Megaways™ slots: a complete guide
Megaways™ is one of the few mechanics in online slots that became a selling point in its own right. Some players actively look for it, while others keep seeing it appear in game titles and wonder what all the fuss is about.
The answer is surprisingly simple. Megaways™ changes the number of symbols displayed on the reels every time you spin. Traditional slots tend to stick to the same reel layout, while Megaways™ slots can look completely different from one spin to the next. As the reels expand and contract, the number of possible winning combinations changes with them.
That's why you'll often see games advertising figures like 117,649 ways to win. It sounds enormous, and it is, but the mechanic behind it isn't nearly as complicated as the number suggests.
You'll still find free spins, wild symbols, bonus features, and many of the things you'd expect from an online slot. The difference is that the reels aren't fixed in place. They're constantly changing, creating a different set of winning possibilities every time they stop.
So, what exactly are Megaways™ slots, how do they work, and why do developers keep building games around them?
What are Megaways™ slots?
Megaways™ slots are different because the reels don't always look the same from one round to the next. In a traditional slot, you'll usually see the same number of symbol positions every time the reels stop. Megaways™ changes that by allowing the number of visible symbols to increase or decrease.
It might not sound revolutionary, but that small change has a big impact on how the game behaves. More symbols can create more potential winning combinations, while fewer symbols create fewer. That's why the number of ways to win can change throughout a session instead of staying fixed.
It's also the reason Megaways™ became such a well-known name. Most slot mechanics work quietly in the background. Megaways™ is one of the rare exceptions, largely because you can actually see it working every time the reels land in a new configuration.
How do Megaways™ slots work?
Megaways™ works by changing the number of symbols that appear on the reels. Every time the reels stop, the game generates a new layout, which means the number of possible winning combinations can change from one spin to the next.
One round might land with relatively few symbols showing, while the next is packed with them. As the reels change, so do the potential winning routes available on that round.
The good news is that you don't need to keep track of any of this yourself. The game handles everything in the background, automatically checking the reel layout and any qualifying winning combinations.
One reason Megaways™ became so popular across many online casino sites is that the changing reels create a different number of winning possibilities, giving the mechanic a distinct identity of its own.
What does 117,649 ways to win mean?
One of the numbers most closely associated with Megaways™ is 117,649 ways to win. You'll see it mentioned so often that it almost becomes part of the mechanic's identity.
The figure comes from the changing reel layout. As more symbols appear across the reels, more winning combinations become possible. When fewer symbols are visible, that number drops. That's why the number of ways to win isn't fixed.
It's also worth remembering that 117,649 ways to win doesn't mean 117,649 guaranteed winning outcomes. The number simply refers to the possible routes that matching symbols can take across the reels.
How do Cascading reels work?
Cascading reels are one of the features most commonly found in Megaways™ games. Instead of ending a round as soon as a winning combination appears, the game removes the winning symbols from the reels and replaces them with new ones. If those new symbols create another winning combination, the process repeats.
Sometimes the sequence ends after a single win. Other times several cascades can occur before the reels finally settle.
It's a feature that works particularly well with Megaways™ because it creates even more opportunities for new combinations to appear without starting a completely new round.
Megaways™ slots vs traditional slots
The easiest way to understand Megaways™ is to compare it with a traditional slot.
| Feature | Traditional Slots | Megaways Slots™ |
| Reel Layout | Fixed | Changes every spin |
| Winning System | Paylines | Ways-to-win system |
| Winning Combinations |
Usually fixed |
Variable |
| Reel Appearance | Consistent | Constantly changing |
| Cascading Reels | Sometimes included | Commonly included |
Neither format is automatically better. Some players prefer the consistency of traditional slots, while others enjoy the extra variety that comes from changing reel layouts. They're simply different approaches to the same idea.
Megaways™ might be one of the most recognisable slot mechanics around, but it's far from the only one. Cluster Pays, Hold and Win features, expanding reels and cascading wins all bring something different to the reels. A complete guide to online slots highlights just how many different approaches developers use across modern slot games.
Common features found in Megaways™ slots
The changing reels might be the headline act, but they aren't the only thing going on. Many Megaways™ games include extra features that can make the experience feel very different from one title to the next.
Free Spins
Free spins appear in a huge number of Megaways™ titles. Depending on the game, they can introduce extra multipliers, additional winning ways, expanded reels, or special features that aren't available during regular play. They're often triggered by Scatter symbols, which is one reason understanding why the Scatter matters can make many slot bonus rounds easier to follow.
Wild Symbols
Wild symbols are some of the hardest-working symbols on the reels. In many games, they can substitute for other symbols to help complete winning combinations that might otherwise fall short. Some Megaways™ titles take things further with expanding wilds, sticky wilds, or multiplying wilds, giving them an even bigger impact when they appear.
Multipliers
Multipliers do exactly what their name suggests: they increase the value of qualifying wins. Some Megaways™ games keep things simple with fixed multipliers, while others increase them during free spins or consecutive cascades. A multiplier might sound like a small addition, but it can completely change the feel of a bonus round.
Bonus Features
Bonus features are where many Megaways™ games start to develop their own personality. One title might use collection mechanics, another might rely on mystery symbols, while a third introduces bonus wheels or pick-and-click features. Some games even create entirely unique features that don't appear anywhere else.
Popular Megaways™ slots
Megaways™ has found its way into all kinds of slot themes over the years, which is easy to see from the selection available at Jackpot City Casino. One of the reasons the mechanic has lasted so long is that it works just as well in a wildlife adventure as it does in a jackpot game or a light-hearted slot packed with quirky characters.
Some examples include:
- Wolf Blaze Megaways™: Combines the Megaways™ mechanic with free spins, progressive jackpot features, and a wildlife-inspired setting.
- Bison Moon Megaways™: Features animal-themed gameplay alongside bonus features designed around the changing reel format.
- Cash 'N Riches Megaways™: Focuses on cash-themed symbols, bonus opportunities, and classic wealth-inspired slot elements.
- 9 Pots of Gold Megaways™: Brings the mechanic into an Irish-inspired setting with treasure-themed features and bonus gameplay.
- Explode the Toad Megaways™: Takes a more playful approach with quirky characters and unique bonus mechanics.
- Mega Moolah Megaways™: Combines one of the industry's most recognisable jackpot brands with the Megaways™ reel system.
While the reel mechanic stays familiar, the themes and bonus features can be completely different. One game might centre on jackpots, another on free spins, and another on bonus features that are unique to that title.
Why Megaways™ has become so popular
A lot of slot mechanics arrive with plenty of excitement, grab attention for a while, and then gradually fade away. Megaways™ has managed to avoid that fate, largely because the idea behind it is easy to understand. The reels change size, the number of possible winning combinations changes with them, and the mechanic takes care of the rest.
Variety has also played a major role in its success. The same mechanic works just as well in a wildlife adventure as it does in a jackpot game, a fantasy release, or an Irish-themed slot. Developers have continued finding new ways to use Megaways™, which helps explain why it still appears in so many modern games. The format hasn't stood still, either. New bonus mechanics, reel modifiers, and feature combinations continue to appear, and some of the most interesting examples can be found among the best new slot features of 2026.
Perhaps that's the biggest reason Megaways™ has remained relevant for so long. The mechanic itself is easy to recognise, but the games built around it rarely feel identical. While plenty of slot features have come and gone over the years, Megaways™ continues to earn its place because it offers something that still feels a little different every time the reels land.