Best Megaways Slots: Top 10 Games with Up to 117,649 Ways to Win
What is the first thing you think of when you load a Megaways game? For me, it was watching the reels grow vertically with each spin and thinking the game was bugging. 2-7 symbols were on the same reel, then came a bunch on another. And there would be a cascading firework explosion on the screen with a few “rocks” blowing up. Then the winning counter kept going while i waited for it to stop. That’s when Megaways started making sense to me, and I’ve spent a lot of time (and a decent portion of my bankroll) on Megaways games since. This article lists the top Megaways slots I continue to come back to based on how they play — not on their flashy marketing. You’ll find the important details (RTP, volatility, max win, availability of bonus buy) and what makes each game unique; and the good news is that I’m not going to sugarcoat it and tell you who each slot is best suited for. If you’re looking for the top 10 Megaways slots with up to 117,649 ways to win, they’re all included.
Top Online Casinos in Canada
| Pos | Casino | Play | Bonus | Ranking | Features |
$1,000 |
|
||||
$1,600 |
|
||||
$750 |
|
||||
$500 |
|
||||
$1,000 |
|
||||
$1200 |
|
||||
$200 |
|
Wins occur using a ways-to-win format. All you need to match are symbols next to one another on adjacent reels, beginning from the leftmost reel. Reel position does not count. Each individual spin has as many ways to win as possible as the product of the number of symbols on each reel. If your reels display 3, 5, 2, 7, 4 and 6 symbols, you will have 3 x 5 x 2 x 7 x 4 x 6 = 5,040 ways to win. Once you get all Six reels with seven symbols apiece you will have achieved the maximum of 7 x 7 x 7 x 7 x 7 x 7 (which gets the famous title of 117,649 ways). This is more or less the entire story of “117,649 Megaways explained.” This represents the highest possible number of ways to win — not what you see every spin. Most of your spins will result in somewhere in the thousands of possible combinations.
Megaways slots compared to payline-based slots, cluster pays slots and fixed ways slots
Traditional slots pay when you align symbols in predefined paths along the lines of 20 paylines. Fixed ways-to-win slots eliminate the predetermined path, but retain a static grid. Cluster pays slots reward groups of any size of touching symbols that appear anywhere on the board. Megaways occupies a niche of its own in that both the number of ways to win and the number of ways to lose change on every single spin. The effect of this mechanism is that Megaways games have a more dynamic base game and greater volatility than either traditional or fixed-ways games. Are Megaways slots better than regular slots? No, Megaways slots aren’t better odds than regular slots.
Ranking best megaways games
I evaluated each slot on five factors:
- First, was the published RTP for the standard configuration of the slot.
- Second, did the bonus round deliver on the volatility promised (i.e., can you reasonably expect to achieve the max win)?
- Third, is the overall feature depth (is there anything more to the engine besides cascades?
- Fourth, does the base game have some lifespan (how will I fare if I am stuck in a losing streak for hundreds of spins);
- Fifth, was the game available (since a game you can’t access at a legitimate casino doesn’t help).
Bonanza Megaways: classic mega-ways slot
Every Megaways game you’ve ever played borrowed something from Bonanza. Released by Big Time Gaming at the end of 2016, Bonanza established the template: Six reels, a horizontal reel above reels 2 through 5, cascades (BTG call them “reactions”), and an unlimited win multiplier in free spins. The base game is goldmine-themed with rocks, gemstones and dynamite. There are no wilds on the vertical reels except for one place: on the horizontal reel. Since wilds only appear on that horizontal reel they are sufficiently rare to be meaningful. In order to enter free spins you need to collect four letters (gol-d) and receive twelve spins, plus five additional spins for each additional scatter collected. The multiplier begins at 1x and increases by one with each reaction. It never resets during the round.
