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HIGH VARIANCE SLOTS – THE 15 BEST HIGH VOLATILITY SLOT GAMES AND WHERE TO PLAY THEM

Thrill seekers and risk takers – you have the opportunity to try your luck on high variance slots. Slot machines come in three variances (aka volatility): low, medium and high variance. This article will give you all the info you need to know when it comes to picking the best high volatility slots to play. As usual, all of the slot machines on this page have been tested by us. Our list of the best high variance slots is based on playability, expected payout and RTP percentage.

TABLE SHOWCASING THE BEST HIGH VOLATILITY SLOT GAMES

SLOT GAME	RTP	WHERE TO PLAY
Medusa Megaways	97.63%	Fun Casino
Punk Toilet	96.09%	All British Casino
Big Bass Bonanza	95.67%	Spinyoo Casino
Immortal Romance	96.86%	Hyper Casino
Gorilla Mayhem	94.50%	Skol Casino
Jammin’ Jars	96.80%	Virgin Games
Legion X	94.04%	Playzee Casino
Joker Troupe	96.68%	Slotnite Casino
Genie Jackpots Megaways	96.52%	Skol Casino
Jelly Reels	96.21%	Genesis Casino
Pink Elephants 2	96.13%	All British Casino
Gates of Olympus	94.50%	Spinyoo Casino
Punk Rocker	96.01%	Fun Casino
Wild Expedition	94.67%	Slotnite Casino
Mighty Griffin Megaways	95.95%	Casumo Casino

15 BEST HIGH VARIANCE SLOTS LIST

Here are the SlotsHawk top 15 picks of the best high variance slots in 2022.

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

Based on the Greek mythological Gorgon monster, Medusa Megaways is a high volatility slot machine from Blueprint 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 high variance slots.

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

Features:

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

Play at: Fun Casino

2. PUNK TOILET (RTP: 96.09%) BY NOLIMIT CITY

An impressive online slot game from developers NoLimit City, Punk Toilet, in our opinion, is the number one high volatility slot machine. Based on the infamous British Punk Rock scene, Punk Toilet offers original graphics as well as NoLimit City’s extreme volatility level. With an RTP of 96.09%, Punk Toilet offers good value for money too.

Punk Toilet comes with lots of modern slot features including xSplit and Mega Split features which help to increase multipliers. With a maximum win potential of 33,333x, Punk Toilet offers excitement with every spin of the reels.

Features:

• Free spins
• Bonus game
• Multipliers
• Scatter symbols
• Wild symbols
• xSplit
• Mega Split
• Autoplay

Play at: All British Casino

3. 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 play 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. Boom! It is that easy. With free spins and multiplier wins galore, we regard Big bass Bonanza to be one of the best high variance slots in 2022.

Features:

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

Play at: Spinyoo

4. IMMORTAL ROMANCE (RTP: 96.86%) BY MICROGAMING

Released in 2011, Immortal Romance is an absolute classic of a slot game which has truly stood the test of time. Available to be played at 99% of UK casinos, this high volatility slot comes with a large RTP of 96.86% as well as a bunch of great slot mechanisms and features. The graphics are great too and are based on vampires and haunted castles. Spooky!

Played on five reels and three rows with 243 paylines, Immortal Romance features wilds, free spins, multipliers and wild reels. Play Immortal Romance and you will have the opportunity to access symbols giving you 2x your bet and a free spins round offering a 5x multiplier. The maximum payout is set at 12,150x your bet.

Features:

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

Play at: Hyper Casino

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

Released by Pragmatic Play in 2022, Gorilla Mayhem is a modern online slot game offering plenty of features, and of course, a high variance. The SlotsHawk team recently tested Gorilla Mayhem at Skol 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% and the maximum payout is 5,000x the original wager.

Features:

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

Play at: Skol Casino

6. JAMMIN’ JARS (RTP: 96.80%) BY PUSH GAMING

With a multitude of slot features and an impressive maximum payout of 20,000x, Jammin’ Jars is one of the most impressive high volatility slots out there. The free spins round is where the large payouts can be found.

Although the layout of Jammin’ Jars may look basic, the gameplay is anything but. If you are a fan of retro slots, you will love this one as all of the symbols are based on classic fruit symbols.

Features:

• Free spins
• Bonus game
• Multipliers
• Wild symbols
• Sticky Wild Symbols
• Autoplay

Play at: Virgin Games

7. 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 Playzee 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.

Features:

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

Play at: Playzee Casino

8. JOKER TROUPE (RTP: 96.68%) BY PUSH GAMING

A massive potential payout of 25,367x awaits you in Joker Troupe. This high variance slot game is popular among Uk slots players for a number of reasons. The large payout potential, the high maximum bet size of £200 and the fantastic slot features, all ensure that Joker Troupe is a must play slot.

Joker Troupe was released in 2020 and is based around the theme of magic. We are sure that you will love this slot, the bonus game is fantastic too.

