moves off the left edge during Free Spins, you’ll receive an additional free spin.
Drive-By Feature
This random base game feature triggers when a cartel member appears and fires at the reels, transforming high-value symbols into Wilds. Our team found this feature added welcome unpredictability to standard spins, though the resulting wins vary considerably. It’s a thematic touch that reinforces the game’s volatile, dangerous atmosphere.
Free Spins
Landing scatter symbols on reels 1, 3, and 5 simultaneously awards 10 free spins. During free spins, the Walking Wilds mechanic becomes particularly powerful. Each Wild that walks off the left edge grants an additional free spin, and with multiple Wilds in play, our sessions occasionally extended well beyond the initial 10 spins. However, we must note that triggering free spins proved challenging – the feature appeared approximately once every 300-350 spins in our testing, which aligns with reported trigger frequencies of 1 in 351 spins.
Locked Up Bonus
The standout feature is the Locked Up bonus, triggered by landing three or more Pablo Escobar symbols (his distinctive mugshot) on the same row. You’re transported to a separate set of reels where the triggering symbols lock in place. The feature awards three respins, resetting to three whenever new symbols land. When the respins run out, all locked symbols reveal cash prizes. Our team found this feature triggered far more frequently than Free Spins – roughly once every 120-125 spins – and it delivers wins up to 271x stake. The maximum recorded win from this feature in our sessions reached 185x, though the average payout typically ranged between 15x and 40x bet.
Verdict
Overall Rating: 3.8/5
Narcos delivers a visually stunning and thematically rich slot experience that successfully captures the tension and drama of the Netflix series. NetEnt’s production quality is exceptional, with immersive graphics, atmospheric sound design, and cleverly integrated features that reference the show’s storyline. The 96.23% RTP sits comfortably above industry average, and the medium-high volatility creates genuine excitement during bonus rounds. Our team particularly enjoyed the Locked Up feature, which triggered regularly and provided solid mid-range wins. The Walking Wilds mechanic adds strategic depth, especially during Free Spins when they can extend the round considerably. However, there’s a significant imbalance in feature accessibility – Free Spins proved frustratingly rare to trigger in our testing, appearing roughly three times less frequently than the Locked Up bonus. The 1,506x maximum win is respectable but feels somewhat conservative compared to newer releases offering 5,000x or higher. Players seeking huge jackpot potential may find this limiting. The game shines brightest for fans of the Netflix series who’ll appreciate the authentic atmosphere and character details. For general slots players, the experience sits somewhere between impressive presentation and gameplay that doesn’t quite match the visual excellence. Compared to other NetEnt branded slots like Jumanji (36,000x) or Planet of the Apes (3,000x), Narcos feels more restrained in its win potential. That said, the regular hit frequency of 26.70% ensures you won’t endure long dry spells, and the medium-high volatility suits players who prefer balanced gameplay over extreme variance. The mobile version performs flawlessly on both Android and iOS devices, maintaining the same quality and features as the desktop version. Ultimately, Narcos succeeds as a premium branded slot with excellent production values, though the gameplay experience may frustrate players expecting more generous feature triggers or higher maximum wins. It’s best suited for fans of the show or players who value atmosphere and design alongside solid, if not spectacular, win potential.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is the RTP of Narcos slot?
The RTP (Return to Player) percentage of Narcos slot is 96.23%, which indicates that the game returns an average of £96.23 for every £100 wagered over time. This is above the industry average and has been verified across multiple sources including NetEnt’s official specifications. -
How volatile is the Narcos slot game?
Narcos slot is a medium-high volatility game, which means it offers larger but less frequent wins. You can expect occasional dry spells punctuated by more substantial payouts, particularly when bonus features trigger. The hit frequency of 26.70% ensures more than every fourth spin produces a win, helping to sustain your balance between bigger wins. -
What is the maximum win on Narcos slot?
Landing the max win in Narcos awards 1,506x the bet, providing substantial winning potential for players. For example, a £10 bet could return £15,060 at maximum win. Additionally, the Locked Up bonus feature can deliver up to 271x stake independently, offering another avenue for significant wins. -
What are the bonus features in Narcos slot?
Narcos includes four distinct bonus features: Free Spins triggered by three scatter symbols on reels 1, 3, and 5 (granting 10 free spins with Walking Wilds that extend the round), Walking Wilds that stay on reels and move left after wins, Drive-By feature that randomly transforms high-value symbols to wilds during base game, and Locked Up feature triggered by three or more Escobar symbols for a respin bonus delivering up to 271x stake win. -
Is Narcos slot based on the Netflix series?
Yes, Narcos slot is an officially licensed branded game based on the hit Netflix series ‘Narcos’ that tells the story of the infamous drug lord Pablo Escobar and the DEA agents who pursued him. The game was developed in partnership with Gaumont International Television, the series’ production company, ensuring authentic representation of characters, atmosphere, and storyline elements from the show. -
What is the hit frequency of Narcos slot?
Narcos has a hit frequency of 26.70%, meaning that more than every fourth spin produces a winning combination. This relatively high hit frequency helps maintain engagement during gameplay and prevents extended losing streaks, though the medium-high volatility means individual win amounts will vary considerably.
