Megaways slots might be the most popular ones of all. Why? Because they are simply a lot of fun and with all the 117,649 ways to win, each spin looks completely different and players can’t get enough of them. I’m a huge fan of Megaways slots myself. But who is behind this revolutionary mechanic that so many players love to play?
We managed to navigate through the ups and downs of how slots made their way from the casino floors into our living rooms and phones last week. If you had a flat tire, got stuck in an elevator or for whatever reason missed it, just click here.
Starz Megaways
Megaways – Here We Come
In this second installment of our ongoing series of The Evolution of Online Slots, we will trace the roots of Megaways from their groundbreaking inception to the dazzling features they flaunt today. From the first Megaways slot to the latest groundbreaking titles, together, we will explore these great games and where you can play them.
Nik Robinson – Founder & CEO of Big Time Gaming
The Birth of Megaways Slots
The story of Megaways takes us all the way back to Australia in the year 2011. This was the birth of one of the biggest names in the industry, Big Time Gaming (BTG).
Not only had Nik Robinson (Founder & CEO), Huw McIntosh (Tech), and Ian Schmidt (Creative) all been involved in the industry since the late 90’s, they had all experienced great success. In 2011, the trio was looking for a new challenge and decided to open up a so-called innovative game house.
A Desire to Be a Thought Leader of Slots
Did they know they would change the casino game forever a few years later? Who knows, but I’m sure that was the ambition. Nik Robinson did say at some point that the idea for Megaways came from the desire to be the “Thought Leader” of online slots.
From the first Megaways release in 2016 until now, Big Time Gaming has established itself as one of the leading providers in the industry. The invention of Megaways is of course the biggest contributor to the company’s success as it changed the entire casino market.
Today, with more than 50 games in its portfolio, around 50% of them carry the trademarked Megaways tag.
Machina Megaways – Under License from BTG
Licensing Megaways Games
Casino players have been madly in love with Megaways slots for 6-7 years now and really appreciate the different style the games bring. This fact that players took the Megaways slots to heart obviously didn’t go unnoticed by other providers and it didn’t take long until they came knocking on the door to discuss different types of partnerships.
Red Tiger Gaming was the first one to approach BTG and they managed to secure a license to create their very own slots, using the Megaways mechanics. Several other providers have followed the footsteps of Red Tiger and made sure to get a license of their own.
These are only some of the names on the list but I’m sure you recognize them all:
BigTimeGaming – Now Part of Evolution
I will take you through the journey of Megaways shortly but you should know that the success of BigTimeGaming resulted in it being acquired by Evolution in 2021.
Megaways Jack and the Magic Beans
Key Features of Megaways Slots
Megaways as a name sounds quite majestic but doesn’t really tell you anything in terms of what it’s all about. Let me see if I can help clear some things up for you.
If you could give it a more explanatory name, it would be a Slots Engine or perhaps a Random Reel Modifier to be more specific. Obviously that wouldn’t be a marketable name so I understand why Megaways was the chosen name.
What Megaways does is that it changes the number of symbols that land on each reel during any given spin. This means that every time you press spin in a Megaways slot, you will see a different number of symbols appear on each reel. This means you will be staring at a lot of different ways to win.
Are you still with me? Good. I understand it can come across as quite complicated but you’ll soon see that it’s not.
Blockchain Megaways by Booming Games
Make Each Spin Unique
Any Megaways slot will feature either 5 or 6 reels. Each reel can show between 2 and 7 symbols. How many symbols you will actually see is determined by the Megaways engine and will differ from one spin to the next, making each spin unique.
117,649 – The Magic Number
As a player, we are always looking to maximize our luck. When it comes to Megaways, the number to remember is 117,649. When 7 symbols appear on all 6 reels, you will have the most possible ways to win.
Not only is this important to know in order to understand the power of the Megaways feature, it will also give you the biggest payout. Should you maximize the number of symbols and ways to win, you can pocket wins up to 50,000x your bet!
Don’t forget that paired with multipliers and other features added to the game, it can result in even bigger prizes.
I hope things are starting to make sense and that you can see why Megaways became an instant success and is still one of the most popular features among players from all over the world.
Spot the tiny symbols on reel 4 of Bonanza
BTG Proves Everyone Wrong
Sometimes new inventions don’t follow the popular beliefs of a movement and Megaways was a perfect example of this. Around the time when Megaways hit the market, the attitude among developers was that players appreciated and preferred slots using BIG symbols.
Big Time Gaming wasn’t afraid of going out on a limb with its revolutionary new feature and took a big risk by challenging the perception. Instead of going along with what everyone else thought, not only did they come out with a slot mechanic that would give you thousands and thousands of ways to win. They also used a lot of small symbols, as you can see whenever a reel fills up with the maximum 7 like in the image above.
How Do I Win on Megaways?
The way Megaways slots work is slightly different than other slots. Since you don’t have traditional paylines, symbols can be in different spots and still result in a winning combination.
In order to win, you do need to have at least 3 matching symbols on consecutive reels. Considering you could end up maximizing the 6 reels and 7 symbols, there’s a big chance that you can score more than one winning combo in one spin.
