Best Low Variance Slots | List of Low Variance Slot Machines

If you’re one of those players who doesn’t like to risk it all on a single spin, and you like to keep a close eye on your bankroll, then you’re in luck! Here, at The Slot Buzz, we have a comprehensive list of the best low volatility slots just for you.

Players who prize low variance above all other factors when choosing their perfect slot game will be glad to know that our list is comprised of 10 of the best low variance online slots out there, from some of the most popular gaming providers like Microgaming and NetEnt.

And if you want to find out more about how a low variance slots affects gameplay, scroll down to the bottom of our list!

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BEST LOW VARIANCE SLOTS IN THE UK

Our dedicated team of researchers and writers at The Slot Buzz have put in endless hours and cash in coming up with the top 10 low variance slot games of all time. While not everyone will agree with our list, at least players will have something to go by. So, without further ado:

1. 1429 UNCHARTED SEAS – THUNDERKICK

1429 Uncharted Seas Screen Grab
1429 Uncharted Seas Screen Grab
  • 98.6% RTP
  • 5 reel, 25 pay lines
  • Free spins
  • Bonus game

It’s the year 1429, and any sailor worth his salt knows that if you sail out past the horizon, only sea creatures of untold horror await. The design of this slot is beautiful, as the reels system sits on a centuries-old sea fairing map. Thunderkick are clearly paying homage to the cartography of the old world, and the brave sailors who lived in it.

This low variance slot features 5 reels, 25 paylines, and has an extremely generous RTP of 98.6%. As mentioned before, the game looks beautiful, and has some bonus features like free spins, a bonus game, multipliers, scatter symbols, wild symbols, and an autoplay function.

Players who are a fan of low volatility and high RTP will no doubt love to try out Thunderkick’s low variance slot 1429 Uncharted Seas.

2. BLOOD SUCKERS – NETENT

Blood Suckers Screen Grab
Blood Suckers Screen Grab
  • 98% RTP
  • 5 reels, 25 pay lines
  • Free spins
  • Bonus game

Blood Suckers is a vampire-themed horror slot from NetEnt. While a lot of the horror slots out there can feel quite tasteless and thrown together, this one definitely stands out from the crowd, and may even make your blood curdle!

This low variance slot features a healthy RTP of 98%, and is stacked with great additional features such as free spins, a bonus game, scatters, wilds, and an autoplay function. The minimum bet value is £0.25, which we thought was quite high when compared to other low volatility slots, however, this just simply means players can expect a bigger payout.

If you’re a fan of horror slots then NetEnt’s Blood Suckers is arguably one of the betters ones out there.

3. ESQUELETO EXPLOSIVO – THUNDERKICK

Esqueleto Explosivo Screen Grab
Esqueleto Explosivo Screen Grab
  • 97.6% RTP
  • 5 reels, 17 pay lines
  • Multipliers
  • Exploding wild symbols

Join the exploding skeletons in Mexico’s famous holiday, Day of the Dead, in one of the best low variance online slots out there. This 5 reel, 17 pay line slot has plenty of bonus features like exploding wilds, cascading symbols, and multipliers. It has a minimum/maximum bet value of 0.10p/£100.

However, what truly makes Esqueleto Explosivo stand out are the visuals. This is one of those low variance slot games that look amazing, along with its mesmerizing soundtrack. Thunderkick really transports you right into the heart of Mexico City.

4. GOLD TRAIN – PRAGMATIC PLAY

Gold Train Screen Grab
Gold Train Screen Grab
  • 97.16% RTP
  • 3 reels, 2 pay lines
  • Bonus round
  • Upgrade symbols

Gold Train is a classic low variance slot game released by the gaming developer, Pragmatic Play. Gold Train is your classic slot, with a Wild West flavour to it.

The game features a small number of bonus features, including a simple bonus round, and you can collect Upgrade Symbols throughout the game, which work by extending the length of the train carriages during the bonus round.

While the slot itself is pretty simplistic, you can’t beat that 97.16% RTP!

5. MR HOLMES AND THE STOLEN STONES – YGGDRASIL

Holmes and the Stolen Stones slot
Holmes and the Stolen Stones slot
  • 96.80% RTP
  • 5 reels, 3 rows, and 20 pay lines.
  • Free spins
  • Progressive Jackpots

Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous detective, Sherlock Holmes, is the star in our next slot. Players will be delighted to know they have the chance of winning a £24,000 jackpot in this low variance slot game.

There are also plenty of bonus features like free spins, a bonus game, multipliers, scatter symbols, progressive jackpots (x5), wild symbols, and an autoplay function.

Mr Holmes and the Stolen Stones is a great jackpot slot with crisp visuals and offers plenty of ways to activate free spins. All this and the 96.8% RTP makes this one of the best low volatility slots out there.

