Top 11 Best Slots
The best online slots to play are generally the most popular ones. Slot players are nostalgic as many online players like playing slots they can find in land-based casinos. Lots of land-based games are available to play online which players keep coming back to time and time again. That said, they are all free play slots meaning you can try them for fun before playing for real money.
Here, we look at the top 11 most popular online slots in detail including why they are the best slot games. You will see most of them appear at the top of most slot sites lobbies. Let’s dig a little closer:
Tombstone RIP (Nolimit City)
Provider: Nolimit City | RTP: 96.08% |
Reels: 5 | Paylines: 108+ |
Volatility: Insane | Max Win: 300,000 x stake |
Amputations, hangings and murder are the order of the day in the Western themed Tombstone RIP slot. Powered by Nolimit City, this 5 reel, 108 payline game is brutal in every way. The volatility is classed as insane and will give you a win every 11 spins: 9.08% hit frequency rate.
With xNudge Wilds and increasing multipliers, there are Reel Split and xSplit Wilds. Tombstone RIP benefits from 2 free spins features. The Boothill Free Spins feature has an increasing multiplier and random multipliers up to 999x applies to Cowboy symbols.
Tombstone RIP isn’t for the faint-hearted. If you get a win below your stake, the xRIP feature kicks in and removes your win. This is as brutal a slot you’ll ever come across with Nolimit City pushing the boundaries. Have they gone too far though?
Money Train 4 (Relax Gaming)
Provider: Relax Gaming | RTP: 96.1% |
Reels: 6×6 | Paylines: Scatter Pays |
Volatility: Very High | Max Win: 150,000 x stake |
The final slot in the series, Money Train 4 by Relax Gaming sees you join the bandits’ last ride of the rails. Played on a 6×6 grid with Scatter Pays, it comes with random respins with multipliers in the base game. With a 96.1% RTP rate, you can play across all devices from just 10p per spin.
The focus is on the Money Cart Bonus feature which offers more special symbols including a new Arms Dealer bandit. With Persistent symbols the key to win big, the way they combine is more explosive than ever.
Much-anticipated, Money Train 4 comes with 150,000 x bet max wins. That is more than the 100,000 x bet found in Money Train 3.
San Quentin (Nolimit City)
Provider: Nolimit City | RTP: 96.03% |
Reels: 5 | Paylines: 243 |
Volatility: Extreme | Max Win: 150,000 x stake |
Based on the notorious Californian prison, the San Quentin slot is by Nolimit City. With 5 reels and starting with 243 ways to win, it uses the xWays mechanic. There are Enhancer Cells which can display Razor Split symbols to give you more ways to win (up to 46,656).
San Quentin focuses on the Lockdown Spins feature where Jumping Wilds come into play. They come with a multiplier that can double all the way up to 512x if they manage to land on reels where Razor Split symbols appear.
With a 96.03% RTP and a hit frequency of 34.25%, this extremely volatile slot offers max wins of 150,000 x your total stake per spin. Released in January 2021, the huge win potential and the controversial theme makes San Quentin a must-play slot.
Book of Dead (Play ‘n GO)
Provider: Play ‘n GO | RTP: 96.2% |
Reels: 5 | Paylines: 10 |
Volatility: Very High | Max Win: 5,000 x stake |
Treasure hunting is one of the most popular themes in the online casino world and they don’t come more popular than Book of Dead. Created by Play ‘n GO, the action here centres on the Indiana Jones-style adventurer Rich Wilde and his quest for ancient Egyptian riches.
Played using 5 reels and 10 paylines, the highlight as far as gameplay is concerned is the Free Spins feature that begins with 10 free spins. During those free spins, 1 symbol is chosen at random to become the special expanding symbol. Whenever this symbol hits, it expands to fill the whole of the reel.
Extremely volatile, it’s the simplicity that makes Book of Dead so popular. Land a high value special expanding symbol and you could be in for some payouts. However, don’t expect to win all that often. The rewards can be big when you do though. The maximum win stands at an impressive 5,000 x your stake from a single spin. Featuring classy sound and visuals, this is one of the best online slots to play if you enjoy the ancient Egyptian theme.
