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High Volatility Slots - Best High Variance Slots

By Ville Saari. Updated:

Find the best high volatility slots in the UK. We've picked the top high variance online slots for you on this page.

High variance slots are wild and swingy games that offer exciting gameplay, big wins and impactful bonus features. The downside is that the low-end wins are few and far between.

Discover high volatility slots, learn how these games work and what makes them different. You can also find game providers that make the games with the highest volatility.

Highest Volatility Slots in 2024

The highest volatility slots in 2024 are listed in the table below:

Rank Name RTP Max Win Where to Play
1. Big Bass Splash 95.67% 5,000x Play at PlayOJO
2. Loner 96.06% 14,999x Play at Spin Rider
3. Book of Dead 94.25% 5,000x Play at Monster Casino
4. Wanted Dead or Alive 94.55% 12,500x Play at Unibet
5. Chaos Crew 96.30% 10,000x Play at Ahti Games
6. Bonanza Megaways 96.00% 26,000x Play at Videoslots
7. Book of Goddess Mega Moolah 86.71% 5,000x Play at LeoVegas
8. Rise of Olympus 94.51% 5,000x Play at No Bonus Casino
9. Buffalo King Megaways 95.55% 5,000x Play at Rizk
10. San Quentin 2: Death Row 94.03% 200,000x Play at Spin Station

High Variance Slots Sites

We have a list of popular slot sites that are great for high variance slots. These casino sites have games from the biggest high volatility game providers.

The high variance slot sites are listed below:

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Best High Volatility Slots: Top 10

We have selected here the best high volatility slots for you to try. All games listed are picks from our own casino experts.

The best high volatility slots are listed below:

1.Big Bass Splash

Big Bass Splash online slot screenshot

The Big Bass series is one of the most well-known high volatility slot families ever made. The Big Bass Splash is the fifth game and the one that people play the most. One factor is that many casinos give you free spins and bonus spins for it, but that alone isn't everything.

The game was made by Reel Kingdom and released by Pragmatic Play, which means it is available on most UK online casinos.

Big Bass Splash is a perfect example of a high volatility game. The base game is fairly weak, but as soon as you hit those free spins and get the bonus modifiers, the game changes completely. The wins and features are ramped up to eleven, and you feel like a real fisherman when you start pulling those big catches.

RTP 95.67%
Max Win 5,000x
Features Free Spins, Bonus Modifiers, Cash Symbols,


Play at PlayOJO »


2. Loner

Loner online slot screenshot

Loner parks you in front of the TV to enjoy the non-stop shopping action like a real couch potato. The game is full of dark humour and endless possibilities to waste time away until you drop.

NoLimit City's gritty themes may be a bit much for some players, but there's no denying that the game is full of unique action.

The game features big wilds, scatters and more bonus games than you can shake a stick at. From actual video games to shooting ducks on the screen, you are in for quite a ride.

There is a huge potential for big wins if you get the right features and right multipliers. The maximum win is 14,999 times your bet.

RTP 96.06%
Max Win 14,999x
Features Free Spins, Big Wilds, Bonus Games, Splitting Symbols


Play at Spin Rider »


3. Book of Dead

Book of Dead online slot screenshot

Book of Dead is one of the most well-known slots there are, period. Released in 2016, Book of Dead quickly became one of Play'n GO's all-time success stories. It tells you something that there is now a whole category of games called Book of... slots, which are all based on this one slot.

So, what is the secret to success? It is the volatile gameplay combined with impactful special features. Players who love it when big things happen have been enamoured by Book of Dead.

The free spins are what you are after here. When the free spin feature starts, one symbol is randomly chosen as the expanding special symbol. If it would create an additional winning combination, that symbol will always expand to fill the entire reel. This becomes quite lucrative if that symbol happens to be one of the high-paying ones.

