Guide to Megaways Games with Top 7 Megaways Slots to Play Online

Megaways is an online slot mechanic that has revolutionized the way we play slots.

A Big Time Gaming invention, Megaways fundamentally alters the way we approach reels and paylines, creating extra volatility with each spin. Putting thousands of ways to win inside a game changes not only the players’ perspective, but also the standards players have in slot playing.

Even if you have never played one, odds are you came across the term browsing through a casino’s game library. Join us as we untangle the details behind Megaways slots in this guide and list. Besides offering a deep dive into Megaways mechanics, we will also cover a list of top 7 Megaways slots to play for real money.

How Megaways Work

Megaways is a payline mechanic, meaning it affects the number of winning lines and the way wins are formed.

How does it work?

For starters, the grid in a Megaways slot is expanded to 6 reels. The number of rows is where it gets a bit tricky, as not there is no fixed number of rows. Instead, every reel may feature a different number of symbols, from 2 to 7. The symbols have different sizes, too, and so they easily create an interesting tapestry on the grid on every spin.

That’s not all. On top of the main five or six reels, you will usually have an extra row or two there. This row serves as an extension of the reels it is located above or under. Other than its odd placement, the row functions the same way as everything else in the Megaways slot.

They do not always appear, but they are an excellent addition.

Thanks to this clever change in the size and layout of icons on the grid, each spin has a different number of winning ways. And until now, the maximum number of winning ways in Megaways has been 117,649 ways to win. There are slots with a lower maximum, as they perhaps limit the number of icons per reel to say 5 or 6, instead of 7, which decreases the maximum number of lines.

To win, players need only to hit one of those lines – but that essentially means that they need to land matching icons on adjacent reels. There’s no valid win if these icons are not forming a chain on the grid, starting from the left going to the right.

Top 7 Megaways Slots

Here is a map of our current favourite Megaways slots that you should play if you want to fully enjoy Megaways slots. Relatively speaking, all of them have high payouts, which is not surprising. You should remember that they are also very volatile, promising a very dynamic experience. The list contains a few of the classics, along with newer releases that hold a lot of power.

You can learn more about each game below.

1.   Bonanza

The list starts with the most famous Megaways slot on the internet – the very first one, Bonanza.

Bonanza is a BTG slot – as are many others on this list – that is also the first-ever Megaways game. However, the slot does not feature that in its name, probably because the company did not know how popular the mechanics would get in the future.

Like all other slots with the mechanic, Bonanza features a 6-reel grid with up to 117,649 ways to win. It’s the oldest game on the list, having come out in 2016. Out of all the games here, it has the lowest RTP of 96%, with all other games peaking higher than that.  The maximum win capacity is 10,000x the stake.

Bonanza tells the story of precious stones and gem mining. Originally set in a quarry, it’s a fun-filled adventure featuring Golden Bar Free Spins, as well as Unlimited Win Multipliers.

It’s a classic Free Spins round, but the Unlimited Win Multiplier means that each win/reaction in the game triggers an increase of 1x to the Multiplier. There’s no cap for the Multiplier, but it resets when the spin ends. All those looking to play Megaways games should not miss Bonanza, because it is the original Megaways slot, after all.

Play Bonanza at QueenPlay Casino.

2.   Extra Chilli

If there was ever a game that perfectly captured what Megaways are all about, it’s Extra Chilli.

The company that created the Megaways system,  Big Time Gaming, released the game in 2018. Like always, it’s a 6-reel slot with 2-7 icons per reel. The maximum number of lines is 117,649 Megaways. It also had an extra reel, adding an additional symbol for reels two, three, four and five.

Land three or more Scatters to trigger a Free Spins round. You get eight free spins to start with, and four extra turns for every additional Scatter past the first three. Each winning spin during free spins increases your multiplier by one. There is no upper limit on the multiplier either, allowing you to score some mouth-watering prizes! Three or four Scatters while the bonus feature is active will enable you to score 4 or 8 extra free spins, respectively. You can trigger it manually or buy the bonus for money.

Extra Chilli has an RTP of 96.82%, which is above the industry average. It has high volatility, and a shot at winning a 20,000x jackpot. It is the picture-perfect display of an average Megaways slot. If you have never played one before, this is the title we suggest starting with – other than Bonanza, that is.

3.   The Wish Master Megaways

The third game on the list is not a Big Time Gaming slot. It’s a NetEnt slot called the Wish Master Megaways, a 2023 slot with BTG’s famous mechanic. Thanks to the mechanic, the grid contains 6-reels and 117,649 ways, the classic setup. There is no extra reel atop the grid, it’s just a 6-reel bash.

