Megaways™ slots have emerged as a significant development in the world of online slot machines, and they are transforming the way real money slots players engage with online gaming content. This growing popularity can be attributed to several factors, but let’s start from the beginning.
Big Time Gaming, an Australian company, played a pivotal role in revolutionizing the online slots industry. They infused their Megaways™ slots with a wide array of in-game features that captivated players. As a result, almost every online casino catering to the European Union and Poland markets now offers Megaways™ slots. These games incorporate innovative and groundbreaking elements such as Cascading symbols, unconventional reel structures, and captivating bonus rounds. As experts in the field of slots, we invite you to explore our comprehensive guide to Megaways™ slots for a deeper understanding of their mechanics and features.
What Are Megaways™ Slots?
Let’s begin by exploring the fundamental aspect of Megaways™ slot machines, which is their unique and innovative reel structure. Unlike other online slots, Megaways™ slots offer a distinct setup. While symbols still appear on the reels, the days of the 4,096 ways to win from Microgaming may be a thing of the past. These games were pioneers but are no longer at the forefront. Now, we have Megaways™ slots with an astonishing 60,466,176 ways to win, which represents the future of the genre.
The playing field in Megaways™ slots is much larger, featuring 6 reels. Additionally, some of these slots include an extra horizontal reel with 4 to 7 symbols. The number of possible Megaways™ is equally impressive, with some slots offering a staggering 117,649 ways to win. The range varies from 15,625 lines to an incredible 46,656 paylines.
It’s All In The Math
Despite having more than 20 years of experience in the realm of online slots, we still consider ourselves students. Just when we think we have mastered all the features of a simple slot game, another innovation emerges. In this section, we delve into the technical aspect. Like any free slots, the outcome of each slot machine spin is random, determined by a random number generator. Standard slots have fixed paylines, but Megaways™ slots can reach extraordinary levels.
Allow us to explain the math model behind the Megaways™ mechanic to the best of our ability. Please bear with us as we delve into this topic. The Megaways™ system is the brainchild of Big Time Gaming. Above the reels, you will notice a Golden Box, which serves to multiply the number of symbols on the reels. For example, if 6 symbols appear on reel 1, another 6 symbols on reel 2, and 4 symbols on reel 3, the Megaways™ box will display a total of 144. It’s important to note that this is a simplified explanation to help you grasp the concept of the Megaways™ system.
Catch The Megaways™ Formula
The formula can be represented as follows: 6x6x4=144, which signifies the number of Megaways™ displayed in the box. The number of Megaways™ is not fixed and changes with each spin. It is possible to encounter Megaways™ slots that offer an impressive 531,431 ways to win. Winning combinations are calculated from reel 1 and progress from left to right. Big Time Gaming is not the sole creator of Megaways™ slots, as Blueprint Gaming has also crafted games using this mechanic. In fact, Blueprint Gaming acquired the license from Big Time Gaming, making it a smart move on their part!
Megaways™ Buy Option
One of the standout features of Megaways™ slots is the ability to “cut” out the bonus game. Well, not exactly, as the base game still remains. The Buy Feature allows high rollers to bypass the base game entirely if they lack the patience. By clicking on the buy option, players can jump straight into the Free Spins feature, but it comes at a cost. The buy feature can range from 71 times to an enormous 7,500 times your stake. One notable example is Deadwood.
Bets Per Spin and Jackpots
Is it expensive to play Megaways™ slots? The beauty of it all is that it’s not. Regardless of the size of your bankroll, you can enjoy these slots. The minimum bet per spin for most real money Megaways™ slots starts at €0.20 up to €20. As you can see, the entry-level to play them is very affordable! Whether you prefer smaller bets or are a high roller VIP casino player, it doesn’t matter. Additionally, the maximum jackpots in Megaways™ slots are capped at €250,000. However, some games offer jackpots of more than one million pounds! While there are no reviewed progressive jackpots yet, if you’re interested in trying Blueprint Gaming’s progressive jackpot slots, Mighty Griffin and Slots o Gold are excellent options to start with.
Megaways™ Slots Bonus Rounds
If you’ve played Megaways™ slots before, you’ll know that they are packed with a plethora of features. As the next “big” thing in online slots, software providers are rushing to release them. In short, Megaways™ slots have become the new battleground for software providers to showcase their capabilities.
