Stargate Megaways Slot Review: Gameplay Features & Key Elements
Having captured the minds and hearts of audiences when it was released back in 1994, Stargate has a huge following among sci-fi fans. So, it’s no surprise to see the alien world of Abydos finally making it to the reels with SG Digital’s Stargate Megaways. The slot’s features include a trail mechanic with numerous reel modifiers and a bonus mode that expands on this concept. Cascading wins and expandable paylines add even more depth to the game, but does SG Digital’s slot manage to capture the magic that made the original film so popular? Read our review below to find out all the intricate details.
Stargate Megaways Features
Stargate Megaways focuses its mechanics on a Trail feature. The trail can be followed by having consecutive cascading wins, with higher levels activating a variety of reel modifiers. The bonus mode pushes this further, with even bigger and better modifiers in store. It’s a great gameplay loop, utilising the core feature to provide plenty of excitement in both the main base and bonus games.
Cascading Reels
A common feature in many Megaways titles, Cascading reels give players the opportunity to re-spin whenever they land a winning combination. All winning symbols are removed from the reels, making space for a new set of symbols to descend. The feature ends when no more consecutive wins occur. In Stargate Megaways, this ties into both the Trail and Bonus features.
Trail Feature
The Stargate frames the 6 reels, with a trail leading up to 9 levels displayed on its left-hand side. Players move one step up whenever a cascading win occurs. Reaching level 5 grants a random multiplier, while levels 7 and above trigger the bonus game. This feature is only present in the main game and resets whenever a cascade run ends. Below are the reel modifiers that can be unlocked at level 5:
- Random Wilds – Up to 6 wild symbols land on reels 2-5.
- Expanding Reels – Upgrades reels to 117,649 paylines.
- Wild Reel – Reel 2, 3, 4 or 5 completely transform into wild symbols.
- Mystery Symbols – Up to 10 random symbols transform into the same symbol.
- Regenerate – Remove and replace all symbols on the reels.
Buy Pass
You are able to purchase you way up the trail. Get up to level 5, 7, 8 or 9 for 31.5x, 45.5x, 72.5x or 123.5x your selected bet, respectively. Always keep your budget in mind, though, and gamble responsibly.
Stargate Megaways Free Spins and Bonus
Once the trail reaches levels 7, 8 or 9, the Stargate is activated and players are awarded with 5, 6 or 7 free spins respectively. The Stargate’s activation triggers a mini-game, where players need to pick from 7 doors to uncover random multipliers that will be present for the duration of the bonus rounds. A new top reel is also added on the top side of the Stargate itself. Players are transported into Abydos’ atmosphere, with the possibility of having some of the following multipliers in play:
- Additional Spins – 1-25 spins are added to your tally.
- Win Multiplier – Applied to all wins during free spins.
- Ways Increase – Spins gradually increase the payline count up to the maximum of 117,649.
- Reincarnate – The Eye of Ra may land on reel 6, resetting the free spins counter.
- Cash Prizes – An instant cash prize of 5x to 10x the current stake.
- Wild Gates – More wild symbols are added to the top ‘gate’ reel.
- Expanding Wilds – Wild symbols expand to cover their entire reel if landing on reels 2-5.
Stargate Megaways Theme and Symbols
Although it may not be the most visually stunning sot we’ve ever seen, Stargate Megaways still manages to capture the essence of the original film. Players start off with a deactivated gate in the base game, before lighting it up and journeying to the alien planet for the bonus rounds. There are plenty of nostalgic characters and symbols to look forward to, ensuring Stargate fans feel right at home.
Stargate Megaways RTP & Volatility
This sci-fi odyssey comes with a high level of volatility and an adjustable RTP. Most casinos will opt for the 96.13% rating, while others will offer the reduced 94.1%. Be sure to check exactly what version you’re playing, as this will no doubt affect your goals of chasing the 25,000x maximum win.
How to Play Stargate Megaways
Players engage the Stargate on 6 reels and expandable 2-7 rows. Paylines start off at 324 but can be increased to a staggering total of 117,649. After selecting a bet between 0.20 and 10, players can simply hit the spin button to play.
Slotsia’s Review
Stargate Megaways does a fantastic job of bringing the hit film’s essence into an engaging video slot. It’s not as innovative as the film was back in its day, but its cleverly structured mechanics will keep fans spinning for more.
Great potential at 25,000x
Varied features across both base game and free spins
Reel modifiers
Adjustable RTP range