The gamble option associated with free spins adds a level of strategy and excitement. After collecting four scatters (the g-o-l-d letters) you can gamble on a wheel to increase your number of free spins. Win and move up the ladder of spin counts. Lose and the bonus round ends. I’ve had countless times walk away from eight spins hoping for twenty-four spins and lost on that wheel more often than I care to admit. I’ve also converted twelve free spins into twenty-four free spins and had it pay out over three hundred times my initial stake.
The Dog House megaways: Sticky Wilds & stronger bonus potential
While Pragmatic Play has released numerous Megaways games, The Dog House Megaways remains its strongest offering. With an RTP of approximately 96.55%, high volatility, and a max win of about 12,305x your initial bet, The Dog House offers a great alternative to Bonanza. One significant feature of The Dog House is your ability to select between two types of wilds once you initiate the bonus round: Sticky Wilds or Raining Wilds. Sticky Wilds provide you with fewer total spins; however, any wild that appears during those spins will remain on the reel throughout the remainder of the round with a random multiplier assigned to it (either 1x, 2x, or 3x). Raining Wilds provides you with more spins as additional wilds fall onto the board randomly but will not stay attached to any specific reel. To date, The Dog House is my go-to for sticky mode, as that is where The Dog House maxes out at approximately 12,305x your initial bet due to a few multipliers landing on wilds positioned across reels two through five during free spins.
Great Rhino Megaways & Buffalo King Megaways & Pragmatic stable
Great Rhino Megaways utilizes a standard Six-reel format with Two-seven symbols per reel and up to 117,649 ways. As such, it plays similarly to Bonanza, with tumbling reels in the base game and a progressive multiplier in free spins that builds with each tumble. While Pragmatic typically publishes a max win of around twenty thousand times your bet; rtp tends to be in excess of ninety-Six fifty-eight percent. The Rhino Bonus in Great Rhino can turn the entire board into rhinos and is one example of why i enjoy playing this game as it creates memorable moments. Additionally, Great Rhino has one of the more affordable bonus buy options since its free spins round has a relatively consistent output.
Gonzo’s Quest Megaways & Twin Spin Megaways: done right
Twin Spin Megaways is one of Red Tiger’s stronger releases and is notable in that it improved upon the original Gonzo’s Quest slot machine. The avalanche multiplier in Twin Spin works as follows: the base game avalanche multiplier is stepped (1x/2x/3x/5x), whereas during free spins rounds it steps up as follows (3x/6x/9x/15x). Both random features (earthquake [low-paying symbols removed] /Unbreakable Wilds ) are active on any spin during normal play. RTP is approximately ninety-six percent, and max win varies by market but is generally printed around twenty-one-thousand-x your bet.
Rick and Morty Megaways: another beginner-friendly game
If you asked me which Megaways slot is ideal for new players, I’d say it’s Rick and Morty Megaways. The variety of bonus modes provide frequent variation in gameplay and players learn quickly how different features interact. I recommend that beginner players avoid gambling for additional spins on Extra Chili until they have experienced multiple bonus rounds in normal play. Players should spend at least 200 demo spins in practice mode prior to risking actual funds in order to determine how frequently the base game will produce dry-spins and what kind of payouts they might expect from a typical bonus round.
Choosing the right megaways slot for your Bankroll
Bankroll management is much more critical when playing Megaways slots than virtually any other slot style due to their propensity for long dry spells between bonuses. A general guideline i follow is to maintain at least 200-300 spin worth of balance prior to initiating a high variance megaways game. With a $100 Bankroll this translates into betting at around $.30-$0.50 per spin. Bet too large and you’re banking on getting lucky sooner than later.
Here are five criteria I evaluate prior to selecting a particular slot:
- Does the in-game RTP vary from the RTP provided by my casino?
- Is there sufficient volatility within my desired session length?
- Have I decided whether I will utilize bonus buy?
- Do I limit myself on bonus-buy attempts?