6. Thunderstruck II – MICROGAMING

Thunderstruck 2 Screen Grab
Thunderstruck 2 Screen Grab
  • 96.69% RTP
  • 5 reels, 3 rows
  • 243 ways to win!
  • min/max bet: 30p/£15

Thunderstruck II is one of the most popular games out there, and here at The Slot Buzz we believe it belongs in the pantheon of greatest slot games of all time.

The mythological Norse imagery, thundering soundtrack, and overall design really helps this slot game stand out. However, what really sets this game apart is the gameplay.

The game features 5 stages. Each stage offers a different amount of free spins and multipliers that should help you hit the max win which can be 8000x your initial stake.

This is without a doubt one of the best low variance slots out there and has tonnes of exciting features that will have you spinning for hours!

Its sister game, Thunderstruck Wild Lightning is also worth a try!

7. WILD PLUNDER SLOT – NEXTGEN

Wild Plunder Screen Grab
Wild Plunder Screen Grab
  • 96.6% RTP
  • 5 reels, 3 rows
  • 26 fixed pay lines
  • Wild Plunder free spins

Prepare to venture on the high seas in this tropical, cartoon pirate-inspired slot game, Wild Plunder. This low variance slot consists of 5 reels, 3 rows, and 26 pay lines, and the minimum bet/maximum bet is 0.25p/£625 respectfully.

There are 3 bonus game features that can appear at any time during a spin: Wild Current, can add up to 9 wild symbols, Rhonda’s Respin, can reward you with special respins, and Release the Kraken, which also adds wilds to the game.

For a NexGen slot, it’s 96.6% RTP is higher than usual, this is probably because the game is marketed as a low variance slot.

Unfortunately, this low variance slot offers extremely low payouts, and to be honest, there’s much better potential slots out there.

8. TOMB RAIDER (RTP: 96.56%) BY MICROGAMING

Tomb Raider Screen Grab
Tomb Raider Screen Grab
  • RTP 96.56%
  • 5 reels, 3 rows, and 15 pay lines
  • Free spins round
  • Bonus round

This low variance slot pays homage to the queen of adventure and raiding treasures, Lara Croft’s Tomb Raider. The slot game consists of your standard 5 reels, 3 rows, and 15 pay lines. Fans of the franchise will be delighted with this slot as the symbols will really bring back some well-earned feelings of nostalgia.

There are some great additional features to this slot game like the Lara Croft Scatter symbol which activates unique free spins round and the Ancient Idol Scatter symbol which can trigger a bonus round.

We almost forgot to mention the Tomb Bonus feature, which is unlocked with special bonus symbols. The Tomb Bonus is a pick them feature that can reward the player with a mystery cash prize!

This low variance slot is a definite must, especially if you’re a fan of the Tomb Raider series.

9. STARBURST – NETENT

Starburst Screen Shot
Starburst Screen Shot
  • 96.09% RTP
  • 5 reels, 3 rows, and 15 pay lines
  • High hit frequency
  • Wilds

Released by NetEnt in 2012, Starburst quickly became one of the most popular and best low variance slots out there. This jewel-filled slot is pretty uncomplicated, which entirely plays to its advantage. The game itself consists of 5 reels, 3 rows, and 15 pay lines.

With its low volatility, players earnings shouldn’t make a huge dent due to the high frequency of wins. Generally, on average a player can expect a hit for ever 5 spins. The combination of an above-average RTP, high hit frequency, and low variance is a major pull for some players.

The additional features are pretty standard including free spins, a bonus game, multipliers, scatter symbols, wild symbols, and an autoplay function.

Players will have great fun on this classic!

10. 3 LUCKY LEPRECHAUNS – YGGDRASIL GAMING

3 lucky leprechauns screengrab

  • 96.00% RTP
  • 5 reel, 3 rows, 10 pay line game set up
  • Pick-A-Win
  • Leprechaun Trail
  • Choose your Wild
  • Win Spins Bonus Round

The max prize at the top of the trail makes the journey towards the old wishing well and the climb of the trail, well worth the effort in the new 3 Lucky Leprechauns slot. The highlight of playing low-variance slots is the incredible bonus prize pick-ups along the way to the maximum payout.

3 Lucky Leprechauns created by 4 The Player in cooperation with Yggdrasil Gaming places players in charge of their trail climbing adventure. The higher you climb on the trail the more choices, which include win spins, cash prizes, or more picks in the bonus round. During the win spins every win increases via a 5x multiplier and in the pick-a-win the top bonus award is worth up to £2,000.

Blend in some Irish luck and frequent wins may arrive in the form of guaranteed win spins, a bonus and cash prizes and you could dance and sing along with the 3 Lucky Leprechauns as you claim the top prize worth 5,500x equalling a max win worth up to £165,000.

WHAT IS ONLINE SLOT VOLATILITY?

Slot volatility can also be described as ‘variance’. Slot variance differs from game to game. There are 3 categories when it comes to slot variance and they are low, medium, to high variance.