RTP 94.25%
Max Win 5,000x
Features Expanding Symbols, Free Spins


Play at Monster Casino »


4. Wanted Dead or Alive

Wanted Dead or Alive online slot screenshot

Wanted Dead or Alive is one of Hacksaw Gaming's most popular high volatility slots. It is a Western-themed slot with duels to the death. Life is cheap in these parts, and getting a shot in at the right moment might mean a better multiplier for you.

The game has a fairly low hit rate, meaning that you are going to play a lot of losing rounds before hitting anything. But if that anything happens to be three of the same scatters, you start one of the bonus free spin features.

Out of all the bonus games, the Dead Man's Hand is the one with the highest potential. You first collect extra wilds and multipliers for the spins, and then play until you get three consecutive losing spins.

RTP 94.55%
Max Win 12,500x
Features Expanding Wilds, Free Spins, Sticky Wilds,


Play at Unibet »


5. Chaos Crew

Chaos Crew online slot screenshot

Chaos Crew is visually in a class of its own. The design of the game is out of this world, and there are no other games quite like this. Well, except for its sequel, which wasn't quite as popular as the first game.

The game was released in 2020 by Hacksaw Gaming and has become a staple for many UK casinos. It can be quite often found in the most popular slots category.

The base game here holds no thrills. It's all about those free spins. When they start, only the Skull and Cat symbols remain on the reels. They will increase the total win multiplier on top of that reel, and if you get the Epic symbol, it will boost all of them. At the end of the free spins, your multipliers are added together and your bet is multiplied by that amount.

RTP 96.30%
Max Win 10,000x
Features Free Spins, Increasing Multipliers


Play at Ahti Games »


6. Bonanza Megaways

Bonanza Megaways online slot screenshot

Bonanza Megaways is the father of all Megaways slots and a highly popular high volatility slot. This game was the reason why Big Time Gaming is such a highly-praised provider nowadays.

At start, the game might feel a little complicated, as the number of symbols on the reels changes with each spin. However, there's no difference in value when it comes to symbol sizes. It's just how many paylines you can have this round.

Where the magic happens is the free spins. When you get the GOLD letters, you start the free spins, which can last for a while. You can get more spins, and each win will permanently increase the multiplier by one. There is no cap for the multiplier.

RTP 96.00%
Max Win 26,000x
Features Cascading Wins, Free Spins, Growing Multiplier, Megaways


Play at Videoslots »


7. Book of Goddess Mega Moolah

Book of Goddess Mega Moolah online slot screenshot

Book of Goddess Mega Moolah combines two popular games together to create one amazing high volatility slot. It is both a Book of slot and a Mega Moolah progressive jackpot game.

The first thing you might notice is that the RTP and the maximum win are quite low. That, however, is not the full picture. The progressive jackpot can reach up to several million pounds, which skews the RTP value quite a bit.

If you've ever played Book of Dead or Mega Moolah, you already know how this slot works. The base game is quite weak, but the expanding symbols during the free spins feature is where the big wins are. And during every single round, the Bonus Wheel may pop up and give you a chance to win any of the progressive jackpots.

RTP 86.71%
Max Win 5,000x
Features Progressive Jackpot, Free Spins, Expanding Symbols


Play at LeoVegas »


8. Rise of Olympus

Rise of Olympus online slot screenshot

Play'n GO's Rise of Olympus is a slot you can find on many UK casinos, and for a reason. The game is very popular due to its multitude of special features and potential high payouts.

Rise of Olympus is a cluster slot, meaning there are no paylines. Instead, you win if there are at least three of the same symbol anywhere in a row. The symbols are also removed from the reels, creating new possible winning combinations.

The gods themselves play a big part in this game. Hades, Poseidon and Zeus can randomly join the fray and bring their powers to the table. Hades can change symbols, Poseidon adds wilds to the reels, and Zeus takes symbols out and adds wilds in their place.

