The ‘243-ways to win’ setup is super popular in digital slots now. Instead of fixed lines, you just need matching symbols on reels next to each other from left to right, no matter where they land on the reel. Microgaming got the ball rolling back in 2009 with Thunderstruck II. They used a standard five-reel, three-row layout, which gives you those 243 chances to win. Studios keep things interesting by adding boosts, stacked symbols, and bonus rounds. This bumps the payback from around 95% to 97%, and the biggest prizes can reach up to 10,000 times your bet. I’m going to break down how it all works, how it has changed, and what companies like Microgaming, NetEnt, Play’n GO, Pragmatic Play, and iSoftBet are bringing to the table.
How the 243 Ways system works
You win when the same symbols line up on reels that are side by side, starting from the left. The exact row doesn’t matter. So, if you get three matching symbols on reels one, two, and three, you win. The game can also pay out multiple combos at once. The game uses a random number generator to pick symbols from strips that have 20 to 50 symbols on each reel. Companies such as eCOGRA check these to make sure they are fair. Your payout is based on the odds for each symbol. The casino makes its money from reward charts, such as 100 times your bet for five matching symbols.
Over the years, there have been some cool additions. Tumbling symbols make winning symbols disappear so new ones can drop into their place. Take NetEnt’s Gonzo games, or stacked symbols that fill entire reels. By 2025, they’re using code in JavaScript and WebGL for graphics. Wild cards help you win more often by filling the gaps and substituting for any symbol.
Microgaming: The Origin
Microgaming came up with this idea and keeps updating its games. Thunderstruck II which came out in 2010 and had a 96.65% return to player, set the stage with Norse characters. It also had a bonus area with four sets of spins that could amp up to 5x and wild reels that could go all the way. The game can pay out up to 8,100 times your bet, and the ‘ways to win’ mean you will likely get smaller wins fairly often. Their follow-up to Immortal Romance amps it up. Story-based wilds stretch over the reels, and locked reels can lead to 10,000x payouts. Quickfire spreads these games to over 800 sites, optimized for phones.
NetEnt: Reels in Sync
NetEnt, now owned by Evolution since 2020, put its spin on things with Twin Spin back in 2013. The game has a 96.55% payback. Every spin, two to five reels mirror each other, which creates multiple matching payouts. It uses old-school fruit symbols for consistent action. The main prize is around 1,080x. In the bonus rounds, the mirroring can expand to cover the entire board, giving you matching symbols everywhere.
They released an update in 2025, Twin Spin XXXtreme, which adds multipliers from 2x to 81x to the mirrored reels, pushing the top payout to 9,600x. The tumbling symbols in Gonzo make the setup cool. Evolution’s API connects them to cash or coin play in regulated areas.
Play’n GO: Stories
Play’n GO works stories into their games, like Rise of Olympus in 2018, which has a 96.5% return. It’s on a big 5×5 grid where powers of the gods drop wilds or switch symbols. Symbol drops build multipliers up to 20x in the spins, with a cap of 5,000x. This year’s Legacy of Dead follow-up game spreads one pick through the reels in the bonus rounds. OMNY makes it easy to play on different devices, and the game loads in a few seconds. Stats show players stick around as the multiplier climbs and myths.
Pragmatic Play: Focus on big wins
Pragmatic Play ups the risk in their games. For example, Gates of Olympus from 2021, which has a 96.5% return, has drops and random multipliers from 2x to 500x on any win. It works like the ways to win setup, paying anywhere, and it can pay out up to 5,000x. In 2025, Starlight Princess lets you increase your bet by 25% to increase your chances of winning the bonus. It also stacks multipliers on top of each other. They have giveaways. The bonus games show up every 200 spins, drawing players in places like Latin America and Europe.
iSoftBet: Mixes Hold & Win
iSoftBet combines the ways to win setup with lock-and-spin. An example is Gold Digger from 2020. It has a 96% return. Mine symbols trigger holds on the 5×3 grid. Regular payouts still happen, but the bonus freezes sevens for jackpots up to 8,230x. This year’s Plunderin’ Pirates adds pirate wilds that stretch across paths and ship multipliers from 2x to 10x. iSoftBet makes the files smaller for slow internet access. The everyday action stays pretty chill but can jump in special rounds.
The 243 approach sticks around because it pays out often and has loaded extras. Microgaming, NetEnt, Play’n GO, Pragmatic Play, and iSoftBet are leading the way with new takes, decent returns, and crazy jackpots.
