How Megaways works
Megaways works by giving each reel a random height on every spin, typically two to seven symbols, and multiplying those heights together to get the number of ways to win. A spin showing 3, 5, 2, 7, 4 and 6 symbols has 5,040 ways; seven on all six reels gives the famous 117,649. Wins pay left to right on adjacent reels, with no fixed paylines.
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Key takeaways
- Each reel's height is drawn at random every spin, so the number of ways changes constantly.
- Ways = symbols on reel 1 × reel 2 × … × reel 6; 7⁶ = 117,649 is the usual maximum.
- A win needs matching symbols on adjacent reels from the left; each extra copy of a symbol on a reel multiplies the ways it pays.
- More ways doesn't mean a higher RTP; Megaways games are usually high volatility.
- Big Time Gaming created the mechanic and licenses it to other studios.
- Created by
- Big Time Gaming
- Reel heights
- Usually 2–7 symbols per reel
- Ways formula
- Multiply the symbols on each reel
- Common maximums
- 15,625 · 46,656 · 117,649
- Typical volatility
- High
How Megaways works on a single spin
On a standard video slot, each reel always shows three symbols and wins follow fixed paylines. On a Megaways slot, the random number generator also decides how tall each reel is. One spin might show two symbols on the first reel and seven on the second; the next spin rearranges everything. The game then counts every left-to-right path of matching symbols across adjacent reels as a separate way to win.
- Press spin; the server draws a height for each reel and the symbols that fill it.
- The game multiplies the reel heights to get this spin's number of ways, usually shown above the reels.
- It checks each symbol starting from reel one: does it appear on reel two, then reel three, and so on?
- For each symbol reaching at least three adjacent reels, it multiplies the copies on each reel to count the winning ways.
- Each way pays the paytable amount for that symbol and length; all ways are added together.
- On games with cascades, winning symbols disappear, new ones fall in and the count starts again.
Counting the ways: the multiplication behind Megaways
The ways figure is just the product of the reel heights. With six reels, the minimum is 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 = 64 and the maximum, with seven on every reel, is 7⁶ = 117,649.
| Symbols per reel (1–6) | Calculation | Ways this spin |
|---|---|---|
| 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2 | 2⁶ | 64 |
| 3, 5, 2, 7, 4, 6 | 3 × 5 × 2 × 7 × 4 × 6 | 5,040 |
| 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4 | 4⁶ | 4,096 |
| 6, 7, 5, 7, 6, 7 | 6 × 7 × 5 × 7 × 6 × 7 | 61,740 |
| 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7 | 7⁶ | 117,649 |
Notice the middle row: a spin where every reel shows four symbols has 4,096 ways, the same as a fixed 6 × 4 ways game. Most Megaways spins land somewhere in the thousands or low tens of thousands; the maximum is relatively rare because it needs every reel at full height at once.
A worked Megaways win in pounds
Suppose you stake £1 and the spin shows a gem symbol twice on reel one, once on reel two and three times on reel three, with none on reel four. That's a three-of-a-kind win, and the number of winning ways is 2 × 1 × 3 = 6.
If the paytable lists three gems at 0.2x the stake per way, the win is 6 × £0.20 = £1.20. Had reel four also shown two gems, it would become a four-of-a-kind on 2 × 1 × 3 × 2 = 12 ways, each paying the higher four-symbol amount. This multiplication is why a single premium symbol stacked several times on each reel can turn into a large win, and why most spins with scattered low symbols pay very little.
Megaways paytables normally state the value of one way. The total shown after a spin is the sum of every way, which can make a modest per-way pay look big on screen. Check whether a win is actually larger than your stake.
The horizontal reel and other layout extras
Many Megaways games add a horizontal reel above the middle reels, scrolling sideways and contributing one extra symbol to each reel below it. The quoted maximum normally already includes those extra positions. In Bonanza Megaways and Extra Chilli Megaways, for example, our verified data lists six reels of two to seven symbols plus a horizontal reel, for up to 117,649 ways.
Some games change the shape entirely. Taller reels push the ceiling higher, and fewer maximum symbols per reel bring it down. That's where the different headline numbers come from.
Why some Megaways games have 15,625 or 200,704 ways
| Slot | Developer | Max ways | Why | RTP | Volatility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eye of Horus Megaways | Blueprint Gaming | 15,625 | 5⁶: up to 5 symbols per reel | 95.49% | High |
| Big Bass Bonanza Megaways | Pragmatic Play | 46,656 | Equals 6⁶ | 96.7% | Very high |
| Temple Tumble Megaways | Relax Gaming | 46,656 | 6⁶: 2 to 6 per reel | 96.25% | High |
| The Dog House Megaways | Pragmatic Play | 117,649 | 7⁶: up to 7 per reel | 96.55% | Very high |
| Bonanza Megaways | Big Time Gaming | 117,649 | 7⁶ including the top reel | 96.00% | High |
| Great Rhino Megaways | Pragmatic Play | 200,704 | 7 × 7 × 8 × 8 × 8 × 8 | 96.58% | High |
| White Rabbit Megaways | Big Time Gaming | 248,832 | 12⁵ on five reels | 97.24% | Medium-High |
The "Why" column for Big Bass Bonanza Megaways, Great Rhino Megaways and White Rabbit Megaways is our own arithmetic showing how those totals can be reached (6⁶, 7 × 7 × 8⁴ and 12⁵ respectively). Exact reel configurations vary, so check each game's rules. Our Megaways slots hub lists more titles.