Now that you have an understanding of the reel structure of Megaways™ slots, let’s talk about their bonus rounds. Each Megaways™ slot offers free spins with progressive multipliers, followed by jackpots that can reach up to 80,000 times your stake. These games also feature mystery symbols, a buy feature, re-spins, a variety of wilds, and more. Regarding the Free Spins feature, you can trigger it by landing the conventional 3 or more scatters, or by using the previously mentioned Buy Feature. The number of free spins you receive can range from 10 to 25, with potential re-triggers. Each free spins feature is unique, with some offering progressive win multipliers and others introducing expanding or sticky wilds to enhance gameplay.
The Cascading or Tumble reels are a familiar concept. When you achieve a winning combination of 3 or more identical symbols, the magic happens! The winning symbols disappear from the reels and new ones drop from above to replace them. This allows for multiple wins on a single spin. Moreover, in the Free Spins feature, each cascade increases the progressive multiplier by 1 or more. These multipliers can combine to reach a maximum multiplier of 60 times!
Megaways™ Slots Mystery Symbols
Initially, Big Time Gaming held the patent for Mystery Symbols, but it seems that Blueprint Gaming has now taken the title as the official “champion” of Mystery Symbols, and rightfully so. When a Mystery Symbol appears, it can transform into any other symbol, including low-value symbols. If you have multiple Mystery Symbols on the reels, the potential payout can be amazing. Megaways™ slots with Mystery Symbols have gained popularity and offer impressive cash prizes, especially when Blueprint Gaming adds an unlimited Multiplier to the mix. The next time you play a Megaways™ slot machine, make sure it features the Mystery Symbol feature.
Best Megaways™ Real Money Slots
Deadwood
We can’t help but give a shout-out to Deadwood from NoLimit City because it’s an exceptional slot game, and yes, it’s also a Megaways™ slot! This Wild West-themed game features a phenomenal game engine, free spins, progressive multipliers, and a Buy Option. The symbols on the reels perfectly complement the Western theme and offer rewarding payouts. Deadwood provides two Free Spins options: Gunslinger Spins, which are highly volatile and offer the potential for big wins, or Hunter Spins, a less volatile alternative.
Beetlejuice Megaways™
Beetlejuice Megaways takes inspiration from the cult 1988 Hollywood film of the same name. This game marks Microgaming’s first foray into the Megaways trend. With 248,832 ways to win, an RTP of 96%, and a jackpot of €250,000, Beetlejuice Megaways is packed with progressive multipliers. The free spins feature is particularly appealing, not only due to its unlimited multipliers but also because you can earn additional free spins when a group of scatters reappears. If you’re seeking a visually stunning game, Beetlejuice Megaways hits the mark.
Legacy of The Gods
Legacy of The Gods, developed by Relax Gaming, is among their finest releases. It combines a Greek mythology theme with the popular Megaways mechanic, attracting slot enthusiasts. The game also features the Cascading System, where consecutive wins occur on a single spin. If you’re a high roller looking for instant action, you can activate the Buy Option, which triggers the Free Spins at a cost of 100x your stake. Once in the Free Spins feature, you have four options, each with its own volatility level: medium, high, ultra-high variance, and varying volatility. Additionally, each free spins bonus round includes progressive win multipliers.
TNT Tumble
For explosive fun, TNT Tumble is a must-try Megaways™ slot. It captivates players from the first spin with its stunning visuals and engaging gameplay. The Cascading or Tumble mechanic takes center stage once again. TNT Tumble’s main attraction is its jackpot of 12,278x your stake (€1,227,800), the largest jackpot in any Megaways™ slot to date. The Free Spins feature offers plenty of excitement, with a top multiplier of 3x on every free spin. TNT Tumble also includes a Buy Option that allows you to dive straight into the free spins feature. Relax Gaming deserves recognition for this thrilling game, despite its high volatility.
Megaways Joker
Megaways Joker stands out from other Megaways slots as soon as you start playing. Its standout feature is its gorgeous graphics, which are vibrant, colorful, and visually striking. Unlike other Megaways slots, it doesn’t have a Cascading System. Megaways Joker will captivate you with its distinct fruity theme and reel mechanic. While it may be light on features, it offers a massive jackpot of 10,000x your stake (€1 million) and an intriguing Free Spins feature. And yes, there’s a Buy Option available at a cost of 100x your stake.
Final Word
Megaways™ slots are our go-to choice because they offer a mind-boggling array of features and possibilities. It’s not an exaggeration to say that they represent the future of slots. We liken Megaways™ slot machines to malls because they have everything you could possibly want in a slot game: cascades, jackpots of up to 13,000x your stake, Buy Options, high RTPs reaching 97%, and so much more.