RTP 94.51%
Max Win 5,000x
Features Cluster Pays, Symbol Substitution, Free Spins, Multipliers, Random Wilds


Play at No Bonus Casino »


9. Buffalo King Megaways

Buffalo King Megaways online slot screenshot

Buffalo King series has been the choice of many high volatility slots fans. The series started with the classic Buffalo King slot, but one of the most popular iterations is the Megaways version. This brings a whole new level of extreme gameplay to the mix.

Just like with all other Megaways slots, the number of paylines varies with every spin. The size of the symbol does not matter, only how many of them you get.

The key feature here is the free spins bonus mode. There, you get an ever-increasing multiplier that grows with each win. When you get long cascades, the multiplier will go absolutely wild.

RTP 95.55%
Max Win 5,000x
Features Cascading Reels, Megaways, Free Spins


Play at Rizk »


10. San Quentin 2: Death Row

San Quentin 2 online slot screenshot

If you thought NoLimit City's San Quentin had high volatility, you will be surprised to see where San Quentin 2 is at. This game is listed as insane volatility. The maximum payout is a good indicator here where this game is at.

The visual design follows the same prison theme as the first but takes things a bit further. Now we are in death row and everything is thrown out the window.

The game is filled with special features, each more excessive than the next. Splitting wilds, Cell Modifiers, and Green Mile Free Spins are just the tip of the iceberg. If you want to play extreme, then this is the game for you. But beware, this might be a bit much for some players.

RTP 94.03%
Max Win 200,000x
Features Free Spins, Free Spin Multipliers, Random Multipliers, Reelset Change, Jumping Wilds


Play at Spin Station »

New High Volatility Online Slots

The rate at which new high volatility slots keep popping up is astonishing. Players and providers both love these games, and most of the big game releases you see these days are high volatility slots.

If you want to find the freshest games, you can take a look at what the new slots sites have for you. Their game libraries are often fresher and have fewer old games clogging the pipes.

Here are some of the popular new high volatility online slots:

High Volatility Slot Games With High RTP

RTP is the statistical average of how much the slot will pay out after millions of rounds. The higher the RTP is, the better it is for the player.

It is true that many of the highest RTP slots UK has available are low volatility slots, but there are some that are more volatile.

Check out these high RTP, high volatility slots:

What Does High Volatility Mean in Slots?

Volatility gauge with high results

High volatility in slots means that the game has a swingy payout structure with deep lows and tall highs. The payouts are very top-heavy, which means you get longer periods with no wins at all, and when you do get to those bonus features, you win big.

High volatility games are perfect for those players who are looking for excitement and thrills. Your games may end faster with you running out of funds, but there is always a possibility of winning massive amounts with just one spin.

If you want your casino session to feel like a rollercoaster, then high volatility slots are the ones for you.

Features of Slots With High Volatility

High volatility slots have tons of memorable features with big, impactful wins. It is easier for providers to design high-paying features that are exciting, which is why high volatility slots have tons of special mechanics.

Even the same concepts can be pushed further when the volatility is higher.

Below, you can see how similar features are implemented in high volatility slots compared to low volatility slots.

High Volatility Low Volatility
Cascading wins Single re-spin
Increasing multipliers Multiplier symbol
Re-triggerable free spins Fixed free spins
Progressive jackpots Small maximum wins
Megaways paylines Fewer reels and paylines

How To Recognise Volatile Slots

There are multiple ways you can recognise a high volatility slot, which we have listed below:

High Volatility Vs Low Volatility Slots

High volatility and low volatility slots are the two polar opposites. Even though there is a middle ground, players tend to lean towards one end of the spectrum more often depending on their preferences.

There are plenty of differences between high and low volatility slots. The gameplay feels different, as the former are more wild and the latter are more stable.

Feature Low Volatility High Volatility
Playtime Long Short
Wins Small Big
Risk Small Big
Pace Slow Fast

The biggest difference between the two is how the payouts work. Low volatility games pay often but only a little at a time, and high volatility slots pay out rarely, but the wins are bigger. This creates a very unique feel to each type.

