High variance slots
At one end of the variance spectrum is blackjack, and at the other, dead or alive! Yep, we’re talkin’ high variance slots, and we’ve got some beauties with monster multipliers you can play from just a few pence.
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WHY PATIENCE PAYS WITH THESE HIGH VARIANCE SLOTS
At one end of the variance spectrum is blackjack, and at the other, dead or alive! Yep, we’re talkin’ high variance slots, and we’ve got some beauties with monster multipliers you can play from just a few pence. If patience is your name and playing for epic wins is your game, read on….
Dream bigger with these 5 high variance slots
No shortage of big-time slots at OJO’s place, but these fabulous five are our best high variance slots for 2020, no question.
1 – dead or alive
A classic high variance online slot, netent’s dead or alive slot is based on those naughty famous outlaws of all time.
This highly volatile slot which is a firm fave at OJO’s place comes complete with a free spins feature which pays up to 29 free spins with all wins doubled when that sticky wilds feature comes into play. That’s worth getting on the wrong side of the law for.
Any game where you can win up to 12,000 x stake on every free spin. Has to be worth a spin, right?
2 – rise of olympus
No OJO top list is complete with a grid game, and this one from play’n GO has a cool £500k up for grabs and a 5,000x maximum multiplier. Spin the ‘reels’ and match winning symbols to trigger cascading wins. With each one, you bump the drop multiplier meter up a notch and crank up any wins. Enter the free spins game and the drop multiplier becomes twice as nice.
This gorgeous greek effort also has features galore, starting with the hand of god bonus. In this triple-threat feature, ye gods can zap symbols, transform them into higher paying symbols and add multiple wilds.
3 – cleopatra
One of 6 games in the cleopatra series, you can play this 20-liner from just 1p a spin. But with a whopping 10,000 coins for 5 cleo symbols, this former land-based legend has deep pockets and you just need to find the key to picking them!
The volatility really kicks in once you hit the free spins game. Land 3 or more scatters to trigger 15 free spins where all wins bar the cleopatra symbol are tripled. The kicker is the ability to retrigger up to 180 free spins. The huge 10,000x paytable wins, 180 free spins and £250k max win are a killer combo that helped make IGT’s cleopatra slot one of the best-loved high variance slots ever.
4 – cash of kingdoms
Just 15 paylines here but boy, do they make each one count! A fairytale cast of knights, elves and trolls are the friendly face of this cartoon caper, but there’s plenty more going on under the surface. Crafted by slingshot studios and released by microgaming (who know a thing or two about high variance slots), cash of kingdoms has a handy RTP of 96.28% but tells only half the story of how this game pays out.
Five of the highest paying symbol might only bag you 150x but wilds play a big part with stacked wilds on certain reels triggering the invading wilds™ feature, producing some monster win potential. Play this beauty for free and see high volatility in action!
5 – viking runecraft
Another grid slot from the play’n GO stable, viking runecraft is one of the highest variance slots in the UK. With so many features, you’ll need a set of runes just to decode them, but the juice is worth the squeeze!
You’ll scoop 1,000 coins for 15 hammer symbols but paytable wins are just the hors d’oeuvre. Clear a pattern to advance to the next level and a norse gods like thor will shower you with an array of wilds. The rare rägnarok feature is the star of the show. You might need the patience of the gods but the 5,000x payoff will be worth it. Factor in the unique valhalla growing bonus too, and it’s easy to see why this high variance slot earns its place on this list.
What is variance and why does it matter?
In the slots world, variance is also called volatility, and it’s a way to describe how often a slot pays out, and the average size of prizes. Two online slots can have the same return to player, but very different ways of paying out. Take low volatility slots like blood suckers or jimi hendrix. You won’t win fortunes, but you won’t have to wait long for a win to come along either.
At the other end of the scale are the slots we’ve mentioned above. Like the lotto, with the highest variance online slots, most of the prize money will be paid out in large chunks, but much less often.
Every slot machines fan is different, why is why we have thousands of slots with a wide range of volatility. Some us like to play for the dream of life-changing wins. Others just love to get a win on the board every few spins. Horses for courses!
