Name:  Mega Don

Developer:  Play n Go

Paylines:  1,024

Reels:  5

Rows:  4

RTP:  96%

Variance:  High

Top Payout:  10,000x

Jackpot:  No

Release Date:  July 2022

Features:  Free Spins, Re-Triggers, Symbol Upgrades, Wilds, Scatters

About This Slot

Fishy shenanigans are nothing new to video slots, from classics like Big Bass Splash, to Fishin’ Frenzy and Golden Catch. But rarely, with the exception perhaps of Push Gaming’s Razor Shark, have we encountered such a frightening-looking beast as in Play n Go’s latest release, Mega Don! The name suggests it sits somewhere between being a version of the infamous Big Tooth prehistoric beast that roamed the seas millions of years ago, and an uber-version of Don Corleone!

Whatever it is, it’s sporting some serious teeth and some demonic red eyes. The good news is though, that Mega Don is on your side, and with the help of those nashers will be helping drive some of the biggest wins when the symbols drop in your favour.

Mega Don is already with us, having arrived at UK slot sites on 28th July 2022.

RTP, Variance and Top Payout

Mega Don runs on an RTP of 96% which is average for a Play n Go slot and pretty bang on average for the industry too. Spins play out on a 5 reel and 4 row set with 1,024 win ways active on every spin. There are no reel or row expansions to be concerned with here.

Be aware though that the variance is most definitely set to high, putting this game in the same bracket as slots like Reactoonz and Book of Dead by the same slot provider. Wins are triggered by landing just three identical symbols on the same line on one spin and the maximum win on any single spin is a decent 10,000x.

Stakes start at just 10p per spin.

Symbols and Graphics

Play n Go have created an atmospheric slot with a mix of cartoon fun and broody and sinister atmosphere when the sharks come out to attack. The waters behind the transparent reel set are a deep blue, with animations of sharks circling at all times which looks cool, and the symbols are made up of a mix of fish from the smallest (who look a touch worried) through bigger marlon to Mega Don at the top. There is a real sense of the food chain about this – those smaller fish aren’t going to last long and the rule of the Mega Don slot is to eat or be eaten.

Symbol values range as follows – for the low-paying symbols, there are the six small fish which pay between 0.4 and 1x the bet, while the high-paying symbols are three big sharks which pay 2-4 times the bet.

There is also a jaw- patterned wild symbol which can sub in for all other symbols – except a a scatter – to create winlines when it lands. Scatters themselves are crucial as they will trigger the free spins round where bigger wins are available.

What We Like

  Free spins can re-trigger
  Up to SIX symbol transforms
  10,000x top prize
  Cool shark animations
  Good for high variance fans

What We Don't Like

  Tough to trigger free spins
  Few features
  Not as good as Razor Shark!

Gameplay and Features

This is not a feature-packed slot, but rather one that will appeal to those who like things simple, but with high volatility. Patience is required to unlock the big moments, but when they come they can be very rewarding. Symbol transformations are key in both base game and bonus round and they go under the name of Snack Time and Shark Feast as follows:

Snack Time

It is possible to activate Snack Time anytime during the base game, where there of the lowest value fish symbols are picked at random as upgraders. When they land on the reels, they automatically transform into premium sharks, giving you more chance of scoring wins.

Shark Feast

Scatter symbols can land on any reel. Three of more of these on one spin will set up the main event, Shark Feast. Now, a mix of free spins and upgrading symbols is awarded, with bigger awards for more scatters. This works as follows:

3 scatters – 6 free spins plus one upgrade symbol.

4 scatters – 9 free spins plus two upgrade symbols.

5 scatters – 12 free spins plus three upgrades.

As in the base game, upgrading symbols will automatically transform into one of the random shark symbols when they land. They REMAIN UPGRADED throughout the bonus round.

Retriggers are available too for an extra 3, 4 or 5 scatters.

3 more scatters will give an extra three free spins plus one extra upgrade symbol.

4 more scatters will give an extra six free spins plus two extra upgrade symbols.

5 more scatters will give an extra nine free spins plus three extra upgrade symbols.

NOTE: If you get REALLY lucky, ALL SIX of the lower value icons can be upgrades, which gives you maximum chance to hit the top 10,000x payout. When more than one is active, they will transform into the SAME shark symbol if they land simultaneously.

Our Verdict

Mega Don has an eye-catching front man in the shape of the prehistoric monster, but ultimately, the gameplay let it down somewhat. In an era when high variance slots are notable for their feature-packed spins with expanding reels, progressive multipliers, and splitting cells, this one, with its reductive gameplay model, is something of an outlier. There is little to get excited about in the base game, beyond a few sparse symbol upgrades, and we waited a long time to dip our toes into the free spins action, when admittedly things did pick up pretty quickly.

Horses for courses though, and if you enjoy simple gameplay and symbol transformations, then you may just get a kick out of Mega Don. If you do take it for a spin, be ready for some frustrating sessions waiting for the scatters to drop. The documentation from Play n Go suggests a 1 in 350 chance of hitting free spins. Once there, if you’re playing off the back of FIVE scatters with 12 spins and three extra upgrades, there is a real chance things could get tasty.

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