Megaways Slots: How the Format Works and How to Play It
Megaways is a slot mechanic rather than a single game, and it changed the shape of the online lobby when it arrived. Instead of a fixed set of paylines, the number of symbols on each reel varies from spin to spin, producing up to 117,649 ways to win in a standard six-reel setup. This guide explains how that works, which titles are worth knowing and why the format demands a different bankroll approach from a classic slot.
What Megaways Slots Are
Megaways was developed by Big Time Gaming and licensed to other studios including NetEnt, Red Tiger and Pragmatic Play, which is why the mechanic now appears across so many different catalogues.
The core idea is straightforward. On a conventional slot, each reel shows a fixed number of symbols and pays along set lines. On a Megaways game, each reel can show anywhere from two to seven symbols, and the count is redrawn every spin. With six reels at seven symbols each, the total combinations reach 117,649, and any matching symbols on consecutive reels from the left pay regardless of position.
- Variable reel height, so the grid physically changes shape between spins.
- Cascading reels, where winning symbols are removed and new ones drop in, allowing chained wins from a single spin.
- Increasing multipliers, typically climbing with each cascade and often persisting through free spins.
- Unlimited win potential in some free spin rounds, where the multiplier does not reset between cascades.
That last point is where the format's reputation comes from, and it is also the source of its volatility.
Titles That Define the Format
A handful of games are the usual entry points, and they cover a useful range of styles.
- Big Bass Bonanza Megaways: a fishing theme with a collection mechanic in its free spin round.
- Gonzo's Quest Megaways: the Megaways treatment of a classic avalanche slot, with multipliers building through consecutive cascades.
- Extra Chilli Megaways: one of the original Megaways titles, known for a free spins round you can gamble to extend.
- White Rabbit and Power of Thor Megaways: both sit at the higher end of the published RTP range for the format.
- Fishin' Frenzy Megaways and Irish Riches Megaways: examples of the format combined with progressive jackpot pools.
RTP varies meaningfully across Megaways titles even within the same studio, and several sit at 95 per cent or above. Where the figure is published, it is the most useful comparison you have. Our deeper look at the format compares individual titles in more detail.
How to Play Megaways Slots
Operating a Megaways game is no harder than any other slot. Understanding what you are looking at takes slightly longer.
- Read the paytable and the ways counter. The counter shows how many ways are active on the current spin, and it will swing dramatically between rounds. That is normal.
- Check the published RTP and volatility. Almost all Megaways titles are high variance, so the volatility rating tells you less than the RTP does.
- Understand the cascade rules. Whether the multiplier resets between spins, and whether it persists through free spins, is the single biggest difference between two otherwise similar titles.
- Learn the bonus trigger. Scatters are the usual route, but random reel modifiers in the base game can also open features.
- Set your stake from the session budget, and keep it there.
Many Megaways games offer a bonus buy feature that pays a fixed multiple of your stake to enter the free spin round directly. It removes the wait, but it also concentrates a large amount of money into a single high-variance event, and the cost typically reflects the feature's expected value with the house margin applied. It is a convenience, not a shortcut to better odds.
Tips and Strategy
Megaways slots are high variance by design, and the most common mistake is playing one at a stake suited to a gentler game.
Size the bankroll for long dry spells
These games can run hundreds of spins without a meaningful win and then deliver most of a session's return in one bonus round. That is the format working as intended. Budget for the gaps or choose a different mechanic.
Keep the stake genuinely small
Because of that variance, one per cent of the session bankroll per spin is a floor rather than a target. Smaller stakes and more spins give the feature a chance to arrive.
Compare RTP across titles
The spread between Megaways games is wide enough to matter. Two games with near-identical mechanics can differ by several percentage points, and that difference compounds over time.
Treat bonus buys with caution
Buying into the feature is priced to include the house margin. If you use it, treat each purchase as a full session's stake rather than as a single spin.
Stop at a figure you set in advance
The upside events in this format are large, which makes it especially important to decide beforehand what balance triggers a withdrawal. Our guide to free spins and bonus features covers the feature side in detail. These are 18+ games, every outcome is random, and no approach guarantees a win.
Frequently asked questions
How do Megaways slots reach 117,649 ways to win?
Each of the six reels can display between two and seven symbols, redrawn every spin. Seven symbols on all six reels multiplies out to 117,649 possible combinations.
Are Megaways slots high variance?
Almost all of them are. They can run long stretches without a meaningful win and then deliver most of a session's return in a single bonus round, so they need a larger bankroll.
Is buying the bonus round worth it?
The purchase price is set to include the house margin, so it does not improve your odds. It removes the wait for the feature, at the cost of concentrating a lot of money into one volatile event.
Do all Megaways games have the same RTP?
No. The published return varies meaningfully between titles even from the same studio, with several sitting at 95 per cent or above. It is the most useful figure for comparing two games.
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