There are thousands of online slots to choose from, but Megaways games often top the list as some of the most popular games out there. Most of them offer hundreds of thousands of ways to win, and they are often packed with bonus features too.
But how did Megaways games get so popular? In this article we explore the rise of Megaways slots, from their humble beginnings almost ten years ago to the huge name they are today. We’ll also highlight some of our favourite Megaways games – a great place to start if you’re new to all this, or just looking for a new game to try!
What Are Megaways Slots?
Megaways slots are slot games that use a certain mechanic to create hundreds of thousands of ways to win. Most Megaways slots have six reels, and on each reel between two and seven symbols can appear. Lots of Megaways games come with up to 117,649 ways to win – and in some cases even more!
Playing Megaways slots is fun and straightforward, and doesn’t require any skill or strategy. Just like in other slots, you’ll click a button to spin the reels. However, the main difference is that Megaways games usually have a random number of between two and seven symbols on each reel, plus hundreds of thousands of ways to win! Unlike traditional slots, Megaways games do not have fixed paylines, and the number of ways to win changes with each spin of the reels. There are Megaways versions of some of the most popular slot games ever, including Eye of Horus and Fishin’ Frenzy, offering players a new way to enjoy them – with more chances to win!
When Were Megaways Games Invented?
Back in 2015, top Australian games providers Big Time Gaming released the first-ever Megaways slot game, Dragon Born. Although the game was popular on a small scale, the first Megaways game to hit the big time was a mining-themed slot called Bonanza Megaways, which remains one of the most popular Megaways slots today.
With a maximum of 117,649 ways to win, it was the first time players had experienced a game like it. Bonanza became increasingly more popular, and BGT soon licensed their Megaways mechanic for use by lots more fun games providers too. Before long, there were hundreds of Megaways games to choose from, each with their own themes, bonus features and ways to win.
How Are Megaways Slots Different to Traditional Slots?
We love playing both traditional slots and Megaways slots, and we recommend trying both too! Here’s a quick summary to help you identify the key differences between the two:
- Megaways slots offer thousands of ways to win, while traditional slots usually have fixed paylines, and less of them.
- Megaways titles usually offer more varied bonus features than traditional slots.
- Megaways games are often higher volatility than traditional slots (which means there is the potential for bigger wins, but less frequent payouts).
If you’re a complete slots beginner, you might find traditional slots more straightforward at first, but this isn’t always the case!
Remember that whether you’re playing traditional slots or Megaways games, all outcomes are random and cannot be predicted.
What Are the Best Megaways Slots to Play?
The answer to this question depends on your personal preferences. For example, if you like fishing-themed slots you’ll like Fishin’ Frenzy Megaways. However, if Egyptian adventure slots are more your thing, you may be better suited to something like Eye of Horus Megaways.
That said, we’ve provided a list of some of our favourite Megaways games to get you started. We recommend trying a few to see which you prefer!
Bonanza Megaways
We know we already mentioned it, but Bonanza Megaways has to be at the top of the list! This mining-themed slot was the first Megaways slot to break through to the mainstream, and it remains one of the most popular Megaways titles ever.
With up to 117,649 ways to win plus free spins with expanding multipliers, the Bonanza Megaways slot is one of the best.
Fishin' Frenzy Megaways
Fishin’ Frenzy Megaways offers a fun twist on the original game, adding an extra reel and giving you more chances to win with the recognisable Megaways format.
Join friendly fishermen as you reel in blue fish from your boat. Featuring up to 15,625 ways to win, this action-packed slot game is a Megaways classic.
Eye of Horus Megaways
Eye of Horus Megaways takes us back in time to Ancient Egypt, when pharaohs ruled the land and the pyramids concealed hidden treasures.
This enjoyable Megaways version of the cult slot features the same fun theme and simple gameplay as the original, plus 15,625 ways to win as well as a free spins round with symbol upgrades.
Rick and Morty Megaways
The Rick and Morty Megaways game transports us to the colourful world of Rick and Morty. If you’re not familiar with the show, it follows mad scientist Rick Sanchez and his grandson Morty as they divide their time between everyday family life and crazy intergalactic adventures!
The game is set on a mysterious planet, where it’s your mission to match up symbols on the reels to win some out-of-this-world prizes. This slot has a Mystery Free Spins round, plus 117,639 chances to win.
Monopoly Megaways
Monopoly Megaways features all the best bits from the classic board game plus a few fun surprises! If you land a winning combination, Mr Monopoly will spring to life and move around the board to land on properties, utilities, Chance cards and more.
With 117,649 chances to win and a top prize of £250,000, you could be giving Mr Monopoly a run for his money…
Buffalo King Megaways
Journey to the desert plains of North America with Buffalo King Megaways, where you’ll meet wolves, cougars, eagles and of course buffalo. With up to 22 free spins up for grabs plus an incredible 200,704 chances to win, this epic Megaways game offers plenty of amusement.
Future Innovations in Online Slots
The Megaways mechanic has been one of the most significant innovations in the slots world in the past decade, and we’re always happy to see what’s next. Big Time Gaming (the creators of Megaways) have their finger firmly on the pulse, and have recently announced a new feature called Megapots, which involves jackpots with dynamic values that can be won if a Hold and Spin feature is triggered.
Megaways is still very much a part of the plan too, and you can expect plenty more Megaways games – both from Big Time Gaming, and from other licensed providers.
We’re also excited to see how advances in technology could revolutionise the gaming experience. Artificial intelligence (AI) could allow for a more personalised gaming experience, and games could be created and modified to appeal to individual players. Here at Spin Genie we’re already experimenting with augmented reality (AR) games that work in a similar way to Pokemon GO, using your phone to project on-screen objects into your environment via your camera.
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