Feel like you’re cheating if you buy a bonus feature? Don’t. It’s all about making a win and it doesn’t really matter how you get there. Despite every slot game being unique (at least to some extent), there is something most slots have in common – the big wins happen in the bonus games. Until a few years ago, you needed credits, luck, and a whole lot of patience to get to the bonus round and the good news is that you only need credits nowadays as there are more and more feature buy slots.
If triggering a bonus game in the traditional way seems too time-consuming, then this is where bonus buy slot games come in handy. In most ways, feature buy slots are just like regular games, but there is one major difference: for a certain fee you now have the option to skip the entire base game and instantly move on to the bonus round and try your luck. Doesn’t sound too bad after all now, does it? Here’s everything you need to know about the buy-a-bonus feature but never dared to ask.
What is a feature buy slot?
The Buy a Bonus Feature is an option or a feature to buy direct access to the free spins or other bonus game so that you can play them immediately without needing to struggle and trigger scatters or other ways to get to the bonus round. This feature is often referred to as the Buy Feature, the Feature Drop, the Bonus Feature Buy, the Buy Free Spins Feature, Buy-A-Bonus or the Bonus Buy. It all means the same thing though: you buy your way in. The main benefit of this option is as straightforward as it can get: you don’t have to wait. There is, however, a price that comes with this feature, and boy it ain’t cheap.
Still a normal slot game
Luckily, Bonus Buy slots don’t differ from normal slots. There is still a base game and there are still bonus features. By purchasing your access to the bonus round, you just save yourself some time, that’s basically it. With some slots you can also use a gamble option afterwards, for example to further increase the number of free spins won. In all games, the buy-a-bonus feature is an optional feature. You can play the game without making use of the feature. In this case you will need to trigger the bonus round in the traditional way.
What are the advantages of Bonus Buy slots?
If winning big time is what you are after, then you’ll probably want to hit the bonus round as soon as possible as this is where the big numbers are to be found. This is where multiplier wilds are unleashed, rows are expanded, reels are added, and symbols are enhanced all of which are meant to increase the likelihood of making a major win. It’s no wonder most success stories take place far away from the base game in the elusive but rewarding bonus rounds. Buying yourself direct access to this phase gives you the following benefits:
- No need to wait endlessly until you win a bonus in a traditional, manual way.
- In bonus rounds you typically win more money than in the base game.
- Rapid conclusions: you can quickly evaluate whether you think the game is worth it or not by directly heading to what it’s all about.
- A lot of feature buy slots give you a higher payout percentage, (RTP).
Play online now!
Welcome Bonus: 100% up to C$500 +Free Spins!
C$1000
+ 200 cash Free Spins
C$1000
+ 50 Free spins
The 10 best bonus buy slots
This brings us to the best bonus buy slots of the moment. In order to come up with this top 10 list we stuck our heads together and had a fierce discussion about (1) what are the best slots games in general that (2) also give you the best options in terms of bonus buys. All of the games that have been picked by Vernons are available in Canadian online casinos and can be played by Canadian users. Unlike some other nations (like the UK), the buy a bonus feature is fully accessible for players that are based in Canada. We would recommend you to always carefully consider if your budget allows you to buy a feature.
1. Money Train 2 (Relax Gaming)
Money Train 2 has turned out to be a huge success for Relax Gaming, with the Bonus Buy (100x bet) transporting you straight to the famous respin round. This exciting bonus round not only gives players mindblowing cash prizes, but also comes with extra boosters such as the (permanent) collector, the Necromancer and the sniper. The max win on Money Train is set at an insanely high 50,000x the total bet.
- Release: 2020
- RTP base game: 96,4%
- RTP bonus feature: 98%
- Variance (Volatility): High
- Maximum win: 50,000x bet
- Prize Bonus Buy: 100x
2. San Quentin (Nolimit City)
Nolimit City is arguably the king of Bonus Buy slots and allows players to choose from multiple options. Behind the concrete walls of San Quentin’s maximum security prison, you will need to choose from Bonus Buys that start at 100x the bet and go up to no less than 2,000x the bet. The maximum win is just as brutal as the slot itself: 150,000x the bet. You’ll need some iron balls too as this is considered one of the toughest prisons in the world.
- Release: 2021
- RTP base game: 96,03%
- RTP bonus feature: 96,95%
- Variance (Volatility): High
- Maximum win: 150,000x bet
- Prize Bonus Buy: 2,000x
3. Serengeti Kings (NetEnt)
Serengeti Kings is one of the few NetEnt slots with a Buy a Bonus feature. Serengeti Kings is an Africa themed slot that brings you to the beautiful Serengeti savannas, which is a region that is divided between Kenya and Tanzania. The noble objective of the game is to save as many lion and panther symbols as possible. The more you save, the more these symbols help you. These can be converted into Wilds and if all goes well you will also get extra multipliers too. This will give you an unforgettable safari experience.
- Year: 2020
- RTP base game: 96,20%
- RTP bonus feature: 96,70%
- Variance (Volatility): High
- Maximum win: estimated 2,000x – 3,000x bet
- Prize Bonus Buy: 59x, 84x or 243x.
