But what exactly are Megaways? If you haven’t had the experience, we want to talk to you about what it is and how it works.
We’ll also give you the pros and cons of the feature and, most importantly, a list of some of the best pokie titles with the popular mechanic.
What Are Megaways Pokies?
The Megaways pokie feature was first developed by the famous Australian game provider Big Time Gaming for its vastly successful Bonanza pokie. However, the mechanic outgrew the game’s popularity very quickly, which is why so many providers now have Megaways pokies.
It’s a reel modifying mechanism that can change the number of symbols appearing on the reels every time you click the Spin button.
For this reason, Megaways can create hundreds of thousands of active paylines in every single play, making the experience a lot more dynamic than in many other video pokies. It’s certainly more vibrant when compared to more traditional games like classic pokies.
The feature uses mathematical calculations to determine the number of paylines for every spin. The way it does this is complex but not hard to understand. It works on the assumption that each reel can have a random number of symbols, typically from two to seven.
After each spin, the mechanic multiplies the symbols and decides how many paylines are available.
Megaways pokies are known to produce up to 117,649 ways to win and award prizes as high as 50,000 times the stake.
Popular Pokies With the Megaways Mechanic
The mechanic is so popular that almost every iGaming provider has created at least one Megaways pokie.
Naturally, Big Time Gaming is the biggest player in this regard. However, you can play a lot of enjoyable Megaways pokies from:
We’ve tried our best to bring you as many of these games as we could, ensuring we are only recommending high-quality titles that tend to reward players a lot. Take your pick and learn what makes this mechanic so exciting.
Features of Megaways Pokies
The way the mechanic works is clear, and its main feature is the number of paylines it produces.
As we’ve said, it’s up to 117,649 ways to win in most cases, but the number can be as high as 576,981, like in the case of Big Time Gaming’s Holy Diver pokie.
However, it’s worth noting that Megaways pokies tend to have additional features. They use multipliers, progressive wins, mystery symbols, wild multipliers, bonus buys, and Cascades (also known as Reactions or Avalanches).
RTPs in Megaways pokies are usually average, around the 96% mark.
Still, some games surpass 97%, like Medusa Megaways and White Rabbit Megaways. The volatility of Megaways pokies is almost always high, so expect lots of dry spells and rare but massive wins.
Pros and Cons of Megaways Pokies
Here’s a list of major pros and cons of playing Megaways pokies. It should help you determine if they are the correct type of pokie for you.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Numerous winning combinations | Somewhat confusing gameplay |
| Fun mechanic that has invigorated the industry | Low likelihood of winning |
| Unique feature that combines easily with others | |
| More frequent wins than with other similar mechanics | |
| Massive top prizes |
Bottom Line
The Megaways feature has been a real game-changer in a somewhat stale industry. It has shown that pokies don’t necessarily have to follow the same format they’ve been following for years.
It has its downsides, but it still offers a lot of possibilities and excitement, so it’s hard to ignore. Take a look at the games we recommend, and you’ll see what makes this mechanic so special.