How we rate slots

Slots aren’t rated on looks alone. We look at design, features, gameplay, RTP, volatility and the overall player experience. We base our ratings on our own experience, long-term market monitoring and feedback from players, which helps us better understand what really matters when choosing a slot.

How we evaluate SLOTS

What do we look at when rating slots?

design and theme icon

Design and theme

When it comes to design, we look at how the slot feels visually, how easy it is for the player to navigate, and whether the game brings something original. It’s not just about pretty graphics, but also the overall atmosphere, clarity and comfort while playing.

We rate slots higher when they’re visually polished, have clear controls and don’t feel like yet another copy of familiar slot templates. On the other hand, games lose points if they’re cluttered, outdated, or tend to distract players during longer sessions.

  • Included in the rating:

    • visual presentation and graphic quality,
    • originality of the theme and the overall game concept,
    • sounds, music and the in-game atmosphere,
    • clarity of controls and the game interface,
    • readability of the paytable and game rules,
    • appearance and usability on mobile devices.
features icon

Features and gameplay

For features, we assess what actually happens in the game and whether the slot offers more than just basic reel spins. We look at bonus elements, special mechanics and game pace, as well as how often the player gets to the more exciting moments.

Higher ratings go to slots with a snappy pace, interesting features and bonuses that make sense. It’s also important that the game doesn’t feel empty and that it regularly delivers moments that keep the player engaged.

  • Included in the rating:

    • free spins and other bonus modes,
    • features like hold & win, cascades, expanding symbols or multipliers,
    • special mechanics such as Megaways, cluster pays or an expanding grid,
    • how often bonus features trigger,
    • the option to buy the bonus and its price-to-value ratio,
    • smooth performance on desktop and mobile,
    • overall entertainment value for both short and longer sessions.
Slot rating example

Slot rating example

volatility icon

RTP and volatility

Technical parameters are very important for slots because they affect player expectations and the overall playing style. That’s why we track not only return-to-player, but also volatility, maximum win and other details that help explain how a particular slot behaves.

It’s especially important for us to flag slots with multiple RTP versions. The same game can have different RTPs at different casinos, which is something players should know before they start playing. We then treat volatility as a guide to whether a slot offers more frequent smaller wins, or less frequent but potentially bigger hits.

  • Included in the rating:

    • the RTP level,
    • whether the game has multiple RTP versions,
    • volatility (game variance),
    • the maximum possible win in bet multipliers,
    • hit frequency,
    • availability and clarity of technical parameters in the game rules.

How is the overall rating calculated?

The overall rating is based on the average of the individual criteria we track for the given content. So it’s not a random impression, but a combination of multiple factors that together reflect the final quality from a player’s perspective.

The final verdict always goes through editorial review and involves multiple team members. The rating is also kept separate from the company’s commercial goals, so the result remains fair, clear and useful for players.

Found a mistake or outdated information? Let us know in the comments under the article or via the contact page.

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How we rate at Bonus-menu.co.uk

Want to take a look at the main methodology too? In one place, you’ll find our editorial guidelines as well as detailed rating methodologies for casino reviews, bonuses, slots and scratchcards.