Western Wilds Megaways

Western Wilds Megaways Review

Saddle up and ride into the untamed wilderness with Iron Dog Studio's Western Wilds Megaways slot. The game is set against a breathtaking desert landscape bathed in the warm hues of a setting sun. As tumbleweeds roll across the dusty terrain and majestic canyon mountains loom in the distance, the dynamic 6-reel grid takes center stage along with the 6-shooter chamber next to it.

Keep an eye out for the masked bandit, the game's top-tier symbol, along with pistols, golden horseshoes, cowboy hats, and boots. The Megaways engine ensures that each spin is packed with potential, delivering between 2 and 7 symbols per reel. A maxed-out grid equals 117,649 win ways, which is common for this engine. Wilds and x2 Multiplier Wilds, appearing as wanted posters, substitute for other symbols and boost your winnings.

Western Wilds Megaways features cascading reels, providing indefinite extra wins per winning round. Each tumble also brings you closer to the bonus round, triggered by 4+ consecutive cascading wins. The bonus round introduces a progressive win multiplier that increases with every tumble win, never resetting and offering the potential for payouts of up to 40,000x your stake. The soundtrack, a classic Morricone-inspired western tune, sets the mood, while the day transitions to night during the bonus round, adding a touch of mystery to the already captivating scene.

You can adjust your bet levels between €0.2 and €20 per spin, catering to both cautious players and high rollers. Wins are awarded by landing matching symbols anywhere on 3+ adjacent reels, starting from the leftmost reel. The premium symbols offer payouts ranging from 2x to 25x your stake for 6-of-a-kind wins, while the royals award between 0.6x and 2x for the same. Brace yourself for a wild ride, as Western Wilds Megaways is a high volatility slot, meaning significant fluctuations in your bankroll are likely during longer sessions. The top-tier RTP of 96.1 % is decent, but beware of lower customizable RTP levels.

Western Wilds Megaways Slot - Reels Screen

Western Wilds Megaways Features

You can look forward to tumble wins and multiplier wild action in Western Wilds Megaways slot, and the progressive multiplier bonus round triggers in an unusual way. Let’s take a closer look!

Tumble Wins

Winning symbols explode off the grid via the tumble mechanic, sometimes called cascading reels or wins. New and existing symbols then drop down to fill the gaps, and this process repeats as long as you keep winning.

Wild And Multiplier Wilds

There are 2 types of Wild symbols in this game, and both substitute for regular pay symbols to help complete or improve wins as their core function. Wilds can land on reels 2 to 6, and you can also land x2 Multiplier Wilds that potentially multiply together. This happens if more than one is part of the same win, and you can land up to 3 simultaneously. The maximum combined multiplier boost is therefore x8.

Western Wilds Megaways Free Spins

You trigger the Bonus Round by landing 4+ consecutive tumble wins, and 4, 5, or 6 consecutive tumbles award 8 free spins, 8 free spins with a locked reel, or 12 free spins with a locked reel, respectively. The locked reel always delivers the maximum of 7 symbols, and any unlocked reel that lands 7 symbols becomes locked for the duration of the feature.

The win multiplier increases by +1 per win, and it never resets for the duration of the bonus round. Each reel that becomes locked adds +1 to the win multiplier as well, and each locked reel awards +1 extra spin after the final free spin has played out. You can also win +2 extra spins from landing 4 consecutive tumbles, and each additional tumble awards +2 additional free spins up to a maximum of 14.

Western Wilds Megaways Slot - Free Spins

Western Wilds Megaways Bonus Buy (not UK)

Eligible players will find the Bonus Buy menu up in the right corner, and it comes with 2 main options. You can purchase 6, 8, or 10 free spins with no locked reel for 30x, 60x, or 120x your stake, respectively. Alternatively, you can pay 60x, 120x, or 200x for 6, 8, or 10 free spins with a locked reel, respectively.

Pros and Cons of Western Wilds Megaways

Our Verdict

Iron Dog Studio's Western Wilds Megaways is a decent attempt to bring a fresh perspective to the Wild West slot genre. While the dusty desert setting, complete with tumbleweeds and occasional birdlife, creates a visually appealing atmosphere, it's hard to shake the feeling of déjà vu. The game's soundtrack, while fitting, lacks the iconic flair of classic Western scores, and it left us longing for some proper Morricone tunes.

Frustratingly, the game's features are not readily accessible within the paytable, forcing players to navigate a dry and unengaging game guide section. This lack of transparency is a missed opportunity to showcase the game's mechanics and build excitement. The core gameplay itself, while solid, doesn't offer anything particularly novel. The most original thing about this game is how you trigger the bonus round, which admittedly adds tension to each cascading sequence.

Despite these shortcomings, Western Wilds Megaways offers an okay gaming experience. The combination of multiplying multiplier wilds, cascading reels, and a maximum of 117,649 win ways creates ample opportunities for substantial payouts, not least when the progressive win multiplier kicks in during free spins. The 40,000x potential is solid, which may be enough to draw a crowd. However, this game is unlikely to dethrone the reigning champions of the genre. While enjoyable enough, it lacks the originality and staying power to carve out a lasting legacy.