Slots are bigger than ever.

Since 2020, they’ve fast-become the most popular type of online casino game. It doesn’t matter if you play inside BetMGM, DraftKings, or FanDuel: slots are officially the most in-demand game. This is why there are thousands of them — literally — to pick from.

For those who’ve ever played inside an online or social casino before, you’ll have noticed that slot games are separated into different categories. You’ve got cluster pays slots, video slots, both-ways slots, and all types of other weird and wonderful options. The choice is overwhelming.

The most popular slots of them all, though, are Megaways and retro. These are the two categories that players go the most crazy for, which is why today’s casinos keep their game libraries stacked to the ceiling with them.

From a player’s perspective, choosing between these slots is actually quite important. After all, you want to have fun but also win, right? There’s often real money on the line so you (naturally) want to play slots that payout the most.

So, to get you up-to-scratch and ready to go, this guide is going to provide an in-depth look at Megaways slots, retro slots, and how the two popular categories compare with each other. Specifically, we’ll be looking at important factors like paylines, volatility, in-game features, and more.

Let’s go!

Megaways Slots vs Retro Slots

What Are Megaways Slots?

✔ Up to 117,649 ways to win

✔ Dynamic gameplay

✔ Bonus features and free spins

According to industry experts SweepsKings, ‘Megaways’ are a collection of new generation slot games where there are up to 117,649 ways to win. There are no fixed paylines. You just need to get matching symbols on adjacent reels from left to right and the win is yours — simple. Each spin is exciting, too, as the height of the reels along with the number of symbols showing on them will change. From one spin to the next, you could be looking at more ways to win and bigger payouts, which is why players love them. Not to mention, almost every Megaways slot out there comes with a ton of bonus features and the potential to unlock free spins, so there’s also that to look forward to.

It was actually back in 2015 when Australia-based slot developer Big Time Gaming released the first ever Megaways slot game: Dragon Born. They believed that the online slot industry had become stale, predictable, and boring, as most players were still using online versions of 3-reel and 5-reel slots that you could find on the Las Vegas Strip back in the ‘80s. So, they decided to freshen things up by releasing a unique type of slot game built for modern players — and Megaways slots have exploded ever since.

Flash-forward to today and there are now well over 100 Megaways slots available to play on the internet. When you login to an online casino or sweepstakes casino, you’re going to see them, that’s for sure. They’re officially one of the most popular game categories due to the fact that Millenial and Gen Z players are absolutely hooked on them, with most of them desperate to get their hands on one of those huge Megaways wins that you often see go viral on social media.

What Are Retro Slots?

✔ 3-reel or 5-reel machines

✔ Easy and simple gameplay

✔ Plenty of nostalgia

‘Retro’ slots are classic slot machines that have been around for over 100 years. They’re the ones that feature Fruits, Bars, Sevens and all of those other awesomely nostalgic symbols that people remember from years gone by. They also have incredibly simple grids, too, with most retro slots using a 3×3 layout or (occasionally) 3×5. All you have to do is hit the spin button, wait for the symbols to land, and hope that you get a win.

There are no overly complex features, either. If you’re someone who loves simplicity, retro slots will be right up your street. You don’t have to deal with cascading reels, never-ending bonus rounds, sticky multipliers, or anything like that. At the absolute most, some online retro slots come with ‘Wilds’ and progressive jackpots, but that’s about it.

What’s interesting about retro slots is the demand for them keeps going up, even though they’ve been around for what feels like forever. Clearly, players within the slot world still have an unbreakable fondness for them, with even some of the new-generation players getting in on the action. It’s easy to understand why, as retro slots are still the best option out there for beginner players and those who prefer simplicity over non-stop features.

The Best Megaways Slots

Megaways slots are booming right now. Since 2015, over 100 of them have been released over the internet and the majority of today’s online casinos have at least a handful of them available to play in their libraries. So, if you’re looking to play a Megaways slot for the first time, here are some of the best options:

⛏️💎 Bonanza Megaways • High volatility • 96% RTP • Cascading reels, eye-catching graphics, and ‘hidden treasures’

🧛‍♂️🩸 Blood Suckers Megaways • High volatility • 97.66% RTP • Plenty of multipliers, wilds, and a creepy vampire theme

🌶️🔥 Extra Chilli Megaways • High volatility • 96.82% RTP • Comes with an awesome feature where you can gamble your winnings in a mini-game to potentially double them

🧑‍💼🏞️ Gonzo’s Quest Megaways • High volatility • 96% RTP • Avalanche multipliers of up to x15 and free spins

🦍💰 Gorilla Gold Megaways • High volatility • 97% RTP • Has an epic ‘Super Spins’ feature where each successful cascade increases the multiplier

In a nutshell, what you’re going to get from all of these games is fast-paced gameplay, lots of ways to win, and the potential for bigger rewards. But because Megaways are so feature-rich, it’s highly recommended that you play them in ‘demo mode’ first so that you can get to grips with all the different in-game features and symbols. This way, you won’t be overwhelmed when there’s actual real money on the line.

