Online slots fans love Megaways slots, but what are they and how do you play them? In this article, we’ll be teaching you how to play Megaways slot games, while providing some top tips and tricks along the way. Keep on reading to learn more.
Megaways Slots Explained
Megaways slots are games using the Megaways random reel modifying system. Designed by Australian developer Big Time Gaming, for their mining-themed 2016 release ‘Bonanza’, the random reel modification method drastically alters both the number of chances to win and the prizes achieved.
By changing the number of symbols on the reels throughout each spin, Megaways slots provide players with more chances to win than traditional online slots. Most Big Time Gaming's Megaways Slots have 117,649 possible ways to win available and this number is generally considered to be the ‘default’ for Megaways games.
The range of paylines now accessible has changed as Big Time Gaming began licencing Megaways to various other prominent developers. This was an inspired move by the team, as most developers like to keep their proprietary concepts to themselves. By sharing the concept top developers have added their own flair and modifications to the format, meaning that as of 2024 paylines on some Megaways slots are as low as 15,525 while some titles give up to 248,832 possible chances to win at the upper end of the scale. Nowadays most popular slot series will have their own Megaways variant.
How Megaways Slots Work
The biggest question players have about Megaways slots is just how they can offer so many potential win ways. This is achieved thanks to several elements First of all, Megaways slots feature a six-reel configuration, which is one more than the traditional 5-reel slot, but that is not all. One more reel sits above the Megaways reel set which comes into play when the player lands a winning combination. When a winning combination is revealed, the symbols used in the win will be removed from the reels, leaving an open space behind. The symbols that are present on the single reel above the reels will fall down to fill the space. If these added symbols help to form another winning combination then the process will repeat. This can lead to a chain reaction of possible wins. When no more winning outcomes can be formed, the total won from each cascade will be added together to form the players’ total payout for the spin.
Common Megaways Slot Features
As the Megaways system acts as an addition to traditional slot elements, there is no limit to the features that Megaways games can include such as affiliation with other systems like ‘cash collect’ or a progressive jackpot network. Listed below are some of the most common Megaways slot features seen across games:
Extra Top Row
The extra top row is an essential component of Megaways games and is used to add symbols to the reels, thus increasing the potential number of win ways.
Cascading Reels
Also called tumbling reels or avalanching reels, cascading reels sees symbols tumbling down from the reel above the main reel set to fill the spaces left by winning combinations.
Unlimited Multipliers
A lot of Megaways games will have an increasing multiplier which goes up by 1 for each subsequent cascade. In the base game, this will reset with each spin, but during bonus features like free spins, this may become an unlimited win multiplier that doesn’t reset.
Free Spins, Bonus Rounds, and Extra Features
Most Megaways slots will have free spins or a respins bonus round, but there’s no limit to the number of features which may be included within a Megaways game.
Are There Special Megaways Slots Symbols?
As the Megaways system works as an add-on to the traditional slot formula, there aren’t any special Megaways-specific symbols to be aware of. You’ll typically find the usual mix of high and low-paying symbols, wilds, scatters, multipliers, and sometimes mystery symbols and bonus symbols. You can always consult the paytable of your chosen Megaways games to find out the special symbols used before playing.
Speaking of the paytable though, this is an area where Megaways slots symbols do seem a little different. At first glance it may seem that the payout values for Megaways symbols are crazily low compared to other slots, starting at 0.1x and sometimes capping at 50 or 100x. This is because in Megaways games it is possible to win multiple times from a single round, meaning that the small values can quickly add up
Prime Slots’ Megaways Slots Guide: How to Play and How to Win
To play Megaways slots all you need to do is sign up and register for an account at Prime Slots. Browse until you find your chosen Megaways game and load it on your preferred device (including mobile devices). Once loaded you can set your wager by completing the following steps:
- First, you’ll need to set your stake amount. This is usually done by clicking or tapping (in the case of touchscreen devices) the plus or minus buttons, or arrow buttons to determine the value you wish. As Megaways slots have fixed payline structures, the amount you enter will be equally divided across all win ways.
- Some regions have the option for Autoplay, but this is not available in UK regions. When you’re happy with your wager click or tap the spin button to begin.
- Starting on the first reel on the left, you will win if you land three to six matching symbols on any row of adjacent reels. This will then cause the symbols used for the win to be removed from the reels allowing the symbols stored in the reels above to fall to fill them. The spin ends when no more winning combinations can be formed. All wins will be totalled up and paid to the player per the paytable.
Prime Slots’ Top Tips for Megaways Slots
Megaways slots are games of chance, so there is no definite technique to win, but there are a few basic tips and tricks you may apply to improve your performance.
- Pay Attention to Paylines: Most Megaways slots follow Big Time Gaming's 117,649 formula, while some use 5,000 to over 200,000 winways. Stick to either the default value or the games with the highest number of win ways.
- Consider Volatility - Megaways games have a huge number of winning combinations, making their mathematical models volatile. The payout rates and gameplay of the game may be affected by this. There are a few medium and low-volatility Megaways games out there, but the majority will be high-volatility.
- Play with the Best Math Model - Many slot games have many mathematical models that can change the RTP by 3%. Thus, choose a casino with the best mathematical model for your chosen Megaways slot.
- Check the Game Page - As we’ve alluded to Megaways slots come in many different forms, often providing free spins, respins, modifiers, multipliers, and more. Therefore it makes sense to understand about the Megaways game's features before betting any money so be sure to check out the game page.
- Read Reviews - Finally, check out what other players have to say about your chosen Megaways game, or try it in free play (demo) mode to see if you like it without spending any real money.
Play A Mega Selection of Megaways Slots here at Prime Slots!
At Prime Slots you’ll find a massive array of top Megaways games to enjoy. Sign up and play today to discover more.
