A slot version is the same game set to a different RTP, chosen by the casino. A sequel is a new game under the same name, such as Dead or Alive 2 or Money Train 2. A remaster rebuilds an existing game on a new engine, such as a Megaways or "1000" edition. The three matter for different reasons: a sequel or remaster changes how the game plays, while the version changes what it costs you.
Studio figures show that sequels and remasters rarely move RTP by more than a fraction of a point. What they change is the prize ceiling and the volatility. The RTP version a casino picks can move the figure by several points, and the only place to see it is the game's own info screen.
Versions, sequels and remasters explained
RTP version
Many studios supply one game at several RTP settings and let the casino choose. The graphics, features and paytable look the same. Relax Gaming's page for Money Train 3, for example, lists an alternative version at 94.00% and a German version at 90.00% next to the standard game.
Sequel
A new game that keeps the name, characters and core bonus of the original and changes the maths and features. Dead or Alive (2009) was followed by Dead or Alive 2 (2019) and Dead or Alive 3: Wanted (2026); Money Train 2 (2020) followed the 2019 original.
Remaster or engine swap
The same theme moved to a different reel system. Megaways editions change the number of symbols per reel on every spin: Divine Fortune Megaways goes from the original's 20 lines to up to 117,649 ways. Pragmatic Play's "1000" editions keep the grid and raise the multiplier caps: multipliers in Gates of Olympus 1000 reach 1,000x against 500x in Gates of Olympus.
Seasonal or themed edition
A reskin of a proven game for a holiday or theme, often with small feature changes. Big Bass Christmas Bash and Gates of Olympus Xmas 1000 are examples in our catalogue.
What changes between an original and its follow-up
Across 14 original and follow-up pairs where the studio publishes both RTPs, the follow-up's RTP is higher in 3, equal in 5 and lower in 6. The biggest move is 0.79 points (Dead or Alive to Dead or Alive 3); most are within 0.1. The prize ceiling went up in every pair in the table.
| Original → follow-up | RTP (studio) | Top prize (studio) |
|---|---|---|
| Big Bass Bonanza → Bigger Bass Bonanza | 96.71% → 96.71% | Fish values 2,000x → 4,000x |
| Gates of Olympus → Gates of Olympus 1000 | 96.50% → 96.50% | Multipliers 500x → 1,000x |
| Sweet Bonanza → Sweet Bonanza 1000 | 96.48% → 96.53% | Multipliers 100x → 1,000x; wins up to 25,000x |
| Sugar Rush → Sugar Rush Super Scatter | 96.50% → 96.58% | Spot multipliers 128x → 1,024x; wins up to 50,000x |
| Chilli Heat → Chilli Heat Megaways | 96.50% → 96.50% | Megaways version lists a 5,000x max win |
| Aztec Gems → Aztec Gems Deluxe | 96.52% → 96.50% | Deluxe lists a 22,519x max payout |
| Starburst → Starburst Galaxy | 96.08% → 96.00% | Max payout 800x → 17,288x |
| Divine Fortune → Divine Fortune Megaways | 96.59% → 96.09% | Max payout 1,000x → 4,500x |
| Gonzo's Quest → Gonzo's Quest Megaways | 95.97% → 95.77% | Max payout 2,200x → 20,972x |
| Gonzo's Quest → Gonzo's Quest II: Return to El Dorado | 95.97% → 96.06% | Max payout 2,200x → 15,825x |
| Dead or Alive → Dead or Alive 3: Wanted | 96.82% → 96.03% | Max payout 8,600x → 66,666x (with paid feature) |
What this means for you: a sequel is rarely cheaper or dearer to play than the original. It is usually swingier, with a higher ceiling paid for by longer dry runs. If you liked the original for its steady pace, the sequel may not suit you, even with the same RTP.
