Megaways Slots – How They Work?

Megaways slots have been getting a lot of attention since the first-ever such game appeared in 2016. Big Time Gaming has left its mark on the industry with perhaps the most popular slot mechanic ever developed and single-handedly created a whole new category of online slots.

Everyone in our team has played at least one Megaways slot machine, and some of our all-time favorites come with the mechanics. That’s why we were excited to create this guide covering everything about Megaways. Keep reading to discover what this mechanic brings to the table, how it works, and where to try it out.

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Megaways Slots Defined and Explained

Megaways slots are online slots that have the Megaways payline mechanic incorporated into them. This definition is the simplest, yet the most accurate one we can provide about this category of slot games.

If we go a bit deeper into the definition, we can say that Megaways slots are games with dynamic gameplay supported by a changing number of ways to win. The typical maximum number of paylines is 117,649, but alternatives have already hit the market.

The idea of Megaways slots online existing as a separate section was born out of two things.

First, we have the sheer number of slots with the mechanics that have appeared in the last decade. So, it made sense for online casinos to place them under a separate tab. We can’t say for sure how many Megaways slot games have been released so far, but we can confirm that the number goes over 350 titles.

Second, we have the big popularity of these slots among players. Rather than leaving those players to scroll through thousands of casino games, operators have decided to simplify the user experience and introduced the Megaways category. This category typically focuses on slots with the mechanic, regardless of their provider, RTP, or theme.

Megaways Mechanic Example

We know that saying dynamic paylines may be confusing, and even more so, having up to 117,649 ways to win. All this is made possible by changing reels in terms of how many symbols they can show.

As there are many variants available, the exact options vary. However, one reel can typically host from 2 to 7 symbols. If you multiple the number of symbols of each row, you get the total number of paylines for that spin. Usually, there’s a screen showing you this information, so you don’t need to do complex calculations.

As an example, let’s say you spin a 6-reel slot and land the following number of symbols per reel.

The typical maximum number of ways to win is 117,649, derived from the assumption that all six reels show seven symbols each: 7 x 7 x 7 x 7 x 7 x 7.

The ways to win pay left to right, which is the golden slots standard.

Note – Some variants may have an extra row on top of the screen, opening space for even more symbols per spin. That section may cover all the reels or just the three middle ones. Everything depends on the game, so it’s always smart to read the slot rules to know what to expect.

Short Historical Overview of the Megaways Mechanic

Before we start explaining the typical online slot offering this mechanic, let’s tell you more about the history of it all.

Bonanza was the first slot online to showcase the Megaways mechanic, despite not having the recognizable trademarked phrase in the title. Many confuse Dragon Born Megaways as the original title because it was the first one that proudly carried the trademark in its full title.

As for the genius behind the product, we have Big Time Gaming, a small game studio based in Australia. Of course, over the past years, Big Time Gaming has grown into a big name in the industry, and part of its rise to fame belongs to the Megaways mechanic.

The first slots with Megaways were all Big Time Gaming products, but players wanted more, and providers were ready to pay for the usage rights of the mechanic. In what seemed an overnight situation, all the main providers started releasing their own Megaways slot games.

Key Features of Megaways Online Slots

What all Megaways online slots have in common is the mechanic we’re analyzing here; that much we’ve established. We also took the time to test and observe other common traits shared by these popular slots to understand them better.

Volatility

Though exceptions exist, expect high volatility on slots with this dynamic payline system. Every spin is unusual, so it’s possible not to win anything or hit it massively. We’ve also seen some slots with medium volatility, such as Star Trek: The Next Generation Megaways.

RTP

There are no rules when it comes to the RTP, but we’ve found many high-RTP options with average return rates of 96% or more. Dragon Queen Megaways is one such example with an RTP of 96.75%.

Betting Limits

Once again, we’ve found different ranges of betting limits, but we can confirm that plenty of cheap slots exist. When we say cheap slots, we refer to Megaways slot games that accept a minimum bet of only €0.10 per spin. The next common minimum deposit amount was €0.20, while the maximum bets went up to €240.

Cascading Reels

The Megaways mechanic goes hand in hand with Cascading (Avalanche) Reels. Most, if not all, of the titles with dynamic paylines had this type of reels. With the right luck, you can hit multiple wins with one bet.

Changing Paylines

As we explained, Megaways slots have a changing number of ways to win on every spin. The usual maximum is up to 117,649, but the situation can vary by the game, and we’ve seen some releases with up to 200,000 ways to win or even more.

Bonus Features

You can expect plenty of bonus features in addition to the Megaways mechanic on these slots. We noticed that the bonus buy option is quite popular, but also free spins, unique wild symbols, and other innovative mechanics.

Themes

Megaways slots come in all kinds of themes. We’ve been on treasure quests, fighting dragons, playing with animals, and exploring mystical worlds. From Halloween slots to Christmas slots, you’ll find anything you can think of.

Mobile Compatibility

All the online slots with Megaways we’ve played worked perfectly on mobile devices. You can use iPhones, Samsungs, or whatever phone to open and play these games.

Reasons to Play the Best Megaways Slots Online

Before we move on to list the best Megaways slots online available right now, we want to mention the key benefits of this mechanic. The concept attracts hundreds of thousands of players every day because it’s unique and has a big payout potential.

