Megaways slots change the number of symbols on every reel with each spin, giving up to 117,649 ways to win, and in some games over 200,000. The mechanic was invented by Big Time Gaming and is now licensed to many other studios. Here is how Megaways works and nine of the best Megaways slots, with fact-checked RTP, volatility and max wins.
Where we play Megaways slots
1win is our top-rated casino (9.9/10), with thousands of slots and a crypto withdrawal that took 15 minutes in our test.
Play at 1win18+. T&Cs apply. Not available in every country. Game libraries vary, so search the lobby for Megaways slots.
Best Megaways slots at a glance
| Slot | Provider | Top RTP | Max win |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bonanza Megaways | Big Time Gaming | 96% | 12,000x–26,000x |
| Extra Chilli | Big Time Gaming | 96.15%–96.82% | 20,000x |
| The Dog House Megaways | Pragmatic Play | 96.55% | 12,305x |
| Great Rhino Megaways | Pragmatic Play | 96.58% | 20,000x |
| Buffalo King Megaways | Pragmatic Play | 96.52% | 5,000x |
| Madame Destiny Megaways | Pragmatic Play | About 96.5% | 5,000x |
| Big Bad Wolf Megaways | Quickspin | 96.05% | 30,540x |
| Big Bass Bonanza Megaways | Pragmatic Play | 96.7% | 4,000x |
| Gonzo’s Quest Megaways | Red Tiger | About 95.77% | About 21,000x |
We checked every figure against at least two independent sources and say so where they disagree. Casinos can run lower RTP versions of some games, so check the info screen before you play.
What are Megaways slots?
Megaways is a reel mechanic created by Big Time Gaming (BTG), which holds the patent and trademark and licenses it to other providers such as Blueprint Gaming and Red Tiger. The first Megaways slot was BTG’s Dragon Born in 2016, but Bonanza, released later that year, made the mechanic a hit.
How Megaways works
- Changing reels: on each spin, every reel shows a random number of symbols, usually from 2 to 7.
- Ways to win: wins pay for matching symbols on adjacent reels from left to right. With 6 reels of 7 symbols, that is 7×7×7×7×7×7 = 117,649 ways.
- Top reel: many Megaways games add a horizontal reel above the middle reels, adding extra symbols. Some Pragmatic Play titles reach 200,704 ways this way.
- Cascades: most Megaways games remove winning symbols and drop new ones in, often with a multiplier that grows during free spins.
The best Megaways slots online
1. Bonanza Megaways (Big Time Gaming, 2016)
| RTP | 96% |
| Volatility | High |
| Ways | Up to 117,649 |
| Max win | Sources differ: 12,000x to 26,000x |
The game that made Megaways famous. Spell G-O-L-D with scatters for 12 free spins, plus 5 more for each extra scatter, and the win multiplier rises by 1 with every cascade with no upper limit. Read our Bonanza Megaways review.
2. Extra Chilli Megaways (Big Time Gaming)
| RTP | Sources differ: 96.15% to 96.82% |
| Volatility | High in most sources |
| Ways | Up to 117,649 |
| Max win | 20,000x |
Bonanza’s spicy follow-up. H-O-T scatters give 8 free spins, and you can gamble them for up to 24. As in Bonanza, the multiplier rises by 1 with every cascade with no cap.
3. The Dog House Megaways (Pragmatic Play)
| RTP | 96.55% (95.53% and 94.55% versions exist) |
| Volatility | High |
| Ways | Up to 117,649 |
| Max win | 12,305x |
Before free spins start you choose Sticky Wilds (7 to 20 spins) or Raining Wilds (15 to 30 spins). Wilds carry 2x or 3x multipliers. Read our The Dog House Megaways review.
4. Great Rhino Megaways (Pragmatic Play)
| RTP | 96.58% (Pragmatic lists 96.50%) |
| Volatility | High |
| Ways | Up to 200,704 |
| Max win | 20,000x |
In free spins you pick your own balance of spins and multiplier: 15 spins at x1, 10 at x5, 5 at x10, or a mystery option. The multiplier then rises by 1 with every tumble. Read our Great Rhino Megaways review.
