Primal Megaways slot review

Primal Megaways slot: untamed theme, strong RTP

Primal Megaways puts the Megaways engine inside a raw, untamed-wilderness theme, as the name suggests. It is one of the earliest games in Blueprint Gaming’s Megaways range, arriving on 22 November 2018, a few months before Legacy of Ra Megaways and Fishin’ Frenzy Megaways. It suits the adventure slots crowd more than fans of cartoon-style games.

Two numbers make it stand out within Blueprint’s catalogue. First, the 96.76% RTP is higher than any other Blueprint Megaways game on our site. Second, its reels go up to six symbols tall, not five, so its ways ceiling is 46,656 rather than the 15,625 of Eye of Horus Megaways or Legacy of Ra Megaways.

Why Primal Megaways tops out at 46,656 ways

Multiply the symbol counts of the six reels together and you have the ways for that spin. With up to six symbols per reel, the ceiling is 6⁶ = 46,656. Each extra symbol of height on a single reel lifts the total by a large proportion, which is why the ways readout jumps so much between spins.

Mixed heights are the norm. A spin of 4, 6, 3, 5, 2 and 6 symbols gives 4 × 6 × 3 × 5 × 2 × 6 = 4,320 ways. The extra row compared with 15,625-way games means more symbols on screen, which helps any feature that depends on symbols landing in view. Our ways to win entry covers the counting in more detail.

Primal Megaways RTP against Blueprint’s other Megaways games

An RTP of 96.76% puts Primal Megaways close to the top of mainstream slots. The table shows the long-run expected cost of £250 staked, for example 500 spins at 50p, across several Blueprint Megaways games.

The gaps are modest per session and only show up reliably over a lot of play. They are still a fair tiebreaker when choosing between games you like equally. Check the help screen, because a casino can run a different version from the one listed; our high RTP slots page lists other strong performers.

High volatility and the 50,000x ceiling

High volatility combined with a 50,000x max win tells you that a large slice of the 96.76% return is reserved for rare, outsized results. Every other spin has to pay less to fund them. In practice, that means most sessions finish below where they started, a few finish well above, and very occasionally one finishes far above. The good RTP does not change that shape; it only makes the average cost lower.

Treat the cap as the limit of the maths, not a target. Our high max win slots page explains why big caps and big swings travel together.

Primal Megaways features and the help screen

Primal Megaways follows the Megaways pattern of base-game wild symbols and a free spins round triggered by scatter symbols, and the free spins hold most of the game’s upside. The exact rules, including spin counts, any multipliers and how retriggers work, are printed in the help screen. We have not been able to confirm those details against a developer source, so we describe the structure rather than quote figures that may be wrong.

1. Open the game rules from the menu before the first spin.
2. Confirm the RTP reads 96.76%; a lower figure means a different version.
3. Read how many scatter symbols start the free spins and how many spins each count awards.
4. Note whether wins in the feature are multiplied, and how any multiplier grows or resets.
5. Check the maximum win wording and whether the feature ends once it is reached.
6. Choose a stake that gives you a few hundred spins from your budget.

Primal Megaways in Blueprint’s early Megaways line-up

Blueprint took a licence for the Megaways mechanic from Big Time Gaming early on, and late 2018 into 2019 saw a run of releases. The dates below come from our verified facts and developer listings.

Notice the variety of grid sizes. Blueprint did not use one standard Megaways template; it tuned the maximum reel height for each game, which is why ways ceilings range from 15,625 to 117,649.

Primal Megaways compared with other 46,656-way slots

All three use the same six-by-six maximum grid, yet their caps range from about 4,000x to 50,000x. That is a good illustration that the ways count does not set the ceiling; the feature maths does. Find more in our Megaways slots hub.

UK rules that apply to Primal Megaways

• Maximum stake of £5 per spin for players aged 25 and over, and £2 for players aged 18 to 24.
• At least 2.5 seconds per spin, with no autoplay, turbo or slam stop.
• No feature buy for players in Great Britain; see bonus buy slots.
• No celebrating a return smaller than your stake, and your net position stays visible.
• Free demo play only after age verification.

Full detail is in our UK slot rules guide.

Who Primal Megaways suits

It suits players who want a high-volatility Megaways game and care about RTP. If you prefer frequent small wins, look at low volatility slots instead, and keep a budget in place with our slot budget guide.

Where to play Primal Megaways

Search the lobby and confirm the RTP in the help screen before you deposit. 10bet matches a first deposit 100% up to £25 for new UK customers, with 10x wagering on slots within 3 days and a £1,000 cap on bonus winnings; Casumo offers 50% up to £100 on a £20+ first deposit with 10x wagering in 7 days and a £5 max bet; Coral gives 100 free spins at 10p after a £10 slots bet. 18+, T&Cs apply.

18+. Gambling should be entertainment that costs money, not a way to make it. Set a deposit limit before you play: how to set limits. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.