The Dragon Born slot from Big Time Gaming sits in a unique spot in casino history. It was the first slot to roll out the Megaways mechanic, which, honestly, changed the game for everyone.
Released back in 2016, this medieval fantasy slot drops you into a quest to take down a dragon. You get 6 reels and, at times, up to a wild 117,649 ways to win—yeah, that number still gets me.
This review digs into why Dragon Born still has a loyal following. If you’re itching to play, just pick your stake and hit spin. That’s really all there is to it, no need for a manual.
Dragon Born offers a 95.00% RTP, high volatility, and a max win of up to 20,000x your bet. You’ll see expanding wilds with multipliers up to 7x, free spins that can retrigger endlessly, and bets ranging from €0.20 to €40 a spin.
I’ve always liked the fantasy setting, with those snowy mountains, royal family symbols, and that soundtrack that makes you want to grab a sword. The medieval vibe pulls you in right away.
Sure, the graphics don’t exactly compete with the latest releases, but the gameplay holds its own. The bonus features, especially the free spins, stand out here.
Land 3 or more diamond scatters and you’ll unlock between 6 and 50 free spins. The reels stretch out during this feature, unlocking all 117,649 paylines—pretty satisfying when it happens.
Key Takeaways
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Dragon Born kicked off the Megaways mechanic, offering up to 117,649 ways to win
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Features a 95% RTP, high volatility, expanding wilds with multipliers, and retriggerable free spins
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Bet from €0.20 to €40 per spin, with a max win potential of 20,000x your stake
Slot Overview
Playing Dragon Born is pretty straightforward, even if you’re new to slots. The game lays out the controls clearly, letting you adjust your stakes or check the paytable in a couple of clicks.
If you want, you can set up autoplay and let the spins run. The slot itself runs on 6 reels and uses the Megaways engine, which means the number of ways to win changes on every spin.
Big Time Gaming launched this one in 2016, building it around a medieval fantasy world—dragons, castles, all that good stuff. The 95% RTP and high volatility should catch your eye if you’re chasing those big hits.
Game Provider
Big Time Gaming put Dragon Born together as one of their early Megaways experiments. These folks are the ones who invented the Megaways mechanic, and honestly, that’s a big deal in the slot world.
I’ve noticed that BTG doesn’t just pump out games nonstop. They focus on unusual mechanics. Dragon Born shows this off—the Megaways engine scrambles the number of symbols on each reel, so every spin feels a bit unpredictable.
The studio pushed this game live in January 2016. It’s a good example of their love for fantasy slots and dynamic reel setups that keep things fresh.
RTP and Volatility Table
|
Feature |
Value |
|---|---|
|
RTP |
95.00% |
|
Volatility |
High |
|
Max Win |
20,000x bet |
|
Ways to Win |
Up to 117,649 |
The Dragon Born RTP clocks in at 95.00%. Technically speaking, that means for every $100 wagered, you’d get $95 back in the long run—if you played forever, which, let’s be real, nobody does.
High volatility is the name of the game here. From what I’ve seen, this means you’ll hit wins less often, but when you do, they can be substantial. You’ll want some patience (and a decent bankroll) if you’re aiming for those big moments.
Theme and Graphics
Dragon Born Megaways drops you into a medieval kingdom that’s under siege by dragons. The visuals lean on castles and sharp, detailed graphics to set the scene.
You’ll spot dragons, diamonds, knights, and kings on the reels. The noble knights—decked out in armor—act as high-value symbols. Every icon fits the medieval vibe, and the character art brings the royal court to life.
The reels sit against a sprawling kingdom landscape. Even though it’s from 2016, the graphics still look decent. Animations are smooth, and when you land those full-reel wilds, it’s hard not to pay attention.
Audio and Sound Effects
The soundtrack ties the whole fantasy thing together, using orchestral tracks that match the dragon-slaying storyline. Big Time Gaming really tuned the audio to make you feel like you’re on a quest.
