Megaways slots, and whether 117,649 ways means anything
Megaways replaces fixed paylines with reels that change height every spin, producing anywhere from a few hundred to 117,649 ways to win. It is a genuinely different mechanic, and also the most oversold number in the industry.
View Megaways slotsHow the reels vary
Each reel shows two to seven symbols per spin. Multiply them together and you get that spin's ways count.
Cascades and multipliers
Most Megaways games remove winning symbols and drop new ones in, often with a multiplier that climbs through the chain.
High volatility by design
The format concentrates value into rare large cascades. Expect long quiet stretches.
What to check on a Megaways slot
- Whether the free-spins multiplier resets between cascades
- The RTP tier, which varies widely across licensees
- Scatter requirement and typical trigger frequency
- Whether a bonus buy exists, and at what price
- The minimum stake, often higher than on standard slots
What the ways count does and does not tell you
117,649 is simply seven to the power of six — the maximum when every reel shows seven symbols. It happens rarely, and when it does the individual win values are correspondingly small. The headline number describes the shape of the maths, not your chance of winning.
What actually distinguishes a good Megaways game is the free-spins round. The best use an unlimited progressive multiplier that never resets during the feature, and that is where nearly all of the game's top-end return lives. A Megaways title without that structure keeps the branding and loses the point.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Megaways?
The mechanic was created by Big Time Gaming and is licensed to other studios, which is why so many different developers publish Megaways titles.
Are Megaways slots high volatility?
Almost always. The format is built around rare large cascades rather than steady small wins.
Does more ways mean better odds?
No. More ways means more, smaller potential wins on that spin. RTP is unaffected by the ways count.