What Are Megaways Slots?
If you've spent any time browsing online slots in recent years, you've almost certainly come across the word Megaways. It's one of the most significant mechanical innovations in the modern slot industry — and it fundamentally changes how a game's reel structure behaves.
Megaways is a patented mechanic developed by Australian studio Big Time Gaming (BTG). It was introduced in 2016 and has since been licensed to dozens of developers, resulting in hundreds of Megaways titles across the industry.
How the Megaways Engine Works
Traditional slots have a fixed number of symbols on each reel — usually 3 rows, giving you a static grid. Megaways breaks this convention entirely.
In a Megaways slot, each reel can display a variable number of symbols per spin — typically between 2 and 7. On a 6-reel Megaways game, this means the total number of "ways to win" changes every single spin. With up to 7 symbols per reel across 6 reels, the maximum possible ways to win is:
7 × 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 = 117,649 ways to win
That's why the genre is named "Megaways" — the sheer scale of potential winning combinations is unprecedented compared to traditional payline slots.
Ways to Win vs Paylines
Megaways games don't use paylines. Instead, they use a ways-to-win system — a winning combination simply requires matching symbols to land on adjacent reels from left to right, regardless of their vertical position. The more symbols on each reel, the more possible combinations are active.
Common Features Found in Megaways Games
Beyond the core mechanic, most Megaways titles share a set of popular features:
- Cascading / Avalanche Reels: Winning symbols are removed and replaced, allowing chains of consecutive wins from a single spin.
- Increasing Multipliers: Each cascade during a bonus round increases a running win multiplier (e.g., starting at 1x, incrementing to 2x, 3x, 5x, etc.).
- Free Spins with Unlimited Multipliers: The combination of cascades and growing multipliers during free spins is where the genre's biggest wins occur.
- Scatter Pays: Bonus rounds are usually triggered by scatter symbols.
- Horizontal Reel (Top Strip): Some Megaways games include a horizontal reel above the main grid that adds extra symbols to the reels below.
Popular Megaways Titles Worth Knowing
| Title | Developer | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Bonanza Megaways | Big Time Gaming | The original; mine theme; reactions + multipliers |
| Extra Chilli Megaways | Big Time Gaming | Spicy theme; gamble feature on free spins count |
| Gonzo's Quest Megaways | Red Tiger / NetEnt | Avalanche reels; progressive multipliers |
| Primal Megaways | Blueprint Gaming | Wildlife theme; modifier features in base game |
Are Megaways Slots High Volatility?
Generally, yes. The mechanic lends itself to high volatility because the biggest wins come from stacked cascades during bonus rounds with elevated multipliers. Base game wins can be modest even when the reel configuration is favourable. Players should expect:
- Longer dry spells between significant wins.
- High excitement during free spin bonuses.
- A wide range in session outcomes.
Is the Megaways Mechanic Worth the Hype?
For many players, yes. The combination of variable reels, cascading wins, and escalating multipliers creates a genuinely engaging experience that static-grid slots can't replicate. The free spins bonus in particular offers a building sense of excitement as multipliers stack up.
However, the high volatility isn't for everyone. If you prefer a smoother, more predictable session, a medium-variance video slot without Megaways may suit you better. But if you enjoy the high-risk, high-reward thrill of chasing big bonus rounds — Megaways games are some of the most entertaining in the industry.