Why Nolimit City Changed the Casino Game Provider Industry
Amid a landscape of slot providers who stick to predictable patterns and safe themes, Nolimit City has carved out a position by embracing everything others avoid. Controversial subjects, a distinctive aesthetic, and a fiercely loyal player base have made this studio one of Evolution Group’s most influential assets.
Unforgettable Slots in a Sea of Sameness
While most slot developers focus on volume—churning out games based on recycled visuals and mathematical templates—Nolimit City has taken a very different path from the outset.
Their games aren’t designed for mass appeal. Each title is built on a bold creative concept and deliberately breaks away from the industry’s aesthetic norms. Instead of leaning on safe motifs like ancient Egypt, fruits, or mythology, Nolimit City embraces controversial and socially sensitive themes.
These games don’t try to please everyone—they aim to provoke strong reactions. Often not positive ones. Below are several examples that best demonstrate how far this studio is willing to go to disrupt the status quo.
Mental (2021)
One of Nolimit City’s most recognisable and polarising titles. Mental is set in what resembles an abandoned psychiatric facility, but instead of relying on graphic shock value, it adopts a cold, clinical aesthetic. The symbols include disturbed patients, anatomical body parts (eyes, brains, hearts, bones), and visuals resembling medical record sheets.
The slot was heavily criticized for exploiting mental illness stereotypes, accused of trivializing suffering and reinforcing outdated views of psychiatric treatment. Yet many players and critics praised Mental as a rare and coherent example of horror in casino games.
Mental was also one of the first Nolimit games to fully implement the xWays and xNudge systems, along with win multipliers tied to Enhancer Cells — mechanics that later became part of the studio’s signature style.
Remember Gulag (2022)
Set in a Soviet labor camp, this title sparked outrage even before its launch. Cold War visuals, characters inspired by Stalinist officials, and imagery tied to systemic repression triggered widespread criticism—especially across Eastern Europe.
Critics accused Nolimit of turning mass suffering into entertainment and disrespecting historical memory. While the studio did not release an official statement, co-founder Jonas Tegman emphasized that the game was intended as a form of historical commentary through dark satire.
The game remains available in most jurisdictions, though it has been banned in several countries, including Russia.
Kenneth Must Die (2024)
Here, Nolimit City pushed the boundaries further than ever before. The game parodies the picture-perfect world of American suburbia, where Kenneth — a smiling, clean-cut husband and father — hides a darker side full of fetish gear, leather masks, and latex fantasy. The visuals evoke a surreal blend of retro advertising and David Lynch.
Instantly deemed one of the most narratively risky slots in history, Kenneth Must Die includes overt references to BDSM, dark fantasies, and domestic abuse. Some operators refused to publish it, prompting the release of a “censored” version with toned-down visuals and audio.
Disturbed (2023)
Set in an underground clinic inspired by body horror and experimental surgery, Disturbed features deformed characters and a sterile, clinical atmosphere. Unlike Mental, this game focuses on physical distortion—pain, mutilation, and the loss of bodily control—rather than psychology.
Critics argued the game crossed a line—not of taste, but of decency. Some called it a fetishization of suffering, likening its aesthetic to B-movie gore rather than anything found in typical online slots. Still, it earned praise for creative consistency and uniqueness.
Home of the Brave (2025)
A confrontational satire of American pop culture and politics, Home of the Brave leans into chaos with a cast of distorted icons: George Washington in a face mask, Abraham Lincoln with an eyepatch, duck-masked caricatures, and symbols labeled “Karen,” “AR-15,” and “Joke.”
The action takes place underground, beneath a collapsing city and a White House on the brink, while buckets of fries marked Bomb Wild drop modifiers into play. All rendered in a pastiche style reminiscent of Idiocracy or South Park.
There’s no subtlety here—just direct commentary on consumerism and militarism in the U.S. Reactions in the States were mixed: some praised the boldness, while others accused Nolimit of being deliberately anti-American.
They Copy No One
What truly sets Nolimit City apart from hundreds of studios pumping out generic games is its complete creative independence. It doesn’t just tackle difficult topics—it avoids copying anyone else. Mechanics are proprietary, aesthetics are unique, and every title feeds into a coherent narrative vision.
Unlike most providers who prioritize B2B partnerships, Nolimit City actively fosters its player community. Its official site allows players to post screenshots, comment on new releases, watch big wins, and even view “monuments” honoring top users.
Loyalty to the brand is reinforced through merch. Fans can buy clothing and accessories associated with the company.
Evolution Knew What It Was Doing
In 2022, Evolution acquired Nolimit City for up to €340 million. Despite already owning NetEnt, Red Tiger, and Big Time Gaming, the group lacked a studio with a bold identity and the ability to generate organic buzz.
The move was strategic. Evolution dominates live casino, but had struggled to gain traction in the slots space. Internal RNG efforts had failed to rival market leaders like Pragmatic Play.
Nolimit City solved that problem instantly. It brought not just polished games, but something harder to build—an established brand with strong identity and direct access to players. Unlike NetEnt or Red Tiger, it didn’t need repositioning. It already functioned as a standalone platform with a community, a voice, and visibility that reached far beyond operators.
The acquisition had a clear goal: diversify revenue streams and strengthen Evolution’s slot portfolio without starting from scratch. In practice, all Evolution had to do was not interfere.
Did Nolimit City change the industry? Without question. Not by the size of its portfolio or production scale, but by redefining what it means to be a game provider. It proved that casino games don’t have to be predictable, safe, or engineered for the lowest common denominator.
In a market built on recycled models, Nolimit City stands out precisely because it refuses to be another copy of the same.