Megaways slots have taken the online casino world by storm in recent years. With their eye-popping visuals, thousands of paylines and engaging bonus features, it’s no wonder why players can’t get enough of these games. But what exactly are Megaways slots, and how do they work under the hood?
Origins of the Megaways Game Engine
While individual Megaways slots may differ in theming and specific features, they are all powered by the innovative Megaways game engine, first created by slot developer Big Time Gaming in 2016. Their first Megaways slot, called Bonanza, proved hugely successful by allowing for up to 117,649 paylines on every spin.
This was made possible through the patented Megaways mechanic consisting of 6 or 7 reels with a variable number of symbols per reel, leading to thousands of possible symbol combinations. The number of Megaways differs per game, but averages around 117,000.
Other developers soon licensed Big Time Gaming’s Megaways engine for their own slots. Today there are over 200 Megaways games on such platforms as Spin Panda Casino, created by various providers, though Big Time Gaming slots remain fan favorites for their frequent big wins.
How the Reels and Paylines Work
So how do these slots with so many paylines actually work? Here’s a quick rundown:
- Every spin activates 6 or 7 reels instead of the usual 5.
- The number of symbols per reel varies between 2 and 7 after every spin.
- This leads to thousands of ways to win, averaging 117,649 paylines.
- Wins are created by landing matching symbols left to right starting from reel 1.
- Even just 2 adjacent matching symbols can create a win.
- With more matching symbols, payouts scale exponentially.
For example, in a game with 7 reels and between 2 and 7 symbols per reel, the number of Megaways could reach 117,649. Matching 7 symbols would pay out massively more than just landing two symbols.
This innovative reel system is a big reason why Megaways slots can be so lucrative. Even if the base game doesn’t pay huge amounts, the potential on every spin is enormous.
Volatility, RTP and Hit Frequency
Like any slot, Megaways games have an RTP (return to player) and volatility rating that indicates how often and large potential wins are. Most Megaways:
- Have a high volatility for big but less frequent wins
- Feature an RTP between 95% to 97%. Some reach 98%.
- Have a medium to high hit frequency despite the volatility
For example, the legendary Bonanza Megaways slot has a 96% RTP and high volatility. But with 117,649 ways to win, payouts still hit regularly.
Here’s an example RTP and volatility table for several popular Megaways slots:
| Game | RTP | Volatility |
| Bonanza | 96.00% | High |
| Reactoonz 2 | 96.51% | High |
| Buffalo Rising | 94.96% | Medium to High |
| Dog House | 96.01% | Medium |
With high RTPs, big jackpot potential and regular payouts, it’s no wonder why Megaways slots keep players coming back.
Engaging Features and Bonus Rounds
A key part of the appeal of Megaways slots is that every game offers immersive gameplay features. These vary by game, but often include:
- Cascading wins – symbols explode to allow new ones to fall
- Increasing multipliers – reward larger wins
- Various entertaining bonus rounds:
- Free spins
- Reel adventures
- Pick and click games
- Wheels with prizes
For example, the famous Money Train 2 slot has a base game with wilds and walking wilds across 6 reels. Get 3 scatter symbols, and you’ll enter the exhilarating Money Cart Bonus round featuring free spins, collectible prizes and special characters for multipliers up to 50x.
Other fan favorite features are the Reactoonz Gargantoon modes or the walking wilds in Bonanza that get heart rates racing!
This combination of great math, big payout potential and fun keeps Megaways slots at the top of the industry four years after they first appeared. Software providers compete fiercely to offer the most exciting Megaways games.
And with new slots released constantly, we can expect more groundbreaking innovations that build on the Megaways formula for years to come. For slot lovers, the future looks bright indeed!
