xWays is a mechanic from Nolimit City in which special symbols land and then reveal several copies of the same symbol in one position. Each reveal adds positions to that reel, so the number of ways to win on that spin is multiplied.
What xWays is
Nolimit City builds many of its games on ways-to-win reels and adds named mechanics on top, all starting with an "x". xWays is the one that changes the ways count. When an xWays symbol lands, it opens to show a small stack of one randomly chosen symbol, all the same, occupying what was a single position. Because a ways game multiplies the number of symbols on each reel together, one reel going from four symbols to, say, six raises the ways count for every combination that passes through it.
How it works, step by step
- You place a total stake. The game is a ways game, so wins pay for matching symbols on adjacent reels from the left.
- The reels stop. One or more xWays symbols may land.
- Each xWays symbol reveals a random symbol and how many copies of it fill that slot. All xWays symbols on the same spin usually reveal the same symbol.
- The game recalculates the ways count with the new reel heights.
- Wins are evaluated across the expanded grid. If the revealed symbol matches neighbouring reels, it can produce many paths at once.
Common variations and related mechanics
Nolimit City uses several sister mechanics, often in the same game:
- xNudge: a stacked wild that only partly lands is nudged to fill the reel, and a multiplier on it rises with each nudge. It is a modern take on the nudge.
- xBomb: a wild that explodes, destroying nearby symbols so new ones fall in, similar in effect to cascading reels.
- Bonus usage: in some free spins rounds xWays symbols become more frequent or stay in place.
The details differ from game to game, so the info screen is the reference for any one title.
What it does to the maths and the feel
xWays puts a lot of potential into specific spins. A spin with no xWays symbol is an ordinary ways spin. A spin where several land and reveal a high-paying symbol can multiply a modest line-up into something much larger. Concentrating return into rare spins like this pushes volatility up: most spins return little, and occasional ones return a lot.
The ways count shown on screen does not change the long-run return. The game's RTP already includes every outcome, including xWays reveals that match nothing. Nolimit City games are generally known as high-volatility titles, so long losing runs are a normal part of how they play, not a sign that something is due.
Rules in Great Britain
Nolimit City games with xWays are available on GB-licensed sites, under the same stake limits and game design rules as any other slot. Many of the studio's games offer a feature buy menu in other markets; that option is not offered on GB-licensed sites, so on a GB-licensed site every bonus is reached through normal play.
Questions people ask
Who created xWays?
xWays is a Nolimit City mechanic. It appears in Nolimit City games alongside the studio's other named mechanics such as xNudge and xBomb.
Does an xWays symbol always help?
No. It reveals several copies of a symbol and increases the ways count, but if the revealed symbol does not match neighbouring reels, nothing extra pays.
Is xWays the same as Megaways?
No. Both change the number of ways to win on a spin, but Megaways changes every reel's height at random, while xWays expands only the positions where an xWays symbol lands.