The Best Retro Slots

When Megaways slots first exploded onto the scene, many assumed that it would be the death of retro slots. Interestingly, though, this hasn’t happened. Sure, retro slots aren’t as popular as Megaways, but they’re still packing a serious punch, especially with old-school players and those who prefer simplicity over everything else. And when it comes to the retro slots themselves, there are hundreds of them (literally) to pick from. We recommend these ones:

👑 🎰 Forever 7s  • High volatility • 95.67% RTP • A classic slot machine that produces mystery symbols whenever the background changes to gold

🌌💎 Starburst • Low volatility • 96% RTP • Perfect for old-school and modern players due to its inclusion of expanding wilds and respins

☀️🍉 Fruit Shop • Low volatility • 96.71% RTP • Offers all the classic fruit symbols and even some free spins

🔥🎰 Triple Red Hot 7s • Medium volatility • 94.7% RTP • About as ‘retro’ as you can get with just 3 reels and some wilds thrown on top

🗡️⚡️ Thunderstruck • Medium volatility • 96.1% RTP • Lots of scatters, wilds, and an 3x multiplier

You’ll generally find that these retro slots are a lot easier to play because they come with way less features. They’re exactly the type of slot games you would find in classic casinos from the old days, although some of them have incorporated modern features (such as multipliers) as a way to make them entertaining for new-generation players, too. But no matter which generation you’re from or your experience level, all you have to do is quickly look at the symbols, decide how much you want to bet, and then hit the spin button — it doesn’t get more straight-forward than that!

Megaways or Retro Slots: Make Your Choice

Should you go with Megaways or retro slots? It’s a great question. Really, it comes down to what your personal preferences are, so we recommend doing this. If you want more action, tons of in-game features, and the potential to win much bigger payouts, then Megaways slots are for you (this is why Gen Z and Millennial players are hooked on them). Or, if you prefer the ‘classic’ slot experience where the gameplay is straight-forward and all you have to do is line up some fruits and sevens across a 3-reel machine, go with retro slots instead. And if you want the best of both worlds, you can simply switch between the two depending on what you feel like that day.

It’s definitely worth remembering that Megaways slots can take a little getting used to. If it’s your first time playing one, it might take 30 or 40 spins before you gradually start adapting to features like tumbling reels, multipliers, and more. Once you’ve got the hang of it, though, they’ll be no stopping you. Of course, we also recommend choosing Megaways (and retro slots) with high RTPs so that you can boost your odds of getting a return on the money you wager. Remember, the higher the RTP, the better. For reference, anything over 96% is considered good, with most of today’s Megaways and retro slots offering at least a 95% margin for you to enjoy.

Where to Play Megaways and Retro Slots

When it comes to where you can actually play Megaways and retro slots, you generally have two choices: online casinos or sweepstakes casinos. These sites know that players love Megaways and retro slots, so they keep their libraries up-to-date with all the latest titles. Once you’ve created an account, you’ll then be able to play them — simple.

Inside an online casino, you’ll be betting real money on the slot games. However, if you play inside a sweepstakes casino, you’ll be using virtual coins instead. These coins — ‘Sweeps Coins’ — can eventually be redeemed for prizes like cash transfers, gift cards, and cryptocurrencies if you collect enough of them.

Also, keep in mind that all available slots games on these sites come with demo versions. In other words, you can play for free without betting a single penny. If it’s your first time playing, always use the free-to-play option first so that you can understand exactly what to expect from the specific slot game you’ve chosen. This way, you can avoid the potential headache of finding yourself stuck in the middle of a slot game where there’s real money on the line and you’re finding the features to be incredibly confusing.

Summary

Online slots are bigger than they’ve ever been. Since 2020, people have become obsessed with Megaways slots, retro slots, and all kinds of other categories, elevating slots to the very top of the industry. It’s even reached a point where big-name streamers are broadcasting themselves playing slots on Kick and Twitch, which shows just how popular this all-time classic casino game has become in the modern age. And the best part about this is that both Megaways and retro slots come with their own benefits and perks that you can enjoy, so there’s something for all types of players. Enjoy!