Top Megaways Slots
Big Time Gaming (BTG), now owned by Evolution, created the Megaways video-slot system. Providers using the technology license it from BTG and pay royalties to use its variable-reel design.
Popular Megaways Slot Games
A Brief History of Megaways Slots
The Megaways format debuted in 2016, when Big Time Gaming, now an online slot studio owned by Evolution, created the mechanic. It has since become a widely recognized way to build slot games.
Big Time Gaming’s first Megaways game, Dragon Born, introduced a new format to players used to traditional slots. Its reels changed on every spin, with high variance and up to 117,649 possible ways to win.
The game initially received a mixed response, as its highly volatile format was unfamiliar to many players.
Big Time Gaming persevered with the format and later launched Bonanza Megaways, which became one of its best-known titles. Released in 2016, it again offered up to 117,649 ways to win. Players could also find cascading reels, an extra horizontal reel and free spins with a progressive multiplier. Its maximum prize of 26,000x the total bet also helped Bonanza Megaways attract attention.
The Australian studio trademarked the Megaways mechanic to protect its design, and also made the system available for lease to other iGaming companies.
Providers such as iSoftBet, Blueprint Gaming, Red Tiger Gaming, Pragmatic Play, BGaming and NetEnt have licensed BTG’s reel mechanic for their own Megaways games.
Studios have released more than 100 Megaways titles. Here are three examples:
- Fishin Frenzy Megaways (Reel Time Gaming)
- Genie Jackpots Megaways (Blueprint Gaming)
- Beetlejuice Megaways (Barcrest)
How Megaways Games Work
The maximum number of ways varies between games: some offer up to 15,625, others reach 248,832, and many feature up to 117,649. The total is determined by the number of symbols available on each reel. A random reel modifier changes the layout from spin to spin, giving rise to the nickname “shapeshifting reels”. Many games have six reels, though some use more.
The number of available Megaways changes with each spin:
The mechanic first randomizes the number of symbols on every reel for each spin. A reel can show between 2 and 7 symbols, with no fixed pattern determining the result. The number of possible ways is calculated by multiplying the symbol counts across the reels. Take a 6-reel game as an example.
- With 6 reels each showing 2 symbols, there are 12 symbols in total, giving the fewest Megaways.
- When all 6 reels show 7 symbols each, the total is 42 symbols and the highest number of Megways is available.
- If the 6 reels show 2-6-4-2-4-7 symbols on reels 1-2-3-4-5-6 respectively, the layout contains 25 symbols and gives an average number of Megaways.
The symbol count sets the number of available Megaways: more symbols mean more possible ways, and fewer symbols mean fewer ways.
Megaways wins form across adjacent reels:
A winning combination starts with a symbol on reel 1. Matching symbols must then appear on successive adjacent reels, moving left to right. The examples below outline the sequence:
- A 3-symbol win requires a matching symbol on each of reels 1-2-3
- For 4 matching symbols, the sequence spans reels 1-2-3-4
- A 5-symbol match must run across reels 1-2-3-4-5
- A 6-symbol combination requires matching symbols on reels 1-2-3-4-5-6
Unlike traditional slots with fixed pay lines, Megaways symbols can land in any position on their reels; they need not line up along a predetermined line.
Common Megaways Slot Features
Bonus rounds and other extras are another attraction for fans of Megaways slots. Here are some features found in a number of games.
- Cascading Reels (Tumble Feature)
Cascading reels often go hand in hand with the Megaways mechanic. After a win, the winning symbols vanish and new ones fall into their spaces. These replacements can make another winning combination in the same spin, sometimes resulting in a series of consecutive wins.
- Extra Reels (horizontal, above the reels)
Some games add a horizontal reel above or below their six main reels. This can increase the number of Megaways or introduce symbols that affect play. Great Rhino Megaways by Pragmatic Play is one game with this feature.
- Free Spins with Growing Multipliers
Free spins have been part of slot games for decades, including traditional fruit machines that came before Megaways. Scatter symbols often trigger the round. Depending on the game rules, players may need 3 or more scatters to receive a set number of free spins.