High variance slots
Without a doubt, slot machines are the most exciting games that anyone can enjoy both in land-based gambling facilities and online. Apart from the fact that spinning reels is fun, playing the games is super easy, and you don’t really have to master any skill to have a good time. Whether you are new to the game or you have been playing it for years, the potential of raking in juicy rewards on the reels is virtually the same!
If you’ve been playing slot machine games for some time, then you must have come across terms like variance and return to player (RTP). And if you ask anyone who understands how the game works, they’ll agree that variance and RTP should be your critical considerations before playing. Most seasoned gamers will recommend you to play high variance online slots that also have high RTP. But then, what does that all mean? How do high RTP and high variance slots affect your potential of earning a massive win? Read on for a closer look at the role that variance and RTP play on the reels.
What is a high variance slot?
Before we jump into anything about high variance slots, let us first understand what variance means in the first place.
What is slot variance?
Variance, also known as volatility, is a term used to refer to the size and consistency of the payouts in a given slot machine.
Oftentimes, a lot of slot machine gamers tend to assume that variance and RTP mean the same. However, even though there is some connection between the two terms, it’s not a direct relation.
The return to player rate shows the hypothetical amount of your initial bankroll you’ll get back after an infinite number of spins. So, essentially, while RTP doesn’t really guarantee the amount of money you’ll win after a spinning session, it illustrates the risk involved in playing the slot machine in the long term.
On the other hand, variance describes how a given slot game pays out. A game could either pay you massive amounts of cash in intermittent occasions or you could earn much smaller amounts of money that come in regularly.
What type of variance is best for you?
There are high variance slot games with a low RTP rate and high variance games with a high RTP rate. The same also applies for medium and low variance slots, but it doesn’t mean that there’s a hard and fast law for this relationship. So, what type of variance is best for you? Let’s compare low and high variance slots below.
Low variance slots
Low-volatility slot games are low-risk games in the short term. They are the perfect option if you have small or limited funds, or if you don’t like risking a lot of your cash on every single spin. There are some extremely low variance games where you’ll earn a win even after every 2 or 3 spins. In such a game, your bankroll never takes any major hits all in a single go.
However, this also comes with a disadvantage. You’ll never win a massive amount of money after just a single spin. And it gets even worse if you end up picking a low variance game with a low RTP. Therefore, if you want to bag sizeable winnings from low variant games, then you’ll have to play for a very long time or place bigger bets consistently. It’s the only way you can see your earnings rack up.
Medium variance slots
Medium variance slots are the goldilocks zone of the slots world. These are the most prolific games you’ll find at online casinos. Medium variance games also often come with risk connected, and thus, if you play them, you have a moderately better winning potential that the low variance slots.
They are the best games to go for when you feel like you have some gaming money at hand, but you don’t want to burn through your bankroll in a few spins only. So, when you play such games, you have an even chance of hitting both small and bigger wins occasionally.
High variance slots
For high rollers, risk-takers and those looking for the adrenaline thumping thrill of spinning reels, high variance slots are the best. With high variance slots, you’ll live through a much lower frequency of wins and wait for longer between them. Moreover, you’ll have to spend more money to keep you going through the dry spells. Therefore, you must have a sizeable bankroll coupled with a nerve for pushing on to get you through.
But then, the biggest advantage of playing a high variance slot is that the returns for playing will often be worth the wait. While you’ll have to hang on as you spin the reels for a couple of rounds with perhaps one or two trivial wins, if you get lucky, the bigger payouts are often impressive.
It is easy to feel like you’re eating through your betting bankroll when playing such games. However, once in a blue moon, you could find yourself bagging rewards that are hundreds of times your initial stake. Better yet, the luckiest players land on jackpots to unexpectedly become the latest millionaire in town.
All in all, whichever variance game you pick, think about how you would like to play, the amount of cash you would like to put into slots and the level of risk you can handle. Thus, if you are just looking to have a good time and make a few coins here and there with no pressure, low variance games are best for you. On the other hand, if you are looking for a balance of fun, making money without having to blaze through your bankroll, then medium variance titles will suit you. But if you are a player who is strictly focused on making life-changing payouts, then you have a better chance with high variance slots.
