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HIGH VARIANCE SLOTS – SLOTS WITH HIGH VOLATILITY

Last Updated: May 19, 2025

Written by Stephen Cummings

Thrill seekers and risk takers – you have the opportunity to try your luck on the highest volatility slot games. Slot machines come in three variances (aka volatility): low, medium and high volatility. So, what are high variance slots exactly? Slots with high variance give the opportunity for big potential wins at the expense of less regular payouts.

The table below showcases the 15 best high volatility slots. Our list is based on playability, expected max payout and RTP percentage. If you are short on time, our top pick is Brute Force by NoLimit City which is playable at NoBonus Casino. Our editor Jean Prince has picked out 80s Pop as his favourite high variance online slot.

TABLE OF TOP HIGH VARIANCE ONLINE SLOTS WITH RTP AND PAYOUTS

SLOT GAME	RTP	MAXIMUM PAYOUT	WHERE TO PLAY
Brute Force	96.08%	40,000x	NYspins Casino
Tanked	96.04%	25,000x	Casumo Casino
Oodles of Noodles	96.58%	5,100x	Voodoo Dreams Casino
Skate or Die	96.03%	30,000x	Casumo Casino
Piggy Riches 2 Megaways	95.71%	20,000x	NoBonus Casino
Pirates Pub	96.03%	5,000x	ZetBet Casino
Razor Ways	96.36%	25,000x	NYspins Casino
Medusa Megaways	97.63%	50,000x	Hyper Casino
Big Bass Bonanza	95.67%	2,100x	Dream Vegas Casino
Gorilla Mayhem	96.50%	5,000x	Luckster Casino
Legion X	94.04%	31,000x	Pub Casino
Sugar Rush Xmas	94.50%	5,000x	Hyper Casino
Punk Rocker 2	96.06%	30,144x	NYspins Casino
Wild Expedition	94.67%	2,101x	Playzee Casino
Mighty Griffin Megaways	95.95%	50,000x	Fun Casino

BEST HIGH VOLATILITY SLOTS IN 2025

After researching max payouts, RTPs and general playability, we have compiled a list of what we believe are the 15 best high volatility slot games that you can play at online casinos. However, our editor in chief Jean Prince has chosen his editors pick for you below:

EDITORS PICK: 80S POP (RTP: 96%) BY AVATARUX

AvatarUX are a somewhat unknown slot developer, but they have some truly special and unique slots, with their best high variance slot being 80s Pop. For each win you achieve in the base game, winning symbols will ‘pop’ to be replaced by two new symbol places. The more wins you hit in a row, the more rows you will see growing on the grid! Expand the rows to six symbols tall and you will trigger the bonus game.

During our playthrough of 80s Pop, we hit a 500x+ win during the bonus game which you can view on the official SlotsHawk YouTube channel. There is also a global multiplier which increases the chances of huge wins during the bonus game. You can also win up to 20,000x during the base game.

Features:

• Free spins
• Bonus game
• Respins
• Expanding reels and rows
• Multipliers
• Popwins
• Bonus wheel

Play at: Casumo Casino

1. BRUTE FORCE (RTP: 96.08%) BY NOLIMIT CITY

Brute Force is SlotsHawk’s number one recommended high volatility slot for beginners because this one is super simple to play and understand. NoLimit City slots can sometimes be rather complicated when you play them because of all the features, we are pleased to say that Brute Force is the exception to this rule.

We recommend taking advantage of the xBet feature as it will ensure that entering one of the bonus games will be 10 times easier. When the SlotsHawk team tried and tested Brute Force, we triggered four bonus games in less than 15 minutes of gameplay and won over £200 betting the minimum bet of 20p per spin plus the xBet feature which took our total bet per spin up to 94p.

The volatility in Brute Force is as high as it can be and is actually described as ‘insane’ volatility. Therefore, Brute Force is our #1 recommended insane volatility slot.