Starburst XXXtreme (NetEnt)
Provider: NetEnt | RTP: 96.26% |
Reels: 5 | Paylines: 9 |
Volatility: Very High | Max Win: 200,000 x stake |
The original Starburst is still probably the most played slot game of all time, online anyway. In July 2021, developer NetEnt released the hugely anticipated sequel, Starburst XXXtreme. With the same outer space/sci-fi theme, it has 5 reels and 9 paylines.
Playable from just 10p a spin on all devices, it focuses on the Starburst Wilds feature. Here, the Starburst Wild expands and rewards you with a re-spin with the wild reel locked in place. Another Starburst Wild gives you another re-spin with 2 locked wild reels. There’s up to 3 re-spins with 3 locked wilds to be won.
However, the difference from Starburst is that the Starburst Wilds come with multipliers up to 150x. If 3 land, the multipliers can combine up to 450x.With random wilds in the base game, there’s also a XXXtreme Spins feature where playing for a higher stake wild guarantee Starburst Wilds.
More importantly, Starburst XXXtreme offers 200,000 x stake max wins per spin. This makes this game 1 of the highest payouts slot online and blows the max 500 x stake win from the original out of the water.
Immortal Romance (Microgaming)
Provider: Microgaming | RTP: 96.86% |
Reels: 5 | Paylines: 243 |
Volatility: Very High | Max Win: 12,150 x stake |
This vampire romance mash up first hit the online casinos shelves in 2011 but its brand of epic back story, fantastic features and potentially massive payouts mean that Immortal Romance remains among the best online slots.
Created by Microgaming, it’s a 5 reel, 243 ways to win title that comes with a quartet of free spins features which are based on each of the slot’s main characters. These come with modifiers including multipliers of 5x or 6x, rolling reels and wild transformations.
The maximum win from a single spin here is a whopping 12,150 x your stake. Highly volatile, the Immortal Romance RTP is 96.86% which is one of the best online slots payout percentage around. Come Halloween time or any other time of the year, Immortal Romance is a must play.
Bonanza Megaways (Big Time Gaming)
Provider: Big Time Gaming | RTP: 96% |
Reels: 6 | Paylines: Up to 117,649 |
Volatility: Medium-High | Max Win: 26,000 x stake |
Big Time Gaming’s Megaways mechanic has been a real game-changer in the online slot world and there’s no better example than Bonanza Megaways. The goal here is to go mining for treasure on reels where the number of symbols changes with each spin.
If you get the maximum number of symbols on all 6 reels, you’ll have an enormous 117,649 ways to create a winner. After a winner is formed, a ‘reaction’ takes place and the successful symbols are removed and replaced by new ones to give you another shot at creating a winner. The ‘reactions’ keep on coming as long as a new winner is formed.
The main extra is the Free Spins feature. Each time you land a ‘reaction’ win during the free spins, a multiplier increases by 1. There’s no limit to how high the multiplier can go and how many free spins you can play with. Medium to high variance and with 26,000 x stake wins per spin possible, Bonanza Megaways is one of the original and best online slots with the Megaways mechanic.
Razor Returns (Push Gaming)
Provider: Push Gaming | RTP: 96.55% |
Reels: 5 | Paylines: 40 |
Volatility: Very High | Max Win: 100,000 x stake |
Dive into a new adventure in the Big Blue with the Razor Returns slot from Push Gaming. The sequel to Razor Shark, it’s played with 5 reels, 5 rows and 40 paylines. It’s playable from just 10p a spin across desktop, mobile and tablet devices.
There’s a Nudge & Reveal feature where mystery symbols can reveal paying symbols, Wild Sharks or Golden Sharks. It can lead to the Razor Reveal feature where Golden Sharks can award instant prizes up to 5,000 x bet, multipliers and other modifiers.
In the Free Spins feature, you can begin with a 25x multiplier and play with Mystery symbols on reels 2 and 4. With the multiplier increasing with each nudge, Razor Returns offers max wins of 100,000 x bet. The RTP is also high at 96.55%.
Age of the Gods (Playtech)
Provider: Playtech | RTP: 95.02% |
Reels: 5 | Paylines: 20 |
Volatility: Medium-High | Max Win: Progressive/50,000 x stake |
Ancient Greek myth and legend has provided plenty of inspiration for game developers, none more so than Playtech which is the software provider behind the epic Age of the Gods series. The flagship game is Age of the Gods which was also the first release from the popular slot series.