Egypt Megaways by Red Tiger Gaming
What’s in the Box?
I’m sure you movie buffs out there picked up on the headline said by Brad Pitt in the movie Se7en. Luckily the phrase has an entirely different meaning when it comes to Megaways.
If you have ever played a Megaways game, you may have seen the little box sitting above or below the reels, containing a number. This is where you can see how many ways of winning each particular spin has. It’s impossible to keep up with it yourself so I think it’s a smart move to give you the number on display like this.
Put it to the Test
Let’s say that for whatever reason the number didn’t show up in the box. You can actually figure it out quite easily for yourself. All it takes is for you to multiply the number of symbols on reel number one by the number of symbols on reel number two.
Then you multiply that number by the number of symbols on reel number three etc, until you have reached the last reel.
For instance if you have 7 symbols and 6 reels, here’s what the calculation would look like:
7 × 7 = 49
49 × 7 = 343
343 × 7 = 2,401
2,401 × 7 = 16,807
16,807 × 7 = 117,649
You could also simply multiply the number of symbols like this:
7 x 7 x 7 x 7 x 7 x 7 = 117,649
Personally, I prefer the game to deal with the calculations but hey, if you’re up for doing some math from time to time, be my guest.
Holy Diver Megaways
The Biggest and Baddest
Believe it or not, there are games like the Holy Diver Megaways slot, also by BTG, that has a jaw-dropping 586,981 ways to win. Wow!
Unfortunately Holy Diver Megaways is difficult to find but hopefully you’ll be able to find a spot who has it as I was not able to at this time.
Dragon Born – The Original Megaways
Evolution of Megaways: From Start to Present
When asking people in the know about the first Megaways slot, the majority of them will tell you it was Bonanza at the end of 2016. This is inaccurate because there were actually two other Megaways slots released earlier that same year.
Dragon Born
Welcome to the Dragon Born Megaways Show
The first slot to feature the new Megaways mechanics was called Dragon Born and was released in February of 2016. Not surprisingly it quickly attracted a lot of attention from both operators, players and other providers.
Before Dragon Born hit the market, the maximum number of ways to win was 4,096. This was now a thing of the past since Dragon Born came loaded with a massive 117,649.
Other Dragon Born Game Stats
- Volatility – High
- Max Multiplier – 10,800x
- Layout – 6×7
- RTP – 95.00%
The game had a medieval theme that appealed to a broad demographic and to be honest, the graphics aren’t bad at all.
Despite pushing the revolutionary new game pretty hard, it wasn’t quite as successful as BTG had hoped for.
StarQuest by BTG
Attempt Number 2 – StarQuest
They say that if at first you don’t succeed, you try again, which is exactly what BigTimeGaming did. Going all in on their new innovation, they dropped StarQuest in October that same year.
This time players were invited on a space adventure and a mission that promised to “deliver massive wins, increase multipliers and to boldly go where no slot has gone before”. It was also the first time for Both Ways – Megaways!
Your chance to conquer space
Other StarQuest Game Stats
- Max Multiplier – 12,600x
- RTP – 96.22%
- Volatility – High
- Layout – 6×7
Space themed was very popular at the time and BTG was hoping StarQuest would become the groundbreaking success Dragon Born failed to live up to.
Bonanza Megaways
Bonanza Megaways – The First Megaways Slot
While Dragon Born was the original Megaways title and it captured some attention, it was Bonanza that was responsible for the BTG brand’s exploding popularity. Finally the world could see the genius behind the innovation and Megaways was now on the map for real.
Working hard at the Bonanza gold mine
Showing the Full Potential of the Megaways Engine
Driving a Wild West/Gold Mine theme, Bonanza was released in December of 2016. After seeing Both-Ways payouts in StarQuest, BTG had now moved on to using Cascading Reels through a system called Dual Reaction.
So, with Cascading Reels, Free Spins, retriggers as well as unlimited multipliers during Free Spins, showed the full potential of the Megaways engine.
Other Bonanza Game Stats
- Max Multiplier – 26,000x
- RTP – 96.00%
- Volatility – High
- Layout – 6×7
Where Can I Play Bonanza?
Gonzo’s Quest Megaways
Gonzo’s Quest Megaways – The Most Popular Megaways Slot
One of the most beloved characters in the world of slots is of course Gonzo. When it comes to work ethics and being relentless in pursuing his goals, this guy is in a league of his own and it’s only fair that Red Tiger Gaming gave him his own Megaways slot in 2020.
Gonzo’s Quest was already a very popular game and with the addition of Megaways, this thing was a beast. The great 3D graphics and smooth animations combined with exciting features helped turn Gonzo’s Quest Megaways into one of the world’s most popular online slots.
Make the most of the Avalanche Multiplier feature
Gonzo’s Quest Megaways Features
- Earthquake – Destroys all low-paying symbols
- Avalanche Multipliers – With each new Avalanche, your win multiplier increases up to 5x
- Unbreakable Wilds – Up to two Wilds can land on the same spin
- Free Fall – Gives you 9 Free Spins that includes Avalanche Multipliers up to 15x
Gonzo’s Quest Megaways Game Stats
- Max Multiplier – 20,000x
- RTP – 95.97%
- Volatility – Medium/High
- Layout – 5×3
- Paylines – Up to 117,649 ways
Where Can I Play Bonanza?