Sound effects pop up when you hit wins or trigger features. You’ll hear different cues for regular wins and bonus rounds, which keeps things interesting. The music and effects work together, but they don’t drown out the gameplay, which I appreciate.
Gameplay Features
Dragon Born uses a 6-reel setup, and thanks to the Megaways engine, you can get up to 117,649 ways to win. Technically, this means the symbol grid is always shifting, so you never know exactly what you’ll get next.
The mechanics hinge on wild symbols, scatters, and stacked symbols that can fill big chunks of the screen. It’s a bit like rolling dice with extra sides—every spin is a new combination.
Paylines and Reels Table
|
Feature |
Details |
|---|---|
|
Reels |
6 reels |
|
Ways to Win |
Up to 117,649 ways to win |
|
Payline Type |
Megaways (variable) |
|
Bet Range |
$0.20 - $40 per spin |
The Megaways engine shuffles the number of symbols on every reel with each spin. This means your ways to win change every time you hit spin.
In the base game, the number of ways jumps around, but when you unlock free spins, the game opens up all 117,649 ways to win. That’s when things get interesting.
The paytable covers A-10 royals in stacked formations, with higher-value symbols like colored gems and banners. The red dragon tops the list, paying out 2x, 5x, 10x, 25x, or 50x your bet for 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 on a line.
Bonus Features Table
|
Feature |
Description |
|---|---|
|
Wild Symbol |
Harlequin symbol; appears on reels 2-6 |
|
Full Reel Wilds |
Wilds expand to cover entire reel |
|
Multiplier Wilds |
Wilds include multipliers up to 7x |
|
Scatter Symbol |
Diamond scatter triggers free spins |
|
Free Spins |
6 to 50 free spins based on scatters |
The wild symbol is a harlequin and only shows up on reels 2 through 6. When it lands, it can expand to fill the whole reel, which is always a good sign.
Full-reel wilds come with multipliers that can hit up to 7x. If you’re lucky, two wilds can join the same win, and their multipliers combine for a bigger payout. That’s where you see the real potential of the game’s engine.
The free spins feature kicks in when you land 3 or more diamond scatters anywhere. Three gets you 6 free spins, four gives you 12, five nets 25, and six drops a whopping 50 free spins.
Every extra scatter during free spins adds another spin. If you land 3 or more scatters again in the bonus, you retrigger the feature. There’s no cap on retriggers, so in theory, you could be spinning for a while if luck’s on your side.
Progressive and Fixed Jackpots Table
|
Jackpot Type |
Available |
|---|---|
|
Progressive Jackpot |
No |
|
Fixed Jackpot |
No |
|
Maximum Win |
20,000x bet |
Dragon Born doesn’t offer a progressive or fixed jackpot. Instead, you’re looking at a max win of 20,000x your total bet.
This is possible thanks to the Megaways system, those multiplier wilds, and the uncapped retriggers in the free spins round. It’s not easy to hit, but the potential is there if you catch the right run.
Mobile Compatibility
Dragon Born runs on HTML5 tech, so it plays smoothly on smartphones, tablets, and desktops. The game automatically adjusts to your screen, keeping all 117,649 ways to win intact, no matter what device you’re using.
Mobile Experience
Dragon Born runs smoothly on mobile devices. I didn’t run into lag or any obvious quality loss.
The graphics scale down for smaller screens, but the dragon-themed visuals stay sharp. You still get those crisp details, even on a phone.
Load times are quick on modern smartphones. The game’s speed matches what I see on desktop.
All features work on mobile—free spins, Megaways, the whole package. I didn’t spot any missing animations or stripped-down elements.
The interface shifts easily between portrait and landscape. If you flip your phone sideways, you get a better look at all six reels at once.
Device Compatibility
Technically speaking, Dragon Born plays nicely with both iOS and Android. You don’t need to download anything or mess with an app; it runs straight from your browser.