Thematically, we are moving away from chillis and gemstones and going into the territory of Arabian slots. It’s a myth-inspired game, telling stories of genies and wishes. When it comes to the technicalities, The Wish Master is a fantastic example of a highly potent game. It’s very volatile, with a 96.07% RTP and $0.10-$10 bets. The betting range is small because the game has a high maximum payout of 27,018x the stake.

Wish Master features various game elements, including Extra Spins, Multipliers, Bonus Wilds, and Wild Reels. It’s newer than most other games on the list, which means it’s more updated and featuring fresh features. it’s also visually stunning, like every NetEnt game.

The Lamp Scroll is the Scatter that triggers Extra Spins. This feature can retrigger thrice, adding new features as you go. Random Wilds are the most efficient game feature as they help with other boosters, but Multipliers are the easiest to hit. Like most games of this calibre, the wins are cascading, so they can generate a serous payout if you are lucky.

Play The Wish Master Megaways at WooCasino.

4.   White Rabbit

The Wish Master may be a little overwhelming to some thanks to its intense booster set. For a more casual friendly version of Megaways games, try playing White Rabbit. The slot is about the Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland, with various elements from the book used here.

It is played on a 5-reel board with 248,832 ways to win. Each reel can be up to seven icons tall. That said that impressive number is only available during a bonus feature.

During regular gameplay, you only have access to 16,807 Megaways. There is no extra reel present here. What you see is what you get.

Every so often, the caterpillar will randomly wake up. When she does, she will blow smoke on the reels, creating up to four bonus Wilds. These Wilds have 2x or 3x multipliers attached to them.

Collect Scatters on reel 2, 3 and 4 to win 15 free spins. While this bonus is played, each reel can extend to hold a maximum of twelve symbols. Each time a reel reaches its full size; the Free Spins are retriggered. The extended reel now only displays Wilds and Queen of Hearts icons.

This release has high volatility but makes up for it with its fantastic RTP. At 97.72%, it is miles ahead of any other Megaways title currently on the market. With such good odds, that 13,000x jackpot looks very impressive, but it’s volatile gameplay so don’t expect to win easily.

5.   Space Wars Megaways XXXtreme

The slot Space Wars Megaways XXXtreme is a mouthful, which is why it will be referred to as the Space Wars slot from here on out. However, it is not to be confused with other Space Wars slots, of which there are several. NetEnt, the creator of Space Wars slots, has created three Space Wars slots – the debut, the sequel, and a Megaways slot as the third game.

The Megaways version has a high RTP rate of 96.14%, which is nowhere near the debut that had 96.75%. However, this one also comes with a fantastic Megaways engine, which the first two games did not have. It’s also very volatile, so players are advised to be careful when betting.

The total jackpot for this release is 14,400x, which is on the lower end of the payouts offered by the listed games. However, the payouts are not the only thing that matters. Space Wars Megaways is an interesting game combining features and elements to create a new and fun combination. However, thanks to its insane volatility, it’s not going to suit everyone.

Those who can overlook the extreme volatility will have a chance to enjoy Respins. There are also XXXtreme Spins, a staple of XXXtreme slots. This functionality lets you pay more to get better rewards. There are two options: 10xand 75x per spin, which guarantees a certain number of ways (10,000x and 50,000 respectively).

Play Space Wars Megaways at 20Bet Casino.

6.   Release the Kraken Megaways

Pragmatic Play, another interesting slot game manufacturer, knocked it out of the park with Release the Kraken Megaways. The studio is a very prolific game-maker, launching more than a couple of games each month. They have been known to use Megaways many times before but Release the Kraken Megaways is a top choice for this year as it’s a sea-themed game with insane visuals.

Release the Kraken is the third Kraken slot in the series, but the first to feature Megaways. This is not odd to see – game studios often pick Megaways to add to a slot and thus complete a slot trilogy or series.

With Release the Kraken, players get 6 reels, 2-7 rows, a max of 117,649 ways, and 10,000x payouts. The variance is medium rated, with hit frequency registering as 1 in 8.23 spins.

Interesting things about the game are that it uses both the ante bet and Buy Bonus. Ante bets are frequently seen in Pragmatic Play games, and they are similar to Golden Bets (seen in Yggdrasil slots). Buy Bonus is popular nowadays, with more and more slots featuring this functionality. But is it worthy of the effort? That remains to be seen.

Game features in Release the Kraken Megaways include Wild Respins and Guaranteed Wins.

7.   Ancient Island Megaways

The seventh and final game on the list of top Megaways slot is Ancient Island Megaways, another Pragmatic Play release. It’s the youngest on the list, as it’s a 2025 release. Nearly 10 years have passed between the release of this and the Bonanza slot. Things have changed, obviously, but it’s nice to see that the actual framework has changed only a little bit.

