Unleashing the Savannah: The Complete Journey Through Great Rhino Megaways Slot
The African savannah has always been a magnet for slot developers. Endless golden grass, dramatic sunsets, and majestic wildlife create the perfect backdrop for high-volatility adventures. Few games capture that spirit better than the Great Rhino slot — a turbo-charged evolution of Pragmatic Play’s original Great Rhino that marries the beloved African theme with the revolutionary Megaways engine licensed from Big Time Gaming.
Released in April 2021, Great Rhino Megaways slot instantly became one of the most played Megaways titles of the year, regularly topping casino lobbies and streamer charts.
From Classic to Megaways: The Evolution of Great Rhino
The story begins in 2018 with the original Great Rhino slot — a 5×3, 20-payline game that introduced players to stacked rhinos, Super Respins, and two fixed jackpots. It was solid, beautiful, and loved, but fairly traditional.
Two years later, Pragmatic Play launched Great Rhino Deluxe (minor visual upgrades and slightly better math). Then, in 2021, they went all-in by acquiring a Megaways license and creating Great Rhino Megaways — a complete overhaul that kept the soul of the original while exploding the reel layout to up to 200,704 ways to win.
| Version | Release Year | Reels × Rows | Max Ways | RTP | Max Win | Volatility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Rhino (original) | 2018 | 5×3 | 20 fixed lines | 96.58% | 500x | Medium |
| Great Rhino Deluxe | 2020 | 5×3 | 20 fixed lines | 96.50% | 6,242x | High |
| Great Rhino Megaways | 2021 | 6 reels + top tracker | 200,704 | 96.58% (can drop) | 20,000x | Very High |
Visuals & Soundtrack: Pure Safari Immersion
The moment the game loads, you’re standing in the middle of the savannah at sunset. Acacias silhouette against an orange-purple sky, while gentle tribal drums and distant animal calls set the mood. Symbols are crisp and animated: cheetahs snarl, gorillas beat their chests, flamingos strut, and the rhino itself charges with realistic dust effects.
The top horizontal reel (the “tracker”) slides in from the Kalahari heat haze — a small but brilliant touch that makes the Megaways mechanic feel organic rather than bolted-on.
Core Mechanics Explained
Tumbling Reels (Cascading Wins)
Every winning combination explodes, letting new symbols drop in. Cascades continue until no new wins form — a staple of Megaways games that can turn a single spin into a chain reaction.
Dynamic Reel Sizes
Each reel can have 2–7 symbols (8 on reel 1 and 6 with the top tracker). The formula is simple:
Ways = (symbols on reel 1) × (reel 2) × (reel 3) × (reel 4) × (reel 5) × (reel 6)
Examples of Ways Calculation
| Reel 1 | Reel 2 | Reel 3 | Reel 4 | Reel 5 | Reel 6 | Total Ways |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 117,649 |
| 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 262,144 (near max) |
| 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 200,704 (official maximum) |
Wild Golden Rhino Coin
Appears only on the top tracker reel (positions 2–5). Substitutes for everything except the scatter and always carries a random multiplier of 2x, 3x or 5x that applies to any win it participates in. Multiple wilds multiply together — three 5x wilds = 125x!
Free Spins Feature — The Heart of the Game
Land 4 or more scatter symbols (the golden rhino coin with “BONUS”) anywhere to trigger free spins. Before the round starts, you choose from four options:
| Option | Free Spins | Starting Multiplier | Multiplier Increase per Tumble | Risk Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 spins | 15 | 1x | +1 | Low |
| 10 spins | 10 | 5x | +1 | Medium |
| 5 spins | 5 | 10x | +1 | High |
| Mystery Choice | Random | Random (1x–10x) | +1 | Random |
The multiplier never resets during free spins. A single long cascade at 50x–200x is enough to reach the 20,000x cap.
Ante Bet & Bonus Buy (Where Legal)
- Ante Bet: Increase stake by 25% → doubles chance of triggering free spins (more scatters on reels).
- Bonus Buy: 100x bet for direct free spins (disabled in UK and some jurisdictions).
Great Rhino Megaways Demo — Try Before You Bet
Every reputable Great Rhino casino offers the Great Rhino Megaways demo mode. It uses identical math and visuals, just with fun credits. Perfect for testing volatility or practicing bonus choice strategies.
Big Win Videos & Record Hits
Since launch, streamers have documented some insane wins:
| Date | Streamer | Stake | Win | Multiplier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 2021 | Roshtein | €80 | €1,264,000 | 15,800x |
| Oct 2022 | ClassyBeef | €100 | €1,987,400 | 19,874x |
| Mar 2024 | TrainwrecksTV | $200 | $3,112,000 | 15,560x |
Mathematical Deep Dive
Hit frequency: ~1 in 3.8 spins (26.3%)
Bonus frequency: ~1 in 187 spins (without Ante Bet)
Max win probability: ~1 in 32 million spins
The game caps wins at exactly 20,000x. Once reached, the round ends instantly with a celebratory screen.
Where to Play Great Rhino Megaways Slot
Top licensed casinos offering the game (2025):
- LeoVegas
- Casumo
- BitStarz
- Stake.com
- 888casino
- Videoslots
Final Verdict
Great Rhino slot remains one of the finest African-themed Megaways titles ever released. It combines breathtaking visuals, proven mechanics, and life-changing potential. Whether you’re a casual player enjoying the Great Rhino Megaways demo or a high-roller hunting 20,000x beasts, this game delivers the full savannah experience.
So load it up, choose your free-spin volatility, and let the rhinos charge.