This 5 reel, 20 payline games centres on Athena, Hercules, Poseidon and Zeus. Each of the quartet of ancient deities comes with their own free spins feature, complete with a special modifier. These include an assortment of multipliers, added wilds and stacked wilds which can deliver some massive awards. The max win is 50,000 x stake per free spin.
You’ll also have a shot at landing 4 progressive jackpots via the Age of the Gods Jackpot feature. The Ultimate Power Jackpot averages a payout of £488,000 every 45 days.
This fantasy-themed epic has spawned a whole tranche of sequels. Common to all of them is superb sound and visuals, top features and of course, the potential riches on offer from the progressive jackpot network. When it comes to popular franchises, Age of the Gods is among the best online slot series you’ll find.
Dead or Alive 2 (NetEnt)
Provider: NetEnt | RTP: 96.8% |
Reels: 5 | Paylines: 9 |
Volatility: Very High | Max Win: 111,111 x stake |
If you like high risk, high reward action, you won’t find many better slots than Dead or Alive 2. This virtual trip to the Wild West comes with volcanic volatility and offers enormous payouts of up to 111,111 x your total stake.
Boasting NetEnt’s usual design flair, this sequel is played using a 5 reel, 9 payline game engine and features outlaws Apache the Kid, Della Rose, Jesse James, Bell Star and Billy the Kid on the reels. Gameplay highlights are the 3 free spin rounds.
In the Old Saloon Free Spins feature, all payouts are doubled and wilds are sticky. The sticky wilds and multipliers can combine in the High Noon Free Spins feature. For example, 2x and 3x multiplier wilds deliver a bumper 6x boost. The wilds in the Train Heist Free Spins feature aren’t sticky but they do increase a multiplier by 1 each time they appear.
With its sky-high variance, Dead or Alive 2 has become a real cult favourite. With the potentially massive rewards on offer, it’s easy to see why.
Jammin’ Jars 2 (Push Gaming)
Provider: Push Gaming | RTP: 96.4% |
Reels: 7 | Paylines: Cluster Pays |
Volatility: High | Max Win: 50,000 x stake |
Get on the dancefloor for more mayhem with Push Gaming’s Jammin’ Jars 2. With the original Jammin’ Jars proving to be a huge hit, it’s played on an 8×8 grid and uses Cluster Pays. You can play from just 10p a spin across all devices of course. It comes with a Collapse feature where you’ll get cascades basically.
There’s a Wild Jar Symbol feature where wild jars shift positions to give you another chance of winning. If part of a win, the multiplier increase by 1 each time. There are also special coin symbols which give you Instant Prizes up to 1,000 x your total stake. Jammin’ Jars 2 has a Free Games feature where wild jars come with increasing multipliers.
However, look out for gold vinyl record symbols where can make you reach different levels. Reach level 5 to trigger the Giga Jar feature. With 3 or 4 Wild Jar symbols added, a Giga Jar up to 4×4 in size can land. With 8 Giga Jar spins awarded as well as increasing multipliers, huge wins are possible here.
Importantly, the max win is 50,000 x your total stake vs 20,000 x stake in the original. Safe to say Push Gaming has delivered a superb sequel and a cult favourite slot game.
Features of the Best Slots
There’s a massive variety of themes to pick from when it comes to online slots. From historic China to buccaneering pirates, futuristic space stations to ancient Rome, there’ll be a game with that theme.
What makes a slot a good one though? Take ancient Egypt for example. Players have an enormous number of slots with that theme to choose from. What makes one more playable than another? Personal preference comes into it of course but there are other factors to weigh up too, which we’ll look at in more detail below.
High Variance Slots
When considering whether to play an online slot, 1 of the most important factors is variance. Does a slot deliver a steady stream of small value wins? Or is it volatile? These slots might offer wins very rarely but they have the potential to be big ones on the rare occasions they hit.
The high risk but potentially high rewards on offer from volatile slots sees many of them develop cult status. They’re certainly chancy but if luck is pointing in the right direction, they can deliver some knockout action.
High Max Win
Closely tied in with high variance slots are those that offer how maximum payouts or max win. The big rewards have made these some of the most popular slots around. Players love to chase huge wins and the bigger the potential rewards, the more appealing they become.
Take for example, Dead or Alive 2. It might not be the most innovative slot in the world but the fact that one of its features has a maximum win of 111,111 x your total stake means that it’s become one of the best slots online and a firm fan favourite.
