If you're trying to work out whether New Year Happiness is worth your time, this hands-on review breaks it down. This is a RubyPlay slot, sitting firmly in the a very high volatility profile bracket and paying back a published RTP of 96.37%. If everything lines up, New Year Happiness can pay up to 153,000x your bet. Wins land at roughly a 30% hit rate, shaping how the sessions feel. It's wrapped in polished, characterful visuals and plays out on 5 reels and 25 paylines. So does it deliver? Let's get into it.
Written by James Holloway · Last updated: January 2026
New Year Happiness comes to us from RubyPlay, wrapped in polished, characterful visuals. It runs on 5 reels and 25 paylines with a very high-variance maths model, and a return-to-player rate of 96.37%.
Where New Year Happiness earns its keep is the feature set. Look out for scatter symbols that unlock free spins and extra bonus rounds. The very high volatility means patience is rewarded — expect quiet spells broken by bigger hits. Overall it's a well-rounded game that knows what it is.
The RTP of 96.37% is right around the industry average of ~96%. This represents a fair return that's in line with what most modern slots offer.
Very high volatility delivers the most extreme payout profile — long dry spells punctuated by potentially massive wins. Only recommended for experienced players with substantial bankrolls and high risk tolerance.
About 1 in 3 spins results in a win. This is a moderate hit frequency that balances win frequency with payout size.
New Year Happiness features scatter symbols that can trigger free spins rounds. Landing the required number of scatter symbols anywhere on the reels activates the free spins feature, giving you extra chances to win without additional bets. During free spins, special modifiers may apply to boost your winning potential.
3.0 / 5 — Good
New Year Happiness by RubyPlay is a solid offering that delivers good entertainment value. The 96.37% RTP combined with very high volatility creates a well-balanced gaming experience.