Now, in Ancient Island Megaways, players are faced with life on a seemingly deserted island. Ancient civilization, survival of the fittest, and beachy vibes is what rounds off this 2025 release. It’s hard to pinpoint the exact culture described in the game, but it’s not actually that important. What matters is that the game is built very well, with 96.55% RTP, high variance, and lower hit rate.  The game payout potential peaks at 10,000x.

It goes without saying – the winning ways go up to 117,649, thanks to a 6-reel grid with 2-7 symbols per reel.

Cascading wins, or Tumbling Reels, generate winning combos. Wilds and Modifiers are the focus here, with Free Spins being the icing on the case. Players who want to speed up the process can do so via Feature Buy, which costs 100x the stake.

Play Ancient Island Megaways at Bizzo Casino.

Honourable Mentions

The list would not be complete with a few honourable mentions. Here are some former Hall of Famers amongst Megaways slots.

Great Rhino Megaways

If you are looking for a great mix of all previously mentioned releases, you cannot go wrong with Great Rhino Megaways. The game is Pragmatic Play’s first foray into Megaways.

It is a 6-reel game with each reel going up to either seven or eight symbols tall. The game treats the extra reel on top of the playing field as an extension of the reels. However, it spins independently from the main grid.

You can have up to 200,704 Megaways active if everything lines up perfectly.

The developers have their own cascading reels special feature called Tumble. All symbols that were part of a win disappear, with existing icons falling to the bottom of the screen. Brand new ones fall on top, allowing you to score several consecutive wins with a single spin.

Collect four or more Scatters to win free spins, during which every tumble increases the multiplier by one. At the start of each Free Spins bonus, you can pick one of three options. You can choose to start with a bigger multiplier or more free spins.

The maximum RTP for playing Great Rhino Megaways is 96.58%. This will require you to activate the bonus bet, which doubles your chance to win free spins. Despite having a better house edge, this slot has volatile gameplay and a high prize. You can win up to 20,000x when playing this game.

Holy Diver

After realizing they struck gold with Bonanza, Big Time Gaming went on to try new things with Megaways. One of the titles that impressed everyone was Holy Diver.

Launched in 2018, it is played on a 6-reel board. Each reel can be up to 7 icons tall on any spin. While playing the game, you can level up. This increases the number of Megaways you have available. Level one offers 117,649 Megaways, while levels two and three offer 396,900 and 586,971 Megaways, respectively.

Holy Diver also introduces the Reel Adventure. As your knight marches on, he will come across chests. The chests can uncover various bonus features that further enhance your gameplay and win potential. If you discover a gem in the chest, it is added to your Shield of Fortune. Completing the shield with all four gems allows you to play free spins or level up. During free spins, all gems will turn Wild. If you are playing on levels two and three, they will have a 2x and 3x multiplier, respectively.

Holy Diver has an RTP of 96.39%, lower than Extra Chilli. That said, it has a more manageable medium-high volatility, which makes it easier to play. It also offers a better jackpot prize, going up to 23,306x the total stake during free spins. Smoother to play and a bigger end prize? You can see why it remains one of our best-rated Megaways slots.

Diamond Mine

While Big Time Gaming is the first on the market, they are not the only developers who make Megaways slots.

Another contender is Blueprint Gaming, which launched many games using this engine. One of the more popular ones is Diamond Mine, a classic from 2018. It is played on a six-reel playing field, where each reel can be up to seven symbols tall. The release can create up to 117,649 Megaways, obviously.

One big part that sets this slot apart from previously discussed titles is the inclusion of cascading reels. Winning icons disappear, and new ones fall down to take their place. You need four Scatters to win twelve free spins, with any extra Scatters adding five extra turns.

A win multiplier is active during free spins. Each cascading reel reaction causes it to increase by one, rewarding you for keeping the bonus feature going. You can win additional free spins by finding more Scatters on the playing field.

Blueprint’s release comes with an RTP of 96.43%, more than the current average for slots. It has high volatility and high winning potential. That said, it has one major flaw compared to Big Time Gaming’s releases. The maximum win is limited to £250,000. A serious limitation compared to the incredible jackpots other Megaways games offer.

Conclusion

Megaways mechanics are far from being the only slot mechanic on the market, but it is this invention that opened the door for slot innovations on a larger scale.

Thanks to Big Time Gaming, we now have an entire category of slots boasting gameplay on a new level. Not only that, but some designers took this as a starting point that led them in different directions, creating their own versions of innovative mechanics.

One famous example is Yggdrasil, which currently offers over a dozen different slot mechanics, all built either in-house or a YG Masters network studio.

If you want to explore other interesting slot elements, be sure to check out Cluster Pay slots, and explore different Wilds in online slots. An interesting thing is also the use of cascades in slots, which some studios call Tumbling Reels (or Avalanches, Cascades, etc.).