• Multiple wins with a single spin – Because Megaways is often combined with Cascading reels, these slots give you the chance to win multiple times in a row. It’s possible to pay the bet amount once, but score two, three, or even more wins.
• Many ways to win – With these slots, we go way past traditional video slots with 40 or 50 paylines. Every spin gives you up to 117,649 ways to win, so it maximizes your chances of hitting a winning combo.
• Every spin is unique – Thanks to the dynamic reels, every spin is unique, quite literally. You can’t know how many symbols and potential ways to win will appear until the spin ends, so the excitement is always at the highest level.
• High max wins – Our analysis of the top Megaways slots revealed high maximum wins on the games. So, even without a jackpot feature, you may win a massive prize on these games. For example, Solar Nova Megaways has a max win of 10,000x the bet.

The Top Megaways Slot Machines to Try

If you’ve been looking for the best online slots with Megaways reels, this is the right section for you. Our expert team has been testing and playing for hundreds of hours to find what stands out the most. We also read through hundreds of ratings and player experiences to find the common favorites in the community.

Bonanza

Inspired by gold and gem mining, Bonanza delivers a visually fun experience supported by strong numbers. The game has 117,649 ways to win, an RTP of 96%, and a max win of 12,000x the bet.

Big Time Gaming has taken the effort to improve the graphics, so now the beautiful scenery looks much sharper. All the gem symbols that come and go keep you on your toes every spin. While the Megaways mechanic stands out as the key feature here, Bonanza also has free spins, unlimited win multipliers, and win reactions. When you unlock the free spins, prepare to go deep underground, where the highest payouts are hidden!

Madam Destiny Megaways

Pragmatic Play has released many slots with the mechanic, but Madam Destiny Megaways remains a top pick. The slot has many things to offer, including up to 200,704 ways to win, a max win of 5,000x, and an RTP of 96.56%. It’s also a good pick for high rollers with a max bet of €125.

We liked the mysterious feeling this slot provides as the Madame invites you to tell you your fortune ahead. Owls, black cats, potions, and tarot cards make the perfect themed symbols, while the Madame herself is the wild. It’s possible to win free spins with multipliers of up to 25x on this popular high volatility slot game.

Max Megaways 3

Max Megaways 3 is the third game in the Max Megaways series of slots released by Big Time Gaming. The slot is impressive with up to 117,649 ways to win, high volatility, and an RTP of 96.35%. Oh, and the max win is 101,830x!

After the secret missions on a deserted island and then in space, the third instalment takes us to a mysterious mountain lair. While the villains create chemicals for world domination, Agent Max tries to stop them as he unlocks big prizes along the way. Besides Megaways reels, the slot also has free spins, Megadozers, and Megascatters, so it really is a fun one to play!

Popular Slots With Megaways Upgrade

We want to mention how the appearance of the Megaways mechanic has affected dozens of already popular online slots. Providers that paid for the rights to use the dynamic paylines took the opportunity to reimagine many of their top slot games.

We list the top five upgrades and compare their key details to see how they’ve changed.

• Blood Suckers Megaways – Based on NetEnt‘s Blood Suckers, now relaunched by Red Tiger with 324 to 117,649 ways to win.
• Gonzo’s Quest Megaways – Based on NetEnt’s Gonzo’s Quest, now refreshed by Red Tiger with up to 117,649 ways to win.
• The Great Pigsby – Relax Gaming gave a breath of fresh air to its The Great Pigsby slot and, from a 243-ways to win game, created a Megaways version with up to 117,649 paylines.
• Buffalo King Megaways – Pragmatic Play launched this slot inspired by its own Buffalo King slot, and created the Megaways version with up to 200,704 ways to win.

Popular Providers of Online Slots With Megaways Mechanic

With over 300 Megaways online slots already released, it’s safe to say that almost every studio, big or small, has launched at least one game with the mechanic. Yet, the biggest number of games with dynamic paylines comes from several established game providers.

Here’s an overview of what brands to focus on if you want premium Megaways slot machines.

• Big Time Gaming – Big Time Gaming is the original provider of Megaways slots and the brand that developed the mechanic. It has over 40 slot machines with dynamic paylines, so more than half of its full slot portfolio belongs in this category. Max Megaways, Bonanza Falls, and Wheel of Fortune Megaways are some top picks for first timers.
• Red Tiger – Red Tiger has released over 35 games using the trademark deal with Big Time Gaming. Many of those have already become top slots among players thanks to spotless graphics and innovative bonus features. Piggy Riches 2 Megaways and Primate King Megaways are two well-known slots that got the Megaways upgrade from Red Tiger.
• Pragmatic Play – We counted more than 45 Pragmatic Play slots with the dynamic paylines feature, and new titles appear regularly. The provider was quick to relaunch its most popular titles, so you can now try Madame Destiny Megaways, The Dog House Megaways, and many other Megaways variants from Pragmatic Play.
• BGaming – BGaming has about 10 Megaways slots in its roster, and it keeps launching fresh titles. It has already introduced fresh versions of its most popular games, including Lady Wolf Megaways and Aztec Magic Megaways.

Summary on Megaways Slots and Mechanics

Megaways slots have been among the hottest slot categories for years, and we don’t expect that to change anytime soon. As providers keep releasing new slot games with the mechanic, Megaways remains a relevant and attractive option for real money players.

We’ve given you all the details about the concept on this page. It’s now up to you to decide what game to try first and where to play it. Just remember to play responsibly when wagering real money, and you’re ready for some unique Megaways slots action!