The best high variance slots
Again, going for high variance titles gets you closer to earning mouthwatering payouts. If that’s what tickles your fancy, then you best pick slots that are developed by leading software providers like microgaming, netent, playtech and play’ n go, to name a few.
Are you a high-risk player or a high roller looking for a thrilling gaming experience with vast winning potentials? Here are some tried and tested heavy hitters that will quench your gaming thirst with a potential for unforgettable payouts.
Dead or alive slot developed by netent is one of the most remarkable high variance games enjoyed by slot heads. The game is based on a wild west theme, coming with nine paying lines, wild symbols and a free spins bonus round. Other than the edgy western design of everything starting from the background to the symbols, the coolest features of this game are the in-game extras.
Every time 3 or more scatter symbols emerge on the reels during the base game, you’ll be awarded 12 free spins, all coming with a 2x multiplier. On top of that, every wild that emerges anywhere on the reels during free spins is a sticky wild. If you get one or more wild symbols on all the five reels, you’ll receive 5 additional free spins and a maximum payout of up to 1500x your line bet. For an even juicier payout, activate the bonus with 5 scatter symbols to unlock a payout worth 2500x your initial wager!
Created by play‘n go, the book of dead slot game was launched back in 2016 and swiftly became amongst the most rewarding online slot machines. With 10 paylines active on five reels, this egyptian-themed slot will feel too familiar for players who have ever tried book of ra slot, a popular title from novomatic.
This slot offers you thrilling bonus rounds coupled with wilds, scatter, and expanding symbols. The main attraction feature here is the free spins bonus round activated by 3 book of dead icons acting as both scatters and wilds. You can retrigger these free spins, and if you land on 5 rich wild icons during these free spins bonus rounds, you will earn 5,000x your initial wager. The icing on the cake here, however, is the 250,000-coin prize!
Immortal romance is a twilight-inspired epic slot machine that exhilarates punters with its stunning soundtracks, exquisite graphics and thrilling bonus features. It remains one of the most preferred high variance slots to this day since it was released back in 2011.
One of the slot’s bonus features is the wild desire feature, which transforms all the reels into wilds. This feature opens you up for a maximum payout of 3,645,000 as long as you place the maximum bet. There are several other exquisite bonus features that immortal romance slot unveils as long as you have the patience to ride through the dry spell waves.
- The wish master by netent- 96.65% RTP
Netent’s the wish master is one of the most entertaining high variance slot machines. It revolves around a genie in the bottle theme, with the genie in question awarding you free spins and other on the 3 rows, 5 reels, and 20 paying lines setup.
The wish master offers exclusive features, comprising limitless booster spins bonus, in which a maximum of 3 bonus boosters may count for each spin. These boosters come with numerous additional features, like extra wilds, random wilds, enlarging wilds, and multipliers. If you manage to retrigger the free spins, you get 6 additional spins with features stacked on each other.
With the right combination, you can catch some incredibly huge wins, including a 900,000-coin jackpot for maximum stakes per spin. However, you shouldn’t forget that while the slot can pay out huge amounts of cash, it requires luck and patience. Ensure your preliminary balance is enough to get you through the unavoidable long run of dead spins.
- Jurassic park by microgaming- 96.67% RTP
The jurassic park film takes you back to the jaw-dropping world of dinosaurs, drawing inspiration from one of the most riveting hollywood blockbusters. This microgaming hit comes complete with roaring tyrannosaurus rex and velociraptors that will keep you on your toes as you spin the reels.
Jurassic park comes with 243 ways to win, stacked symbols, a random T-rex feature, wilds and multipliers that will multiply your wins by up to 6x. The slot game is filled with exciting spins bonus features, exquisitely designed experience, complete with genuine movie footage from steven spielberg’s 1993 picture. Fire up the reels and rake in substantial rewards from features such as the alert mode, mystery multiplier, wild reels and running wilds and winning wilds.
High variance vs. A high RTP
As you already know by now, high variance and a high return to player (RTP) are not one and the same thing. RTP is usually represented as a percentage that shows how much the slot will pay back, computed averagely over a lengthy period. Slot variance, on the other hand, majorly concentrates on the short-term and indicates the risk involved with the particular slot.
