Megaways Slots Explained
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The days of spinning simple slots based on pub games are long gone. Nowadays, you’ll find plenty of exciting, engaging and innovative titles from a whole host of providers. But the one that has taken the market by storm is, of course, Megaways, which offers up to 117,649 ways to win with every spin.
Big Time Gaming is the studio behind Megaways; while the mechanic debuted in an earlier game the Megaways revolution really got underway when Bonanza hit casino game lobbies in 2016.
Megaways slots play slightly differently to traditional classic and video slots, but the concept is easy to grasp. And once you understand how it works, you’ll likely never want to play a standard slot again!
Below, we explain what Megaways slots are, how they work, why they’re so popular and the best Megaways slots to play right now.
How Do Megaways Slots Work?
Let’s start with the most important question: How do Megaways slots work?
Megaways is a random reel modifier that changes the number of symbols that appear on the reels with every spin.
In a standard Megaways slot there are six reels with up to seven symbols on each reel. The number of symbols that land is selected at random by the Megaways engine.
This in turn creates thousands of different ways to win with every spin.
Standard Megaways slots offer up to 117,649 – yes, 117,649 – ways to win but some titles take this even further, offering more than 200,000 different winning possibilities.
Most Megaways slots tell you the available number of ways to win on that spin in the top right-hand corner of the game window, but you can work it out yourself.
Here’s how:
- Take the number of visible symbols on your first reel x those on the second;
- Multiply what you get from the above by the symbols on your third reel;
- Do the same for the remaining reels.
Say you have all seven symbols land on all six reels, the calculation would be as follows:
Multiply the number of symbols on reel one (7) by the number of symbols on reel two (7) which equals 49.
You would then multiply 49 by the number of symbols on reel three, which in this case is 7 and would equal 343.
The calculation would then continue as follows:
343×7 = 2,401
2,401 x 7 = 16,807
16,807 x 7 = 117,649
But how do you win when playing Megaways slots?
To win money on Megaways slots, you’ll need to discard what you know about original slot games because the process is a little different, but some might say easier.
You get a win when you line up the same symbol from right to left on adjacent reels. The size of the symbol and where it lands on the reel does not matter – they just have to line up one after the other.
Why Are Megaways Slots So Popular?
Megaways slots are popular because they offer a different experience to traditional slots with plenty of big win potential with every spin.
Big Time Gaming often combines Megaways with thrilling features such as multipliers, free spins and respins. But BTG is not the only developer of Megaways slots.
The studio has licensed the mechanic to other providers which means you can play Megaways slots from the likes of NetEnt, Blueprint Gaming and many more.
Most Megaways slots sit at the high end of the volatility scale which means wins might not come that often, but when they can be huge.
That being said, Megaways slots are designed to appeal to different player types so if you prefer to make small deposits and bet low amounts you can still have a fun and thrilling Megaways experience.
What Are the Best Megaways Slots?
To answer the question “what is the best Megaways slot?” you have to consider your own likes and dislikes but there are some Megaways slots you just have to try regardless.
Bonanza is one of the most popular Megaways slots of all time and NetEnt’s relaunched Gonzo’s Quest Megaways is a smash hit, too.
Fruit Shop Megaways is one of our favourites. The game hasn’t got as high of an RTP as you might find elsewhere but you can get successive free spins for plenty of big-win potential.
We also like Aztec-themed Montezuma Megaways. This title has four different wilds as well as multipliers and a bonus guarantee.
If you like classic slots, Joyful Joker Megaways is worth a spin and if it’s all about those big jackpot wins, be sure to try Divine Fortune Megaways.
Of course, if you want to push Megaways to the max, 1 Million Megaways BC offers one million, yes one million, ways to win. Now that is mega.