Narcos Pros & Cons
Narcos delivers classic Aristocrat action with a proven track record. The choice-based free spins and stacked symbols create a good variety, but the RTP and max win won't impress everyone.
- 96.23% RTP beats industry average
- Hit frequency 26.7% = regular wins
- Walking wilds stay active multiple spins
- Three distinct bonus features
- Betting from £0.20 to £400 suits all budgets
- Max win 1,506x is weak for the volatility
- Free spins can take forever to trigger
- Base game payouts are small
- No buy bonus option
- Medium-high volatility = brutal dry spells
Narcos Slot Review: Pablo's Bonus Features Hit Different
Narcos brings NetEnt's take on the hit Netflix series to your screen, and it's better than you'd expect. The game has 5 reels, 3 rows, and 243 ways to win, plus walking wilds that stick around for multiple spins. We tested this slot, and the features actually hit pretty regularly thanks to a 96.23% RTP and 26.70% hit frequency.
The game looks sharp with comic book-style graphics instead of actual show footage. You get three main bonus features - the Drive-By where bullets turn symbols into wilds, the Locked Up bonus with Pablo's mugshot, and free spins with enhanced wild chances. The max win is 1,506x your stake, not massive by today's standards but decent for medium-high volatility.
Here's the thing - betting goes from £0.20 to £400 per spin, so casual players and high-rollers can both play. The walking wilds mechanic is pretty unique because they shift left after each win and stay active. Most branded slots feel like cash grabs, but NetEnt actually put effort into this one.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Developer | NetEnt |
| Release Date | May 23, 2019 |
| Reels X Rows | 5 X 3 |
| Paylines / Ways to Win | 243 Ways |
| RTP (Return to Player) | 96.23% |
| Volatility Level | Medium-High |
| Min Bet | £0.20 / $0.20 |
| Max Bet | £400 / $400 |
| Max Win Potential | 1,506x |
| Hit Frequency | 26.7% |
| Default Bet Range | £0.20 £400 |
| Mobile Compatible | Yes |
Symbols & Payouts
10 paying symbols total - playing card symbols at the bottom, higher paying symbols include a plane, flamingos, and characters from the show including agents Peña and Murphy. The card symbols are dressed up with guns and cash to match the theme.
💼 DEA Agents (Peña & Murphy) - High Value
The two DEA agents together are the top symbol, paying 300x your line bet for five of a kind. They're illustrated in their classic 1970s DEA gear, and the symbol lights up nicely when it wins. You'll see these less often than low-value symbols, but when they land in a good combo the payout is solid. Design is crisp with good detail on both agents' faces.
👤 Connie Murphy - High Value
Connie Murphy pays 250x for five matches. She's illustrated as a blonde character symbol, and appears slightly more often than the agents. The symbol has clear artwork and fills a full reel space, making it easy to spot during gameplay. Wins with this symbol come more regularly than the top-paying agents.
🎩 Cartel Boss (Gacha) - High Value
The cartel boss Gacha also pays 250x for five of a kind. Dark-suited character symbol representing the criminal side of the story. Same payout as Connie Murphy, and the frequency feels similar. Design shows a tough-looking cartel member, fits the crime theme perfectly.
🦩 Flamingo - Medium Value
Flamingo symbol pays maximum 120x your bet for a full line. Pink flamingo design references Pablo's famous exotic animal collection. You'll see this one fairly often - it bridges the gap between high-paying characters and low-paying card symbols. Simple but recognizable design.
✈️ Light Aircraft - Medium Value
The plane pays maximum 120x times your bet for five. Obviously represents drug smuggling planes from the era. Same payout as the flamingo, appears at similar frequency. The illustration shows a small propeller plane against a sky background, clear and easy to identify.
🃏 Ace (A) - Low Value
Ace symbol pays between 40x and 60x your bet for five. It's decorated with cash bundles and weapons to match the Narcos theme. You'll hit this one constantly, keeping small wins flowing during dry spells. Red/gold coloring makes it stand out from other card symbols.
.
👑 King (K) - Low Value
King pays 40x to 60x your bet like the other card symbols. Dressed up with rifles and grenades according to the crime theme. Appears very frequently, these card symbols make up most of your small wins. Color scheme helps distinguish it from the Ace.
👸 Queen (Q) - Low Value
Queen symbol pays 40x to 60x for a full line. Decorated with thematic weapon elements. High frequency appearance means you'll see this constantly. Part of the standard card symbol trio that keeps your balance ticking.
🎖️ DEA Badge Wild - Special Symbol
The DEA badge wild pays 300x for five and substitutes for any symbol except scatter and locked up. This is the walking wild that makes Narcos special. When the wild forms a win, it stays on the reels and moves one place left, giving you multiple chances. Gold badge design is instantly recognizable.
📷 Pablo Escobar Mugshot - Special Symbol
Landing three or more mugshot symbols on the same row triggers the Locked Up feature, with each symbol assigned a random value between 1-10x your stake. Black and white mugshot design is iconic. This doesn't substitute like a wild - it's purely a bonus trigger symbol.
