Space Wars XXXtreme Megaways

Space Wars XXXtreme Megaways sees NetEnt returning to a setting the studio first explored back in 2013, reworking its classic cosmic battle theme through the Megaways engine for a very different play experience more than a decade on. Released on 12 August 2024, it keeps a nod to the original in the form of the Container Pod fixture sitting alongside the reels, even as the core gameplay has been rebuilt almost entirely from scratch.

Set among the stars, gas clouds and a cast of cute alien characters, the game puts players in the role of a starship captain, complete with a control console positioned below the main grid. As a Megaways title, the reel count and symbol drops vary from spin to spin, generating a shifting number of ways to win that can climb as high as 117,649 at the maximum configuration — a dramatic step up from the fixed-payline structure of NetEnt's original 2013 release.

Betting in Space Wars XXXtreme Megaways sits noticeably higher than the studio's usual range at both ends of the scale, running from a 40p minimum up to a substantial £/€320 maximum per spin — the "XXXtreme" branding referring specifically to this extended betting structure rather than any change to the core mechanics. NetEnt has rated the volatility as high, and the default RTP lands at 96.14%, a solid figure sitting comfortably above the industry average.

On the symbol front, six quirky alien creatures make up the lower-value tier, paying 0.1x to 0.125x the stake for a six-of-a-kind combination, while four further creature designs and a red crystal-chunk symbol occupy the premium end, worth 0.25x to 2x the bet for a full six-symbol win. Wild symbols are easy to spot across the grid and substitute for any regular paying symbol, appearing specifically on reels 2, 4 and 6 to help stitch together wider combinations.

With a maximum win of 14,400x the stake, high volatility, and the Megaways engine's naturally shifting ways-to-win structure, Space Wars XXXtreme Megaways offers considerably more explosive potential than its 2013 predecessor, at the cost of a noticeably higher entry stake for players wanting to access the full experience. It's a game built for patient players chasing bigger swings rather than a steady drip of small wins.

For anyone curious how a decade-old cosmic classic holds up after a full Megaways rebuild, the free demo at johnessyslots is the place to start — a good way to see the shifting reel structure and wild positions in action before deciding whether Space Wars XXXtreme Megaways is worth playing for real money.