5 Lions Megaways 2 Review: Everything You Need to Know

Give this new slot a whirl! It’s your opportunity to immerse yourself in Chinese culture and win incredible prizes. You get improved features and even more ways to win!

5 Lions Megaways 2: Slot Review

Does the game sound familiar? Pragmatic Play returns with one of its most iconic sagas in 5 Lions Megaways 2, the sequel to the title that captivated players in 2021. The offering goes beyond a simple re-release—it’s a strategic evolution of the original concept.

However, is it just a visual update? Here’s what makes it so brilliant: with the same Asian symbols (dragons, prosperity frogs, and koi fish) that its predecessor used, you get something even better. The game retains the original structure but now features higher multipliers, a game mechanic that yields generally higher payouts, more opportunities to get high returns in the bonus rounds, and a maximum win of up to 8,000 times your bet.

Far from relying on a formula to replicate past successes, 5 Lions Megaways 2 becomes the standard in itself. It blends familiar Asian visuals with unique mechanics, delivering so much more than what the original did. It’s not just a tribute—it’s what every developer should aspire to in a sequel. It’s a must-play title for fans of the saga and of Asian culture.

Gameplay

5 Lions Megaways 2 unleashes its full potential through the dynamic Megaways system: 6 reels with up to 8 symbols per column create combinations that reach an impressive 262,144 ways to win. This mathematical engine changes with each spin—the rows randomly expand or contract (from 2 to 8 symbols), reshaping the odds in real-time.

Beyond that, the classic gameplay remains intact. Simply set your bet, spin the reels, and wait for the symbols to land on the screen. However, unlike traditional slot machines, there are no static paylines here.

Wins are triggered by forming horizontal clusters—you need at least three identical symbols aligned on consecutive reels, always starting from the left. Every time you win, the winning symbols explode, making way for new ones to drop from the top.

There’s also a wild symbol that substitutes for regular ones, increasing your chances of winning. Additionally, the wild activates a random multiplier that boosts your winnings even further.

Game Features

The special features of 5 Lions Megaways 2 take the excitement to the next level. The game includes multipliers of up to 100x, bonus rounds with up to 35 free spins, and other exciting options. The table below summarizes the game’s key features:

In this case, the bet multiplier refers to the cost per game round. This can increase to 50x if you activate the special feature called Ante Bet, which enhances the odds of getting certain game features in exchange for a higher bet cost.

Symbols

The top-tier symbols in the paytable feature emblematic animals from Chinese culture: a golden dragon, a phoenix, a frog, a fish, and a turtle. The dragon, the highest-paying symbol, offers a maximum reward of 25x the bet when landing the maximum amount. The other animals (phoenix, frog, fish, and turtle) provide payouts of up to 2.5x or 5x in their optimal configurations.

Lower-value symbols include standard playing card icons: A, K, Q, J, 10, and 9. These offer smaller rewards, paying 1x to 1.25x for the highest possible combinations.

Cascading Wins

Whenever you score a win in 5 Lions Megaways 2, an avalanche or cascade effect is triggered. This opens up the potential to get consecutive wins.

So, how does it work? The winning symbols explode, granting the corresponding payout and creating space for new ones to fall from above. This cycle repeats itself indefinitely as long as new winning combinations continue to form. It only stops when no more wins appear.

Multiplier Wild

The real fun begins when wilds appear. They are represented by the face of a lion and substitute for any other symbol, except for the special ones. Essentially, they increase the player’s chances of winning.

However, that’s not even the best part: every time you land a winning combination with a wild, you get a random multiplier. During the normal game phase, this multiplier can take any of the following values: 1x, 2x, 3x, 5x, 8x, 10x, 15x, 20x, 30x, 40x, or 100x.

The wild also appears during the bonus feature, but the multiplier mechanism works a bit differently. This will be explained in more detail later.

