Megaways Pokies Explained: Reels, Ways and Features
Megaways is a reel mechanic created by Big Time Gaming (BTG), a studio founded in Australia. On every spin, each of the six main reels shows a random number of symbols, usually between 2 and 7. Wins are paid for matching symbols on adjacent reels from left to right, in any position, so the number of ways to win changes with every spin. With 7 symbols on all six reels, the count reaches 117,649 ways (7 x 7 x 7 x 7 x 7 x 7).
This page is part of our online pokies guide. For the studio itself, see our Big Time Gaming profile.
How the Ways Count Is Calculated
Multiply the number of symbols on each reel. A few example spins on a standard six-reel Megaways game:
| Reel heights (reels 1 to 6) | Calculation | Ways |
|---|---|---|
| 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2 | 2 to the power of 6 | 64 |
| 3, 5, 7, 4, 6, 2 | 3 x 5 x 7 x 4 x 6 x 2 | 5,040 |
| 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6 | 6 to the power of 6 | 46,656 |
| 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7 | 7 to the power of 6 | 117,649 |
Some games add a horizontal reel above reels 2 to 5, which adds one extra position to those reels. In Madame Destiny Megaways the maximum becomes 7 x 8 x 8 x 8 x 8 x 7 = 200,704 ways. In Temple Tumble Megaways reels are capped at 6 rows, so the maximum is 46,656.
How a Win Is Counted
A win needs the same symbol on at least three adjacent reels starting from reel 1 (some games pay from two for premium symbols). If a symbol appears more than once on a reel, every copy creates an additional way:
- Reel 1 has 2 crowns, reel 2 has 1 crown, reel 3 has 3 crowns.
- That is 2 x 1 x 3 = 6 winning ways for a three-of-a-kind crown.
- If reel 4 has no crown, the win stops at three reels.
The paytable lists the prize per way as a fraction of the bet, and the game multiplies it by the number of ways. This is why Megaways games can pay well above the line value from a single symbol type.
Why More Ways Does Not Mean Better Odds
A tall reel with 7 positions shows more symbols, but each individual symbol is still drawn from the same reel strip. The game is designed so that the total return across all possible reel heights equals the stated RTP. A 117,649-way spin is not more profitable on average than a 64-way spin; it is just a different outcome of the same random draw. This is the same principle explained in how pokies work.
Features Common in Megaways Pokies
| Feature | What it does | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Cascades (Reactions, Tumbles, Avalanche) | Winning symbols are removed and replaced, allowing several wins per spin | All titles below |
| Unlimited win multiplier | In free spins, the multiplier grows by +1 with each cascade and does not reset | Bonanza Megaways |
| Multiplier ladder | Each cascade in a sequence raises the multiplier step by step | Gonzo’s Quest Megaways: free fall multipliers x3, x6, x9 and up |
| Multiplier wheel | A wheel sets the free spins multiplier | Madame Destiny Megaways: 2x to 25x |
| Mode choice | Pick between free spins modes with different risk | Temple Tumble Megaways: 3 modes |
Bonanza remains the reference title: 12 free spins from the G-O-L-D scatters, +5 spins per extra scatter, and a multiplier that starts at 1x and rises by +1 per Reaction without a cap.
Megaways Pokies in Our Reviews
| Pokie | Studio | RTP | Volatility | Max ways | Max win |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bonanza Megaways | Big Time Gaming | 96.00% | High | 117,649 | Not stated by studio |
| Madame Destiny Megaways | Pragmatic Play | 96.56% | Medium | 200,704 | 5,000x |
| Gonzo’s Quest Megaways | Red Tiger | 95.77% | Very high | 117,649 | 20,972x |
| Temple Tumble Megaways | Relax Gaming | 96.25% | High | 46,656 | about 7,767x |
Madame Destiny Megaways shows that the mechanic does not set volatility on its own. Its 5,000x cap and medium rating come from the paytable and multiplier design, not the reels.
Related Mechanics: xWays and Other Variable Grids
Other studios use their own variable-ways systems. Nolimit City’s xWays reveals mystery symbols that split into 2 to 4 copies, increasing the ways count during a spin, as in San Quentin xWays and Infectious 5 xWays. Relax Gaming uses fixed 4,096-ways grids in games such as Iron Bank. These are not Megaways, but they work on the same adjacent-reels principle.
Practical Notes for Megaways Play
- Check the RTP in the game rules; Temple Tumble Megaways, for example, also exists in 92% and 90% versions.
- Expect long base-game stretches: most of the return in high-volatility Megaways titles comes from free spins.
- Budget for at least 300 spins at your chosen stake; see volatility for sizing.
- Many Megaways games offer a bonus buy, usually priced at 100x the bet or more.
- Compare casinos that carry a broad Megaways catalogue on our Megaways casinos page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Big Time Gaming, a studio founded in Australia, created the Megaways mechanic. Its first Megaways titles appeared in 2015 and 2016, and Bonanza (2016) became the reference title for the format. Other studios use the mechanic under licence, and Big Time Gaming is now owned by Evolution.
Not by itself. More ways means more combinations can form, but each reel is taller, so each symbol is spread across more positions. The game’s maths balances this so the RTP stays the same regardless of how many ways a particular spin shows.
Most are, because cascades and growing multipliers concentrate value in free spins. There are exceptions: Pragmatic Play rates Madame Destiny Megaways as medium volatility. Check the rating in the game info.
It varies by game, as with any pokie. Examples from our reviews: Bonanza 96.00%, Madame Destiny Megaways 96.56%, Temple Tumble Megaways 96.25%, Gonzo’s Quest Megaways 95.77%. Lower operator versions exist for many titles.
Megaways is a branded, variable form of ways to win. A standard 243-ways game has a fixed 5×3 grid. A Megaways game changes the number of symbols on each reel every spin, so the ways count changes too.
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