4. El Paso Gunfight x Nudge (Nolimit City)
In the small town of El Paso a high number of gunfights keeps the locals awake and you’re about to join them. The question isn’t who will die, but how many people will die. Luckily, this slot by Nolimit also gives you the opportunity to buy several different bonus features: 6 of them in total, with rather compelling names like “Four Dead in Five Seconds” to give you an example of what to get ready for. To buy these bonuses, you’ll need to pay between 80x and 800x the bet. The maximum potential win of El Paso Gunfight xNudge hits up to 44,440x.
- Year: 2021
- RTP base game: 96,05%
- RTP bonus feature: 96,05%
- Variance (Volatility): High
- Maximum win: 44,440x bet
- Prize Bonus Buy: between 80x and 800x
5. Power of Thor Megaways (Pragmatic Play)
Many Megaways slots have a Buy a Bonus option and some of them combine that with a cool gamble feature. Power of Thor Megaways by Pragmatic Play is a great example of how to do this and in our opinion is also one of the nicest games from a graphical point of view. Start with up to 22 free spins and just hope Thor starts swinging his mighty hammer as this will give you two reels of stacked wilds. What else to expect? Lots of wilds, combined with a progressive multiplier and up to 117,649 ways to win which can lead to payouts of 5,000x the total bet. The Bonus Buy will cost you 100x the stake
- Year: 2021
- RTP base game: 96,97%
- RTP bonus feature: 96,97%
- Variance (Volatility): High
- Maximum win: 5,000x bet
- Prize Bonus Buy: 100x
6. Dead or Alive 2 Feature Buy (NetEnt)
The original Dead or Alive was already an online classic, but with Dead or Alive 2 Feature Buy by Netent takes the Western high variance slot genre to a new level. For a prize of 60x you immediately get 3, 4 or 5 scatters and that gives you, in addition to a cash prize of up to 2,500 x the bet, the choice between three bonus rounds. The most popular of the three is the High Noon Saloon feature: free spins, sticky wilds, retriggers and multipliers up to x4 can provide payouts of up to 111,111x the total bet on this one.
- Year: 2020
- RTP base game: 96,8%
- RTP bonus feature: 96,8%
- Variance (Volatility): High
- Maximum win: 111,111.11x bet
- Prize Bonus Buy: 60x
7. Punk Rocker (Nolimit City)
Punk Rocker is one of our personal favorites and for that reason alone this game needed to make it to the top 10 list of the best Bonus Buy slots. Loud punk music, a crazy, rather absurd sense of humor and a free spins bonus that is full of surprises: Punk Rocker surely knows how to entertain the crowds. With this Nolimit City slot you can choose from several Bonus Buy options, which start at 80x the bet and end at 238x the bet. The max win is just as impressive as the soundtrack of the game: get prepared for 15,000x the total bet.
- Release: 2020
- RTP base game: 96,01%
- RTP bonus feature: 96,44%
- Variance (Volatility): High
- Maximum win: 15,000x bet
- Prize Bonus Buy: 80x or 238x the stake
8. Chaos Crew (Hacksaw Gaming)
Chaos Crew is a strange, fun, and somewhat frustrating slot by Hacksaw Gaming. By means of a respin bonus where you can win cash prizes and multipliers and it is possible to win up to 10,000x the bet. By paying 129x the bet you immediately enter the bonus round, and that can be a lot of fun and mean big wins, but also big disappointments. It often happens that you barely win anything. You’ll have to be able to handle that.
- Year: 2020
- RTP base game: 96,3%
- RTP bonus feature: 95,92%
- Variance (Volatility): High
- Maximum win: 10,000x bet
- Prize Bonus Buy: 129x
9. Megaways Jack (Iron Dog Studio)
In Megaways Jack you’re about to enter the fairytale world of Jack and the Beanstalk. Buy a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 12 free spins for an amount of between 60x and 240x the bet. During the free spins you can earn all kinds of extra features, such as “Locked Megaways”, extra wilds, extra spins and extra multipliers. The maximum win is worth more than 25,000x the total bet. Megaways Jack is a Megaways production by Iron Dog Studio.
- Year: 2020
- RTP base game: 96,2%
- RTP bonus feature: 96,0%
- Variance (Volatility): High
- Maximum win: 25,000x bet
- Prize Bonus Buy: between 30x and 300x
10. Iron Bank (Relax Gaming)
Ready to break the bank with Iron Bank? This immensely popular slot game by Relax Gaming has three different free spins bonuses, all of which can yield big bucks. For 100x the stake you can choose from Mystery Symbols (8 free spins), Expanding Wilds (10 free spins) or Multiplier Collect (12 free spins). Depending on the bonus round you choose, you will either get free spins with progressive mystery symbols, expanding wilds with increasing multipliers or free spins with extra wilds and progressive multipliers.
- Year: 2020
- RTP base game: 96,2%
- RTP bonus feature: 97,0%
- Variance (Volatility): High
- Maximum win: 49,999x bet
- Prize Bonus Buy: 100x
