What is Megaways?
Once upon a time, it was perfectly normal for a slot to have a fixed number of reels, rows and pay lines. A game might therefore have 5 reels, 3 rows and 15 ways to win, whilst another could have 5 reels, 3 rows and 243 ways to win. In both cases, the number of pay lines is usually fixed, so it doesn’t vary from spin to spin.
The Megaways mechanic was created to change all of that. It is a software feature that randomly determines how many ways to win a slot player will have on any given spin of the reels. It does that by allowing reels to have different numbers of rows. The more rows that appear on the reels, the more ways to win a player will have.
Who Created Megaways?
The Megaways mechanic was created by a company called
Big Time Gaming. It was first showcased in a game called
Dragon Born, which was released by Big Time Gaming in January 2016.
That game had 6 reels, each of which could show anything from 2 to 7 symbols (meaning 2 to 7 rows) on a given spin. At the lowest end of the spectrum, a spin giving 6 reels of 2 rows each would give the player 64 ways to win. At the opposite end, a spin giving 6 rows of 7 rows each would give the player a colossal 117,649 ways to win. And, of course, there are many possible variations between those two extremes.
Whilst many other Megaways games have been released by Big Time Gaming since 2016, the company also decided to allow other developers to use the Megaways mechanic under licence. This turned out to be a genius move, because plenty of developers took them up on the offer, making
Megaways one of the best-known features in the modern online gaming world.
Why Megaways is Popular
Megaways games are extraordinarily popular and for a couple of very good reasons. The first is that the Megaways feature keeps players in a position of uncertainty about what will happen on the next spin. Will the player have a few hundred ways to win, a few thousand, tens of thousands or even more? When you consider the fact that people like to gamble exactly because they love the uncertainty of not knowing whether they will win or lose, a game mechanic which takes that uncertainty to the next level is always likely to be a big hit.
Another big reason why Megaways games are popular is because slot players like big numbers. If having 25 ways to win is deemed good, and 243 ways to win is viewed as being 10 times better, the
prospect of having 117,649 ways to win knocks most other games out of the ballpark. Of course, the number of ways to win doesn’t necessarily equate to a better RTP, but that’s a whole other subject.
Most popular Megaways slots in Canada
- Gonzo's Quest Megaways
- Piggy Riches Megaways
- The Dog House Megaways
- Bonanza Megaways
- Divine Fortune Megaways
- Shamrock Holmes Megaways
- Twin Spin Megaways
- Great Rhino Megaways
- Legend of Cleopatra Megaways
- Curse of the Werewolf Megaways
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Five of the best Megaways slots
There are currently
more than 150 slot games available which feature the Megaways mechanic, and that number increases every month as new titles are released. We will let you explore the full range at your leisure, but five of the most popular Megaways slots that you might want to start with are as follows:
Gonzo’s Quest Megaways
This visually impressive slot from
Red Tiger Gaming stars a humorous character called Gonzo, who is on a quest to find treasure in the Lost City of Gold. Unbreakable Wild symbols make it easier to win, and an Earthquake feature destroys all low-paying symbols in view. Land a winning combination to trigger an Avalanche feature. A multiplier increases if the wins continue, up to 5x in the main game and up to 15x in the Free Fall bonus game.
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Piggy Riches Megaways
This is another Red Tiger Gaming slot, but here it’s all about pigs who just happen to be filthy rich. The game takes place outside their mansion, and symbols show everything that the pigs value most, including a gold credit card, a purse full of cash and keys to the family limo. Mega Wild symbols fill an entire reel, and can increase wins with a multiplier of up to x7. The main feature is a Free Spins round which gives you up to 22 free spins and a starting multiplier of up to x10. That multiplier will then increase every time you land a win.
