Top Megaways Slots
Big Time Gaming (BTG), now owned by Evolution, created the Megaways video-slot system. Providers that use 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, developed the mechanic. Since then, it has become a widely recognized way to design slot games.
Players used to traditional slots encountered a new format when Big Time Gaming launched the first Megaways title, Dragon Born. It featured reels that changed with every spin, high variance and up to 117,649 possible ways to win.
The game initially received a mixed response because its highly volatile style was unfamiliar to many players.
Big Time Gaming continued developing the format and later released Bonanza Megaways, one of the studio’s best-known titles. Launched in 2016, it also offered up to 117,649 ways to win. Players could encounter 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.
To protect its design, the Australian studio trademarked the Megaways mechanic. It also made the system available for other iGaming companies to lease.
Providers including 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 games. Here are three examples:
- Fishin Frenzy Megaways (Reel Time Gaming)
- Genie Jackpots Megaways (Blueprint Gaming)
- Beetlejuice Megaways (Barcrest)
How Megaways Games Work
The maximum ways to win vary by game: some offer up to 15,625, others reach 248,832, and many have up to 117,649. The total depends on how many symbols can appear on each reel. A random reel modifier changes the layout from spin to spin, which explains the nickname “shapeshifting reels.” Many games have six reels, although some use more.
The number of available Megaways changes with each spin:
First, the mechanic randomly determines how many symbols appear on each reel for a spin. A reel can display between 2 and 7 symbols, with no fixed pattern controlling the result. The number of possible ways is calculated by multiplying the symbol counts across the reels. For example, consider a 6-reel game.
- When 6 reels each show 2 symbols, there are 12 symbols in total, giving the fewest Megaways.
- If all 6 reels show 7 symbols, there are 42 symbols in total and the most Megways are available.
- With 6 reels showing 2-6-4-2-4-7 symbols on reels 1-2-3-4-5-6 respectively, the layout has 25 symbols and an average number of Megaways.
The symbol count determines how many Megaways are available: more symbols mean more possible ways, and fewer symbols mean fewer ways.
Winning combinations are formed across adjacent reels in Megaways slots:
A winning combination starts with a symbol on reel 1. Matching symbols must then appear on the next adjacent reels, moving from left to right. Here are some examples of the required sequence:
- For a 3-symbol win, one matching symbol must appear on each of reels 1-2-3
- A 4-symbol sequence requires matching symbols across reels 1-2-3-4
- For 5 matching symbols, they must span reels 1-2-3-4-5
- A 6-symbol combination requires matching symbols on reels 1-2-3-4-5-6
Unlike a conventional slot with fixed paylines, Megaways symbols can land in any position on their reels; they do not need to follow a set line.
Common Features in Megaways Slots
Bonus rounds and other extras are another attraction for Megaways fans. Here are some features found in a number of games.
- Cascading Reels (Tumble Feature)
Cascading reels often accompany the Megaways mechanic. After a win, the winning symbols disappear and new ones drop into their spaces. Those replacements may form another winning combination during 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. It can increase the number of Megaways or introduce symbols that affect play. Great Rhino Megaways by Pragmatic Play is one example.
- Free Spins with Growing Multipliers
Free spins have been part of slot games for many years, including traditional fruit machines that came before Megaways. Scatter symbols commonly trigger the round. Depending on the rules, a game may require 3 or more scatters to award a set of free spins.
Some free-spin rounds feature progressive multipliers. A cascading win can increase the multiplier, potentially boosting the value of a later win. In some games, the multiplier can keep rising without a stated limit.
- Mystery Symbols
Some developers also use Mystery Symbols. Blueprint Gaming, for example, has included them in its games. Several can land in a single spin and then change into the same randomly chosen regular symbol.
- Bonus Buy Options
Bonus buys are restricted in some locations; the original review states that they are not allowed in the UK. Where a game offers this option, players can pay extra to enter its main bonus round. The cost can be substantial, 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, created the Megaways video-slot mechanic. Studios using the technology license it from BTG and pay royalties to use its variable-reel system.
Many developers have adopted the format, including Microgaming, NetEnt, Red Tiger, WMS, Pragmatic Play and Blueprint. The range of providers shows how established BTG’s Megaways approach has become in slot development.
The following top 5 Megaways slots feature BTG’s signature shape-shifting reel technology.
Great Rhino Megaways (Pragmatic Play)
Set on the African savannah, Great Rhino Megaways features wildlife symbols such as gorillas, crocodiles, pelicans, cheetahs and hyenas, alongside gold rhino coins. It offers up to 200,704 Megaways across 6 reels, with 1 horizontal reel above reels 2, 3, 4 and 5.
The review characterizes this as a high-volatility slot, listing an RTP range from 96.47% to 96.58%. Its free-spins feature offers a potential multiplier of 20,000x times the spin bet, with no stated cap on win multipliers.
Buffalo Rising Megaways (Blueprint)
Buffalo Rising Megaways builds its animal theme around buffalo, which still roam wild in Africa. The game comes in 3 versions, each featuring 117,659 Megaways. The ‘All Action’ edition lets players buy into the bonus game, while the ‘Standard’ edition offers neither a ‘Feature Buy’ nor a ‘Jackpot’.
All 3 editions feature wilds, mystery symbols, scatters and 4 free-spins bonus games. The listed maximum win is 10,000x the spin bet. ‘Jackpot King’ also gives players a chance to win one of 3 progressive jackpots; its Deluxe Jackpot could make someone 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 game’s variance as medium.
Gonzo’s Quest Megaways (Red Tiger)
Red Tiger is part of NetEnt. The studio marked the partnership with Gonzo’s Quest Megaways, a follow-up to NetEnt’s original Gonzo’s Quest video slot. This Megaways edition gets the nod in the review, following Aztec adventurer Gonzo into South America’s Amazon and listing a top prize of 20,000x the bet.
The game combines base-game Avalanches with multipliers, free spins, unbreakable wilds, free-fall symbols with multipliers up to 15x and an earthquake feature. It has 117,649 Megaways, an RTP of 95.77% and high variance, according to the review.
The Dog House Megaways (Pragmatic Play)
The Dog House Megaways was nominated for the 2020 EGR Game of the Year. Its dog theme may appeal to fans of canine characters. The game offers 117,649 Megaways and a listed maximum win of 12,000x the spin bet.
The review lists a 96.55% RTP and characterizes the slot as high variance. Its ‘Bonus Buy’ menu offers 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, specializing in online casino reviews, slot game analysis, and player safety assessments. Their expertise includes casino licensing, RTP, volatility, bonus terms, and withdrawal policies. Combining hands-on reviews with independent research, Evan provides clear, evidence-based coverage to help players understand gambling platforms, their features, and possible risks.
