Bonanza Megaways is the iconic game that started it all

Introduction

Among the many online slots there are games that change the market and become a starting point for the entire industry. This project was Bonanza Megaways from Big Time Gaming. It was this slot in 2016 that first introduced the Megaways mechanics to the world, which today is considered one of the most innovative and popular in online gambling.

History of creation

Developer: Big Time Gaming (BTG), an Australian studio known for its custom solutions.
Year of release: 2016.
Context: The slot market at the time was oversaturated with classic paylines and players were waiting for fresh ideas.
The result: Bonanza was a real breakthrough, and its mechanics were later licensed to other studios and spread around the world.

Gameplay features

Drums: 6 vertical + additional horizontal (cart reel on top).
Characters: 2 to 7 characters on each reel at each back.
Maximum ways to win: Up to 117,649
Volatility: High, making the game risky but very generous.
RTP: about 96%.

Cascade winnings

Each winning combination disappears, and new symbols fall from above. This creates chain reactions and allows you to get several payments at once for one spin.

Bonus features

Freespins: launched when the word GOLD is dropped from scatter characters.
Multipliers: During free spins, an unlimited progressive multiplier is in effect, increasing after each cascade win.
Additional spins: possible when special characters appear during the bonus.

Visual style and atmosphere

Bonanza takes the player into a gold rush atmosphere. Drums are located in the mine, symbols include precious stones and classic cards, and background music emphasizes the spirit of adventure. The simple yet expressive graphics made the slot recognizable and easily distinguishable from other games.

Why Bonanza has become iconic

1. Innovation: Dynamic grid with varying number of characters was implemented for the first time.
2. Scale: 117,649 ways to win looked incredible for their time.
3. Multipliers: the system of unlimited increase in winnings in bonus rounds has become a benchmark.
4. Licensing: Big Time Gaming began selling mechanics to other developers, and Megaways spread to hundreds of games.
5. Popularity among streamers: Bonanza quickly won a place in broadcasts, thanks to entertainment and large winnings.

Impact on industry

Bonanza actually ushered in a new era in slots where paylines were replaced in thousands of ways.
The success of the game made Big Time Gaming one of the leaders in world gambling.
Today Megaways are used by dozens of providers: Pragmatic Play, Blueprint, Red Tiger, NetEnt and many others.

Conclusion

Bonanza Megaways is not just a slot, but a revolution in the world of gambling. He gave players a new experience, where each spin is unique, and winning combinations can be born in tens of thousands of ways. It was with Bonanza that the era of Megaways began, and until now the game remains the standard of the genre, regularly entering the ratings of the top slots in the world.