Megaways slots have become popular, and more providers have hopped into the relatively novel mechanics. Traditional real money pokies featured three reels with three symbols per reel before new games emerged to popularize the five-reel pokies. For a long time, five-reel games offered three symbols per reel, with some offering 243 paylines (all ways pay). However, the Australian software provider, Big Time Gaming (BTG) released the Bonanza Megaways slot in 2016, launching a new wave of Megaways pokies. Today, there are several Megaways slots available from BTG and several other providers. In the next section, we cover everything you need to know about Megaways slots, including what they are, how they work, and the top titles you'll encounter playing online casino games.
What Are Megaways Slots?
Megaways slots were popularized by Big Time Gaming, a reputable game provider with many top-rated games. The first time we saw Megaways games was with the release of the Bonanza Megaways, a six-reel, 117,649 paylines game. Megaways refer to gaming mechanics that features six reels. Each reel can have two to seven symbols, which means paylines can range from 324 to 117,649. However, this is the BTG model. Other providers have varying reel layouts and symbols, so you'll encounter slots with up to 58,6971 Megaways. The number of symbols on each reel changes with each spin, offering an exciting dimension to the game and this is the innovation of Megaways slots.
How Do Megaways Slots Work?
Megaways slots share various features with standard five-reel and three-reel games. However, the game mechanic is slightly different. The original model slot from BTG features six reels with changeable symbols. With each spin, you'll have reels with different heights, accommodating 2 to 7 symbols. This change is random, so the number of winning ways keeps changing with each spin. The maximum winning ways for a six reel Megaways is 117,649. However, some games come with four, five, seven or eight reels accommodating a varying range of symbols. Currently, you can find Megaways with up to 586,971 winning ways.
Megaways payouts are made from left to right with matching symbols on adjacent reels. If the slot offers a payout for three symbols, they must appear on adjacent reels. If there’s a gap with a different symbol, you won’t get a payout. For instance, if you get the same symbol on reels 1, 2, and 3, you’ll win, unlike a combination formed on reels 1, 2, and 4. Megaways slots became popular because of the high number of winning ways. If you combine the paylines with multipliers, expanding wilds, and other reel modifiers, you stand to win a life-changing payout on Megaways.
Top Megaways Slots
Since Bonanza Megaways, BTG, and other providers have launched several other Megaways slots, so finding one shouldn't be a problem. However, not all are worth playing. Players should review the usual aspects (security, gameplay, graphics, storyline, bonuses, features, maximum payout, etc.) before playing. It is also essential to play Megaways hosted by a reputable real money casino. Below are three top Megaways slots available for online punters.
- Bonanza Megaways
BTG's Bonanza Megaways was the first of its kind and is deserving of the first spot in our review. It is a six-reel game with 117,649 winning ways and a betting range of 0.2 to 20 coins per spin. The game has a 96% RTP and offers a maximum payout of 10,000x your bet. Players will also encounter reaction spins triggered when you have a winning combination from reel 1.
- Wheels Of Fortune Megaways
BTG teamed up with International Gaming Technology (IGT) to develop Wheels of Fortune, a six-reel Megaways slot with 117,649 Megaways. However, the bonus round free spins offer reels with up to 10 symbols, resulting in 1 million Megaways. Wheels Of Fortune also comes with a Wild Megastacks feature, where wilds can occupy all the seven positions on the reel. The game has a maximum payout of 80,150x your bet.
- Gonzo’s Quest Megaways
This game is a sequel to the infamous Gonzo's Quest from NetEnt. Gonzo's Quest was so successful, and NetEnt decided to release a Megaways version. In this game, players will encounter six reels and 117,649 Megaways and the distinctive Avalanche Win, which provides multipliers of up to15x. The game comes with a maximum payout of 10,000x your bet and a 96% RTP.
Summary
There are several other Megaways slots, including Moriarty, White Rabbit and Holly Driver Megaways from BTG, Rainbow Riches by Barcrest, and Vikings Unleashed by Blueprint Gaming. Others are Extra Chili, Dragon Born, Queen of Riches, Temple Tumble, Irish Riches, and many more. Megaways offer the most paylines and tend to come with high average RTP percentages. They are also exciting and pack all features in standard games. Make sure you play on trustworthy online casinos with a legitimate gambling license and fair play certificates, like the ones below.
