Slot sequels: a series-by-series guide

Slot sequels: what changes and what stays the same

A slot sequel is a new game that carries forward an earlier title’s name, theme or central mechanic, usually from the same studio. Our short answer to what is a slot sequel covers the definition. This guide goes series by series, because the interesting part is how the numbers move.

What tends to stay is the identity: the characters, the core feature and often the reel layout. What tends to change is the maths, which is the part that affects your money. A sequel is a separate game with its own paytable, its own RTP versions and its own maximum win, so knowing the original tells you less than you might expect. It is also different from a copycat, which often keeps the maths and changes the name; our guide to copycat slots explains that side.

The four kinds of slot sequel

Seasonal editions, such as Christmas Big Bass Bonanza, sit at the edge of this list. Where their published figures match the original exactly, they behave more like reskins than sequels.

Slot sequels by series: how the figures changed

Every figure here is the developer’s published default. ‘Not published’ means we don’t hold a verified figure, so check the game’s help screen.

Read across any row and the shape is the same: the ceiling goes up, the RTP barely moves. Compare individual pairs on Dead or Alive vs Dead or Alive 2, Gates of Olympus vs Gates of Olympus 1000 and Reactoonz vs Reactoonz 2.

Case study: five Money Train slot sequels

Relax Gaming’s Money Train series is the longest run of numbered sequels on this site, and it shows the ceiling climbing with almost every release while the RTP stays close to 96%.

The average cost has hardly changed in seven years, but the maximum has gone from 20,000x to 150,000x, and the fifth game splits it between two modes. That is the typical sequel trade: the same price for play, with more of the return held back for rarer, bigger events. Start with Money Train 2 or see Money Train 2 vs Money Train 3.

Case study: slot sequels that change the volatility

Some follow-ups keep the brand and swap the personality entirely. These pairs show the biggest shifts in published volatility.

If you liked Starburst for its gentle pace, Starburst XXXtreme is a different proposition despite the familiar gems: our Starburst vs Starburst XXXtreme comparison shows how. The same caution applies to Gonzo’s Quest Megaways, which Red Tiger made on the Megaways mechanic, and to the Fishin’ Frenzy Megaways remake.

Case study: the Big Bass series of slot sequels

Reel Kingdom’s Big Bass series, distributed by Pragmatic Play, began with Big Bass Bonanza on 14 December 2020 and has grown into a large family of spin-offs. The core idea, a fisherman wild collecting cash values from fish symbols, carries through most of them, while the maths moves around.

Notice that the newer, higher-ceiling titles tend to list slightly lower default RTPs than the original’s 96.71%. Big Bass Vegas 1000 is the odd one out, rated medium despite a 15,000x ceiling. Our Big Bass Bonanza vs Bigger Bass Bonanza comparison and the fishing slots guide look at the series in more depth.

Patterns across slot sequels

• The ceiling nearly always rises. Of the pairs on this page with both figures published, every sequel has a higher max win than its original.
• RTP stays close. Most sequels sit within about one percentage point of the original, up or down.
• Volatility often rises with the ceiling, because a bigger maximum has to be funded from somewhere in the same RTP.
• Lower RTP versions are common for newer games, such as Sweet Bonanza 1000’s 95.52% and 94.51% settings.
• Familiar names don’t mean familiar maths: always read the new paytable.

The second and third points together are why a sequel can feel tighter than an original even when its RTP is similar. If more of the same return is reserved for a 100,000x event that few players see, less is left for everyday wins. Our page on max win caps and the question are new slots better than old ones explore that trade-off.

What higher sequel ceilings mean at UK stakes

Big multiples sound dramatic, so convert them. Since 9 April 2025 the most a player aged 25 or over can stake on an online slot is £5, and since 21 May 2025 players aged 18 to 24 are limited to £2.

These are theoretical ceilings that very few sessions approach, and they are not a reason to pick a game. What they do tell you is that the sequel holds back a larger share of its return for rare events, so expect longer quiet spells. Our glossary entry for max win has a short definition.

Original or slot sequel? A checklist

1. Open both games’ help screens and note the RTP versions your casino runs.
2. Compare the published volatility; if the sequel is a band higher, plan for longer dry spells.
3. Convert both max wins into pounds at your stake to see how the ceilings differ.
4. Read the sequel’s feature rules from scratch rather than assuming they match the original.
5. Count your budget in stakes; spikier sequels need more stakes to give their features a chance.
6. Try both in free demo play, after age verification, if you want to compare the feel.
7. Choose the one whose shape suits your budget, and set your limits before you start.

Our guides to comparing slots and volatility and budgets go into each step.

UK rules that apply to every slot sequel

However new the game, the UK version follows the same rules as the original. Since 31 October 2021, online slots in Great Britain can’t offer autoplay, must take at least 2.5 seconds per spin, can’t offer turbo or slam-stop, and can’t celebrate a return equal to or below your stake. The Gambling Commission set these out in its online games design consultation response (opens in a new tab).

Recent sequels written up for other markets are often described with a bonus buy. Slots at UK-licensed casinos don’t offer one, so ignore any maths in a review that depends on buying the feature; our bonus buy page explains what is known. Releases themselves are usually announced by the studio, as when Nolimit City’s launch of San Quentin 2: Death Row (opens in a new tab) was reported in the trade press.

Do fruit machines have sequels?

Brands carry on in venues too, with new cabinets and new games under familiar names, and some names cross between machines and online slots. What a land-based follow-up can’t do is raise its ceiling past its category. A pub fruit machine in Category C is limited to a £1 stake and a £100 top prize however many versions its brand has had, and a B1 casino machine is capped at £10,000, or £20,000 on a linked progressive. Our pub fruit machine guide and the UK slot machine categories page explain the limits.

Where to play slot sequels in the UK

Not every casino carries every game in a series, and lobbies change, so search for both the original and the sequel by name. The help screen will show which RTP version each one runs. One original in this guide is tied to an offer: PlayOJO’s 80 welcome spins are played on Big Bass Bonanza, at 10p each, for new UK customers (excluding Northern Ireland) whose first deposit is £10 or more, with winnings paid in cash and no wagering.

Coral’s welcome offer is 100 free spins at 10p on selected games after a deposit and £10 or more bet on slots, accepted within 48 hours, used within 7 days, with no wagering on winnings. Ladbrokes offers 50 free spins a day for 10 days, up to 500 at 10p, once you deposit and spend £10 on slots; claim before 23:59 each day, with no wagering. PayPal, Skrill and some other methods don’t qualify at either. Each offer is for over-18s only, with terms applying, as checked on 5 October 2026. Coral and Ladbrokes are run by the same company, LC International Limited, so check the terms before joining both.

18+. Gambling should be entertainment that costs money, not a way to make it. Decide a budget before you play: plan a slot budget. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.