5. Buffalo King Megaways (Pragmatic Play)
| RTP | 96.52% |
| Volatility | High |
| Ways | Up to 200,704 |
| Max win | 5,000x |
Four or more scatters give 12, 17 or 22 free spins, where wilds carry x2, x3 or x5 multipliers. Read our Buffalo King Megaways review or the original Buffalo King.
6. Madame Destiny Megaways (Pragmatic Play)
| RTP | About 96.5% |
| Volatility | High |
| Ways | Up to 200,704 |
| Max win | 5,000x |
A Wheel of Fortune decides how many free spins you get and the multiplier, from 2x to 25x. Read our Madame Destiny Megaways review.
7. Big Bad Wolf Megaways (Quickspin, 2021)
| RTP | 96.05% |
| Volatility | High |
| Ways | Up to 117,649 |
| Max win | 30,540x |
Free spins start with a 1x multiplier that grows with every win or tumble and never resets, which is how the max win climbs past 30,000x. Read our Big Bad Wolf Megaways review.
8. Big Bass Bonanza Megaways (Pragmatic Play)
| RTP | 96.7% |
| Ways | Up to 46,656 |
| Max win | 4,000x |
The Megaways version of the fishing favourite, with tumbling wins and free spins that start with up to 25 spins and multipliers of up to 10x. Read our Big Bass Bonanza Megaways review.
9. Gonzo’s Quest Megaways (Red Tiger)
| RTP | About 95.77% (some sources say 96%) |
| Volatility | Medium-high to high |
| Ways | Up to 117,649 |
| Max win | About 21,000x |
Red Tiger’s Megaways take on the NetEnt classic. Avalanche multipliers step up from x3 to x15 in the Free Fall bonus. See our original Gonzo’s Quest review.
How to choose a Megaways slot
- Biggest win potential: Big Bad Wolf Megaways (30,540x) or Bonanza and Gonzo’s Quest Megaways.
- Choose your own bonus: Great Rhino Megaways and The Dog House Megaways let you pick the free spins style.
- Highest RTP: Big Bass Bonanza Megaways (96.7%) and Great Rhino Megaways (96.58%).
- Expect swings: almost every Megaways slot is high volatility, so use small stakes and set a budget.
New to RTP and volatility? See our highest RTP slots guide, and our 5-reel slots guide compares paylines, ways and Megaways. Many Megaways games offer a bonus buy; our bonus buy slots guide explains how it works and where it is restricted.
Where to play Megaways slots
Our top-rated casino is 1win (9.9/10), with thousands of slots and a crypto withdrawal that took 15 minutes in our test; new players can use promo code Ultragambler (see our 1win promo code page). iWild (9.8/10) has a 7,000+ game library. Game libraries vary by country, so search the lobby for the titles above.
Megaways slots FAQs
What does Megaways mean?
A reel mechanic where each reel shows a different number of symbols on every spin, changing the number of ways to win. Standard 6-reel Megaways games have up to 117,649 ways.
Who invented Megaways?
Big Time Gaming, which licenses the mechanic to other providers.
What was the first Megaways slot?
Dragon Born by Big Time Gaming, released in 2016. Bonanza followed later that year and made the mechanic popular.
Which Megaways slot has the biggest max win?
Of the games on this page, Big Bad Wolf Megaways at 30,540x. Some sources list Bonanza Megaways at up to 26,000x.
Are Megaways slots high volatility?
Most are. Expect long spells without big wins, with most of the value in free spins.
Important: check your local laws before you play
Online gambling laws differ from country to country, and in some places it is restricted or not permitted at all. Check that online gambling is legal where you live and that the casino accepts players from your country. You must be 18 or older (or the legal gambling age in your country, if higher). Only gamble with money you can afford to lose.