Features:

• Free spins
• Bonus game
• Sticky xNudge
• xNudge wilds
• xBet
• xNudge meter

Play at: NYspins Casino

2. TANKED (RTP: 96.04%) BY NOLIMIT CITY

Tanked reminds me of the classic ‘Worms’ video game series, which is exceptional praise from my point of view. This is one of the most immersive and technically excellent online slots on the market. The base game is a lot of fun which is lucky because the free spins here are difficult to trigger (1 in 249 spin on average). It is in the Carnage Spins and Mayhem Spins bonuses where the huge wins are available though.

Utilising the xBet feature will increase your chances of triggering the bonus by four though, so we do recommend that at the cost of three times your base bet. The minimum bet is 20p per spin, so using the xBet will make your bets 60p per spin. Of course, Tanked has high volatility considering it is on our list of the top 15 high volatility slot games, but because its from NoLimit City, it really is at the top end of the volatility spectrum.

Full List of Slot Features:

• Free spins
• xLoot
• Tank boosters
• xNudge
• xSpilt
• Gird expansion
• xBet
• xBomb
• Barrel bomb
• Multipliers
• Scatter symbols
• Wild symbols

Play at: Casumo Casino

3. OODLES OF NODDLES (RTP: 96.58%) BY PRAGMATIC PLAY

A slot which hasn’t quite had the publicity that we perhaps expected it might have had, Oodles of Noodles is nonetheless one of Pragmatic Plays best releases for along time with its high RTP of 96.58% and maximum multiplier of 5,100x. Please be aware that this slot has an adjustable RTP, so it is imperative that you play it at an online casino which will allow you to play on its optimal RTP. For example, if you play Oodles of Noodles at Pub Casino, you will be able to play with the max RTP. On the other hand, if you play at Dream Vegas, the RTP will be as low as 94.55%.

The bonus game is the highlight here as the revolving Sushi reel at the bottom of the game will become active. There are also repsins during the bonus game. The base game is not the greatest, but all in all, Oodles of Noodles is an excellent slot machine to try out if you haven’t already.

Full List of Slot Features:

• Free spins
• Scatter symbols
• Respins
• Instant wins

Play at: Voodoo Dreams Casino

4. SKATE OR DIE (RTP: 96.03%) BY NOLIMIT CITY

Millennials rejoice, Skate or Die takes much of its inspiration from the 90s era of skateboarding and kick-ass music. Packed full of features which includes three different free spins games and a special ‘crasher‘ game which allows you to win the maximum 30,000 payout, Skate or Die is a truly unique high variance slot.

One important factor to know though is that the likelihood of triggering the max payout is low – one in 11.2 million spins to be precise! With that being said, there is so much happening in this video slot that you won’t be too focused on trying to trigger the crasher game.

Full List of Slot Features:

• Free spins
• Bonus games
• Crasher game
• Multipliers
• Extra Sauce row
• xZone wild
• xNudge wild
• xNudge Wild Supreme
• Scatter symbols

Play at: Casumo Casino

5. PIGGY RICHES 2 MEGAWAYS (RTP: 95.71%) BY RED TIGER

A huge improvement on the first slot machine in the series, this is a real gem of a slot and is fairly widely available at UK online casinos. The volatility here is even higher than the first Piggy Riches too, but with that being said, we found wins to be a fairly common occurrence. In fact, our team believe Piggy Riches 2 Megaways to be one of the best slot games currently on the market due to its simplicity mixed with remarkable features, the best of which being the Hold and repsins features.

Like most slot machines, the bonus game is where the biggest payouts are won. It is possible to activate more rows in the bonus too which increases your chances of bigger wins even more. When we tested this game, we triggered 351x across our free spins.

Full List of Slot Features:

• Bonus game
• Free spins
• Big wheel spins
• Multipliers
• Hold and respins
• Cash symbols
• Multipliers
• Wild symbols
• Scatter symbols

Play at: NoBonus Casino

6. PIRATES PUB (RTP: 96.03%) BY PRAGMATIC PLAY

Pirates Pub is one of our favourite new high volatility slot releases due to its excellent graphics and modern mechanisms and features. Themed around pirates and pubs, Pragmatic Play have done a fantastic job when designing this slot.

Played on five reels and three rows with 9 paylines, Pirates Pub has the potential to become a classic slot game. Features include Sticky wild symbols, multipliers, repsins and wild reels. Play Pirates Pub and you will have the opportunity to trigger multipliers of up to 100x. Meanwhile, the maximum potential payout in Pirates Pub is set at 5,000x your bet.

