Pirate Pays Megaways (Big Time Gaming) Slot Review

Pirate Pays Megaways: Slot Overview 

Ahoy, matey! Pirate Pays Megaways is Big Time Gaming’s (BTG) high-seas adventure that invites players to board a treasure-laden vessel in search of untold riches. Released into an already saturated market of pirate-themed slots, this game promises not only BTG’s iconic Megaways engine but also introduces an engaging bonus round loosely inspired by the popular TV game show Deal or No Deal. 

With a flexible reel system offering up to 117,649 ways to win, a maximum win potential of 104,400x the stake, and a respectable RTP of 96.23%, Pirate Pays Megaways isn’t just another sea-faring slot. Instead, it adds creative decision-making to its feature set, making it a compelling addition to BTG’s growing catalog of Megaways titles.

Design and Graphics 

BTG’s graphical prowess shines through in Pirate Pays Megaways, though it takes a more subtle approach than some might expect for a pirate-themed title. The backdrop is a calm, sunlit Caribbean seascape with a golden-wood ship forming the game’s reel structure. The view is tranquil rather than treacherous, lending a polished but not overly thematic feel. You won’t find any ominous skulls, weathered maps, or cannonball chaos—elements typically associated with pirate adventures. The symbols also tread lightly on the thematic front. Lower-paying icons are traditional 9-A card royals with a touch of nautical design, while the premiums include colorful gemstones adorned with anchors, swords, ship wheels, and krakens. It’s tasteful but lacks that swashbuckling grit one might expect from the genre. Overall, the game offers visual quality and a clean layout, though it never fully dives into the pirate fantasy.

Gameplay Mechanics 

The core of Pirate Pays Megaways revolves around BTG’s signature Megaways mechanic, where each of the 6 reels can display 2 to 7 symbols. An additional horizontal Extra Reel stretches across reels 2 to 5, adding more symbols and increasing the total number of potential paylines up to 117,649. 

Each spin offers a new combination of reel sizes, keeping the gameplay dynamic. On top of that, the reaction mechanic ensures continuous action: whenever a winning combination lands, the winning symbols are removed, and new symbols cascade into place. This continues until no more wins are formed, creating the possibility for consecutive hits from a single spin. 

One of the game’s more distinctive elements is the wild compass symbol. When it lands on the Extra Reel, the compass needle spins and selects a direction (North, South, East, or West), transforming all symbols in that direction into wild bird symbols—expanding win possibilities significantly. It’s a clever twist on traditional wild mechanics that can lead to some impressive chains.

Sound and Music 

While the graphics lean more toward scenic than adventurous, the audio works to fill in the gaps. The soundtrack features gentle waves, soaring flutes, and the occasional creak of a ship’s hull. It’s more atmospheric than energetic, designed to provide a sense of open-sea calmness rather than frantic buccaneering. 

During bonus features, the tension ramps up subtly. The Kraken Bonus Round, in particular, introduces suspenseful tones and dramatic pauses that echo the Deal or No Deal-style format. The audio design succeeds in creating moments of anticipation without overwhelming the player, striking a good balance between immersive and minimalistic.

Bonus Features 

Reaction Mechanic 

Standard to many BTG games, the reaction system ensures that a single spin can lead to multiple payouts. Once a win is formed, symbols are removed and replaced, continuing as long as new wins occur. 

Wild Compass Symbol 

Landing on the 4-position Extra Reel, the wild compass randomly selects a direction and transforms all symbols in that line into wilds. This symbol can significantly increase your chances of forming high-value combinations and offers a satisfying level of unpredictability. 

Scatters and Free Spins 

There are two types of scatter symbols: 

Gold chest scatters appear on reels 1–5. 

Purple chest Megascatters appear on reel 6. 

When 3 or more gold scatters land, you trigger the Kraken Bonus Round. If at least 2 gold scatters and 1 Megascatter land, you unlock the Enhanced Bonus Round, which offers better potential outcomes. 

Kraken Bonus Round 

This is where the game leans heavily on a Deal or No Deal-style mechanic: 

Players are shown 20 potential outcomes, each with a starting multiplier and a number of free spins. 

For every scatter landed over the base three, one outcome is removed. 

Players can then accept or reject offered prizes as the list is narrowed down to the final two. 

If you’ve unlocked the Enhanced Bonus Round, the lowest 10 outcomes are removed from the start, giving you a better shot at higher multipliers and more free spins. 

Free Spins 

Once you enter the free spins, things really start to escalate: 

A win multiplier starts at 1x and increases by +1 after every reaction. 

There is no multiplier limit. 

Landing 3 or 4 regular scatters during the bonus adds +5 or +10 extra spins, respectively. 

The Megascatter does not appear during Free Spins. 

This round is the key to unlocking the game’s full payout potential, with possible cascades and wild conversions contributing to massive cumulative wins.

Betting Options and Payouts 

BTG’s betting structure in Pirate Pays Megaways is relatively standard: 

Min Bet: €0.20 

Max Bet: €20.00 

Volatility: High 

RTP: 96.23% 

Max Win: 104,400x 

The hit frequency isn’t explicitly stated, but the high volatility ensures long dry spells punctuated by potentially explosive bonus rounds. The theoretical return is solid and in line with other premium Megaways slots. 

Paytable Summary: 

Low-value symbols: 9-A card royals. 

High-value symbols: Four gemstone-encrusted icons. 

Top Symbol: Kraken jewel, paying 25x for 6 of a kind. 

Wild: The wild compass symbol. 

Scatters: Gold chests and purple Megascatter chests.

Conclusion 

Pirate Pays Megaways is a game that’s equal parts elegant and formulaic. On one hand, it offers all the trappings of a premium Megaways slot: a dynamic reel system, cascading wins, wild modifiers, and an innovative bonus round with a Deal or No Deal twist. On the other hand, it never fully embraces the pirate theme in a visceral or gritty way—visually or atmospherically. 

What makes the game stand out is the Kraken Bonus Round. This feature introduces a layer of interactivity and suspense rarely found in slots, giving players some agency over their rewards. The wild compass adds another strategic wrinkle, helping to build big wins in both the base and bonus games. 

Despite lacking a strong thematic punch, Pirate Pays Megaways is mechanically sound, entertaining, and packed with potential. The massive max win of 104,400x—especially when compared to the genre average—is worth pursuing for high-risk, high-reward players. Whether you’re a fan of the sea or just chasing a big bonus game, this BTG title offers a smooth voyage with plenty of treasure in the hold.