Extra Chilli Megaways
Extra Chilli – A Bonus Buy Megaways Slot
We can all use a little extra spice in our lives and Big Time Gaming is more than happy to bring you some. Extra Chilli Megaways takes you deep into the heart of Mexico and a local farmers market where you can find the rare Purple Conquistador. This chili is so rare that it’s apparently worth its weight in gold.
Risk it all for more Free Spins
Free Spin Gamble & Feature Drop
Besides the Free Spin Gamble feature, which allows you to spin the wheel and risk it all for up to 24 Free Spins, it’s worth noting that there’s a Bonus Buy feature.
You can get it for Free
Known as the Feature Drop, it will display your price above the ‘Buy’ button. However, and pay attention now, should the price be reduced down to zero, the bonus feature will automatically be triggered.
As you can see, Extra Chilli Megaways might look a bit messy at first sight, but there are some gold features worth exploring.
Extra Chilli Megaways Game Stats
- Max Multiplier – 20,000x
- RTP – 96.82%
- Volatility – High
- Layout – 6×7
- Paylines – Up to 117,649 ways
Where Can I Play Bonanza?
Book of Tut Megaways
Book of Tut Megaways – A Megaways Slot With Expanding Symbols
If you’ve ever just scrolled through pages and pages of casino games, you have seen the amount of ‘Book of’ slots there are. But have you ever thought about what makes them special?
Unless you despise puns, let’s call ‘Book of’ slots real page turners (sorry). What they all have in common is the Expanding Symbol bonus feature. When you have triggered the Free Spin mode, a book will decide a special symbol.
When this symbol appears on a spin, they will expand and cover the entire reel and hopefully result in a nice, big win for you.
The Book of feature in full form
Book of Tut Megaways is obviously one of these games, making it a Megaways slot with Expanding Symbols. You can see in the image above how John Hunter symbols cover reels 3, 4 and 6 in the Bonus round.
If you want to take a closer look at Book of Tut Megaways and how the mechanics work, here are some crypto casinos where you can find the game.
Where Can I Play Book of Tut Megaways?
Diamond Mine 2 Megaways
Diamond Mine 2 Megaways – An Unlimited Progressive Multiplier
This game is a blast! I’m a big fan of mining games with big explosions and even bigger wins and Diamond Mine 2 Megaways is one of them. Blueprint Gaming is the provider behind the game and they’ve included a couple of fun features you should know about.
Spin for more spins
Free Spins Gamble
Once you’ve triggered Free Spins, you will get a shot at increasing your number of Free Spins. It all comes down to spinning the wheel and with a bit of luck you can get as many as 30 Free Spins!
Take your pick
Unlimited Multipliers vs Unlimited Spins
This is the standout feature of the game and as you can see, the old man can barely keep his excitement under control. You get to make a choice and decide which one you want to go with.
Unlimited Multiplier
- Free Spins With Unlimited Multiplier – Your multiplier will increase with each reaction until you run out of spins
Gold Spins
- Gold Spins With Unlimited Spins – You will get a guaranteed multiplier and you can never run out of spins before reaching it. The guaranteed number is called the Golden Guarantee and it can increase during your play.
Where Can I Play Diamond Mine 2 Megaways?
Many of the casinos have the original Diamond Mine in their game library but the sequel seems to be a lot trickier to find. When I find it, I will add the information to the list.
- TBA
New Megaways Slots
Just to give you some of the newest Megaways to hit the market:
- 5 Frozen Charms Megaways – Pragmatic Play (BitStarz, Roobet)
- 21 Thor Lightning Megaways – Relax Gaming (BitStarz, Vave)
- Book of Panda Megaways – BGaming (FortuneJack, Wild.io)
The Future of Megaways Slots
Since MegaWays was released, BTG have also released MegaPays, MegaQuads, MegaClusters. Now that other providers are coming up with creative new slots with the Megaways mechanics, I think we can expect even more.
As long as Big Time Gaming allows the license to be purchased, providers will continue pushing out MegaWays games. Providers will also continue to challenge each other as they all want to be the one who come up with the “new” Megaways.
As technology keeps improving at such a rapid pace, I’m sure it won’t be long until we see even more paylines and bigger combinations of features. For example, when will there be a Hold and Win Megaways slot or a Progressive Jackpot Megaways?
Final Thoughts
It’s easy to see the impact Megaways has had on the online casino industry. I learned a lot while doing the research and writing this article and I hope you picked up a thing or two as well.
Another interesting journey and the difference between Dragon Born, StarQuest and Bonanza compared to the new, big releases is of course massive. I’m really looking forward to seeing the continuing transformation of Megaways slots up close and of course scooping up some big wins while enjoying them to the fullest.
During the next part of the series, we will delve into another captivating aspect of the online slot evolution. I hope you will continue this journey with me so stay tuned.
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