Covers the studios that build for the big max win, and the Megaways and new-release rankings.
Updated
This page carries figures checked on the date above, and that window has now passed. Studios publish new RTP settings and casinos change their rules: re-check the sources at the foot of the page.
Megaways is a reel layout, not a theme. Each spin, every reel picks a random height, and the number of ways to win changes with it. On the standard six-reel version that number tops out at 117,649.
It sounds like more chances to win. It isn't, not in the way that matters. The return to player is set by the game's maths, and a slot with 117,649 ways can pay back less over the long run than a 10-line book slot. Every slot here has a negative expected value, same as everywhere else on this site. What Megaways changes is the rhythm: lots of small chain wins, then long gaps, then a free spins round where a multiplier either takes off or doesn't.
Below are the ten Megaways games with the best Spin Score in our data. Big Time Gaming, the studio that created the mechanic, takes the top three places. I think that's earned. Two more of its games score high enough to be here and aren't, and I explain why further down.
At a glance
Best for
Players who like long free spins rounds with multipliers that keep climbing
The catch
None of the ten is low volatility; long quiet stretches are normal
Top pick
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire Megaways, if your casino carries it
Gentlest of the ten
Extra Chilli Megaways or Divine Fortune Megaways (medium-high)
Check first
The RTP in the game's info screen: several of these have lower settings
Play instead if...
You want steadier play: see low and medium volatility slots
On this page
The 10 best megaways slots, ranked
Ranked by Spin Score across every provider we cover, with no more than three from one studio. Spin Score = 40% RTP, 15% max win, 30% free spins round, 15% base game. How we score
Top of the list on two things: a 72,310x max win, which maxes out our max-win factor, and a free spins round the editors scored 9. Before the spins start you can gamble the count in the Hot Seat, up to 50 spins with an unlimited multiplier and unlimited retriggers. RTP is 96.3%, middle of the pack. The catch is the licence. It's a branded game show tie-in and availability varies by market, so it may simply not be in your casino's lobby.
How the score breaks down, and the fine print
Return to playerData · 40%7.9
Max winData · 15%10.0
Free spins roundEditors · 30%9.0
Base gameEditors · 15%7.0
What it is: A licensed game-show Megaways slot with up to 117,649 ways and cascading wins. Before free spins you can gamble the spin count in the Hot Seat.
Free spins round: Hot Seat gamble lets you play up to 50 free spins, which carry an unlimited multiplier and unlimited retriggers.
Base game: Megaways with Dual Reaction cascades gives regular chain wins in the base game.
RTP, volatility and max win as Big Time Gaming publishes them, checked on November 3, 2026. A casino may run a lower RTP setting: check the game’s info screen.
Second by a tenth of a point. Extra Chilli has a slightly better RTP, 96.41% at the top of the 96.15% to 96.41% range Big Time Gaming lists, and a lower 24,236x ceiling. Free spins come with a gamble wheel that can push the count up to 24, and the multiplier climbs with every cascade without a cap. It's rated medium-high rather than high, so it's the gentlest of the BTG trio. Feature Drop, the bonus buy, isn't offered in the UK.
How the score breaks down, and the fine print
Return to playerData · 40%8.2
Max winData · 15%8.7
Free spins roundEditors · 30%9.0
Base gameEditors · 15%7.0
What it is: A Megaways slot with up to 117,649 ways and cascading wins, set in a Mexican market. Feature Drop lets you buy free spins, which carry an unlimited win multiplier.
Free spins round: Free spins come with a gamble wheel to raise the spin count up to 24, and an unlimited multiplier that rises with each cascade.
Base game: Cascades and the extra reel give frequent small chains in the base game.
RTP, volatility and max win as Big Time Gaming publishes them, checked on November 3, 2026. A casino may run a lower RTP setting: check the game’s info screen.
5x2-7 Megaways (extending reels in bonus), 16,807 ways (up to 248,832 in free spins)
Released Oct 2017
Bets 0.1–25
The odd one. Five reels and 16,807 ways in the base game, then Extending Reels in free spins, where cake symbols add rows until the game reaches up to 248,832 ways. That round is why it scores 9 for the bonus and sits third. The base game drags it down: the editors gave it a 5, because a lot of spins pass quietly between caterpillar wilds. Very high volatility at 96.42% RTP. I'd only play it with a budget built for long gaps.
How the score breaks down, and the fine print
Return to playerData · 40%8.3
Max winData · 15%8.2
Free spins roundEditors · 30%9.0
Base gameEditors · 15%5.0
What it is: An Alice in Wonderland Megaways slot on 5 reels with 16,807 ways. Free spins extend the reels to up to 248,832 ways, and the Feature Drop price falls as you collect BTG coins.
