Wild Celebrity Bus Megaways Slot Review
Pragmatic Play continue to mine the Megaways mechanic with yet another contemporary release, this time exploring the well-trodden concept of a London-themed travel narrative. Wild Celebrity Bus Megaways launched in April 2023 with a familiar formula: a colourful double-decker bus aesthetic paired with the developer’s established Megaways framework. Rather than attempting innovation, the game settles comfortably into proven territory, offering players a competent if somewhat familiar interpretation of what high-volatility Megaways gameplay looks like. For those seeking respectable maths alongside dependable mechanics, it will more than suffice. For players hoping Pragmatic Play would deliver something genuinely original, disappointment may well follow.
Base Game & Features
The game operates on a 6-reel grid with 5 to 7 dynamically changing rows on each spin, creating up to 117,649 ways to win via the Megaways mechanic. Your bet range spans from £0.20 to £100 per spin, offering flexibility for both cautious and aggressive staking strategies. The grid configuration means win combinations form across multiple potential positions rather than fixed paylines, creating genuine mechanical diversity beneath the familiar London bus theme.
Tumble Feature & Cascading Wins
Where Wild Celebrity Bus does engage is through its cascading symbol system. After any winning combination, those symbols are removed and higher-positioned symbols fall to fill the gaps. This tumble mechanic continues automatically until no new winning combinations form, with cascades theoretically continuing for up to 20 consecutive spins. The system generates genuine rhythm to base game play—frequent small tumbles punctuate ordinary spins, creating a sense of momentum even during lower-variance stretches.
Wild Symbol Functionality
Wild symbols substitute for other symbols to complete winning combinations, a standard mechanic executed without flourish. They appear regularly enough during base play to feel useful rather than frustratingly rare, supporting the overall accessibility of the win mechanics.
Bonus Features & Free Spins
The game’s dual-feature structure provides meaningful gameplay variety without overwhelming complexity. Two distinct bonus mechanisms—respins and free spins—each serve different player preferences, though neither reinvents the wheel.
Respin Feature
Landing exactly three scatter symbols in the base game awards 5 respins. Crucially, the triggering scatter symbols lock in place and remain visible throughout the respin sequence, allowing additional symbols to land adjacent to them. You can retrigger by landing more scatter symbols, effectively extending the feature. At 20x current stake, the purchase option provides a direct route to this feature without waiting for natural triggers.
Free Spins with Progressive Multiplier
Landing four, five, or six scatter symbols triggers 8, 10, or 12 free spins respectively—a transparent and fair trigger structure. The real appeal emerges through the progressive win multiplier: it starts at 1x and increases by 1x after each tumble win, capping at a maximum of 50x. Community testing reveals wins consistently ranging from 300x to 400x bet during free spins rounds, validating the mechanical potential.
Three or more additional scatter symbols during the free spins round add an extra 5 spins, creating meaningful retrigger opportunities. The progressive multiplier doesn’t reset during retriggered spins, continuing from where it reached before—a player-friendly design choice that rewards extended free spin sequences. At 100x current stake, purchasing free spins directly offers another shortcut for impatient players.
Our Honest Verdict
- Overall Rating: 3.2/5
- Wild Celebrity Bus Megaways positions itself squarely as a competent, well-executed Megaways slot offering respectable mathematics and engaging mechanics, but it fails to differentiate meaningfully from the crowded Megaways market. The 96.52% RTP and high volatility framework appeal to players seeking meaningful win potential, and the 10,000x maximum win represents a respectable ceiling by contemporary standards. The dual-feature structure—combining tumble mechanics, respins, and free spins with a progressive multiplier—provides reasonable gameplay variety, and multiple reviewers have highlighted that the visual presentation is colourful and vibrant, with the London bus theme evidently influencing the entire aesthetic.