White Rabbit & Blood Suckers Megaways: high RTP options
If you’re asking which Megaways slot has the highest RTP — realistically, there are only two: Blood Suckers Megaways and white rabbit megaways. Blood Suckers Megaways has an RTP as high as 97.66% in its top configuration (unusually generous for today’s modern slots). White Rabbit’s RTP is approximately 97.24% in base mode; it can potentially exceed this when utilizing Feature Drop buy (dependent upon casino setup). The truth about high RTP megways is that yes — even though a .01 percentage difference in rtp is real over thousands of spins — volatility wipes out RTP differences entirely in a single hour-long session; therefore — regardless if you’re playing a 96% rtp or a 97% RTP slot — you could still lose your entire Bankroll prior to either losing your entire Bankroll when playing either slot — however — having a higher RTP will benefit you over multiple sessions or if you’re playing under wager requirements — where every single percentage point matters relative to your expected loss amount. My preferred slot for this exact reason is Blood Suckers Megaways.
Buffalo King Megaways & Extra Chili Megaways & Bonanza: high variance
Are Megaways slots high variance? Yes — most are. Due to nature of the mechanics creating streaky outcomes because there are so many variables influencing how many ways exist on each spin; and because providers typically configure their math so that the bonus round bears most responsibility for delivering high-paying hits — most standard six-reel Megaways games are naturally volatile, including Buffalo King, Extra Chilli and Bonanza at the upper end of the volatility spectrum. Extra Chilli earns its place atop this tier because gamble wheel allows you to elevate your volatility even farther than usual; Buffalo King earns its place atop this tier because its free spins can award nearly zero or hundreds-of-times-bet wins with little in-between; Bonanza earns its place atop this tier because Bonanza’s dry streaks can be lengthy and its multiplier can go anywhere.
Beginner-friendly games
Are megways slots suitable for beginners? Yes — if you choose correctly and bet small enough stakes. Rick & morty is an excellent gateway slot for new players because it incorporates multiple bonus modes keeping gameplay interesting and providing rapid learning opportunities regarding interaction between various features. New players should avoid gambling for additional spins on Extra Chili until they have observed how bonus rounds play out normally without excessive reliance on gambling. Every slot featured in this list includes demo mode so new players can test and become accustomed to each slot before risking actual funds.
How to choose which megways slot will be right for your bankroll
Due to their tendency to create extremely long dry-spots between bonuses, Bankroll management becomes significantly more important when playing megway slots than when playing virtually any other type of slot. A general guideline i follow is to have at least 200-300 spins’ worth of balance prior to starting a high variance megway game. Based on this guideline – with a $100 Bankroll – your bet should likely be no larger than $0.30-$0.50 per spin.
- In addition to being mindful of your Bankroll — here are five items i consider when determining which game I wish to play:
- Check if your casino version of RTP differs from the default figures;
- Determine if the volatility fits within your desired session length;
- Prior to spending money, decide whether or not you intend to purchase bonus buy and establish a cap for how many bonus-buy attempts you plan on making;
- Consider whether or not your max win (based on stake) matches your expectations.
Questions & answers regarding megways slots & 117649 ways-to-win
What are the best megaways games?
Bonanza Megaways, Extra Chili Megaways & The Dog House Megaways are currently the best all-around selections based on everything listed below.
Which Megaways games offer 117649 ways-to-win?
Most standard six-reel Megaways games – including Bonanza, Extra Chili, The Dog House, Great Rhino, Gonzo’s Quest, and Twin Spin- all reach their highest number of ways at 117649; white rabbit exceeds that # in its bonus round; Buffalo King utilizes an expanded grid.
How do megways games arrive at their maximum of 117649 ways?
By multiplying the number of symbols present on each reel together.
Which Megways slot has the highest RTP?
Blood suckers megways has an RTP listed as high as 97.66 % in its top configuration; White Rabbit Megaways is approximately 97.24% – check the information tab @ your casino since casinos may operate at lower levels.
Which Megaways slot has the largest max win?
Amongst our selection; twin spin megways & gonzo’s quest megways have some of highest max wins printed – twin spin listing max win around ~38k in certain markets; bonanzas unlimited multiplier dictates max win is dictated more by casino payout limits than the game itself