Megaways Slots
Today, we’d like to introduce you to a revolutionary game mechanic called Megaways.
It all started with one game – Bonanza – but now there are scores of online slots that feature Megaways.
They stand out from other games as they offer players thousands of different ways to create winning combinations, which often means that there are bigger prizes up for grabs too!
In this article, we look at how the mechanic works, who invented it, why it’s become such a global phenomenon and some of the top Megaways slots that you can play.
What Are Megaways Slots?
You can tell that you’re playing a Megaways slot as the number of Megaways is always displayed at the top of the screen. You’ll also notice that the number of symbols that land on the reels on each spin can vary, and sometimes, there’s even an extra row of symbols that sit above the main reel set.
How Do Megaways Work?
Megaways was invented by an Australian software company called Big Time Gaming, and it made its worldwide debut back in December 2016 when Big Time Gaming launched its Bonanza slot.
They’re often combined with cascading reels that give you extra chances to create winning combinations by removing winning symbols from the reels and then replacing them with new ones.
With Megaways games, there are no traditional paylines. Instead, the number of Megaways that are available on each spin is determined by how many symbols land on each reel.
For example, in Bonanza, if seven symbols land on all six reels, you get the maximum number of Megaways (117,649) (whereas if two symbols land on every reel, you get the minimum (324).
How Do You Win?
Due to the growing number of slot games that now use the mechanic, there’s no hard and fast rule when it comes to winning. However, you typically need at least three matching symbols to land from left to right on adjacent reels, starting with reel 1.
What Are the Benefits of Playing Megaways?
It’s All About the Wins
The main benefit of playing Megaways games is that they offer countless winning possibilities.
While the first-ever slot to use the mechanic (Bonanza) offers 117,649 different ways to create winning combos, Iron Dog Studio’s 1 Million Megaways BC gives you up to 1,058,841!
Plenty of Choices
Ever since Big Time Gaming decided to licence its product to other software providers, there’s a growing collection of Megaways games to choose from. So, if you have a favourite theme, there’s likely to be a slot that uses it.
Added Excitement
As you never know how many symbols are going to land each time that you spin the reels, the game mechanic makes for a more enjoyable and nail-biting playing experience.
What Are the Top Megaways Slots?
As we’ve already mentioned, there are currently many different Megaways slots to choose from. Below, we’ve listed just a few player favourites.
Bonanza
Bonanza was the first-ever Megaways slot, and it offers as many as 117,649 ways to win.
It uses a fun gold mining theme with plenty of clever animations and sound effects.
It uses Reactions that work in the same way as cascades, and it also comes with a Free Spins Bonus where you can enjoy unlimited win multipliers.
Divine Fortune Megaways
While NetEnt’s Divine Fortune Megaways slot lacks the progressive jackpot slots that the original Divine Fortune game boasts, it gives you as many as 117,649 ways to create wins. It also has a Falling Wild Respins feature that gives you wild nudges with respins, a Wild on Wild (expanding wilds) Feature, and a Free Spins Bonus in which you can score three of three fixed jackpots, the largest of which awards 500 times your total bet.
Buffalo Rising Megaways
Blueprint Gaming’s Buffalo Rising Megaways slot is a safari-themed game with impressive and rich graphics.
Again, it offers players up to 117,649 ways to win for as little as 10p a spin, and it features a high-value Buffalo wild symbol.
Every win causes a Reaction that gives you additional chances to create winning combinations, and there’s also a mystery symbol that can transform multiple symbols into matching symbols.
In addition, there’s a multi-choice Free Spins Bonus that lets you opt for 5 free spins with an unlimited win multiplier that starts at x10, 10 free spins with an unlimited win multiplier that starts at x5, 15 free spins with an unlimited win multiplier that starts at x1, or a mystery number of free spins with a mystery unlimited win multiplier.
As you can see, Megaways slots are designed to give you more winning potential, as well as a more thrilling playing experience. We have an exciting assortment of them for you to choose from. The only problem is deciding which one to play first!