NetEnt’s glorious comeback in 2026

Sami Kurvinen

Published on: 06 October 2026

5 minutes

The year is nearing its end, but we can already say that NetEnt is the game studio that has made the most impressive comeback of 2026.

Instead of releasing new online slots at the rapid pace of some other major slot developers, NetEnt has doubled down on quality and ensured each new release has something special to offer, and it shows.

NetEnt in 2026

NetEnt is one of the most iconic game studios in the online casino industry, having started creating games back in the 1990s. They are known for creating iconic slots such as Starburst, Gonzo’s Quest and many other classics.

However, after Evolution’s acquisition in 2020, NetEnt struggled for several years and wasn’t up to par with some of the best in the business.

That has all changed again in 2026, and the comeback coincided with its 30th anniversary.

One reason for its impressive shift back to being one of the best slot developers is likely allocating more resources, hiring top staff, and shifting talent around within the company. The hiring of experienced Tiger Holmgren has also made its mark.

NetEnt’s best releases in 2026

NetEnt released 12 new online slots in 2026, with at least 5 more games in the pipeline for the year.

These are the new top games from NetEnt that have received high ratings at CasinoWizard.com and that we would like to highlight.

Dead or Alive 3

The original Dead or Alive from 2009 was one of the first riskier games to hit the market, and its theme, volatility, and sticky wilds in the free spins made it popular. It’s also one of the games that has iconic status today.

NetEnt honoured that legacy when they released Dead or Alive 2, a brilliant sequel.

Our and the industry’s expectations were therefore sky-high when NetEnt launched Dead or Alive 3 in March 2026, and oh boy did it deliver.

We gave it a 9.5/10 rating and especially enjoyed the overall look, the added fully stacked wilds (that can collect multipliers from regular wilds), and the exciting free spins. It also felt like a clever decision to continue with the details that have worked before and add a few new things without overloading it with features.

In and Out

In And Out was another fresh release with a fun slot character that we got introduced to, and the game got an 8/10 rating from us at CasinoWizard.

We are joined by the French thief Chloé in this beautifully designed, well-balanced scatter-pays slot. The avalanches, expanding reels, and the heist mode made this an exciting game to play.  

Spice

Spice was another top slot that received an 8.5/10 rating from us.

NetEnt did something clever here by using a familiar Mexican/Miami/Scarface vibe, but leaving out the violence and letting animals portray the characters without losing the intended associations.

It’s a straightforward slot that relies on avalanches and increasing multipliers, but it has a brilliant feature lane that adds something extra. This one is a joy to play!

Judgemental

Creating an online slot based on a talent show is no easy task, but NetEnt pulled it off brilliantly with Judgemental, which we rated 8/10.

This is an ambitious project where all the added features somehow add to the talent show theme and make sense. For example, the judge, bribe, applause, and tomato features were all created after careful consideration.

Another great detail is that NetEnt is showing the courage to create online slots such as Judgemental in 2026 instead of releasing another reskin or something else that we have seen way too many times.

Judgemental is an example of a game studio that doesn’t choose the easy way out.

Aftermath

Aftermath is another outstanding release that we gave a 9/10 rating. This game targets high-risk, high-reward players, with a max win of 25,000x the bet.

This game features a Dark and gritty post-apocalyptic theme and is packed with features and modifiers.

We advise you to try the game for its artwork, the soundtrack and all the little intricacies if you haven’t done so already.

Demon Beats

Let’s see if Demon Beats becomes the last NetEnt slot to receive a top score, as there are still a few in the pipeline after this one.

We rated this slot 8/10 as it’s one of those games that is hard to close down, as it’s so damn entertaining.

The backbone relies on avalanche wins and increasing multipliers, but the added features complement the game really well.

There is even a hint of Gonzo in this slot, which makes us wonder if it shouldn’t have been a Gonzo slot. It’s a great game, nevertheless, and another statement of NetEnt’s brilliance in 2026.

NetEnt in 2027

Some game studios rely on their legacy brands to do the heavy lifting by releasing numerous reskins or follow-ups. Others instead focus on creating new experiences for their players.

NetEnt was somewhere in between during 2026, with a bigger focus on creating new slot brands.

The sequels/follow ups included Rabid Randy Gone Fishing, Dead or Alive 3, Divine Fortune Gold, Fruit Shop Grand Re-Opening, and Jack and the Beanstalk 2.

Dead or Alive 3 was the highlight of these, while Jack and the Beanstalk 2 was the biggest disappointment.

We expect them to continue on a similar path in 2027, using their strong, familiar brand assets alongside new, bold releases, as in 2026, when they experimented with new things.

Will we see a new Gonzo or Starburst slot in 2027? Maybe a new Finn, Jack Hammer or Twin Spin slot? What about Hotline 3?

It would also be interesting if NetEnt started experimenting with huge branded releases again and also notifying the industry during the ICE event of their next upcoming mega slot , like they used to. Bring that tradition back, please!

Anyway, one of the highlights of 2026 has been seeing this glorious comeback by NetEnt, and we hope they will continue on this trajectory in 2027.

To be continued…