Play Chilli Heat Megaways

Chilli Heat Megaways brings Pragmatic Play back to Mexico, this time with a much larger reel setup than the original Chilli Heat. We get as many as 200,704 ways to form potential wins, a tumble mechanic and a respin feature centred on Money symbols. The familiar mariachi character and his dog return as well, although most of our attention eventually moves towards the changing reel sizes and the special symbols sitting above the grid. The chilli count is respectable. The heat takes a little longer to arrive. 

We arrive somewhere between a postcard and a chilli festival. Sunlight pours across a Mexican street, peppers hang around the scene, cacti sit in the distance, and our mariachi character returns with his small dog for company. The symbols follow the same cheerful approach, with sombreros, hot sauce, lime drinks and bright card ranks filling the reels. Nothing here is aiming for subtlety, which feels about right when the logo itself appears to be on fire. 

The original soundtrack also returns, giving the online slots version a lively fiesta atmosphere without changing the visual identity too dramatically. We find the biggest difference in the reel area itself. The expanded Megaways layout takes up far more space, while the extra horizontal positions above reels two to five become especially important during the respin feature. 

We find the number and card symbols at the lower end of the paytable, followed by drinks, hot sauce and the two character symbols. The sombrero wearing mariachi gives us the strongest regular potential payout. 

• We can see the Chilli Heat Wild only on reels two, three, four and five. The Wild substitutes for regular paying symbols but not Money symbols. 
• Money symbols can appear across the main reels, although not on the extra row above reels two to five. Each Money symbol receives a random potential value from 1x up to 250x the total stake, and six or more activate the respin feature. 

Tumble Feature 

After a potential winning combination forms, we remove the symbols involved and let the remaining symbols fall into the empty spaces. New symbols then arrive from above using the same reel sizes established on the original spin. Another potential combination starts a further tumble, and the sequence continues until no new result forms. 

Respin Feature 

Six or more Money symbols activate the respin round once any previous potential payouts have been resolved. We keep the triggering Money symbols on the grid while the remaining regular symbols disappear. Three respins begin the round, and every new Money symbol stays fixed while resetting the counter to three. 

Reels one and six begin locked. The number of available positions on each reel also matches the layout that triggered the feature, so different starting spins can produce differently shaped respin grids. 

Reel Unlock Symbols 

Special symbols can appear on the horizontal row above reels two to five. Left and right padlock symbols unlock reels one and six respectively, giving us additional positions where Money symbols can potentially land. 

Reel Expansion 

An arrow symbol can increase the reel directly beneath the special position to seven symbols. The extra room becomes particularly useful when we're trying to fill as much of the respin grid as possible. 

Collect Symbols 

Two collection symbols can appear on the special row. One collects the potential Money values on the reel directly beneath the symbol, while the stronger version collects every visible Money value on the grid. 

Money Multipliers 

Multiplier symbols also come in two forms. One applies a random x2, x3, x5 or x10 multiplier to Money symbols on the reel below. The other applies the same range of possible multipliers across all visible Money symbols.

Chilli Heat Megaways uses six main reels with changing numbers of symbols on each spin. Reels one and six can reach seven positions, while reels two through five can reach eight when we include their independently spinning top row. With every reel expanded, we can get as many as 200,704 ways to form potential combinations. 

We need matching symbols across adjacent reels from left to right, beginning with the first reel. The changing reel heights mean the number of available ways can shift considerably from one spin to the next. 

We also get tumbles after successful combinations, so one initial spin can potentially produce several consecutive results. Compared with many titles across online casinos, the base rules stay relatively uncluttered for a Megaways game. Most of the more unusual mechanics wait until the Money symbols send us into respins.

For three useful comparisons, we'd look at another Mexican themed collect game, a familiar Megaways setup and a recent Money symbol feature. 

• Taco Libre: Cash Collect Max: We stay in Mexico here, although luchadores replace the mariachi setting and Cash Collect mechanics take the feature in another direction. 
• Ancient Fortunes: Poseidon Megaways: We swap Mexico for ancient Greece, but the changing Megaways grid and reaction based wins give us a clear mechanical connection. 
• Golden Retriever: We lose the Megaways layout entirely, though Money symbols and a separate respin style round make the bonus structure worth comparing. 

We think Chilli Heat Megaways has a slightly odd balance. The reel system looks busy from the outset, yet tumbles do most of the work until enough Money symbols finally appear. The chilli may be on the label, but the base game keeps the seasoning fairly conservative. 

Our preference sits with the respin feature. Unlocking the outer reels and expanding individual columns can change the grid substantially, while the collect and multiplier symbols give us several things to watch above the reels. We also like that the starting reel sizes carry into the round, since that makes the trigger itself matter beyond simply getting six Money symbols. 

We would've liked another small mechanic during regular spins. Even so, the Mexican theme remains cheerful, the Megaways setup is easy to follow, and the respins have enough moving parts to justify the remake.