Full List of Slot Features:

• Free spins
• Bonus game
• Respins
• Wild symbols
• Sticky wild symbols
• Scatter symbols
• Multipliers
• High payouts

Play at: ZetBet Casino

7. RAZOR WAYS (RTP: 96.36%) BY PUSH GAMING

Razor Ways is certainly one of Push Gaming’s best slot releases so far this year. They have done an excellent job of improving and revitalizing the original slots in the ‘Razor’ series. So, what makes Razor Ways so special in comparison with other online slot games, I hear you ask? The expanding reels certainly help to ensure that the base game is exciting. The more wins you manage to trigger, the more reels you get to play on which will create more and larger wins. Winning symbols explode too, so there is always the possibility of unlimited wins.

The bonus game is where the biggest wins occur due to the level up meter and the glowing mystery symbols which help to fill the meter up, resulting in larger multipliers. The only real downside is the low maximum bet per spin of just £4.50. The maximum payout is 25,000x your bet and Razor Ways utilises the Scatter Pays mechanic.

Full List of Slot Features:

• Free spins
• Bonus game
• Expanding rows
• Expanding wild symbols
• Razor Reveal
• Instant wins
• Mystery symbols
• Glowing mystery symbols
• Multiplier level meter
• Expanding rows
• Cascades
• Push bet

Play at: NYspins Casino

8. MEDUSA MEGAWAYS (RTP: 97.63%) BY NEXTGEN GAMING

Based on the Greek mythological Gorgon monster, Medusa Megaways is a high volatility slot machine from NextGen Gaming. This slot is one of the original and classic Megaways slot games played on six reels. The minimum bet here is £0.25 that you can increase up to £25. It is possible to win 50,000x your total bet on this high variance online slot.

The graphics are cool and the theme is bold. The unique features make this game well worth playing and the massive payout percentage as well as the high RTP means that Medusa Megaways is one of our top recommended slot machines with high variance.

Medusa Megaways also features on our list of the best payout slot games.

Full List of Slot Features:

• Free spins
• Bonus game
• Multipliers
• Scatter symbols
• Wild symbols
• Autoplay

Play at: Hyper Casino

9. BIG BASS BONANZA (RTP: 95.67%) BY PRAGMATIC PLAY

This is another hit online slot machine released by Pragmatic Play. The slot developer has showcased their ability to create world class high volatility slots with their Big Bass Bonanza slot. This game is in the slots libraries of almost every respectable online casino in the UK and for good reason – it is mightily popular. With a return to player of 95.67%, you get good value for your money too as well as a potential max payout of 2,100x.

Big Bass Bonanza is played on ten paylines and three rows with five reels. This Pragmatic Play high variance game is renowned for its superb graphics which appear straight out of the ocean. To score a win in this slot, all you need to do is land three matching icons on the fixed paylines.

Full List of Slot Features:

• Free spins
• Bonus game
• Multipliers
• Scatter symbols
• Wild symbols
• Retriggers
• Autoplay

Play at: Dream Vegas Casino

10. GORILLA MAYHEM (RTP: 94.50%) BY PRAGMATIC PLAY

Released by Pragmatic Play, Gorilla Mayhem is a modern online slot game with plenty of features, and of course, a high variance. The SlotsHawk team recently tested Gorilla Mayhem at Luckster casino and we can confirm that it can be played by both experienced and beginner slot players. We recommend a low betting strategy.

The layout here is a 5×4 grid with 1,024 paylines. The RTP is 94.50%, which is a little on the lowside and the maximum payout is 5,000x the original wager.

Full List of Slot Features:

• Free spins
• Respins
• Bonus game
• Multipliers
• Scatter symbols
• Wild symbols
• Sticky wild symbols
• High payout
• Autoplay

Play at: Luckster Casino

11. LEGION X (RTP: 96.68%) BY NOLIMIT CITY

A 31,000x potential payout awaits high volatility slots players in this game from NoLimit City. The beautiful graphics are the first thing I noticed when I tested this slot at Pub casino. As with all slots from this developer, players will gain access to numerous modern features and various wilds.