Design
Players who will be staring at a screen for a decent amount of time want something that’s easy on the senses. Many of the best slot games come with high-class sound and visuals. Players expect more than ordinary bars, bells and oranges found in an old-school fruity.
Combine impressive design with high variance and big win potential and you’re well on the way to creating a classic. Immortal Romance is a prime example. Packed full of back story, it has its own uniquely-developed soundtrack. It also offers super volatile gameplay and potentially massive payouts. Put that together with the classy sound and visuals and you can see why it’s become one of the best slots to play online.
RTP %
For the uninitiated, the RTP is the Return to Player rate. That is, the amount that a slot pays out on average. The higher the percentage figure, the more that the game returns. For example, a slot that has a 96% RTP pays out £96 out of every £100 wagered.
Most slots have an RTP of round about the 96% mark. There are some outliers in both directions though. Some jackpot slots can have a lower RTP rate. Slots with an RTP of in excess of 97% are understandably popular with slot players.
9k Yeti has a 97% RTP. Set sail on a voyage in 1429 Uncharted Seas and the RTP is a massive 98.6%. You can usually find a slot’s RTP in the paytable or game info section. Is the return to player % a factor for you? Check out the best RTP slots.
Bonus Features
Some players are happy with slots that hammer home a limited range of extras (like Starburst). Others demand more in the way of bonus features. Thankfully, there are loads of online slots available that offer both styles.
Take Playtech’s Age of the Gods slot for example which comes with 4 different free spin features, each one based on one of the ancient deities. They all offer decent winning potential too.
Other examples of the best slots for features include games from Blueprint Gaming. Take Ted for example. Based on the hit movie about the foul-mouthed talking bear, starring Mark Wahlberg, it’s brimming with base game modifiers and a massive collection of triggered features.
Originality
Slots have come a long way from their one-armed bandit roots. We still enjoy playing a simple, classic fruity from time to time but most players expect a bit more in the way of originality.
The best slots deliver that in spades. The prime example in recent years has been the explosion in popularity of slots using the Megaways game mechanic. Big Time Gaming isn’t resting on its laurels though. The developer behind Megaways has also launched the Megaclusters and Megaquads game engines.
Another good example of innovation is ReelPlay’s Infinity Reels game engine where an extra reel is added with each successive win. The best slot games often feature the best new gameplay.
Jackpots
The goal of many slots players is to scoop an enormous, life-changing sum. With their multi-million pound paydays, progressive jackpot slots certainly offer that. NetEnt’s Mega Fortune and Microgaming’s Mega Moolah might be relative veterans but their eye-watering jackpots mean that they remain some of the most popular slots in UK.
Mobile
More and more people are giving up on their desktop computers and using ever more powerful tablets and mobiles as their primary devices. The online gaming world has kept up with these technological changes to create superbly designed slots that are fully optimised for mobile play.
A prime example of this comes from developer 4ThePlayer which has created the Big Reel Portrait Mode which uses 60% of the screen for the game interface. They are some of the best slots for iPhone you’ll come across.
Land Based to Online
Many of the best online slots available started life as land-based slots found in casinos, arcades and pubs and bars up and down the land.
Some of the top rated slots are ones that have been around long before online slots even existed. Some players will stick to the games they’ve played for years and even decades.
The likes of IGT’s Cleopatra, Barcrest’s Rainbow Riches and WMS’ Zeus all became popular in live venues before making the transfer to the online slot world. These are the best slots in Vegas meaning their online presence remains constant.
Best Slots FAQs
The best slot games are down to your personal preferences. Some prefer games with high win potential whilst others like ones with superb design. Check out the most popular slots in the UK which offer a variety of different attributes.
Different elements of an online slot appeal to different players. Some like high variance games whilst others like ones with high RTP or an innovative game mechanic. Check out the 9 features of the best slots you should consider before you play.
Nowadays, all slot games can be played across various devices including smartphones and tablets. All our best slots can played on Windows, iOS, Android and MAC powered devices, including iPhones.
The best slots in the UK tend to be the ones that offer big potential payouts. Games like Dead or Alive 2, Bonanza Megaways and Book of Dead can pay out huge stake multipliers from just 1 spin. Check out our list of the best slot games where most of them are popular due to the max win they offer