The Megaways system debuted with Bonanza Megaways, released by Big Time Gaming in 2012. This groundbreaking slot made a massive impact on the iGaming scene: it introduced players to a new type of slot game with the potential for big wins and a varying reel layout.
Since then, dozens of Megaways slots have hit the market, featuring a variety of settings, bonuses, and prizes. Themes include:
- Robots
- Ancient Greece
- Animals
- Ancient Egypt
- Sumo wrestling
- Magic
- Horror
- Movies (e.g. The Goonies Megaways and Beetlejuice Megaways)
One of the most distinctive elements of Megaways games is that the number of winning ways changes from spin to spin. Most Megaways slots have a maximum of 117,649 ways to win, but some go as high as 200,000. Each reel can hold between two and seven symbols (on average), so you never know how many winning ways you’ll play with on your next spin.
Slots with the Megaways system often have cascading reels too. When you line up a winning combination, the winning symbols vanish and others cascade in to replace them. That can award multiple wins on the same paid spin, giving you the chance to get a better return on your wagers.