Legion X is themed around Rome’s battles with the barbarian hoards. Played on a 5×5 grid, the minimum bet here is £0.20 with the max bet set at £100.

Full List of Slot Features:

• Free spins
• Bonus game
• Multipliers
• Scatter symbols
• Wild symbols
• xNudge wilds
• Infectious wilds
• Autoplay

Play at: Pub Casino

12. SUGAR RUSH XMAS (RTP: 94.50%) BY PRAGMATIC PLAY

One of the easiest high variance slot games on this list to play making it perfect for beginners and newbies, Sugar Rush Xmas is scatter pays and therefore does not have intricate paylines. Simply put, match identical symbols next to each other, and they will explode and payout before being replaced by new symbols. In addition, when winning symbols explode, the new ones will be marked with a 2x multiplier, which increases if they in turn also explode up to a maximum of 128x.

The RTP here is 94.50% with a max payout of 5,000x. We can also recommend Sugar Rush Xmas to any fans of Cluster Pays slot machines, because this one plays very similar.

Full List of Slot Features:

• Freespins
• Bonus game
• Scatter pays
• Tumble feature
• Multipliers
• Scatter symbols

Play at: Hyper Casino

13. PUNK ROCKER 2 (RTP: 96.06%) BY NOLIMIT CITY

Another fantastic renovation of the original slot, Punk Rocker 2 is loaded with more features, new graphics and NoLimit City’s special ‘insane’ volatility which is another word for high! The key to hitting the largest payouts in this high variance slot machine is by triggering one of the free spins games. During free spins, you will get access to Jumping Wild symbols which really help to jack up the multipliers!

With a return to player of 96.06%, this is higher than the original Punk Rocker slot too, the maximum payout of 30,144x is way above average too. Finally, the free spins games will activate either one or both Train Enhancers which almost guarantee better rewards.

Full List of Slot Features:

• Free spins
• Respins
• Jumping Wilds
• Train Enhancers
• Wild symbols
• Scatter symbols
• Bonus symbols
• xWays
• xBet

Play at: NYspins Casino

14. WILD EXPEDITION (RTP: 94.67%) BY RED TIGER GAMING

Wild Expedition is an adventure themed high variance slot machine with vibes similar to Book of Dead. With a hit frequency of 2 in 5, this is one of the slots played by high roller players due to its good hit rate and maximum bet limit of £200 per spin.

This game also comes with sticky wilds, multipliers and a remarkable bonus game which has been inspired by adventure stories. Wild expedition was released in 2021 and can be played at most online slot sites.

The only downside is the relatively low RTP level of 94.67%, but if you can overlook this, then you will likely enjoy playing.

Full List of Slot Features:

• Free spins
• Bonus game
• Multipliers
• Scatter symbols
• Wild symbols
• Sticky wild symbols
• Autoplay

Play at: Playzee Casino

15. MIGHTY GRIFFIN MEGAWAYS (RTP: 95.95%) BY BLUEPRINT GAMING

We return to the high variance Megaways slots arena now with Mighty Griffin Megaways. Assuming you are here to play high variance slot games, checking out Mighty Griffin Megaways slot is a no brainer. With a max payout of 50,000x, the potential for big wins is all too real and makes this game one of the best paying slots online.

This online video slot allows bets from £0.10 per spin up to £10. This game also features a progressive jackpot – 0.49% of the RTP is reserved as a contribution to the progressive jackpots.

Mighty Griffin Megaways actually has three progressive jackpots in total that can be triggered at any time including the industry-renowned Jackpot King progressive jackpot.

Lookout for the griffin symbol which is the highest paying symbol (50 x your stake).

