Megaways changed online slots forever. Learn exactly how this revolutionary engine creates up to 117,649 ways to win, why every spin feels different, and which games deliver the biggest payouts.
| Reel Configuration | Ways to Win | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| 2-2-2-2-2-2 (minimum) | 64 | Very rare |
| 4-5-3-6-4-5 (average) | 14,400 | Common |
| 7-7-7-7-7-7 (maximum) | 117,649 | Extremely rare |
| 5-6-7-5-6-4 (typical) | 25,200 | Common |
Nearly all Megaways slots include cascading reels (also called reactions or avalanches). After a winning combination pays out, the winning symbols disappear and new symbols drop down to fill the empty spaces. If this creates another win, those symbols disappear too, and the process repeats. In the base game, cascades don't usually add multipliers—they just give you multiple chances to win from a single spin. The real power comes during free spins. Most Megaways games add an increasing multiplier with each cascade during the bonus round. First cascade: 1x multiplier. Second cascade: 2x. Third: 3x. This continues with no upper limit. In games like Extra Chilli and Bonanza, players have hit multipliers exceeding 50x during extended cascade sequences. The math gets explosive fast. A 5x win on a 20x multiplier becomes 100x your stake. This unlimited multiplier potential is why Megaways games can deliver payouts of 10,000x to 50,000x your bet. Pragmatic Play's Megaways titles like Buffalo King Megaways and Great Rhino Megaways use this exact system, with some offering max wins above 200,000x. The cascading mechanic also affects how you should think about "wins." A single spin that triggers 8 consecutive cascades with an increasing multiplier might pay out 150x your stake total, even though each individual cascade only won 5-15x. At Lukkly, the game history tracks your total win from each spin, including all cascades, so you can see exactly how the multiplier system affected your payout.
Most Megaways slots trigger free spins by landing 3 or 4 scatter symbols anywhere on the reels. The number of scatters usually determines how many free spins you receive—typically 12 spins for 3 scatters, 15 for 4 scatters. During free spins, the unlimited win multiplier activates, starting at 1x and increasing by 1 with each cascade. Some games add extra features. Bonanza Megaways adds a horizontal reel above the main grid that can display additional symbols and increase ways to win. White Rabbit Megaways can extend reels up to 12 symbols high, creating millions of ways to win. Many Megaways games now include a "buy feature" option, letting you purchase direct entry to free spins for a fixed cost (usually 50x to 100x your stake). Extra Chilli Megaways pioneered this with its "Feature Drop" mechanic, where the cost decreases slightly with each spin you play. Blueprint Gaming's Megaways titles often price the buy feature at 100x your stake. Is buying features worth it? The math says you'll get roughly the same RTP whether you trigger naturally or buy in. The difference is variance—buying features eliminates the dead spins waiting for scatters, but you're risking 100x your stake on a single bonus round that might only return 30x. At Lukkly, you'll find Megaways games with and without buy features, clearly labeled in the game information panel so you know what options are available before you start playing.
| Game Title | Provider | RTP | Max Win | Volatility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bonanza Megaways | Big Time Gaming | 96.00% | 10,000x | Extreme |
| Extra Chilli Megaways | Big Time Gaming | 96.82% | 10,000x | Extreme |
| Buffalo King Megaways | Pragmatic Play | 96.06% | 200,704x | High |
| Gonzo's Quest Megaways | NetEnt/Red Tiger | 95.77% | 21,000x | High |
| Rick and Morty Megaways | Blueprint Gaming | 96.55% | 50,000x | High |
| White Rabbit Megaways | Big Time Gaming | 97.24% | 13,000x | Extreme |
Megaways slots demand different bankroll strategies than standard games. The high volatility means you'll experience long losing streaks punctuated by occasional big wins. A safe approach is the 100-bet rule: your total bankroll should cover at least 100 spins at your chosen stake. If you're playing with £100, that means 50p to £1 per spin maximum. This gives you enough runway to survive the inevitable cold streaks and still be playing when a bonus round hits. Many experienced players use even more conservative ratios—200 to 300 bets—for extreme volatility titles like Bonanza or Extra Chilli. The buy feature option complicates this. If you're buying free spins at 100x your stake, you need a much larger bankroll. A £1 stake means £100 per feature purchase. If you want to buy 5 features (a reasonable sample size), you need £500 just for those purchases, plus additional funds for base game play between buys. Another strategy is the "hunt and switch" method. Play a Megaways game at minimum stake until you trigger free spins naturally, then switch to a different game. This prevents you from chasing losses on a single title. At Lukkly, you can set deposit limits and session limits to enforce disciplined bankroll management. The reality check feature pops up every 60 minutes showing exactly how much you've wagered and won, helping you stay aware of your spending. Remember: the 10,000x wins you see in highlight videos represent thousands of losing sessions. Megaways games are entertainment with a chance of profit, not a reliable income source.
Big Time Gaming patented the Megaways engine and licenses it to other providers for a fee. This has led to an explosion of Megaways variants, each adding unique twists to the core mechanic. Pragmatic Play's Megaways games often include additional features like free spins retriggers and symbol multipliers. Blueprint Gaming adds branded themes (Ted, Rick and Morty) and unique bonus mechanics. NetEnt and Red Tiger collaborated on Gonzo's Quest Megaways, combining the avalanche mechanic with Megaways for double the cascading action. Some providers have created their own "ways" engines to avoid licensing fees. Yggdrasil's GigaBlox creates giant symbols that can be 2×2, 3×3, or even 6×6, dramatically increasing ways to win. Nolimit City's xWays mechanic expands reels horizontally instead of vertically. These aren't technically Megaways, but they achieve similar results. The licensing arrangement means you'll see Megaways games from providers you wouldn't expect. iSoftBet, Inspired Gaming, and even smaller studios now produce Megaways titles. Quality varies significantly. Big Time Gaming's original games and Pragmatic Play's licensed versions tend to have the smoothest gameplay and best math models. Some smaller providers create Megaways games that feel choppy or have poorly balanced features. At Lukkly, the Megaways collection includes only games from reputable providers with proven fair RNG certification. You can browse by provider, filter by RTP and volatility, and read detailed reviews of each game's features before playing. The blog section also covers new Megaways releases, breaking down the mechanics and highlighting which games offer the best value for different playing styles.