In simple terms, a low volatility slot is a little risk game, offering numerous small wins and a medium win, every so often. A high-risk game will not award you with lots of winning combinations but will grant a colossal win once in a while. Typically, it’s recommended that you go for a slot having a high return to player. For instance, if you play a slot game with 97% RTP, it implies that out of each £100 you put into the game, £97 will be paid back to you averagely over a long period.
However, the volatility and RTP aren’t a guarantee of the amount of money that you are going to earn in any game. Slot machines are referred to as games of chance for a reason!
Conclusion
In case you’ve been wagering on online slots for some time, you may well have realized that your acceptance for high volatility slots has improved with time. Newbies often prefer low variance slots because of the frequent small wins. Despite the fact the majority of gains will be trivial in such games, the verity that you are placing wagers online and earning real money is typically contenting enough.
On the flip side, high variance slots games will reel you in because of the chance of earning more significant rewards. They are the best choice for players who don’t have to keep being reminded of the good job they are doing with miniature spins after every spin. High variance online slots are often enticing to players who want to play the long game. These are the kind of players who appreciate the high-risk, high reward nature of going big when gambling. They are aware that despite the fact they might not win often, they will sooner or later hit a huge payout that will be worth their while!
High variance slots – best high volatile slots of 2020
Seekers of thrills, chills and spills, try your luck on high variance slots today! If you’re new to the world of online slots, they come in three variances (or volatility) – low, medium and high variance. So look no further, this article will tell you everything you need to know and answer all your questions when it comes to the best high variance slot games!
In this article, we’re focusing on high variance slots where the thrills never stop. The bets might be big, but we assure you, the wins will be bigger.
Scroll down to find our list of the top 15 high variance slots.
15 best high variance slots
Ready for a roller-coaster ride? Here are the labslots teams’ top 15 picks of the best high variance slots in 2020. We have arranged them in descending order, starting with the biggest payout potential first, because with these slots it’s all about the big wins! We have also included in each mini review the best UK slot sites where you can play your choice of best payout slots.
- Book of dead: 50,000x
- Game of thrones: 20,166x
- 300 shields: 17,770x
- Break da bank again: 16,666x
- Immortal romance: 12,150x
- Dead or alive: 10,000x
- Bonanza: 10,000x
- Pink elephants: 8,2000x
- Jurassic park: 6,000x
- Cazino zeppelin: 5,000x
- The wish master: 4,500x
- Raging rhino: 4,166x
- Montezuma: 4,166x
- Gonzos quest: 3,750x
- Black knight II: 2,500x
1. Book of dead (by play’n GO) RTP: 96.21%
Released in 2016, this online casino game is now one of the most-played high variance slots. Book of dead is a 5-reel, 3-rows and 10-payline slot game that takes inspiration from the novomatic slot machine, book of ra. The symbols are all inspired by ancient egyptian mythology, pretty col right?
Book of dead comes with an exciting free spins bonus with scatters, wilds & expanding symbols as well as a ‘special symbol’ that is awarded to all players when using their free spins. This special symbol becomes a scatter symbol and expands across the whole reel. But here’s what you are waiting for: the maximum payout during the bonus round is an incredible 50,000x your bet.
2. Game of thrones (by microgaming) RTP: 95.01%
The game of thrones (got) video slot is as awesome as the television series it’s based on. If you’re a got fan you’ll absolutely love the slot’s free spin feature, where you’re asked to pick your house from the famous four houses of westeros. Each one has its own characteristics with differing free spins, multipliers and stacked symbols. This special feature is activated by collecting three game of thrones logo scatter symbols.
After you’ve chosen a side, you’ll be rewarded for trying to defeat the other three houses. The alternative option is to try and beat them all and take the iron throne for yourself.
3. 300 shields (by nextgen) RTP: 95.3%
Based on the epic battle between the legendary 300 spartan soldiers versus an enormous persian army, this 5-reel, 25-paylines slot offers (yes, you guessed it right!) a multiplier of 300x. This is one of the highest multipliers ever seen on a slot machine.