In the world of iGaming, variance is an indicator of the frequency and volume in which a slot game is likely to pay out. This basically means that high variance games will produce huge payouts – just not very often, and low variance slots will produce small, but regular, payouts.

Players who relish risk and don’t worry about the perils of burning through their bankroll generally go for a game of high variance, the possibility of a huge payout outweigh the risks. Whereas players who prefer a slow and steady strategy will go for low variance slots.

HIGH, MEDIUM, OR LOW VARIANCE – WHAT’S THE REAL DIFFERENCE?

As we said previously, the real difference between low variance slots and a high variance slot is the frequency and size of the payouts. High variance slots will have huge wins but long intervals in between, and are generally quite risky and not for the faint-hearted! Low variance slots will have small wins at regular intervals and are for the more weary slot player.

WHY PLAY LOW VARIANCE SLOT GAMES?

There are a variety of reasons to play low-variance slots in the UK. Players new to the world of slots, listen up, this type of game is where you should start while learning how to play slots online. Low variance slots provide frequent wins ensuring you never bore of wagering. You may wonder why a player would spend their bankroll on high volatility slots when this option is available. Well, the catch is that these slots have average RTP rates and only pay out in small sums.
Online slots with a low variance are often referred to as penny slots. This is ideal for new players who need some time to learn how to play the game. Alternatively, solely wagering on these slots to appreciate the bonus features is why seasoned punters choose these games.

Enjoy the frequent win, low risk of losing a large portion of your bankroll, and the variety of games on offer at online casinos in the UK.

If you think this way of playing might be too boring for you then, by all means, hit up a high-variance slot. Just watch the wallet!

HOW TO FIND LOW VARIANCE SLOT MACHINES AT A CASINO

Low-variance slot fans enjoy playing online slot machines without taking high risks. It’s the perfect solution for casual players or anyone with a tight budget eager to maximise fun while enjoying less risky gameplay. TheSlotBuzz step-by-step guide combines all the tips on how to enjoy a pressure-free gaming session at the best UK online casinos:

  1. Find the Best UK Online Slot Site on our List: Start playing the best low-variance slots with a low-deposit casino welcome bonus available to new players. Always read the terms and conditions.
  2. Stick to Low Variance Slots Listed: If you’re still a rookie at identifying low-variance slots. Find an online casino featuring one or more low-variance slot games mentioned in our article.
  3. Select Slots with Interest-Related Themes: Playing a low-variance slot with an interest-related theme ensures an enjoyable experience. Due to the wide selection of different slot themes, it is possible to enjoy slot games that are humorous or relate to something you connect with on some level.
  4. Scan through the Bonus Features: If you love online slot machines for their features, play low-volatility slots that offer the bonus feature/s you enjoy most. The finest UK slot site categories often include slots with multipliers, free spins, jackpots, bonus rounds or wilds.
  5. Explore Betting Options: The best way to explore low-variance slot machine betting or wagering is by trying out betting while activating more paylines. Free slots or demo play is a great option to experience the effect of wagering on a higher number of paylines. The higher the number of active paylines, the greater the chances of claiming profits on each spin.
  6. Stick to a Basic Slot Strategy: Set a limit that suits your allocated entertainment budget and only increase betting once you’ve collected payouts according to your strategy. Also, set a desired win amount you wish to achieve when you reach it and cash out!

Low variance slots are great fun, although, even with the reduced risk should be played responsibly. Low-volatility games keep you spinning for longer, although it’s vital to keep track of the time and to manage your bankroll effectively to enjoy the ultimate low-volatility online slot experience.

THE SLOT BUZZ – FINAL WORD

While our top 10 list of low variance slots is comprehensive, there are plenty of more available at hundreds of online casinos right now. Keep checking up on The Slot Buzz regularly to see if there are any more updates on newly released low variance slots.

Low variance slots are not for everybody. These types of slot games sometimes simply don’t suit a player’s playing style. When you are playing these low variance games make sure you don’t approach them the same way you would with high variance slots.

As always, players should always gamble responsibly, and of course, have fun! As a side note, all of our online casinos on offer here at The Slot Buzz are fully licensed and regulated by leading governing bodies such as the UKGC and MGA, so you can gamble on your favourite slots with peace of mind!

FAQ

What are the characteristics of a low volatility slot?

A low volatility slot will have smaller wins at regular intervals when compared to highly volatile slots.

What are the characteristics of a high variance slot games?

High volatility slots will have huge wins but long intervals in between and are generally quite risky when compared to low to medium volatility slots.

What are the best low volatility slots games?

Our favourite low variance slots are mentioned in our top 10 guide above, but personally, I love to play Starburst, Esqueleto Explosivo, and Thunder Struck II.

Where can I find low variance slots online?

You can enjoy low variance slots at any online casino on the Internet. These casino sites will feature the best slot games and the best low variance gaming on offer. Simply change the filtered search on the search bar to a low variance game criteria.