Features:

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

Play at: Slotnite Casino

9. GENIE JACKPOTS MEGAWAYS (RTP: 96.52%) BY BLUEPRINT GAMING

Like all games within the Megaways slots niche, Genie Jackpots Megaways slot is a thrilling high variance slot machine. Released in 2018, this slot provides you with a 25 line bet system. Scatter symbols will generate free spins. If you play this high variance online slot you will also be treated to wild symbols, mystery symbols and the buy-a-bonus special feature.

The minimum bet here is £0.10 whilst the maximum you can bet whilst playing this slot is £50. The maximum win potential playing Genie Jackpot Megaways is 10,000x your bet!

Features:

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

Play at: Skol Casino

10. JELLY REELS (RTP: 96.22%) BY WAZDAN

One of the top online slot games developed by Wazdan, Jelly Reels is played on an 8×8 grid and offers an impressive 16,777,216 paylines. This slot game takes its inspiration from a classic fruit machine but comes with lots of colour and loads of great features.

The minimum bet is £0.10 whilst the maximum bet is £100. Jelly Reels revolved around its unique features which include choosing your own volatility level (best played as a high variance slot) as well as its special Hold the Jackpot bonus. The payout during the bonus round fills out at 2,500x your bet.

Features:

• Free spins
• Choose volatility
• Wild symbols
• Cascading wins
• Hold the jackpot
• Mega symbols
• Gamble feature
• Autoplay

Play at: Genesis Casino

11. PINK ELEPHANTS 2 (RTP: 96.13%) BY THUNDERKICK

This high variance online slot was released in 2021 and is the sequel to the original Pink Elephants slot. Pink Elephants 2 gives you the chance to win 10,000 times your stake. This factor alone has made it one of the most popular high volatility slots in 2022.

Betting on Pink Elephants 2 starts at £0.10 per spin up to a maximum bet of £100 per spin. The RTP is very solid at 96.13% but it is the excellent gameplay which really make this slot machine stand out. The base game itself is nothing to write home about. However, the bonus round has the potential to reach epic climaxes. A high volatility slot mixed with a huge potential payout is a win in my book.

Features:

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

Play at: All British Casino

12. GATES OF OLYMPUS (RTP: 94.50%) BY PRAGMATIC PLAY

Themed around Greek myth and legend, Gates of Olympus by Pragmatic Play is the perfect high variance game for any players interested in ancient antiquity. In fact, Gates of Olympus is one of the most played online slots in 2022 due to its great features and fantastic graphics.

The great features only increase the excitement when playing this high variance game for real money. Random multipliers, numerous high paying symbols and a generous free spins round offer the opportunity for nice sized wins. A max payout potential of 5,000x is also worth noting.

Features:

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

Play at: Spinyoo

13. PUNK ROCKER (RTP: 96.01%) BY NOLIMIT CITY

Based on the notorious British punk rock scene of the mid-1970s, Punk Rocker is an exhilarating high volatility slot with lots of high paying features. Highlights of this 2022 high variance slot include Molotov wilds, a mystery symbol, respins and two different types of free spins – Civil War and Anarchy free spins.

Punk Rocker is a slot for players with a higher bankroll as it has a minimum bet of £0.25 and a max bet of £100. The max payout here is 15,072x your wager. Any fans of the punk rock era will love this slot. Punk Rocker from NoLimit City certainly stands out as one of the better slots released this year.

Features:

• Free spins
• Respins
• Multipliers
• Scatter symbols
• Wild symbols
• Sticky wild symbols
• Autoplay

Play at: Fun Casino

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

Wild Expedition is an adventure themed high variance slot 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 offers 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.

Features:

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

Play at: Slotnite Casino

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

We return to the high variance Megaways slots arena now with Mighty Griffin. 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.

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).

Features:

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

Play at: Casumo Casino

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 variance slots. 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 offer 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

All of the above online slot games are packed full of thrills and excitement. We have arranged them in descending order, beginning with the high variance slots with the highest RTP first – slots are all about the big wins after all! For your pleasure, we have also included a mini review of each of the 15 high variance slots in addition to the best slot sites where you can play your choice of high payout and high variance slot games.

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.

Almost all Megaways slots are high variance which is why we have listed several of these slot types in our list of the top 15 high volatility slots. Please do not forget that high variance is not the same as high RTP.

RTP means return to player. High variance slots with high RTPs are much better for your bank roll in the long run. Although high variance slots can be described as more risky for your bankroll, the RTP of a high variance video slot can be exactly the same as the RTP of a low variance slot.

If you are looking for slots with high return to player values, check out our high RTP slots page.

Alternatively, if you like playing slots with huge payouts, we can advise you to read our guide to the best payout slots.

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.

We recommend playing high variance high RTP slots which come with features including bonus games and free spins.

WHICH IS YOUR FAVOURITE HIGH VARIANCE GAME?

If you have a favourite high variance slot which you regularly play and isn’t on our list of the best high variance slots, please let us know.

You can also find brand new high variance slots to play by checking out our guide on the newest slots.

HIGH VARIANCE SLOTS FAQS

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