Great Rhino Megaways marks Pragmatic Play's inaugural venture into the explosive Megaways universe, utilizing their licensed engine from Big Time Gaming. This highly volatile African safari-themed slot transforms the classic Great Rhino into a 200,704 ways to win powerhouse with a massive 20,000x max win potential. Will this debut megaways release deliver the thrilling gameplay and innovative features players expect, or does Pragmatic Play play it safe for their first megaways adventure?
Pragmatic Play enters the competitive Megaways arena with Great Rhino Megaways, their first slot powered by the licensed engine from Big Time Gaming. This release represents a significant milestone for the established developer as they venture into one of the industry's most popular mechanics.
The game transforms the original Great Rhino slot with enhanced visuals and an explosive upgrade from 20 paylines to a staggering 200,704 potential ways to win. The slot features:
• 6 standard reels with 2-7 rows each
• Horizontal top reel adding extra symbols to reels 2-5
• Dynamic African plains backdrop that shifts to night mode during bonus rounds
• Ante Bet feature doubling your chances of triggering free spins
• Bet range from £0.20 to £100 per spin (unusually high for megaways slots)
• High volatility gameplay with massive win potential
The main attraction centers around the free spins bonus round, which serves as the primary feature in this streamlined yet powerful slot experience. Players can activate the Ante Bet to significantly improve their bonus trigger odds, making it a recommended strategy for serious players.
The African wildlife theme dominates the symbol design, with the majestic Cheetah reigning supreme as the top-paying symbol. The paytable shows a significant gap between the premium cheetah and other animal symbols, creating exciting anticipation when these high-value icons appear.
Symbol Requirements: • Most symbols require 3-6 matching symbols for wins • Cheetah pays even with just 2 symbols on a payline • All payouts calculated on total stake
The wildlife hierarchy creates clear value distinctions, with the cheetah offering 10 times more than the second-highest gorilla symbol. Lower-paying royal symbols provide frequent smaller wins to maintain balance during base game spins.
Our comprehensive 200-spin testing session provides valuable insights into the slot's performance and behavior patterns. While not statistically definitive, this hands-on experience offers practical perspectives for potential players.
Testing Parameters: • £1 base bet for initial 100 spins • £1.25 total bet with Ante Bet activated • Quickspin mode enabled throughout • Autospin features fully utilized
Base Game Performance: The high volatility nature became immediately apparent, with most significant wins reserved for the bonus round. Regular base game spins delivered:
• Consistent 2-5x stake wins maintaining balance • Occasional tumbling wins creating excitement • One exceptional 50x win from triple tumbles • Dynamic paytable adjusting seamlessly to bet levels
Visual Experience: The African savannah backdrop provides an immersive setting, while the reels dominate screen space for optimal gameplay focus. Graphics quality meets modern standards without being groundbreaking.
Bonus Round Results: After activating the Ante Bet feature, we successfully triggered the coveted free spins round. Despite high expectations, our bonus session yielded a 230x total win - respectable but not exceptional for this volatility level.
Great Rhino Megaways represents a conservative yet competent debut for Pragmatic Play's entry into the megaways universe. Rather than revolutionary innovation, the developer chose a safe, proven approach for their first megaways release.
Gameplay Strengths: • 200,000+ paylines create massive win potential • Unlimited progressive multipliers during free spins • 20,000x maximum win provides solid jackpot appeal • £100 maximum bet (£125 with Ante Bet) suits high rollers • Ante Bet feature doubles bonus trigger chances
Strategic Recommendations: • Activate Ante Bet immediately for optimal bonus frequency • Expect smaller base game wins due to high volatility • Progressive multipliers offer unlimited potential up to max win cap • Higher bet ranges accommodate diverse player preferences
While the slot may not revolutionize the megaways category, it delivers solid, reliable gameplay with substantial win potential for patient players.
Key Advantages: • Ante Bet feature doubles free spins trigger probability • Unlimited progressive win multipliers during bonus rounds • High volatility with 20,000x max win potential • Premium bet range up to £100 (£125 with Ante Bet) • Megaways engine delivering up to 200,704 ways to win
Notable Drawbacks: • Conservative approach lacks innovative bonus features • Limited bonus variety focusing mainly on free spins • High volatility may not suit casual players • Base game wins relatively modest compared to bonus potential
