Megaways is a slot mechanic created by Big Time Gaming and licensed to other studios. Rather than using the same number of symbols on each reel every spin, reel heights can change, creating a variable number of ways to win. The mechanic debuted in 2016 and has since been used across hundreds of slots from multiple providers.
Based on Cloudbet year-to-date popularity data, these are the six most popular Megaways slots on Cloudbet in 2026 so far.
| Rank | Slot | Provider | RTP | Volatility | Max win |
| 1 | Zombie School Megaways | Pragmatic Play | 96.55% | High | 10,000x |
| 2 | The Dog House Megaways | Pragmatic Play | 96.55% | High | 12,305x |
| 3 | Extra Chilli Megaways | Big Time Gaming | 96.63% | High | 20,000x |
| 4 | Pompeii Megareels Megaways | Pragmatic Play | 96.00% | High | 10,000x |
| 5 | Madame Destiny Megaways | Pragmatic Play | 96.56% | High | 5,000x |
| 6 | 5 Lions Megaways | Pragmatic Play | 96.50% | High | 5,000x |
Contents
1. Zombie School Megaways
Released in August 2025, Zombie School Megaways is the newest game in this ranking and takes the mechanic into a high school overrun by the undead.
The reels can expand after a winning tumble, increasing the number of symbols in play and allowing up to 117,649 ways to win. During Free Spins, winning tumbles also receive a multiplier based on the number of symbols involved in the win.
2. The Dog House Megaways
The Dog House Megaways reworked Pragmatic Play’s original canine-themed slot into a variable-reel format with up to 117,649 ways to win.
Its Free Spins feature gives players a choice between two modes. Sticky Wilds provides fewer spins but keeps multiplier Wilds locked in place, while Raining Wilds offers more spins with new multiplier Wilds added randomly on each round.
3. Extra Chilli Megaways
Extra Chilli Megaways comes from Big Time Gaming itself and has been one of the better-known examples of the mechanic since its 2018 release.
Set in a colorful Mexican market, it combines changing reel sizes with cascading wins and Free Spins. Before the bonus starts, a Free Spins Gamble lets players risk their initial allocation for the chance to begin with more spins, while the multiplier can continue increasing during the feature.
4. Pompeii Megareels Megaways
Pompeii Megareels Megaways uses Ancient Rome and the eruption of Mount Vesuvius as the backdrop for a six-reel Megaways setup.
Winning symbols tumble away, and reels containing part of the win can then randomly expand. During Free Spins, each win is multiplied by the total number of winning symbols in that tumble, linking its multiplier directly to how large each combination becomes.
5. Madame Destiny Megaways
Madame Destiny Megaways takes Pragmatic Play’s fortune-teller-themed Madame Destiny and rebuilds it around the Megaways mechanic, with as many as 200,704 ways to win.
Three or more Scatters trigger a bonus wheel that determines both the number of Free Spins and the starting multiplier. That multiplier then applies to wins throughout the feature.
6. 5 Lions Megaways
5 Lions Megaways brings the mechanic to Pragmatic Play’s Chinese-themed 5 Lions series, combining changing reels with tumbling wins and multiplier Wilds.
The main difference comes in Free Spins, where players can choose from seven configurations. More Free Spins come with smaller potential Wild multipliers, while choosing fewer spins gives access to higher multiplier values.
Do all Megaways slots play the same?
No. Megaways determines how the reels and ways to win can change, but studios can combine it with very different features.
All six games here are rated high volatility, but that doesn’t make them interchangeable. The Dog House Megaways emphasizes multiplier Wilds, Extra Chilli has an increasing Free Spins multiplier, Pompeii changes reel sizes after tumbles, and 5 Lions lets players choose between different bonus setups.
High volatility also means results can be uneven over shorter sessions. RTP is a long-term theoretical figure, while each individual spin is independently determined by an RNG.
