What Are Megaways Slots?
In the world of online gaming, Megaways slots are arguably one of the biggest inventions and most sought-after franchises of the 21st century so far. For over a decade now, they have enjoyed great popularity among players from all over the globe, including South Africa. Today, we are witnessing a mushrooming of Megaways titles, with more and more software developers looking to enhance their games with this innovative reel mechanic.
But what exactly are Megaways slots, how do they work, and why are they so popular? Do they pay better than other sophisticated fruit machines? Let’s find out what all the buzz is about!
A Bit Of History: The Rise of Megaways
Megaways debuted at the end of 2015 as the driving force of Dragon Born, the first 6-reel slot able to generate up to a staggering 117,649 ways to win at a single spin. The brainchild of Big Time Gaming, an Australian company founded in 2011 and acquired by Evolution ten years later, this revolutionary reel mechanic made a huge splash, turning heads and getting the attention of other game makers and players alike.
Right after the launch, Dragon Born topped the charts, paving the way for its successors: Queen of Riches, Bonanza, White Rabbit, Extra Chilli, to name a few. Meanwhile, Blueprint Gaming was the first software provider to obtain a license for BTG’s fabulous engine and showcase its Diamond Mine in 2018. Soon, other companies followed the example of Blueprint, and at the moment, online casinos offer Megaways slots made by Red Tiger, iSoftbet, Stakelogic, NetEnt, Pragmatic Play, ReelPlay, Scientific Games, Quickspin, Skywind Group, BGaming, and Microgaming’s independent studios.
What Are Megaways Slots?
Megaways™ is a unique slot mechanic that uses a random reel modifier to create a broad range of winning combinations for every individual spin. The concept is based on a 6-reel grid where each reel may feature between 2 and 7 symbols, allowing for creating up to 117,649 ways (7x7x7x7x7x7) with all reels reaching the maximum height. Wins are awarded on adjacent reels from left to right.
But as incredible as it may seem, 117,649 ways is not the limit!
Some Megaways titles are able to generate more than 200,000 winning sequences while IGT’s Wheel of Fortune and Spartacus from WMS can build up to 1,000,000 lucky combos. In its turn, 1 Million Megaways BC made by Iron Dog Studio offers up to 1,058,841 ways.
In case you are wondering how something like that is even possible, here is the answer. Some of the games have a 7-reel playfield whilst others leverage the opportunities brought by extending reels and similar extra features that provide for a larger number of symbols multiplied across the grid. By the way, BTG’s White Rabbit intended to create 248,832 ways to win has only 5 reels in the base game, so its full potential can be seen only during the bonus feature when each reel can contain up to 12 symbols.
Megaways Slots Pay Better Than Other Online Slots?
Generally speaking, Megaways titles definitely belong to the group of well-paying online slots, given that the payback percentage offered by the vast majority of these action-packed adventures is above 96%. Some games, however, can be safely placed in the category of the highest RTP slots – the already mentioned White Rabbit, for instance, returns to players an impressive 97.72%!
On the other hand, players need to keep in mind that games driven by this popular reel mechanic are usually on the higher side of volatility, meaning they pay bigger prizes but less frequently. Also, the average number of generated ways is far from the claimed maximum, therefore the fantastic winning potential of the Megaways engine may need time and a certain number of spins to become obvious.
What Are The Best Megaways Slots for South Africans?
There is no accounting for taste but, luckily, there are Megaways slots to suit all tastes. Designed by the industry’s leading software providers, they come in a myriad of themes and with a wide variety of bonus features – and new titles arrive on a regular basis.
Well, some games are more popular among players than others, so let’s mention the best Megaways adventures available at South African online casinos. Needless to say, all of them offer advantageous extra – we bet the ability to create an enormous number of ways to win alone just wouldn’t be enough. For example, Skywind’s Big Buffalo lets punters grab up to 100 free spins with wild multipliers while in Sticky Sevens, slot buffs can choose between two engaging free spins features.
Those of you who fancy digital assets and all related tech wonders will love Red Tiger’s NFT Megaways, the world’s first online slot with unique crypto pixelated characters. Well of Wilds provides plenty of chances to enjoy the full benefits of wild symbols and trigger the Lucky Wishes bonus that is a treasure trove of exciting prizes. Among other recently released titles worth spinning is Alive! Megaways that features Dynamic Action symbols, the Play It Your Way feature, and Unlimited Multiplier free games.
Of course, the frame of this article doesn’t allow for citing all great online slots amplified with the Megaways mechanic, all the more so, their assortment grows at lightning speed. To keep abreast of the hot ticket novelties, check out our Slot Games section with in-depth reviews of the latest games.x