Mechanic collection
Megaways slots
A licensed reel mechanic that varies how many symbols each reel shows, so the number of ways to win is redrawn on every spin.
Megaways is a reel mechanic created by Big Time Gaming and licensed to other studios. Each reel displays a variable number of symbols, typically between two and seven, so the number of ways to win changes from spin to spin and reaches 117,649 in the six-reel version. Wins are paid for matching symbols on consecutive reels from the left. The ways figure describes the grid, not the return.
Filter and sort the game list
| Game | RTP | Volatility | Grid / lines | Released | Data |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dragon's Fire MegawaysRed Tiger · Video slot
|
95.72% | Not published | 19 Sep 2019 | ||
Piggy Riches MegawaysRed Tiger · Video slot
|
95.71% | Not published | 22 Jan 2020 | ||
Gonzo's Quest MegawaysRed Tiger · Video slot
|
95.77% | Not published | 23 Jul 2020 | ||
Pirates Plenty MegawaysRed Tiger · Video slot
|
97.65% | Not published | 21 Apr 2021 | ||
BonanzaBig Time Gaming · Video slot
|
— | Not published | 2016 | ||
White RabbitBig Time Gaming · Video slot
|
— | Not published | — | ||
Extra ChilliBig Time Gaming · Video slot
|
— | Not published | — |
What Megaways is
Megaways is a reel mechanic created by Big Time Gaming. Titles carrying the name come from many different studios because the mechanic is licensed: Big Time Gaming runs a licensing programme for Megaways alongside its Megaclusters and Megapays mechanics2. Evolution, which owns the studio, describes Megaways as dynamic reel mechanics where symbol heights change on every spin, fitting two to seven symbols per reel, and says it is licensed to hundreds of developers worldwide1.
How the ways are counted
A payline slot pays when symbols land on a fixed pattern. A Megaways game instead pays for matching symbols on consecutive reels, starting at the leftmost reel, wherever on those reels they appear.
The number of ways available on a given spin is the product of the symbol counts on each reel. Six reels showing seven symbols each give 7 x 7 x 7 x 7 x 7 x 7, which is 117,649 ways, the maximum quoted for the mechanic1. When the same reels show two symbols each, the same spin offers 64 ways. Both are normal spins of the same game.
What a large ways count does not mean
The ways figure describes the shape of the grid. It is not a return figure and it is not a measure of how often the game pays. A wider grid spreads the same theoretical return across more combinations, each of which pays less in relation to the stake.
The number to compare between games is the published return to player. In Great Britain, an explanation of the rules must be easily available before a customer commits to gamble, and operators must provide the house edge, the return to player percentage, or the probability of winning events occurring3.
What to check on the game's information screen
- The ways range, meaning the minimum and maximum number of ways the reels can produce.
- Whether the game uses a reel modifier, an extra horizontal row, or a different reel count, all of which change that range.
- The return to player version the game is running, which is stated in the same panel.
- Whether the free spins round changes the reel set, and so the ways range, compared with the base game.
How our database records it
We tag a game as Megaways only when the provider's own game page or the game itself uses the name. Reel and row counts are recorded as the provider publishes them, and where a provider does not publish a figure we leave it blank rather than estimate it. Published return to player and volatility are stored the same way, and the information screen inside the game remains the reference for the version you are looking at.
FAQ
About megaways slots
Do Megaways slots have a higher RTP?
No. The mechanic describes how the reels are drawn, not how much a game returns. Two Megaways titles can carry very different published return to player figures, and the same title can run in more than one configuration. The figure that applies is the one in the game's own information screen, which British standards require to be available before a customer commits to gamble.
How many ways can a Megaways game have?
Up to 117,649 in the standard six-reel version, which is what you get when every reel shows seven symbols. The count falls whenever the reels show fewer symbols, so most spins offer far fewer ways than the headline number. Titles built with a different reel count, an extra row or a reel modifier have their own maximum, stated in the game's rules.
Why do so many different studios release Megaways games?
Because the mechanic is licensed rather than exclusive. Big Time Gaming operates a licensing programme through which other developers and casino partners can build games using Megaways, Megaclusters and Megapays, and Evolution states that Megaways is licensed to hundreds of developers. The name therefore describes the mechanic in use, not the studio that made the game.
Does the number of ways change during free spins?
It can. Some titles add a row, change the reel set or apply a modifier during the bonus round, which alters the range of ways available. Others keep the same reels and change only the multiplier behaviour. Each game sets this out in its rules panel, and that explanation must be available to the customer before they commit to gamble.
Gambling can cause harm
No game gives a guaranteed return, and losses cannot be won back by playing more. If gambling is affecting your money, work, sleep or relationships, support is available — including free services you can contact from the Maldives.
Editorial independence. This edition of KiraBet carries no affiliate links, no paid placements and no links to gambling operators. Nothing here is an invitation to gamble. Read the full disclosure or see how we review.