Free spins round: Free spins use Extending Reels: cake symbols add rows until the game reaches up to 248,832 ways, and Feature Drop lets you buy in at a falling price.
Base game: Caterpillar wilds and the Queen's Reels feature appear in the base game, but many spins are quiet.
RTP, volatility and max win as Big Time Gaming publishes them, checked on November 3, 2026. A casino may run a lower RTP setting: check the game’s info screen.
Best RTP on the page at 96.55%. That's the top of three settings Pragmatic offers casinos, though, and the lowest is 94.55%, so check the info screen. You pick your bonus: sticky wilds with 2x or 3x multipliers, or more spins with up to six raining wilds per spin. Hit frequency is 23.26%, converted from Bigwinboard's 1 in 4.3, which is low for a Megaways game, and there are no tumbles to help. Very high volatility. The buy costs 100x where it's allowed.
How the score breaks down, and the fine print
Return to playerData · 40%8.6
Max winData · 15%7.6
Free spins roundEditors · 30%8.0
Base gameEditors · 15%5.0
What it is: A 6-reel Megaways slot with up to 117,649 ways. Wilds carry 2x or 3x multipliers, and three or more scatters open a choice between a Sticky Wilds and a Raining Wilds bonus.
Free spins round: A choice of two free spins rounds: sticky wilds with 2x or 3x multipliers, or more spins with up to six raining wilds per spin.
Base game: Wilds on reels 2-5 carry 2x or 3x multipliers, but there are no tumbles or random modifiers.
RTP, volatility and max win as Pragmatic Play publishes them, checked on November 3, 2026. A casino may run a lower RTP setting: check the game’s info screen.
A top reel takes it to 200,704 ways, the most of any game on this list. Four to six scatters let you pick between 15 and 23 free spins with a 1x, 5x or 10x starting multiplier, and each tumble win adds 1x, with unlimited retriggers. It's a solid round, scored 7, not a spectacular one. Pragmatic's page says 96.50%, but Bigwinboard and SlotCatalog show three ranges reaching down to about 94.5%, so the setting at your casino is something to check, not assume.
How the score breaks down, and the fine print
Return to playerData · 40%8.5
Max winData · 15%8.4
Free spins roundEditors · 30%7.0
Base gameEditors · 15%5.0
What it is: A 6-reel Megaways slot with a top reel and up to 200,704 ways, using tumbling wins. Four to six scatters start free spins with a choice of spins and starting multiplier.
Free spins round: Pick between 15 to 23 free spins with 1x, 5x or 10x starting multipliers; each tumble win adds 1x, with unlimited retriggers.
Base game: Tumbles give chain wins but there are no other base game modifiers.
RTP, volatility and max win as Pragmatic Play publishes them, checked on November 3, 2026. A casino may run a lower RTP setting: check the game’s info screen.
Relax builds its Megaways on a 6x6 grid where winning tumbles break stone blocks and open more of the board, up to 46,656 ways. That earns a base game score of 7, level with the top two. It sinks on max win: 7,767x per SlotCatalog, the lowest ceiling of the high-volatility games here. Free spins let you pick extra spins, multipliers with spins, or bigger multipliers alone. Relax also lists a 90% setting, and a UK game ID that points to a 92% version there.
How the score breaks down, and the fine print
Return to playerData · 40%7.8
Max winData · 15%6.8
Free spins roundEditors · 30%7.0
Base gameEditors · 15%7.0
What it is: A 6x6 Megaways slot with up to 46,656 ways. Wins tumble and break blocks to open more of the grid, and free spins offer three mode choices.
Free spins round: Free spins let you pick one of three modes: extra spins, multipliers with extra spins, or bigger multipliers alone.
Base game: Tumbling wins break stone blocks and open up more ways in the base game.
RTP, volatility and max win as Relax Gaming publishes them, checked on November 3, 2026. A casino may run a lower RTP setting: check the game’s info screen.
Red Tiger's Megaways version of Gonzo, and the free spins are the reason to play it. In Free Fall the avalanche multiplier steps through x3, x6, x9 and x15 on consecutive wins. In the base game avalanches climb to x5, and a random Earthquake clears out the low symbols. What holds it at seventh is RTP: Red Tiger publishes 95.77%, under 96%, and says operators may run lower. Max win is 20,972x.
How the score breaks down, and the fine print
Return to playerData · 40%6.3
Max winData · 15%8.5
Free spins roundEditors · 30%8.0
Base gameEditors · 15%7.0
What it is: A 6-reel Megaways version of Gonzo's Quest with up to 117,649 ways. Avalanches raise a win multiplier, and Free Fall symbols trigger free spins with a higher multiplier ladder.