When you play high volatility slots, you encounter more dry spells, and sometimes it feels like you can't even get a single win. But when the bonus feature is triggered, the payouts quickly shoot up and you start seeing huge wins.

Low volatility slots are the complete opposite of this. They have plenty of small wins, and you constantly win something. However, these games have low top-end wins, so hitting big doesn't feel impactful.

Slot Providers With Highest Volatility Slots

There are plenty of slot providers out there with high volatility slots. Some game studios even specialise in making the games with the highest volatility possible.

Here, we have listed game providers that are known for their volatile slots.

NoLimit City

NoLimit City provider logo

When we talk about high volatility slots, NoLimit City is the provider that comes to mind immediately. They are known for their wild games, which are real all-or-nothing type of slots.

Players who look for the top NoLimit City online casinos are often after the slots with the highest volatility. Slots like San Quentin xWays and Fire in the Hole are perfect examples of these.

Hacksaw Gaming

Hacksaw Gaming provider logo

Hacksaw Gaming is known for making unique games that bend the definition of a slot machine. The one thing their games have in common is that they often have high volatility, frantic features and big payouts.

These are the kinds of games UK players tend to enjoy, which is why the top Hacksaw Gaming online casinos include some of the best and most highly-rated casino sites.

Push Gaming

Push Gaming provider logo

One of the relatively smaller game providers that has been very popular with high volatility slot players is Push Gaming. Their amazing visual design combined with wild gameplay mechanics has won a lot of players over.

When you check out the top Push Gaming online casinos, you may want to try out slots like Mystery Museum, Shamrock Saints and Razor Returns.

Pragmatic Play

Pragmatic Play provider logo

Pragmatic Play is one of the fastest-growing game providers and has become a key player in all fields of online gambling. They have created a huge library of slots, which does include those coveted high volatility games.

Their flagship game series, the Big Bass slots, are all high volatility games, as are the Gates of Olympus slots. These, and many other great titles are quickly listed on new Pragmatic Play casinos, as well as on older, more established casinos.

Relax Gaming

Relax Gaming provider logo

If you are looking for volatile mechanics, then Relax Gaming is your pick. They have several title features that immediately tell you what the game is all about. These include DreamDrops, InfinityReels and, of course, Megaways.

Relax Gaming also acts as a slot publisher for smaller studios. This means that the top Relax Gaming casinos have a surprisingly wide variety of games.

Pros and Cons of High Volatility Slots

High volatility slots are wild and fun, but they have their strengths and weaknesses. The high volatility slots pros and cons are listed below:

Pros:

The level of excitement can be unbelievable

When you win, you really win

The bonus features feel like they have an impact

Cons:

Sometimes you just can't get a win

Low-end payouts are non-existant

The games can feel unbalanced

FAQ

High volatility slots are online casino slots that pay out more rarely, but when they do, they pay out more. The high volatility gameplay feels very swingy with big highs and deep lows.

You can expect longer dry spells with no, or extremely low wins, which are then broken by bonus features with huge wins.

The best high volatility slots are Big Bass Splash, Loner, San Quentin 2 and Chaos Crew, according to Bojoko's experts

High volatility is not good or bad in slots, it is a matter of preference. Some players prefer games that have more polarised payouts, and for those players, high volatility in slots is good.

The difference between volatility and variance is semantics. In the end, they both mean the same thing when it comes to slots. Some sources may differentiate them by listing variance as the statistical difference in outcomes and volatility as an indicator of that variance.

High volatility makes slots more risky. It makes the extremes more polarised, meaning you get more dry spells with no wins at all, but it also makes the big payouts larger.

High volatility makes the games feel more swingy.

About the Author

Ville Saari

Article by:

Ville Saari

Ville is an industry veteran, who has written thousands of gambling-related reviews and articles since 2009. He is an IT engineer with a passion for game and strategy optimisation, and to teach the world to play better.

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