Western Gold Megaways: Overview

Late in 2019, iSoftBet released its South American themed slot Aztec Gold Megaways and, thanks to its striking presentation, smart mechanics, and huge potential, it quickly became one of the studio’s biggest successes. If you want something fresh but still struggle to move on from that original, the follow-up Western Gold Megaways is well worth a look. It reuses plenty of familiar elements, yet a handful of tweaks noticeably affect how the sequel plays.

Visually, Western Gold Megaways avoids the rough-and-ready gunslinger atmosphere seen in other Western slots such as Dead or Alive 2 or Deadwood. Maybe that’s because it doesn’t have “dead” in the name? Either way, Western Gold comes across as smoother and more polished, though it also feels a bit less distinctive. It may not have the instant wow factor Aztec Gold delivered, but it’s still an attractive game overall.

The audio is another strong point: a traditional western tune that ambles along through the base game like a weary horse, then ramps up into a faster, more energetic rhythm during the bonus. It’s not quite as loud and raucous as the soundtrack in Deadwood, but it does a good job of adding extra Wild West flavour.

From a maths perspective, the RTP has edged down slightly to 95.98%, although it rises notably when using the bonus buy option, as outlined below. Volatility stays at medium/high and is paired with a fairly high hit rate, resulting in a less volatile model than before.

As a Megaways title, it runs on 6 reels with 3 to 7 symbols per reel. The reel heights shift every spin, creating up to 117,649 ways to win at maximum expansion. Wins require three or more matching symbols landing next to each other from the first reel. Whenever that happens, the Cascade feature kicks in, clearing winning symbols so new ones can drop into place. Cascades keep chaining for as long as fresh wins continue to land, allowing multiple payouts from a single spin.

With stakes from 20 p/c to $/€20 per spin across all devices, the symbol set fits the theme nicely. You’ll see 9-A royals in a Western-style typeface, alongside spurs, hip flasks, Stetsons, and pistols. Pistols are the key symbol, since they’re the only ones that pay for two of a kind; up to 25 times the stake for six of a kind. A fairly simple wild symbol helps out by appearing only on reels 2, 3, 4, or 5. Wilds don’t pay by themselves, but they substitute for all other symbols except the scatter.

Western Gold Megaways: Features

At first glance, it may seem like the feature set hasn’t shifted much. Look a bit closer, though, and the adjustments run deeper than they initially appear.

Watch for the sheriff’s badge, which acts as the scatter symbol – landing 5 or more triggers Western Gold Cash Respins. The round starts with 3 respins on a dedicated reel set where only scatters can appear. These scatters show either a bet multiplier or one of the jackpots. In addition, three jackpot symbols are now involved as well; the Mini, Major and Mega worth 10x, 25x or 50x the bet respectively.

The respins begin with the triggering scatters and the triggering number of Megaways held in place. Any additional scatter that lands is also locked and, at the same time, the respin counter is reset back to 3. If a reel becomes completely filled, it triggers a multiplier for all scatters on that reel, matching the number of positions on that reel. Once the feature ends, every value on screen is totalled and paid.

In theory, Western Gold Cash Respins will trigger naturally about once every 160 spins. If you’d rather speed things up, you can use the Western Gold Bonus Buy for 50x the total bet, which guarantees 5 or more scatters on the next spin to activate Western Gold Cash Respins. This option also lifts RTP to 97%.

Western Gold Megaways: Verdict

In several respects, Western Gold works as a solid follow-up, even if it doesn’t deliver the same immediate punch that Aztec Gold Megaways did. Even so, it remains an enjoyable slot that offers a slightly different spin on the usual Megaways formula. The changes lead to a mix of outcomes, with some improvements and some compromises. Notably, it’s less volatile than the original, which could be a sticking point for more hardcore players.

A major plus is the addition of a sensibly priced bonus buy. At 50x the stake, it’s relatively affordable compared to many alternatives, although it can end quickly and the reduced Jackpots don’t exactly add extra appeal. Still, the bonus can be entertaining and can also run for a long time. When things go well, scatters stack up, and filling reels to activate the matching multiplier can heavily influence the final return.

That said, the end result doesn’t reach the heights of the original. One adjustment that many players won’t welcome is the reduction of the Mega Jackpot from 1,000x to 50x. Alongside that comes a broader drop in overall potential. At its best, Western Gold Megaways can deliver wins around 12,000 times the stake, which is certainly strong, but it’s a clear step down from Aztec Gold.

Looking ahead, it wouldn’t be surprising if iSoftBet adds more titles to the Gold Megaways line in the future. That wouldn’t be a bad outcome either. Up to now, both games have offered dependable entertainment—similar in style, yet different enough to stand on their own. As long as iSoftBet don’t push the downward trend in Jackpots or overall potential too far, things should stay on track.