Some free spins rounds feature progressive multipliers. A cascading win can increase the multiplier, potentially boosting a later win. In certain games, the multiplier can keep rising with no stated limit.
- Mystery Symbols
Some developers also use Mystery Symbols. Blueprint Gaming, for instance, has included them in its games. Several may land in one spin and then transform into the same randomly chosen regular symbol.
- Bonus Buy Options
Bonus buys are restricted in some places; the review says they are not permitted in the UK. When a game offers this option, players can pay extra to enter its main bonus round. The cost can be high, with some bonus buys priced at 200x or 300x the stake.
Our Top 5 Megaways Slot Picks
Big Time Gaming (BTG), now part of Evolution, developed the Megaways video-slot mechanic. Studios using the technology license it from BTG and pay royalties for its variable-reel system.
Many studios have adopted the format, including Microgaming, NetEnt, Red Tiger, WMS, Pragmatic Play and Blueprint. This variety of providers reflects how firmly BTG’s Megaways approach has taken hold in slot development.
These top 5 Megaways slots showcase BTG’s signature shape-shifting reel technology.
Great Rhino Megaways (Pragmatic Play)
Set on the African savannah, Great Rhino Megaways features wildlife symbols including gorillas, crocodiles, pelicans, cheetahs and hyenas, along with gold rhino coins. It offers up to 200,704 Megaways across 6 reels, plus 1 horizontal reel above reels 2, 3, 4 and 5.
The review describes this as a high-variance slot. It gives a minimum RTP of 96.47%, a maximum RTP of 96.58% and a potential multiplier of 20,000x the spin bet in the free spins round, where win multipliers are unlimited.
Buffalo Rising Megaways (Blueprint)
Buffalo Rising Megaways builds its animal theme around buffalo, which still roam wild in Africa. It comes in 3 versions, each offering 117,659 Megaways. The ‘All Action’ edition lets players buy into the bonus game; the ‘Standard’ edition has no ‘Feature Buy’ or ‘Jackpot’.
All 3 editions feature wilds, mystery symbols, scatters and 4 free-spins bonus games. The stated maximum win is 10,000x the spin bet. ‘Jackpot King’ also gives players a chance to win one of 3 progressive jackpots; the Deluxe Jackpot could turn a winner into an overnight millionaire.
Divine Fortune Megaways (NetEnt)
This follow-up to NetEnt’s Divine Fortune progressive jackpot slot does not have a jackpot of its own. The review says it keeps the original’s graphics and shifts the action to 6 reels with 117,649 Megaways.
Features include falling wilds that trigger re-spins, wild-on-wild combinations and free-spins wins. The review lists an RTP of 96.09% and describes the variance as medium.
Gonzo’s Quest Megaways (Red Tiger)
Red Tiger is part of NetEnt. The studio celebrated the partnership with Gonzo’s Quest Megaways, a follow-up to NetEnt’s original Gonzo’s Quest video slot. The review prefers the Megaways edition, which follows Aztec adventurer Gonzo into the Amazon in South America and lists a top prize of 20,000x the bet.
The game brings together base-game Avalanches with multipliers, free spins, unbreakable wilds, free-fall symbols with multipliers up to 15x and an earthquake feature. The review lists 117,649 Megaways, 95.77% RTP and high variance.
The Dog House Megaways (Pragmatic Play)
The Dog House Megaways was nominated for the 2020 EGR Game of the Year. Its dog theme may suit players who enjoy canine characters. The game offers 117,649 Megaways and a stated maximum win of 12,000x the spin bet.
The review lists an RTP of 96.55% and describes the slot as high variance. Its ‘Bonus Buy’ menu includes Sticky Wilds Free Spins or Raining Wilds Free Spins. Players can also trigger those rounds by landing 3, 4, 5 or 6 scatters in view.
Megaways Slots: Frequently Asked Questions
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Evan Carrington brings more than 12 years of experience in the iGaming industry, with a focus on reviewing online casinos, assessing slot games and examining player safety. Their work covers casino licensing, RTP, volatility, bonus terms and withdrawal policies. Drawing on practical testing and independent research, Evan provides clear, evidence-based reviews to help players understand gambling platforms, their features and possible risks.
