Buffalo King Megaways (Pragmatic Play) Slot Review

Buffalo King Megaways: Slot Overview

Pragmatic Play’s Buffalo King Megaways brings players back to the rugged plains of North America. This revamped slot offers a Megaways twist to the original Buffalo King, significantly expanding the potential ways to win. With up to 200,704 paylines, Buffalo King Megaways combines high volatility with immersive gameplay. Its RTP of 95.55% may be slightly below some expectations but aligns with industry standards for Megaways games. 

The theme of the game remains unchanged, rooted in its North American wildlife setting. Players can expect iconic imagery of buffalos, wolves, and eagles roaming across the desert backdrop. However, the Megaways layout offers a fresh experience, allowing the slot to appeal to both returning players of the original and newcomers who enjoy the dynamic Megaways mechanic. 

Design and Graphics

The visual presentation of Buffalo King Megaways remains loyal to its predecessor, utilizing familiar visuals such as sunsets over the prairies and the silhouettes of majestic wildlife. The design reflects a rustic, rugged aesthetic with rich, earthy tones. Pragmatic Play has slightly refined the artwork to accommodate the expanded Megaways reels, giving the game a fresh, modern edge while keeping its classic feel. 

The game’s 8-reel layout is visually busy but effectively balanced. Each reel can display between 2 and 7 symbols, and the top horizontal reel adds a dynamic touch, expanding potential paylines. While the animations are smooth, the graphics don’t innovate significantly compared to other Megaways games, relying on the strength of its theme and a polished interface. 

Gameplay Mechanics

The Megaways engine is the heart of Buffalo King Megaways. With up to 200,704 ways to win, players benefit from the cascading reels mechanic. Winning symbols disappear, making room for new ones to tumble into place, potentially triggering consecutive wins within a single spin. This cascading feature makes the base game far more engaging than traditional slots. 

The game uses a diverse paytable featuring low-paying card icons (10 to Ace) and high-value animal symbols such as wolves, moose, cougars, and eagles. The iconic buffalo stands out as the highest-paying symbol, rewarding players with 20x their stake for a six-symbol combination. 

A wild symbol appears on reels 2, 3, 4, and 5, substituting for any regular symbol to enhance winning combinations. With the volatile nature of the game, even minor wins can feel rewarding due to their potential to chain into larger payouts. 

Sound and Music

The soundtrack of Buffalo King Megaways immerses players in the Wild West. Rousing, orchestral music combined with ambient prairie sounds, such as howling wolves and stampeding hooves, creates an engaging atmosphere. The sound effects complement the gameplay seamlessly, with satisfying audio cues marking cascades, wins, and bonus triggers. 

Though not groundbreaking, the audio design enhances the player’s experience by reinforcing the game’s rugged and untamed theme. It’s effective but might become repetitive during longer gaming sessions. 

Bonus Features

Buffalo King Megaways includes several bonus features to keep players engaged:

 Free Spins Round

 Landing 4, 5, or 6 scatter symbols awards 12, 17, or 22 free spins, respectively. During this bonus round, wild multipliers come into play, ranging from 2x to 5x. If multiple wilds are part of a winning combination, their multipliers combine, potentially creating massive payouts. The bonus can be retriggered with additional scatters, offering 5 extra free spins each time. 

Tumble Feature

 This cascading mechanic removes winning symbols and replaces them with new ones, allowing multiple wins on a single spin. Tumbles continue as long as winning combinations occur, adding excitement and extending gameplay. 

Buy Free Spins

Players can skip the base game grind and purchase the free spins round for 100x their stake. The RTP for this feature is slightly higher than the base game, making it an appealing option for high rollers seeking immediate action. 

Ante Bet Feature

 Activating the Ante Bet increases the cost of spins by 25% but doubles the chances of triggering the free spins round. While it doesn’t affect symbol values, it’s a valuable tool for players aiming to maximize their bonus opportunities. 

Betting Options and Payouts

The betting range in Buffalo King Megaways accommodates a wide variety of players, with stakes starting at €0.20 and going up to €100 per spin. The high volatility ensures that significant wins are possible, though they may be few and far between. The maximum payout is 5,000x the stake, which, while impressive, is notably lower than the original game’s potential of 93,750x. 

The Megaways mechanic increases the game’s unpredictability, with payouts influenced by the number of symbols on each reel and the cascading feature. High volatility means players should be prepared for extended dry spells, with the promise of substantial rewards for those who remain patient. 

Conclusion

Buffalo King Megaways delivers a polished Megaways adaptation of the popular original. Its high volatility, dynamic cascading reels, and lucrative free spins round make it a compelling choice for fans of Megaways slots. While the game doesn’t innovate significantly, it refines the elements that made Buffalo King a fan favorite, offering an upgraded experience. 

However, the reduced maximum win of 5,000x may deter players drawn to the original for its massive potential payouts. Pragmatic Play has opted for a more conservative approach here, prioritizing consistent gameplay over astronomical prizes. For players who enjoy immersive, nature-themed slots with substantial features, Buffalo King Megaways is a solid choice, even if it doesn’t break new ground.