xWays slots

What xWays in slots means

xWays is one of the ‘x’ mechanics from Nolimit City, the studio’s own name for a symbol that expands a reel from within. The xWays symbol lands in a normal position like any other symbol. Once the reels stop, it opens up to show a number of identical paying symbols, all in that single position. The reel now holds more symbols than before, so the slot has more ways to win on that spin.

The key rule is consistency: if two or three xWays symbols land at once, they all reveal the same symbol. That turns several reels into towers of the same picture at the same time. Nolimit City lists xWays among its signature mechanics alongside xNudge, xSplit and xBomb, and it belongs to the wider set of slot machine features that change the grid after the spin.

How the xWays symbol works, step by step

1. The random number generator settles the spin, including whether any xWays symbols land and what they will reveal.
2. Each xWays symbol opens to reveal a set number of matching symbols in its position.
3. If there are several xWays symbols, every one reveals the same symbol.
4. The game recounts positions on each reel, then multiplies them to get the new ways total.
5. Wins are paid from the left on adjacent reels, with each revealed symbol counting as one match.
6. Any other modifiers on the spin, such as splits or nudging wilds, are applied according to the game’s rules.

How many symbols are revealed depends on the game. Slotcatalog’s Mental 2 listing (opens in a new tab) says xWays expands the reel by revealing three randomly chosen matching symbols. OLBG’s San Quentin 2 listing (opens in a new tab) describes xWays revealing a paying symbol stacked five high, and filling a whole reel with wilds if xWays lands in both enhancer cells on the same reel. Always read the help screen for the exact rule.

Worked example: xWays on Mental’s 108-ways layout

Mental uses five reels with 3, 2, 3, 2 and 3 positions, so 3 × 2 × 3 × 2 × 3 = 108 base ways. Assume each xWays here reveals three symbols, as Mental 2’s listing describes.

Now a win. Two xWays on reels 2 and 4 both reveal skulls, giving three skulls on each of those reels. Reel 1 has one skull, reel 3 one skull and reel 5 one skull. That is 1 × 3 × 1 × 3 × 1 = 9 ways of five skulls. If five skulls pay 30p per way at your stake, the spin returns £2.70 instead of the 30p one plain line would have paid.

xWays with xSplit, Razor Split and other ‘x’ mechanics

xWays rarely appears alone. In most Nolimit City games it shares the grid with features that also change the number of positions.

When xWays and a split land on the same reel, the revealed symbols can themselves be split, doubling them again. That is how the San Quentin xWays slot climbs from 243 base ways. See split symbols for the splitting rules, and Fire in the Hole xBomb for the exploding-grid mechanic.

xWays slots in our database

Mental 2 and San Quentin 2 are sequels that keep xWays in their enhancer cells. All four are supplied in more than one RTP setting, and the casino chooses which to run, so check the figure in the game. Our guide to RTP variants explains why the same game can differ between sites.

xWays slots: volatility and the real cost of play

Revealing a tower of identical symbols on several reels at once can multiply wins many times, so xWays games hold back most of their return for rare combinations. Every xWays slot with a published rating in our database is high or extreme volatility. The RTP is still fixed; the spread of results is just very wide.

On an extreme-volatility game, the average cost is a poor guide to a single session. Losing all of a £20 budget over 100 spins at 20p is a common outcome, and the max win is a ceiling very few spins approach.

xWays versus Megaways

Both mechanics change how many symbols a reel holds, so they are often compared. On Megaways slots, every reel shows a random number of symbols on every spin, and the symbols are mostly different from each other. With xWays, only the reel where the symbol lands grows, and every new symbol on it matches. Megaways changes the shape of the whole grid all the time; xWays makes occasional, targeted towers of one symbol.

That difference shows in the maths. A Megaways reel of seven mixed symbols might contain one or two matches; an xWays reel of three revealed symbols contains three certain matches of whatever was revealed. The game pays for that certainty by making xWays rarer.

xWays myths and facts

• Myth: an xWays symbol that revealed a low symbol ‘wasted’ a big win. Fact: the revealed symbol was set by the RNG when the spin was settled; there was no better outcome waiting.
• Myth: several xWays in a row mean the bonus is close. Fact: each spin is independent, and slot features are never ‘due’.
• Myth: more ways always means more money. Fact: ways only pay with matches from the left; extra ways often pay nothing.
• Myth: stopping the reels at the right moment catches an xWays. Fact: UK slots have no slam-stop, and online results are fixed before the reels stop. See can you trick a slot machine.

Is there an xWays equivalent on fruit machines?

No. Pub and arcade fruit machines have fixed reels with fixed-size symbols, and their features are nudges, holds and feature trails rather than reel expansion. A Category C pub machine is capped at £1 a game and £100 in prizes and is for adults aged 18 and over. The nearest idea on a fruit machine is a reel heavily stacked with one symbol, which is printed on the reel band rather than revealed after the spin.

UK rules for xWays slots

Nolimit City games supplied to Great Britain follow the same online slot rules as everything else: since 31 October 2021, no autoplay, no turbo or slam-stop and at least 2.5 seconds per spin, as set out in the Commission’s responsible product design standard (opens in a new tab). Stakes are capped at £5 per spin for players aged 25 and over and £2 for 18–24s. Optional bets and bonus buys offered on these games in some other markets are not part of the UK versions; see our page on bonus buy in the UK.

Where to play xWays slots in the UK

No partner offer is tied to an xWays slot. For new customers aged 18+: Coral gives 100 free spins at 10p on selected games after you deposit and bet £10 on slots; Ladbrokes gives up to 500 free spins at 10p, 50 a day for 10 days, after you play £10 on slots; PlayOJO gives 80 free spins at 10p on Big Bass Bonanza with a first deposit of £10 or more, and winnings carry no wagering. Terms apply, including payment methods that do not qualify.

To find Mental or the San Quentin games, search the casino’s lobby; game availability changes. Compare partners on our casinos page. Extreme-volatility games can burn through a balance quickly, so set a deposit limit first, and use GAMSTOP (opens in a new tab) if you want to block all UK gambling sites for a while.

18+. Gambling should be entertainment that costs money, not a way to make it. Decide a budget before you play: plan a slot budget. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.