Full List of Slot Features:

• Free spins
• Respins
• Bonus game
• Multipliers
• Progressive jackpots (x3)
• Scatter symbols
• Wild symbols
• Autoplay

Play at: Fun Casino

NEW HIGH VOLATILITY SLOTS

On the lookout for new high variance slots? We’ve got you covered. You can find all of the best newly released slots with high variance below, updated for 2025:

Slot Game	Release Date	RTP
Kill Em All	20 May 2025	96.06%
Witch Heart Megaways	5 May 2025	96.49% | 95.49% | 94.52%
Rad Maxx	1 May 2025	96.32% | 94.42% | 92.40%
Highway to Hell	22 April 2025	96.03%
Gods of Troy Megaways	17 April 2025	95.71%
Blood Diamond	8 April 2025	96.14%
Mental 2	25 March 2025	96.06%
Home of the Brave	11 March 2025	96.00%
Fiery Slots Cash Mesh	5 March 2025	96.10%

EXPLAINING TYPES OF SLOT VARIANCES

Don’t forget, there are three different types of slot volatility levels. Here’s a quick look at the main differences between low, medium and high. This should paint a clear picture for choosing which type of slot machine is correct for you.

LOW VARIANCE SLOTS

Low variance slots are the opposite of high variance slots. In low variance slot games, the wins come regularly but the payouts are much smaller in comparison to their high variance counterparts.

Low variance slots are best suited to beginner slot players. you can read more about these slots by visiting our low variance slots page.

MEDIUM VARIANCE SLOTS

As you have probably worked out by now, medium variance slots are somewhere in between low and high variance games. These slots produce plenty of low-medium sized wins with a sprinkling of large wins too.

Medium variance slots give the opportunity to win a decent number of times without having to risk too much of your bankroll. However, this is often not enough for those risk taking players who are looking to win big!

HIGH VARIANCE SLOTS

High variance slots come at the other end of the spectrum, you have to play these slots for a while before you hit a win, but when a win does arrive, the sum is likely to be big. These slots tend to attract high roller slots players and players who like to make large deposits.

THE IMPORTANCE OF SLOT VOLATILITY

If you plan on playing slots for the long-run, it is advantageous to at least be aware of the volatility of the slots you are playing. However, there are other factors which should be considered too.

For example, slots with a higher RTP will payout more in the long run, regardless of the volatility factor. A high RTP mixed with high variance is likely to affect how much you win when playing an online slot.

RTP will effect how much you will win over a long period of time. For example, a slot with 97% RTP will pay £97 for every £100 put into the slot. This percentage is theoretical and is determined after several millions of spins. In reality, there is a lot of luck involved. However, it makes sense to play high variance slots which also come with a high RTP.

IS THERE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN VARIANCE AND VOLATILITY

There are no real differences between the terms variance and volatility. It is safe to assume that a high variance slot is the same as a high volatility slot.

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF HIGH VARIANCE SLOTS

Like all aspects of life, high variance slots come with both advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages of high variance slot games:

• More potential for high payouts
• Can be more rewarding in the long run
• Many of the newest slots have high variance

Disadvantages of high variance slot games:

• Higher risk in comparison with lower variance slots
• Wins are sometimes less regular

There are pros and cons of all online casino games, the most important factor to consider is how much fun you are having. However, when playing high variance slots, you need to take your bankroll more into consideration.

BEST CASINO’S TO PLAY HIGH VARIANCE SLOT GAMES

Any online casino which has its own library of slot games will likely stock a variety of slots with high variance/volatility. However, there are hundreds of such casinos to choose from in the UK alone.

Our slots analyst has picked our his choice of the casinos which he regards as the best ones for high variance slots players.

• All British Casino – An online slot site dedicated to UK players only, All British Casino has a games library of hundreds of high variance slot games. In addition, everyone who plays at All British Casino will receive 10% cashback on losses at the end of every month.
• NYSpins Casino – one of the newest sites here at SlotsHawk, NYSpins comes with a unique collection of high variance slots, many of which cannot be found at other casinos.
• Casumo Casino – With a library of over 1,000 individual video slots, Casumo is, in our opinion, one of the best all-round casinos in the UK. You can play all of the high volatility slots on this page at Casumo Casino.

HAVE FUN WITH HIGH VOLATILITY SLOTS

We hope that you have found this guide dedicated to the most up-to-date high variance slots information useful. The team here at SlotsHawk.com regularly update this page whenever one of us finds a brand new high variance slot or any other news regarding a game. So, be sure to check back regularly for important updates.

Please remember to always gamble responsibly.

HIGH VARIANCE SLOTS FAQS

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