Free spins round: Free Fall spins where the avalanche multiplier climbs x3, x6, x9, x15 on consecutive wins, with retriggers from more Free Fall symbols.
Base game: Avalanches with a multiplier up to x5, plus the random Earthquake that clears low symbols, keep the base game busy.
RTP, volatility and max win as Red Tiger publishes them, checked on November 3, 2026. A casino may run a lower RTP setting: check the game’s info screen.
The calmer pick: medium-high volatility and a 41% hit frequency in NetEnt's stats box. Wilds fall one row per respin, and a wild landing on a falling wild expands to fill the reel. Free spins make every wild full-reel and add bronze, silver and gold collections worth 10x to 500x. The ceiling is the problem. Its 4,500x max is the lowest on the page, which is why it ranks eighth. NetEnt lists no progressive jackpot for this version, unlike the original Divine Fortune.
How the score breaks down, and the fine print
Return to playerData · 40%7.3
Max winData · 15%5.8
Free spins roundEditors · 30%7.0
Base gameEditors · 15%6.0
What it is: A 6-reel Megaways slot with up to 117,649 ways. Wilds fall one row per respin, a wild landing on a falling wild expands to the full reel, and free spins add bonus-win collections.
Free spins round: Free spins (10, plus 5 per extra symbol) turn every wild into a full-reel wild and add bronze, silver and gold collections worth 10x to 500x.
Base game: Falling Wilds respins and Wild on Wild expansions show up in the base game.
RTP, volatility and max win as NetEnt publishes them, checked on November 3, 2026. A casino may run a lower RTP setting: check the game’s info screen.
A busy base game earns it a 7 there. Fire Blast can add up to four wilds on each of three reels, and a win multiplier up to 50x grows on consecutive wins. In free spins the Dragon's Egg multiplier never resets on a losing spin, and winning symbols burn away for new drops. Two things push it down the list: a 95.72% RTP and very high volatility. Bigwinboard lists a lower max bet than Red Tiger does, a small reminder that casino setups differ.
How the score breaks down, and the fine print
Return to playerData · 40%6.2
Max winData · 15%7.3
Free spins roundEditors · 30%7.0
Base gameEditors · 15%7.0
What it is: A 6-reel Megaways slot with up to 117,649 ways. A win multiplier grows on consecutive wins, random fire blasts add wilds, and three scatters start free spins.
Free spins round: Free spins where the Dragon's Egg win multiplier never resets on a losing spin and winning symbols burn away for new drops.
Base game: The Fire Blast can add up to four wilds on each of three reels, and a win multiplier up to 50x grows on consecutive wins.
RTP, volatility and max win as Red Tiger publishes them, checked on November 3, 2026. A casino may run a lower RTP setting: check the game’s info screen.
Last of the ten. Reel-covering Mega Wilds with up to x7 multipliers are the only base game feature, so the base scores 5. Free spins are better: a wheel sets up to 22 spins and a starting multiplier up to x10, and every win adds +1 to a multiplier that never resets during the round. RTP is 95.71%, the lowest here, with very high volatility. Honestly, if you want a Red Tiger Megaways game, the Gonzo one is better.
How the score breaks down, and the fine print
Return to playerData · 40%6.1
Max winData · 15%7.3
Free spins roundEditors · 30%7.0
Base gameEditors · 15%5.0
What it is: A 6-reel Megaways slot with up to 117,649 ways. Mega Wilds cover whole reels with multipliers, and three scatters start free spins with a growing multiplier.
Free spins round: A wheel sets up to 22 free spins and a starting multiplier up to x10, and every win adds +1 to a multiplier that never resets during the round.
Base game: Reel-covering Mega Wilds with up to x7 multipliers are the only base game feature.
RTP, volatility and max win as Red Tiger publishes them, checked on November 3, 2026. A casino may run a lower RTP setting: check the game’s info screen.
Demo buttons open the free-play version on the game studio’s own site: no deposit, no account. We are not paid for them. How we make money
How Megaways works
On the standard layout there are six reels, and each one shows between 2 and 7 symbols on any spin. Multiply the six reel heights together and you get that spin's number of ways. Two symbols on every reel gives 64 ways. Seven on every reel gives 7 x 7 x 7 x 7 x 7 x 7, which is 117,649. Wins pay for matching symbols on adjacent reels from the left, wherever they sit on each reel, so there are no paylines to track.
Some games bolt on extra space. Bonanza Megaways, the first one, adds a horizontal reel above the middle four. Great Rhino Megaways uses a top reel to reach 200,704 ways. Temple Tumble starts on a 6x6 grid and opens it up as you win.
