ℹ️ What is Megaways™?
Megaways™ is a variable reel system licensed from Big Time Gaming (BTG). On every spin the number of symbols on each reel changes randomly, generating between a few hundred and up to 117,649 or even 200,704 winning combinations per spin. Pragmatic Play holds a direct licence from BTG and has released several Megaways titles — all four of their reviewed Megaways slots are listed below with free demos.
Pragmatic Play Megaways™ Slots Explained
Megaways™ is a variable reel mechanic licensed from Big Time Gaming (BTG). On every spin, each reel randomly shows between 2 and 7 symbols. The total number of ways to win is the product of all reel heights — on a standard 6-reel Megaways grid that’s up to 7⁶ = 117,649 ways. Pragmatic Play’s Captain Kraken Megaways uses 7 reels, pushing the maximum to 200,704 ways.
Unlike fixed paylines, where only specific left-to-right symbol positions pay, Megaways pays on any adjacent reel combination from left to right regardless of row position. This means a single spin at maximum reel height can pay on an enormous number of symbol sequences simultaneously.
Pragmatic Play Megaways™ Slots in Our Library
- Dragon Pots Megaways — 6-reel, up to 117,649 ways. Three scatter pots unlock Free Spins modifiers. Highest RTP at 96.58%, max win 10,000×.
- The Dog House Megaways™ — 6-reel, up to 117,649 ways. Wild multipliers ×2/×3 on reels 2–5. Sticky or Raining Wilds Free Spins. 96.55% RTP, max win 27,300×.
- Captain Kraken Megaways™ — 7-reel, up to 200,704 ways. Money Collect mechanic with modifier symbols. 96.55% RTP, max win 5,000×.
- Zombie School Megaways™ — 6-reel, up to 117,649 ways. Tumble multiplier: wins multiply by the number of symbols that exploded per cascade. 96.55% RTP, max win 10,000×.
Why Megaways™ Produces High Variance
On low-height spins (e.g. 2 symbols per reel) you may have only a few hundred ways active. On max-height spins every possible combination is live simultaneously. This swing between low and high ways-to-win creates dramatic volatility — a single spin can go from near-zero potential to maximum ways in an instant, which is what drives the high variance feel of Megaways games.
Pragmatic Play and the Megaways™ Licence
Pragmatic Play holds a direct licence from Big Time Gaming to produce Megaways™ titles. Alongside their Megaways releases they also publish cluster pays slots (Sweet Bonanza, Sugar Rush) and expanding-reel titles (CULT, Anaconda Gold) — you can find those on the main slots page.