🚗 Scatter Symbol - Special Symbol
Three scatter symbols across the reels unlock 10 free spins. The scatter shows a getaway car design. Unlike regular symbols, scatters don't need to be on adjacent reels. They can land anywhere on reels 1, 3, and 5 to trigger the bonus. Design shows action and movement.
| Symbol | 5 of a Kind | 4 of a Kind | 3 of a Kind | Special Properties |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
DEA Agents
|
60x | 15x | Highest regular payout | |
|
Connie Murphy
|
50x | 10x | High value character | |
|
Cartel Boss
|
50x | 10x | High value character | |
|
Flamingo
|
24x | 6x | Medium value | |
|
Aircraft
|
24x | 6x | Medium value | |
|
Ace (A)
|
12x | 3x | Low value | |
|
King (K)
|
10x | 2.5x | Low value | |
|
Queen (Q)
|
8x | 2x | Low value | |
|
DEA Badge
|
60x | 15x | Wild + Walking feature | |
|
Pablo Mugshot
|
Varies | Varies | Varies | Locked Up trigger (1-10x) |
|
Scatter
|
Bonus | Bonus | Bonus | Free Spins trigger |
Bonus Features
Three main features plus the walking wild mechanic. Each adds variety, though some trigger way more often than others.
| Feature Name | Trigger Method | Description | Max Potential | Frequency | Re-trigger |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Walking Wilds
|
Wild in winning combo | Wild moves left each spin | Varies | Common | Yes (multiple active) |
|
Drive-By Feature
|
Random in base game | Car shoots bullets, symbols become wilds | Varies | Medium | No |
|
Locked Up Feature
|
Respin feature with coin values | Up to high multipliers | Medium | Yes (respins) | |
|
Free Spins
|
10 spins, enhanced wild conversion | 1,506x max | Rare | Yes |
RTP & Volatility
96.23% RTP is slightly above industry average. Volatility sits at medium-high. Max win reaches 1,506x your bet.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
|
Min Bet
|
£0.20 |
|
Max Bet
|
£400 |
|
Max Win (at max bet)
|
£602,400 |
|
RTP %
|
|
|
Volatility
|
Medium-High |
|
Hit Frequency
|
Mobile
Works perfectly on mobile. The game is optimized for both Android and iOS devices. Graphics scale down nicely to smaller screens without losing detail. Touch controls are responsive, no mis-clicks or lag. Battery drain is normal, nothing excessive.
Tips:
Here are some practical tips from our testing:
Manage your bets for the volatility
Medium-high variance means dry spells happen. Don't bet so big that 50 dead spins wipe you out. We recommend 100x your bet size as minimum bankroll.
Watch for multiple walking wilds
When you get 2-3 walking wilds active at once, that's when big base game wins arrive. They can overlap and create wild-heavy screens.
The Locked Up feature pays better than it looks
Each mugshot gets 1-10x value. Three symbols with decent multipliers plus respins can score 50-100x total wins.
Free spins are rare but worth the wait
SlotsGamblers tested about 400 spins before hitting the free spins bonus. They don't trigger often, but the enhanced wild conversion makes them count.
Use autoplay for the Drive-By feature
It's completely random, so manually spinning won't help. Set autoplay with loss limits and let it run.
Similar Games
If you like Narcos, check out these alternatives:
Narcos Mexico
NetEnt's sequel to this game. Similar mechanics but different characters and slightly tweaked features. Same medium-high volatility range.
Peaky Blinders
Pragmatic Play's crime drama slot. Different era (1920s Birmingham) but similar dark theme and character-based symbols. Medium-high volatility.
Scarface
Another NetEnt crime slot based on the 1983 movie. Uses actual movie imagery instead of drawings. Walking wilds and free spins make gameplay similar to Narcos.
Goodfellas
Blueprint Gaming slot based on the Scorsese film. Crime theme with bonus features tied to famous movie scenes. Medium volatility, more accessible than Narcos.
Play Responsibly - 18+ Only
Gambling should be entertaining and fun. Remember that slots are games of chance, and there's no guaranteed way to win. Never gamble more than you can afford to lose, and always set limits for yourself. If you feel gambling is becoming a problem, please seek help immediately.
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
How do the walking wilds work in Narcos?
When a wild forms part of a winning combination, it stays on the reels and moves one position left with each spin. It keeps moving until it drops off the left edge. You can have multiple walking wilds active at the same time.
What triggers the Locked Up feature with Pablo Escobar's mugshot?
You need to land three or more Pablo mugshot symbols on the same horizontal row, then each symbol gets assigned a random value between 1-10x your stake. The symbols lock in place and you get respins to collect more.
Can you retrigger the free spins bonus in Narcos?
Yeah, walking wilds can prolong the free spins feature. If walking wilds are still active when your 10 spins finish, you keep spinning until they walk off the reels. Getting new scatters during free spins doesn't add more though.
Why is the max win only 1,506x when it's medium-high volatility?
Honestly, it's weak for the volatility level. Most medium-high slots offer 2,000-5,000x potential. The 1,506x max win is the biggest drawback of this game according to players. NetEnt probably limited it because of the Netflix licensing costs.
How often does the Drive-By feature trigger?
The Drive-By can randomly trigger at any point during base game. From what we tested, it hits roughly every 30-50 spins on average, but it's totally random so you might see it back-to-back or go 100 spins dry.
Is Narcos better for casual players or high-rollers?
More casual-friendly despite the medium-high volatility. The 26.7% hit frequency keeps small wins flowing, and the £0.20 minimum bet is accessible. High-rollers will get bored with the 1,506x max win - there are better options for big betting.
What's the hit frequency and what does it mean for gameplay?
Hit frequency is 26.70%, meaning more than every fourth spin results in a win. In practice, you'll see lots of small card symbol wins keeping your balance stable between bigger hits. It's not as brutal as low hit frequency games.
Does Narcos play better than other NetEnt branded slots?
It's middle of the pack for NetEnt. Better than some lazy licensed games, but not as good as Vikings or Jumanji. The walking wilds are cool but the limited max win holds it back. If you loved the Netflix show you'll probably enjoy it, but there's nothing groundbreaking here.