Big Time Gaming’s Megaways engine has been hugely successful, and this Bonanza review looks back at perhaps the most well-known title of all. 

Released in December 2016, the highly-volatile game promised an impressive maximum payout of 12,000x, plus a potential 117,649 ways to win. 

In those days, it was one of the most popular casino slots in the world, especially with streamers. But has it stood the test of time? Let’s find out in this Bonanza review.

Bonanza Details, RTP and Volatility

Thanks to the now-famous Megways engine, there are no fixed paylines in the Bonanza slot. The action takes place on a six-reel grid, but the number of rows varies with each spin. It’s possible to see a maximum of seven on each, creating a possible 117,649 ways to win.

The minimum bet amount is $0.20, but Bonanza isn’t really one for the high-rollers; the upper limit is just $20. In addition, the Return To Player rate of 96.00% is distinctly average. 

A high-volatility slot, it boasts a maximum potential win of 12,000x per spin. At the time of its release, in December 2016, that was a considerable figure. In all fairness, it’s not exactly bad even today. 

Theme & Graphics in Bonanza

Set in the Wild West during the gold rush era, the reels feature valuable gemstones buried among the rock. Above the main grid is a train track, where carts ship new symbols into the mine in anticipation of the Reactions feature.

This release is undoubtedly one of Big Time Gaming’s most successful slots. However, it’s fair to say that’s mostly due to the game’s entertaining gameplay, rather than its graphics. Revisiting this game in 2024, the visuals appear horribly dated. They weren’t incredible back in 2016, either.

Finally, a high-tempo country soundtrack accompanies the action, conjuring up images of rootin’ tootin’ rednecks.

Bonanza Slot Features

As we’ve already hinted, Bonanza’s longevity is mostly down to its compelling gameplay. It’s now time to learn more about the game’s engaging features. 

Regular Symbols

Ten regular symbols can be found in this slot, six of which are the playing card icons 9 through A. Land three of the same type and you’ll earn rewards of between 0.1x and 0.2x. However, six-of-a-kind is worth as much as 1.75x.

The four higher-paying symbols are precious stones. A diamond is the most valuable, worth up to 50x for six on a payline. However, it’s extra special, as you only need two to secure a  prize of 2x. 

Scatters

Fittingly, the game’s main scatter symbols are four solid gold letters. Spell out the word “GOLD” and you’ll receive 12 free spins, which we’ll explain later in this Bonanza review.

There’s a special Free Spin Scatter too, though as you can probably guess, it only appears during the bonus game. If you land three, you’ll earn an extra five free spins, with ten available when you collect four. This special scatter can only appear in carts above the reels.

Wilds

A bundle of dynamite wrapped up in the word “WILD” can substitute for every regular symbol to help you form wins. This can appear on the main grid, as well as the horizontal reel above.

Reactions

During every spin, carts bring extra symbols into play, adding one to reels 2 through 5. If a winning combination is formed, the symbols involved are eliminated, with more carts delivering further new symbols. 

This was a fairly new feature at the time, but most slots possess something similar today. 

Free Spins

You’ll need four scatters during the base game to pick up 12 free spins. However, even after spelling out the word “GOLD”, it’s theoretically possible to earn one or two additional scatters. For each extra triggering symbol, there’s a reward of five free spins. 

Throughout the bonus feature, an unlimited win multiplier remains active. Starting at 1x, every reaction increases the multiplier by one. 

As explained earlier in our Bonanza review, there’s a special Free Spin Scatter too. Three or four of these earns you five or ten additional spins.

How to Play Bonanza Online

Use the green arrow buttons to the right of the grid to set a wager, then tap the large green button beneath to spin. The icon with two circular arrows allows you to configure up to 100 automatic spins, as well as win and loss limits. 

Bonanza is a pretty straightforward slot that revolves mostly around its free spins feature. Collect the G, O, L and D scatters to trigger that bonus. In the meantime, match three of any symbol, or two of the diamond, to earn a prize and trigger the Reactions feature.

Try the Bonanza Demo for Free before playing for real money

It’s always sound advice to play free slots before staking real money. Even though Bonanza is relatively simple to play, take advantage of our demo and make any mistakes in a risk-free setting.

Bonanza Review – Our Final Verdict

Bonanza wasn’t the first Megaways slot – that honor goes to Dragon Born – but it really catapulted the game-changing mechanic into the spotlight. 

Released without much fanfare, it quickly captured the imagination of slots players around the world. And for a while, it felt like the only game that the streamers were playing. 

Even today, in May 2024, this Big Time Gaming classic retains a dedicated following, despite the many dozens of Megaways titles now available. It’s just an extremely playable game – simple, unpretentious and utterly engaging. 

The pang of nostalgia which it triggers probably adds to the positive vibe, too. It’s important to recognise what a huge impact Megaways had on slots. At that time, we’d never seen more than 1,024 paylines.  

To offer some balance, we must say the graphics are very poor. In addition, the maximum bet of $20 won’t appeal to big spenders, and the spin speed is noticeably slower than modern releases. However, these are minor concerns that do little to remove the sheen from what is rightly regarded as an all-time classic.

Similar Slot Games

Loved playing our Bonanza demo? You might also enjoy these slots.

• Diamond Mine 2 Megaways: Another mining-themed slot with the Megaways engine, this time from Blueprint Gaming. 

• Fire In The Hole: A highly-volatile Nolimit City game, also based on mining, that’s bursting with features. 
• Gold Digger: Enjoy a solid 96.00% RTP in this classic iSoftbet release from 2022.