Who makes Megaways slots
Big Time Gaming, founded in Sydney in 2011 and now part of Evolution, created the Megaways mechanic and licenses it to other studios. That's why you'll find Megaways games from Blueprint Gaming, Pragmatic Play, Red Tiger, Relax Gaming, NetEnt and others. Our verified data, for instance, lists Diamond Mine Megaways and Temple Tumble Megaways as released under licence from Big Time Gaming.
Licensing explains the many Megaways versions of established games: Fishin' Frenzy Megaways, Rainbow Riches Megaways and Gonzo's Quest Megaways all take a familiar theme and rebuild it on the variable-reel engine.
Features that usually come with Megaways
- Cascades: most Megaways games remove winning symbols and drop new ones in, giving several chances from one paid spin. See how cascading reels work.
- Growing multipliers in free spins: many add to a multiplier with each cascade during the bonus, which is where most of the big results come from.
- Mystery and transforming symbols: blocks that reveal a matching symbol to fill tall reels.
- Extra free spins per scatter: the more scatters on the trigger, the more spins.
- Bonus buy elsewhere, not in Great Britain: UK versions don't offer it.
Does more ways mean better odds?
No. The number of ways describes how wins are counted, not how much the game returns. Megaways RTPs in the table above sit between 95.49% and 97.24%, much like other video slots. The paytable is scaled so that more ways don't mean more money overall; per-way pays are small to compensate for the large number of paths.
What Megaways does tend to bring is high volatility. Tall reels and cascading multipliers create a long tail of big outcomes, balanced by many spins that pay less than the stake. A £100 budget can disappear faster on a very high-volatility Megaways game than on a steady 10-line slot at the same stake. Our page asking are Megaways slots better weighs this up.
Megaways compared with paylines and fixed ways
| System | How wins count | Changes each spin? |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed paylines | Set patterns across the reels | No |
| 243 or 4,096 ways | Adjacent reels from the left, fixed reel heights | No |
| Megaways | Adjacent reels from the left, random reel heights | Yes |
| Cluster pays | Groups of touching symbols on a grid | No (grid fixed) |
For more on fixed systems see paylines vs ways, and for grid games our guide on how cluster pays works.
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Frequently asked questions
What does 117,649 ways mean on a Megaways slot?
It's the maximum number of ways to win, reached only when all six reels show seven symbols at once: 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 = 117,649. Most spins have far fewer ways because reel heights are drawn at random each time. Each way is a path of matching symbols across adjacent reels from the left. The figure is about how wins are counted, not how likely you are to win money. Our ways to win entry and paylines vs ways guide explain the counting.
Who invented Megaways?
Big Time Gaming, an Australian studio founded in 2011 and now part of Evolution, created the Megaways mechanic. It licenses the engine to other developers, which is why Megaways games are made by Pragmatic Play, Blueprint Gaming, Red Tiger, Relax Gaming, NetEnt and many more. Big Time Gaming's own titles include Bonanza Megaways, Extra Chilli Megaways and White Rabbit Megaways. Our Big Time Gaming profile covers the studio, and Bonanza Megaways vs Extra Chilli Megaways compares two of its best-known games.
How are Megaways wins calculated?
Count the copies of a symbol on each consecutive reel from the left and multiply them, then multiply by the paytable value for that symbol and length. For example, a symbol appearing twice on reel one, once on reel two and three times on reel three gives 2 × 1 × 3 = 6 winning ways. If three of that symbol pays 0.2x per way on a £1 stake, the win is £1.20. All winning ways on the spin are added together. See how to read a slot paytable and the paytable entry.
Do Megaways slots pay more than normal slots?
Not on average. Megaways RTPs are in the same range as other video slots: our verified data shows figures from 95.49% to 97.24% for the examples on this page. Paytables are scaled down per way to balance the huge number of paths. What Megaways usually offers is higher volatility, meaning longer dry spells and a wider range of results, including occasional very large wins. Our page asking are Megaways slots better and the high volatility slots hub go further.
Why do Megaways games have different maximum ways?
Because studios set different maximum reel heights and reel counts. Six reels of up to five symbols give 5⁶ = 15,625 ways; up to six symbols gives 46,656; up to seven gives 117,649. Some games use taller reels on certain positions, pushing totals above 200,000, and White Rabbit Megaways reaches 248,832 on five reels. A lower maximum doesn't mean a worse game, just a different shape. Compare examples on our Megaways slots hub and the Dog House vs Dog House Megaways comparison.
Can you buy the bonus on Megaways slots in the UK?
No. Bonus buys aren't offered to players in Great Britain, so UK versions of Megaways games don't include a buy option even when versions elsewhere do. The free spins round has to be triggered through normal play, usually by landing enough scatter symbols. UK rules also require at least 2.5 seconds per spin and cap stakes at £5 for over-25s and £2 for 18–24s. Our bonus buy entry and UK slot rules guide explain why.
What is the horizontal reel on Megaways slots?
It's an extra reel running sideways above the middle reels, usually reels two to five, that adds one symbol on top of each of those reels. Those symbols count towards ways just like the main reel positions, and the game's quoted maximum normally includes them. Bonanza Megaways and Extra Chilli Megaways both use one. Some games put special symbols such as wilds or mystery symbols on the horizontal reel. Our reviews of Bonanza Megaways and Extra Chilli Megaways describe how it works in each.
Are Megaways slots good for small stakes?
They can be played at small stakes, but their usual high volatility means small budgets can run out before the free spins arrive. If you prefer steadier sessions, a lower-volatility game may suit better. If you choose Megaways, a lower stake gives more spins from the same budget, which helps you ride out dry spells, though it doesn't change the odds. Our guides on playing slots on low stakes and low stake slots explain the trade-offs.