Volatility usually goes up
Our catalogue has a volatility rating for both games in 9 original and follow-up pairs. The follow-up is rated higher in 6 and the same in 3. None is rated lower.
| Original | Follow-up | Volatility (as listed) |
|---|---|---|
| Chilli Heat | Chilli Heat Megaways | Low → High |
| Starburst | Starburst Galaxy | Medium → High |
| Aztec Gems | Aztec Gems Deluxe | Low → Medium |
| Big Bass Bonanza | Bigger Bass Bonanza; Big Bass Bonanza Megaways | Medium → High |
| Gates of Olympus | Gates of Olympus Xmas 1000 | High → Very High |
| Thunderstruck | Thunderstruck II | Medium → Medium |
| Divine Fortune | Divine Fortune Megaways | Medium → Medium |
| Sugar Rush | Sugar Rush Super Scatter | High → High |
On a KSh 2,000 budget, a step up in volatility means more sessions that end without a bonus and a few that pay much more. Lower your bet when you move from an original to its follow-up if you want the budget to last the same number of spins.
Hit frequency does not always fall
Hit frequency is the share of spins that return any win. NetEnt and Red Tiger publish it, and the pattern is mixed:
- Divine Fortune 20% → Divine Fortune Megaways 41% (the Megaways version returns a win on twice as many spins).
- Gonzo's Quest 41% → Gonzo's Quest Megaways 26.25% → Gonzo's Quest II 23%.
- Starburst 23% → Starburst Galaxy 24%.
- Dead or Alive 30% → Dead or Alive 2 30% → Dead or Alive 3: Wanted 22.99%.
Read hit frequency next to RTP and max payout, never alone. A high hit rate with a low RTP can still cost more than a lower hit rate with a higher one.
Same game, different RTP: the version your casino runs
The sequel decides the maths design. The casino decides which RTP setting of that design you play. Using the settings Relax Gaming lists for its games, here is what the choice costs (average cost = total staked × (100% − RTP)):
| RTP setting | Per KSh 10,000 staked | Per KSh 50,000 staked |
|---|---|---|
| 96.4% (Money Train 2, as listed) | KSh 360 | KSh 1,800 |
| 94% (Money Train 3 alternative) | KSh 600 | KSh 3,000 |
| 90% (German versions) | KSh 1,000 | KSh 5,000 |
A two-point drop in RTP costs you more than any sequel in the pairs table changed. To see which version you are on:
- Open the slot at your casino, on your phone or computer, in demo or real-money mode.
- Tap the menu (the i, ? or ≡ icon) and open the rules or paytable.
- Find "RTP" or "theoretical return". Compare it with the studio's figure in the tables above or on our slot page.
If the casino's figure is lower, it runs a reduced version. Our RTP guide covers this in more detail.
Notable sequels and how they changed
- Dead or Alive 2 (NetEnt, 2019). Same 5×3, 9-line grid and 30% hit frequency as the original, with three free spins modes to choose from instead of one. Full comparison: Dead or Alive slots compared.
- Money Train 2 (Relax Gaming, 2020). Kept the 40-line layout, raised the cap from 20,000x to 50,000x and added base-game respins and persistent characters. Full comparison: Money Train slots compared.
- Bigger Bass Bonanza and Big Bass Splash (Pragmatic Play). Same 96.71% RTP as Big Bass Bonanza; Bigger Bass adds a row and two lines, Splash adds pre-bonus modifiers. Full comparison: Big Bass slots compared.
- Gonzo's Quest Megaways (Red Tiger, 2020) and Gonzo's Quest II (NetEnt, 2025). Two different follow-ups to the 2010 original: one moved it to Megaways reels with up to 117,649 ways, the other to six reels with up to 262,144 ways, according to NetEnt.
- Thunderstruck II (Games Global). In our catalogue it moves from 9 lines to 243 ways and from 96.1% to 96.65% RTP, with the same Medium volatility.
- Legacy of Dead (Play'n GO, 2020). A follow-up to Book of Dead (2016), set in the same Egyptian tomb theme.
Original or sequel: how to choose
- For the lowest cost, compare the RTP at your casino, not the studio's headline. Between an original and its sequel the gap is usually tiny; between casino versions it can be several points.
- For a steadier session, the original is often the calmer game. Check the volatility on our slot page.
- For a bigger ceiling, the sequel or "1000"/Megaways edition usually has it, paid for with longer dry runs.
Most of these games run in a mobile browser at online casinos. For M-Pesa or Airtel Money deposits, check the casino's cashier. Gambling is for adults 18+; see responsible gaming and gambling addiction help.
