You’ve probably seen it plastered across slot thumbnails. “MEGAWAYS” in big letters, sometimes with a number underneath: 117,649. But what does that actually mean? And is it as revolutionary as the marketing suggests?
Sort of. Let me explain.
Where Megaways Came From
Big Time Gaming, an Australian studio, invented the Megaways mechanic and trademarked it. They license the system to other providers – Pragmatic Play, Blueprint Gaming, Red Tiger, and dozens more. So when you see a Megaways game from Pragmatic, they’re paying BTG for the privilege of using that engine.
The first Megaways game was Bonanza, released in 2016. It was genuinely groundbreaking at the time. Ten years later, there are hundreds of Megaways titles and… honestly, the quality varies wildly.
How the Math Works
Traditional slots have fixed reels. Every spin shows the same number of symbols per reel. Megaways changes that.
Each reel randomly shows between 2 and 7 symbols on every spin. The total number of ways to win is the product of symbols across all six reels. So if every reel shows 7 symbols: 7 x 7 x 7 x 7 x 7 x 7 = 117,649 ways.
But here’s what the marketing doesn’t emphasize: most spins don’t hit 117,649. That’s the maximum. A typical spin might show 3-5 symbols per reel, giving you something like 3 x 4 x 5 x 3 x 4 x 5 = 3,600 ways. Still a lot. But not quite the headline number.
The variable reel height is what creates the volatility. More symbols per reel means more ways to win on that particular spin. Fewer symbols means fewer ways. It’s random, and that randomness is the whole point.
Why Players Love Them (and Why Some Don’t)
Megaways games typically pair with cascading wins. You hit a winning combination, those symbols clear, new ones drop in. Chain reactions build. During bonus rounds, multipliers often increase with each cascade, and that’s where the real money hides.
The appeal is obvious: massive win potential. The downside is equally obvious: high volatility means long dry stretches. You can burn through 200 spins with nothing meaningful, then hit a bonus round worth 500x your bet. Or 15x. It’s unpredictable.
Best Megaways Games Worth Playing
Buffalo King Megaways (Pragmatic Play) – Pragmatic’s best implementation of the mechanic. Wild West buffalo theme with free spins that actually deliver. The multiplier system during the bonus round is where the big numbers come from.
Gonzo’s Quest 2 Megaways (Red Tiger) – The sequel nobody expected. Takes the beloved Gonzo character and puts him on a Megaways grid. The Avalanche feature from the original translates perfectly to the cascading Megaways format.
Furry Bonanza Megaways (Pragmatic Play) – A newer entry that combines animal-themed fun with solid Megaways math. Growing multipliers during free spins can stack impressively.
The Honest Take
Not all Megaways games are good. That’s the uncomfortable truth the industry doesn’t talk about enough. Some providers just slap the Megaways label on otherwise generic gameplay and call it innovation. The mechanic itself is clever, but it’s not a magic formula that makes every slot interesting.
Before you commit money, spin a few rounds in demo mode. Pay attention to how the base game feels, not just the bonus round potential. If the base game is boring, you’ll be bored 95% of the time – because that’s where you’ll spend most of your spins.
Check out our full Megaways slots collection to browse the best options.