Enhanced Bet (Ante Bet)

5 Lions Megaways 2 allows you to modify the bet multiplier. By default, the game operates with a 20x multiplier, but you can manually toggle a switch before each round to activate the Ante Bet feature.

When activated:

• The bet multiplier increases to 50x.
• The probability of triggering free spins naturally is multiplied by 7.
• The chances of activating cascading wins are also improved.

It’s important to note that payouts do not increase—only the bet cost does. For example, with the 20x multiplier, a bet of 1,000 remains at its original value. However, activating the 50x multiplier raises the cost to 2,500, while the winnings will still be based on the original bet amount.

Free Spins Round

Every player gets excited about the bonus feature! To activate it, you need at least three scatter symbols anywhere on the screen (they don’t have to be on adjacent reels or in a specific order). These can be a combination of regular Yin Yang scatters (black and white) or Super Scatters (golden Yin Yang). Any combination works!

Unlike some slots, the number of free spins isn’t determined by how many scatters you land. Instead, before the round begins, you’ll choose from different options that balance the number of spins with the multiplier values:

The higher the multipliers, the fewer spins you get. It’s up to you to decide on the best strategy! You can also select the Mystery Option, where the game randomly assigns both the number of spins and the multipliers.

Once the free spins round begins, a special coin can appear to help you level up. You start at Level 1, and for every three coins collected, you advance a level (up to Level 3). Each level grants the following:

• +3 additional spins
• Removal of the lowest multiplier from your selection

For example, let’s say you choose 15 free spins with 5x, 8x, 10x, and 15x multipliers:

• Level 2: Multipliers become 8x, 10x, and 15x (+3 spins).
• Level 3: Multipliers become 10x and 15x (+6 total spins).

Super Free Spins Round

If the feature is activated with at least 1 Super Scatter (Golden Yin Yang), you get a series of benefits:

• The round starts with 1 to 10 additional spins added to your initial choice.
• There is a possibility that the game will begin directly from Level 2.

Everything else works like the regular free spins round. There are no further differences.

Max Free Spin Feature

Now, here’s the Holy Grail of 5 Lions Megaways 2. This is where the winnings reach their maximum potential. The only way to activate this feature is by landing at least 3 Super Scatters without a single regular Scatter appearing.

What’s the difference? You get 35 free spins, and the round begins with the maximum multiplier: 100x. It’s worth noting that the level-up mechanic is disabled in this mode because it’s not relevant. However, 3 additional spins are awarded for every 3 collected coins.

Bonus Buy Option

The Mystery Option can trigger any of the three bonus rounds, including the Max Free Spins feature with 35 spins and a 100x multiplier.

Bet Sizes, RTP, and Volatility

This table summarizes the game’s key statistics, including bet limits, return-to-player (RTP), and probability data:

These indicators help you understand the game’s volatility and set realistic expectations regarding your chances of winning or obtaining significant prizes. Below, we describe these in more detail:

• RTP (Return to Player): This represents the average amount returned to players over time. For example, with a 96.50% RTP, for every 1,000 units bet, the game returns approximately 965 on average.
• Hit Frequency: This indicates the probability of landing a winning combination or triggering specific features. For instance, free spins are triggered approximately once every 420 spins, while the 8,000x max win happens once in 615,385 spins.

Based on the official information provided, the game is highly volatile. Although the chances of winning are low, the rewards can be very appealing when they do occur.

Final Verdict

Whether you’re a fan of the series, fascinated by Asian culture, or are simply looking for a new casino game to try, 5 Lions Megaways 2 is an excellent choice. Aside from its simple yet attractive design, it has the potential to deliver substantial rewards.

There are wild symbols, win multipliers, and three exciting free spins features. The best part? Although it’s not easy to trigger, there’s always a chance that you could take home 8,000x your bet.

Plus, there are multiple ways to boost your chances of winning. The enhanced bet option (Ante Bet) allows you to access bonus rounds more quickly without having to invest too much money.