The name is a trademark. Big Time Gaming describes Megaways as the slot mechanic it created and runs a licence program for other studios; Red Tiger signed up in 2018. That's why you see the same reel behaviour from NetEnt, Pragmatic Play and Relax under the same name.
Most Megaways games add cascades, called tumbles or reactions depending on the studio. Winning symbols disappear and new ones fall in. With that many symbols on screen, chains happen a lot. See tumbling reel slots for how that part works.
What separates a good Megaways game from a reskin
Three things, and the ways count isn't one of them.
First, a free spins multiplier that doesn't reset. The best ones here (Millionaire, Extra Chilli, Bonanza) add to the multiplier on every cascade and keep it for the whole round. That's where the big numbers come from. A round where the multiplier drops back to 1x after each spin is a much smaller thing.
Second, RTP of 96% or better at the setting you're actually offered. All three Red Tiger games on this list publish under 96%, and RTP carries 40% of the Spin Score, so they sit at the bottom. It's not that they're bad. It's that the same idea is available elsewhere for less.
Third, something happening in the base game. Megaways games spend most of their time outside the bonus. Dragon's Fire gets a 7 there for Fire Blast wilds and a growing multiplier; Piggy Riches gets a 5 because its Mega Wilds are the only thing going on.
The duds are the ones that took a familiar brand, added changing reels and nothing else.
Volatility and budget
None of the ten is rated low or medium. Five are very high. That's the honest shape of the genre.
The hit frequencies look friendly. Big Time Gaming's figures sit around 37% for its three games here, so roughly one spin in three returns something. Plenty of those returns are smaller than your stake, though. In Great Britain the Gambling Commission's design rules stop a game from celebrating a return that is less than or equal to the stake, which tells you how common that is. A chain of small wins can still leave you down on the spin.
So size it like a high-volatility game. If 200 spins is what you want from a session, divide your budget by 200 and that's your stake. If the number looks silly-small, the game is telling you something. More on that in our volatility guide.
The bonus buy question
Five of the twelve Megaways games in our data list a bonus buy. Big Time Gaming calls it Feature Drop; White Rabbit's price falls as you collect BTG coins. The Dog House Megaways buy costs 100x your stake where it's offered.
My view: skip it. Paying 100x to start the free spins doesn't move the long-run maths in your favour, and it turns one bad round into a big loss in a single click. Our records for Extra Chilli, White Rabbit and Bonanza Megaways all note the buy isn't available in the UK. The full case is on our bonus buy page.
The best studios for Megaways
Big Time Gaming is the reference. It invented the thing and still makes the best free spins rounds for it. If you only try one studio's version, try theirs.
We cap any studio at three games per type page so one name can't fill the whole list. That cap is why two BTG games with a 7.9 Spin Score aren't ranked above: Bonanza Megaways, which has its own guide, and Queen of Riches Megaways, which lists a 96.9% RTP and a 77,800x max win. Both would beat The Dog House Megaways on score.
Pragmatic Play brings the best RTP figures on the list but lets casinos pick lower ones. Relax Gaming does the most interesting grid. Red Tiger has three entries and all three trail on RTP. NetEnt has the lowest-volatility option in Divine Fortune Megaways.
Every other one we scored
The rest of the 12 we scored, best first. They qualify but lost out on score or on the three-per-provider cap.
Big Time Gaming. It calls Megaways the slot mechanic it created and licenses it to other studios. Its data lists Bonanza Megaways, released in December 2016, as the first Megaways slot.
How many ways to win does a Megaways slot have?
It changes every spin. On the standard six reels of 2 to 7 symbols it runs from 64 to 117,649. Some games go further: Great Rhino Megaways reaches 200,704 with a top reel, and White Rabbit can reach 248,832 in free spins.
Do more ways mean better odds?
No. The ways count is part of how the game is designed, and the paytable is set around it. What tells you the long-run return is the RTP, and even the best figure on this page, 96.55%, still means the game keeps money over time. Our RTP guide explains why.
Are all Megaways slots high volatility?
Not by definition, but the ten ranked here are all medium-high, high or very high. Extra Chilli Megaways and Divine Fortune Megaways are the two medium-high ones.
What is the RTP of Megaways slots?
It depends on the game and the casino. The ten ranked here publish between 95.71% and 96.55% at their best setting, and several, including The Dog House Megaways and Temple Tumble, list lower settings that a casino can choose instead.
Further reading
Official sources
Big Time Gaming– Describes Megaways as the slot mechanic it created and its licence program, checked November 3, 2026