The jackpot, like an epic war, cannot be won easy. 300 shields is a progressive game and you have to collect enough shields during the bonus rounds to activate a five free spins feature that has the enormous multiplier. The good news is that you have a bad-*** spartan army behind you. THIS IS SPARTA!
4. Break da bank again (by microgaming) RTP: 95.43%
Yes, it is legal to rob a bank in the reel world! And it’s so popular that microgaming has two editions of the bank-busting game. The second edition (break da bank again) of this captivating video slot comes with 5 reels, 3 rows and up to 9 pay-lines. The symbols are the usual suspects: gold bars, cash, gold coins, pens & cheques, diamonds, the break da bank again logo and the vault.
The vault symbol is the scatter and hitting 3, 4 or 5 vaults on the reels will win you 15, 20 or 25 free spins. The free spins are worth breaking into as during the free spins round, you’ll be awarded 25x your bet. The minimum bet is £0.09. You can bet up to £45 per spin.
5.Immortal romance (by microgaming) RTP: 96.86%
Immortal romance is one of the most popular slots around and it is easy to see why. The gothic-themed slot’s claim to fame is that it offers 243 ways-to-win. Released in 2011, this game offers the wild desire bonus feature, which turns all five reels wild, leading to a maximum possible payout of 3,645,000 coins when playing the maximum bet. Just ensure the area is well clear of garlic cloves and wooden stakes and your luck should be in.
6.Dead or alive (by netent) RTP: 96.82%
Grab a bourbon and get ready to roll with the rowdy ones, because this 5-reel, 9-pay-line wild west-themed slot game is a real gunslinger. Here, you will either die or come out alive as a winner. Special features in dead or alive are the wild substitutions, scatters and a free spins round. Although the game was released about a decade ago, it has a mobile slot version, so why not take it for a spin at your favourite saloon for a truly immersive experience.
7. Bonanza (by big time gaming) RTP: 96.00%
If you can spell gold, the game is yours! Quite literally, bonanza requires you to spell G-O-L-D with four scatters on a reel to trigger the bonus round. Thankfully, this 6-reel 7-rows slot provides 117,649 pay-lines and good features like free spins, multipliers and re-spins. You can start the spelling contest with bets as low as £0.20 per spin and go all the way up to £500 per spin. Just imagine spelling out G-O-L-D on a £500 spin! You certainly wouldn’t have any problem purchasing your weight in gold with the winnings!
8. Pink elephants (by thunderkick) RTP: 96.1%
Are you ready to meet the psychedelic pink flame elephants? This high variance slot from thunderkick is possibly the most thrilling slot out there given its originality. Pink elephants comes with 6 reels, 4 rows and offers 4,096 ways to win. Winning features include wilds, free spins and re-triggers.
Pink elephants is available both on mobile and desktop and you can start spinning from £0.10 and wager up to £100 per spin. Pro tip: look out for the peanut (the mystery scatter symbol) – the elephants love it!
9. Jurassic park (by microgaming) RTP: 96.67%
Sink your teeth into this jurassic park slot game based on the iconic steven spielberg film and get your taste for some prehistoric dinosaur fun. Beautifully designed, with real footage from the movie, this top 15 high variance video slot comes with many exciting features such as stacked symbols, a random T-rex alert feature, extra wilds, and multipliers that go up to 6x.
The game has 5-reels and offers 243 ways to win. The minimum bet is £0.30 and you can go up to £15. So, go ahead and spin the reels for some action-packed, jaw-dropping wins! The music is awesome too!
10. Cazino zeppelin (by yggdrasil) RTP: 96.00%
If you’re a victorian steampunk fan, this high variance slot could be your stairway to heavenly riches! The background of the reels features a giant zeppelin above a mysterious city, with the symbols resembling eccentric victorian-looking inventors and even harley quinn – yes this game is a bit weird to say the least!
Cazino zeppelin has 5 reels, 20 pay-lines and includes a free spins round with sticky wilds and wild transfers which substitute for any regular symbol. All you need to set the reels rolling is £0.20 and who knows, the grand jackpot of £67,000 could be yours.
