What Makes Megaways Mechanics Different from Traditional Games

Megaways slots have quickly become a go-to option in the world of online gaming. This is despite the fact that they debuted just a decade ago, in 2015. They offer tremendous variety, and plenty of tantalising prizes and bonus features that keep the game interesting.

A number of operators, like MrQ megaways slots, offer a staggering number of variants, each with their own unique gameplay twists and visual flourishes.

Let’s take a close look at the mechanics of this modern form of slot machine!

The Dynamic Reel Structure

Megaways slots differ from their more traditional counterparts in one key respect: the random reel modifier. Whereas in a traditional slot machine there might be a fixed grid of rotating symbols with a fixed number of paylines, a megaways slot machine can display a different number of symbols on each spin.

This means that the number of possible winning combinations is vastly increased. In some cases, it runs into the hundreds of thousands.

Core real-time systems operators should deploy

Operators are obliged, by the Gambling Commission and the various regulations enforced by it, to implement a number of important checks. In an online casino, this means monitoring player behaviour closely and intervening when red flags are thrown up.

The tech stack here includes the ability to establish a user’s identity, ensuring that they haven’t voluntarily opted out of gaming, and that they’re of the required legal age.

Behaviour might then be analysed to ensure that problems with addiction aren’t in evidence, and that the financial health of the player is acceptable.

Geolocation and device fingerprinting, along with dashboards for human beings that present all of this data in an actionable way, might allow the operator to not only intervene in the right way but also to create a record so that compliance can be demonstrated later on.

Cascading Reels and Unlimited Multipliers

In addition to the dynamic reel system, in some cases, there are additional twists. Sometimes, a system of reels might cascade, causing winning combinations to create a space for new symbols, which can trigger further wins. This cascade can be enormously compelling. It’s a feature that echoes many popular puzzle games, like Candy Crush.

There are also often multipliers, which can inflate a user’s winnings exponentially. Successive wins can be easily racked up, sometimes, giving the potential for additional excitement, of a kind that is rare in traditional slots.

The Ways to Win vs. Fixed Paylines

In a classic slot machine, there are a number of fixed ways to earn a payout. In megaways, by contrast, a player need not match symbols on a given line. Instead, they can simply land on adjacent reels. This means that the game is inherently less predictable and, therefore, more compelling.

Naturally, all of these features are possible only in a digital slot machine. With that said, the way that the game is presented, and the core mechanics, owe an enormous amount to what’s come before.