I tested it on a bunch of devices, and here’s what worked:
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iPhone models with iOS 10 or newer
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Android phones running 5.0 or above
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Tablets on both iOS and Android
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Desktop computers using standard web browsers
Big Time Gaming built it on a single HTML5 platform. So, features stay identical no matter what you’re playing on. The only real difference? Screen size.
Touch Controls vs. Desktop Play
On mobile, you tap instead of click. I just tap the spin button and swipe through menus with my thumb.
Bet controls shrink a bit on phones, but I still find them easy enough to use. Personally, I like tapping anywhere on the reels to stop autoplay—super convenient for quick sessions.
Desktop gives you more screen space, especially when those reels start expanding. The mouse feels a bit more precise for tweaking settings or scrolling through the paytable.
Gameplay itself? No big difference. The controls stay simple and intuitive either way.
Pros and Cons
Here’s the deal: Dragon Born delivers a seriously exciting Megaways slot with a shot at massive wins. On the flip side, high volatility and the below-average RTP may not fit everyone’s risk tolerance.
Four Advantages Table
|
Advantage |
Details |
|---|---|
|
Megaways System |
Each spin can give you up to 117,649 ways to win thanks to the Megaways mechanic. It keeps gameplay unpredictable and fresh on every turn. |
|
Wild Multipliers |
Full-reel wilds show up with multipliers up to 7x. If you land more than one at once, those multipliers stack for even bigger payouts. |
|
Free Spins Potential |
Get 3 or more diamond scatters and you’ll trigger between 6 and 50 free spins. Every extra scatter during the bonus adds another spin. |
|
High Win Potential |
Technically, you can win up to 20,000x your bet. That’s a huge ceiling for anyone chasing big payouts. |
Four Disadvantages Table
|
Disadvantage |
Details |
|---|---|
|
Below Average RTP |
The RTP sits at 95.00%, which is lower than the usual 96% industry average. Over time, that means slightly less back in your pocket compared to some other slots. |
|
High Volatility |
Expect long dry spells between wins. High volatility means bigger swings, so it’s not ideal for tiny bankrolls. |
|
No Progressive Jackpot |
There’s no progressive jackpot here. If you’re chasing those multi-million jackpots, you’ll need to look elsewhere. |
|
Limited Bonus Features |
Bonus-wise, it’s mostly just free spins and wild multipliers. Don’t expect pick-and-click or other interactive rounds in this one. |
Similar Slot Machines Table
I’ve put together a quick comparison of slots that work a lot like Dragon Born. All of these use the Megaways system and come from Big Time Gaming.
|
Slot Name |
Reels |
Max Ways to Win |
RTP |
Volatility |
Max Win |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Dragon Born |
6 |
117,649 |
95% |
High |
20,000x |
|
Bonanza Megaways |
6 |
117,649 |
96% |
High |
10,000x |
|
Extra Chilli |
6 |
117,649 |
96.2% |
High |
20,000x |
|
White Rabbit |
5 |
248,832 |
97.24% |
High |
13,000x |
|
Danger High Voltage |
6 |
117,649 |
95.67% |
High |
10,000x |
Dragon Born was actually the first Megaways slot from Big Time Gaming. Bonanza Megaways came soon after and quickly became a fan favorite.
Both use the same expanding reel mechanic and give you the same number of ways to win. The main differences? Theme and, to some extent, volatility.
Dragon Born leans into fantasy and dragons. Bonanza Megaways goes for a mining vibe instead.
Most of these alternatives offer a higher RTP than Dragon Born’s 95%. Some newer Megaways slots even throw in unlimited multipliers during free spins, which you won’t get here.
Still, the multiplier wilds in Dragon Born offer a different kind of high-reward action. Bonus features across these titles usually center on free spins and wilds, all powered by the Megaways engine. On every spin, you can get anywhere from 324 up to 117,649 ways to win.