- However, the game’s shortcomings are equally apparent. The overall experience settles comfortably into familiar Megaways territory rather than innovating meaningfully. Players hoping Pragmatic Play would deliver something genuinely original may find themselves disappointed. The visual presentation, whilst pleasant, doesn’t fully leverage the celebrity concept that the title suggests—it reads as a competent London transport simulation rather than a star-studded journey. For many players, this amounts to a capable but formulaic addition to Pragmatic Play’s catalogue—it satisfies without surprising. The high volatility, whilst appealing to variance-chasing players, presents genuine risk for casual or budget-conscious gamblers, with some reporting really low payouts in sessions and longer dry spells between bigger wins.
- The slot will appeal most to Megaways enthusiasts seeking high volatility gameplay with solid mechanics, and to those specifically drawn to the London-themed aesthetic. It makes a reasonable choice for experienced players of this genre rather than a must-play title. Unless you’re actively chasing Pragmatic Play releases or have a strong preference for London and transport themes, you’ll likely find other Megaways variants offering more compelling differentiation.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
What is the RTP of Wild Celebrity Bus Megaways?
Wild Celebrity Bus Megaways has a default RTP of 96.52%, with operator-configurable variants at 95.50% and 94.55%. This is a solid return rate for the Megaways genre, sitting above the industry average for high-volatility games. Casinos can select from these three RTP levels when configuring the game for their platform. -
What is the volatility of Wild Celebrity Bus Megaways?
Wild Celebrity Bus Megaways features high volatility (medium-to-high variance), meaning wins occur less frequently than in lower-volatility games, but individual prizes tend to be substantially larger in value. This volatility level suits experienced players and high-variance chasers, but requires patience and a larger bankroll to weather potential losing streaks. -
What is the maximum win in Wild Celebrity Bus Megaways?
The maximum win available in Wild Celebrity Bus Megaways is 10,000x your bet, achieved through the game’s tumble mechanics, respin features, and free spins with the progressive multiplier reaching its 50x cap. Community testing has confirmed wins of 300x-400x during free spins rounds, demonstrating that substantial payouts are achievable during normal gameplay. -
How do you trigger free spins in Wild Celebrity Bus Megaways?
Landing four, five, or six scatter symbols triggers 8, 10, or 12 free spins respectively. If three or more scatter symbols land during the free spins round itself, an additional 5 free spins are awarded. This retrigger mechanic can extend your free spins sequence considerably, particularly beneficial given the progressive multiplier that accumulates throughout the entire feature. -
What are the bonus features in Wild Celebrity Bus Megaways?
The game features tumble mechanics (cascading symbols that continue until no new combinations form), scatter symbols for feature activation, free spins with a progressive win multiplier (starting at 1x and increasing by 1x per tumble, capping at 50x), a respin bonus feature where scatters lock in place, and purchase options for both respins (20x stake) and free spins (100x stake). -
How many ways to win does Wild Celebrity Bus Megaways have?
Wild Celebrity Bus Megaways features up to 117,649 ways to win through the Megaways mechanic. The game operates on a 6-reel grid with 5 to 7 dynamically changing rows on each spin. Additionally, winning combinations benefit from a progressive multiplier in free spins that reaches up to 50x, significantly amplifying the maximum win potential. -
Does Wild Celebrity Bus Megaways have a respins feature?
Yes. The game includes a Respin feature where exactly 3 scatter symbols land in the base game to award 5 respins. The triggering scatter symbols lock in place during the respin sequence, allowing additional symbols to land and create new combinations. You can also retrigger respins by landing more scatter symbols, or purchase the feature directly at 20x your current stake. -
Can you buy free spins in Wild Celebrity Bus Megaways?
Yes, players can purchase the Free Spins feature directly at a cost of 100x their current stake. Buying the feature guarantees immediate entry into the free spins round with the progressive multiplier system active. The purchase option provides a direct route to the bonus feature without waiting for natural scatter triggers, useful for players seeking to accelerate their gameplay or test the feature’s potential.