11. The wish master (by netent) RTP: 96.65%
The genie is out of the bottle, so make a wish! The wish master is a magical slot from netent that offers some unique features, including the wish master round where a genie escapes from its bottle whenever a scatter appears. The scatter contains a variety of extra features, such as random wilds, extra wilds, expanding wilds, multipliers and more. Give this 5-reel, 25-pay-line slot a spin and make all your wishes come true!
12. Raging rhino (by WMS) RTP: 95.91%
This game is all the rage! A thrilling video slot with super visuals, click the play button below and you could be stampeding across its 6 reels and 4 rows. Raging rhino offers 4,096 ways to win, plus, there are stacked symbols, wilds and multipliers of up to 81x that activate during the bonus round.
Like many other WMS slots, this one has a 10x bonus guarantee feature. The minimum bet to set the rhinos free on the reels is £0.40 while the maximum bet size is £120.
13. Montezuma (by WMS) RTP: 95.86%
This aztec-themed slot game with vivid visuals has a strong fan-base. Montezuma, which is a 5-reel, 30-pay-line slot is popular not just for its design but also its game-play. You’ll find the game loaded with free spins, multipliers and a guaranteed minimum win of 10x in the bonus round. Three or more scatters will trigger the free spins bonus for up to 25 free spins.
The game also offers a unique way to re-trigger these free spins. You just need two more scatters to win 25 extra free spins. The best part is that you keep the multiplier for the duration of those extra free spins. It doesn’t stop there either. You’ll keep accumulating any further free spins which you re-trigger whilst on the bonus multiplier. Phew!
14. Gonzo’s quest (by netent) RTP: 95.97%
If eccentric spanish explorers and aztec gold gets you excited, then you’ve discovered the right slot game. The location is eldorado, where you’ll find yourself deep inside the jungle foliage – re-tracing the footsteps of the spanish conquistadors. But this game is not only concerned with sweet graphics. Gonzo’s quest is one of the most well-known high variance slots and pioneered the ‘avalanches’ bonus, now commonly known as ‘tumbling reels’. Other features include a free spins bonus and multipliers up to 15x. Just tumble the right rocks and you could be a winner!
15. Black knight II (by WMS) RTP: 95.91%
Become the knight in shining black armour, save the fair maiden and the gold shall be yours! This 5-reels, 40-pay-lines slot takes inspiration from arthurian legend and features the black knight himself, his shield, the princess, a jester, a crown, bracelets and the king as symbols. You will also receive 12 sticky wilds during the free spins round in order to maximise your chance of winning. You can play from just £0.40 a spin and go as high as £120 a spin. Are you bold enough to slay some dragons?
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Types of slot variances
Here’s a quick look at the main differences between low, medium and high variance slots. It should give you a clearer idea of the type of slot that’s right for you.
Low variance slots
Unlike high variance online slots, low variance slots are games where wins come in very regularly, but at the same time, big wins are unlikely. This is why low variance slot games are best suited to beginner slot players. You can read more about them in our article – just click the low variance slots link at the beginning of this paragraph.
Medium variance slots
Medium variance slots are, you guessed it, a compromise between low and high variance slots. These slots produce plenty of low and mid-sized wins throughout and there is even a chance of a big win as well. Playing medium variance slots are a good way for you to still win a big sum without having to risk too much of your bankroll. The question is, how big of a risk do you want to take?
High variance slots
At the other end of the spectrum are high variance slots. In order to win on these slots you need to play for a pretty long time before a win comes. But when a win does hit, the sum is usually much bigger. These slots tend to appeal to ‘high rollers’ and those players who are looking for big wins. For example, almost all megaways slots are high in variance. It’s important to remember that high variance is not the same as a high return to player (RTP). While high variance slots might be described as more ‘risky’, the RTP (return-to-player percentage over time) can be the same as a low variance slot – so always look out for the RTP on a slot game before playing.
What are your favourite high variance slots?
Did we miss any of your favourites in our list of the best high variance slots? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section if so and as usual, if you have any questions, ask away and one of our slot scientists will be in touch.
So, let's see, what we have: high variance slots are perfect for long-shot hunters who dream big when they play. Meet our 5 epic adventures with mega multipliers to match. At high variance slots
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