Play Piggy Riches Megaways at
King Billy Casino
The Dog House Megaways
The Dog House from Pragmatic Play is a great game for dog lovers. There are four dogs on the reels, along with a dog collar, a bone and playing card ranks that serve as the lower-value symbols. A dog kennel is a wild on the middle four reels, and landing three or more pawprint Bonus symbols will trigger a Free Spins round. You can choose between Sticky Wilds Free Spins and Raining Wilds Free Spins and you can even buy the Free Spins feature if you don’t want to wait to get lucky.
Play The Dog House Megaways at
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Twin Spin Megaways
Those of you who want to play a visually straightforward slot rather than one with a more elaborate theme or setting should take a look at Twin Spin Megaways. Created by NetEnt, this game has playing card ranks as lower-value symbols, while higher-value symbols are cherries, bells, BARs, red 7s and blue diamonds. What sets this game apart is a Twin Reel feature which randomly selects two or three adjacent reels to show identical symbols, making it easier to win. Wild symbols appear on all of the reels except the first and can have a x2 or x3 multiplier attached. Land five scatter symbols on the reels to win 15 Free Spins.
Play Twin Spin Megaways at
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Bonanza Megaways
This game is from Big Time Gaming itself, and involves mining for gems and gold. The reels are set into a hillside, and old-fashioned mining carts bring symbols horizontally to the top row for the middle four reels, whilst all other rows and reels move vertically, as normal. A bluegrass-style soundtrack accompanies your play, and if you get four or more GOLD scatters you will win at least 12 free spins with an Unlimited Win Multiplier.
Play Bonanza Megaways at
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Divine Fortune Megaways
Divine Fortune Megaways was released at the end of 2020 by NetEnt. It provided fans of the original Divine Fortune game with a brand new way to enjoy spending time with their favourite figures from Greek mythology. As well as the Megaways mechanic itself, this slot features Falling Wilds, a Falling Wilds Re-Spin feature, a Wild on Wild feature, and a Free Spin feature. To play this game is a lot of fun, but to win is divine, thanks to the game offering a
top prize of 4,502 times your bet.
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Moriarty Megaways
The adventures of Sherlock Holmes have captured audiences for well over a century, and the ones in which he faces his arch-enemy, Professor James Moriarty, are particularly popular. In the
Moriarty Megaways slot from iSoftBet, you get to enjoy one such adventure personally and as you pursue the criminal mastermind. You'll have the chance to benefit from cascading reels, random modifiers, and a Free Spins feature that can give you up to 30 free spins with an increasing multiplier.
Play Moriarty Megaways at King Billy Casino
Power of Thor Megaways
A hero of a very different type is the star of the
Power of Thor Megaways slot from Pragmatic Play. Here the action takes place in Midgard, and your task is to try and claim the Mjölnir, the hammer belonging to Thor, the Norse god of thunder. Special features in this game include a Hammer Feature and a Free Spins feature that will give you at least 10 and as many as 30 free spins. Each tumble achieved during Free Spins will increase a multiplier by +1.
Play Power of Thor Megaways at LeoVegas Casino
Queen of Wonderland Megaways
Those of you who fancy going down a rabbit hole should take a look at the
Queen of Wonderland Megaways slot from iSoftBet. This is a beautifully executed game that all fans of Lewis Carroll's fictional creations will love. Characters appearing include the Cheshire Cat, the White Rabbit, the Mad Hatter, the King of Hearts, and the Queen of Hearts. Expect Mystery Symbols and several special features, including Cash Respins and Free Spins. Get lucky, and you just might win a jackpot worth as much as 5,000 times your stake.
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Temple Tumble Megaways
Temple Tumble Megaways was released by Relax Gaming in 2019 and takes place in front of a large stone temple located deep in the heart of a Cambodian jungle. This slot has a great Indiana Jones feel to it and is packed with wilds and multipliers. You'll have up to 46,656 ways to win with a single spin, and you can trigger a Free Spins feature that gives you a choice of three different volatility options. The visuals in this game are stunning, and the hefty jackpot that you can win isn't at all bad either!
Play Temple Tumble Megaways at Casumo Casino
