The online slots world experienced a seismic shift when Big Time Gaming debuted their groundbreaking Megaways format in 2016. Propelled by the success of their inaugural Megaways release, Bonanza, slots utilizing this unique layout have proliferated across online platforms like bwin Casino Österreich ever since. But what exactly spurred this Megaways movement and what is it about these slots that keep players coming back for more spins?
Origins of the Megaways Layout
While slot innovation has accelerated in recent years, most follow conventional layouts defined by fixed paylines. Megaways slots shattered that mold with a dynamic structure producing a different number of symbols and paylines on every spin.
This variability traces back to the cascading wins concept, where symbols collapse after each payout to make way for new symbols. While hardly new, Big Time Gaming supercharged the idea by removing paylines altogether. Winnings are instead based on adjacent symbol combinations.
By blending cascading wins with adjustable reels, Megaways slots can generate up to 117,649 paylines per spin – lightyears beyond the 10–30 paylines typical of classic slots.
Mechanics Behind Megaways Slots
So how do Megaways slots construct those six-figure payline counts? The secret lies in the variable reel configuration.
While most slots rely on a fixed 5×3 or 5×4 grid, Megaways slots utilize up to 7 symbols per reel. Since symbol positions are randomly generated on each spin, the layout essentially reshapes itself with every cascade.
To visualize this, here’s an example spin on a Megaways slot:
- Reel 1: 7 symbols
- Reel 2: 5 symbols
- Reel 3: 6 symbols
- Reel 4: 4 symbols
- Reel 5: 5 symbols
- Reel 6: 7 symbols
With 34 symbols in play, the number of possible paylines equates to 117,649. Now imagine those reels continuously shifting to form new payline combinations during cascades. This ever-changing structure is the core innovation that sets Megaways slots apart.
Appeal of Megaways Slots
Of course, eye-popping math alone isn’t enough to spearhead a slots revolution. There are three ingredients that make playing Megaways slots uniquely thrilling:
- Massive Payout Potential. Those six-figure paylines translate to immense winning potential. With clusters of symbols able to trigger payouts, longer cascades fuel bigger chain reactions. This fuels the prospect of a life-changing score on any spin.
- High Volatility. Given their lean math and inflated layouts, Megaways slots are inherently volatile. While cascading payouts help balance dry spells, variance plays a leading role. This breeds major swings between famine and fortune that players find extremely compelling.
- Ever-changing Gameplay. The dynamically shifting reels also prevent gameplay from ever-growing stale. Each spin presents a wholly different layout, with symbols tumbling in varied sequences during cascades. This innovative format simply never plays the same way twice.
Top-Rated Megaways Slots
| Slot Machine | Developer | Max Ways to Win | Key Features | RTP |
| Bonanza Megaways | Big Time Gaming | 117,649 | Cascading reels, unlimited multipliers, free spins | 96.00% |
| Extra Chilli Megaways | Big Time Gaming | 117,649 | Re-triggerable free spins, increasing multipliers | 96.19% |
| Gonzo’s Quest Megaways | Red Tiger Gaming | 117,649 | Avalanche reels, earthquake feature, free spins | 96.00% |
| Great Rhino Megaways | Pragmatic Play | 200,704 | Free spins, super re-spins, multipliers | 96.58% |
| Buffalo Rising Megaways | Blueprint Gaming | 117,649 | Mystery symbols, free spins with multipliers | 96.50% |
| Piggy Riches Megaways | Red Tiger Gaming | 117,649 | Mega wilds, free spins with multipliers | 95.71% |
| White Rabbit Megaways | Big Time Gaming | 248,832 | Expanding reels, free spins with additional features | 97.72% |
| Fishin’ Frenzy Megaways | Blueprint Gaming | 15,625 | Free spins with fisherman symbols, multipliers | 96.10% |
Next Evolution of Megaways
Since conquering the online IGT slots realm, the Megaways concept has expanded into new frontiers like bingo and lottery-style games. Megaways are also being blended with other features like multipliers, bonuses and jackpots to increase engagement.
And with Big Time Gaming licensing their system to other providers, we’re likely still in the early stages of the Megaways movement. Yet however the format evolves, one fact remains clear – once players experience these slots’ hypnotic gameplay and magnetic allure, they’ll be hooked for good.