243 Ways Slot Machines and Slot Games (243 Ways to Win)

I field lots of questions about 243 Ways slot machines. Mostly they come from online slots players. I’ve definitely seen 243 Ways to Win slots in brick and mortar casinos, but I feel like they’re fading away — at least in the United States. Online slots casinos are still plenty in love with Ways to Win slots games.

This post covers everything you need to know to play 243 Ways to Win slot machines like a veteran. There’s nothing complicated about this style of slot game. Once you learn the basics, it’s a simple way to play.

What Does 243 Ways to Win Mean?

Thousands of 243 Ways slots are on the market.

But – what does 243 Ways mean? What are 243 Ways slots machines?

“243 Ways” is a payline format where a slot gives you 243 ways to win on every spin. A 243 Ways slot is a slot game that pays out on any winning combination from left to right across the rows of symbols. You don’t need to select pay lines. Essentially, every pay line is activated for you automatically. Your only choice is in how much to bet on each spin.

243 Ways is a pay line format. It refers to the opportunities you have for winning on each spin.

The number 243 comes from the mathematics of the game. Each of the game’s five reels have three visible symbol positions. Multiply 3 x 3 x 3 x 3 x 3 and you’ll get 243. That’s where “243 Ways to Win” comes from.

An Example of a 243 Ways to Win Slot – IGT’s HEXBREAK3R

Here’s a breakdown of a typical 243 Ways slot: This isn’t a favorite game of mine, but it is typical of the 243 Ways slots in the US slot industry.

HEXBREAK3R is a horror-themed slot by IGT. It has the typical 243 Ways layout, meaning 5 reels with three symbols on each reel. It’s a fixed jackpot game with a top prize of 6,144x your bet.

You can bet between $0.80 and $2,400 per spin. The amount you bet has a direct impact on your payouts, since your prizes are multipliers of your triggering bet. Check out my post on how much you should put into a slot machine for more on this topic.

HEXBREAK3R’s wild symbol is the game’s logo. It’s not a multiplier, which is disappointing compared to other popular 243 Ways slots.

The game’s scatter symbol is a horseshoe, a typical sign of good luck. When you land enough of these symbols, the game’s reels will expand, increasing the size and frequency of your wins. This expanded reel play lasts for a differing number of spins based on the number of scatters you land.

HEXBREAK3R’s posted average RTP is 96.5%. That’s actually good for a 243 Ways to Win slot. It’s a volatile game, so adjust your bankroll and bets accordingly.

Pros and Cons of Playing 243 Ways Slots

One advantage to playing a 243 Ways slot is the simplicity of the betting. There’s no messing around with pay lines. What you bet is what you bet. It makes the math of planning my betting easier, and the game plays more smoothly because of it.

But that’s probably not the thing that’s drawing in slots players. The idea of having so many ways to win on each spin is appealing. The implication is that you’ll see more frequent wins by virtue of covering every possible combo from left to right.

Another reason to check out 243 Ways slots – different features relative to other slots games. Most 243 Ways games have a “two-way” option, whereby you can increase your bet for a chance to win from left to right and right to left. Again, this is an exciting feature that makes you feel like you’ll win more. I’m not sure that’s true, but it feels like it.

When you think about the downsides of playing this type of slot, remember that you have fewer options in terms of betting. If you’re not a max bettor, you might not appreciate having fewer options when it comes to deciding how much to bet per spin. Typically, you can only alter your bet size by altering the denomination. That’s limiting.

Here’s something else to consider:

243 Ways to Win games have lower average RTP than the best-odds slots in the industry. When I see a 243 Ways slot with an average RTP of 96%, I get excited. That’s a terrible thing, because there are so many slots out there with way better average returns. If you’re at all concerned about a game’s odds, 243 Ways slots may not be to your taste.

My 3 Favorite 243 Ways Slots to Play in 2022

I have loads of 243 Ways slots to pick from. It’s a popular format. For this list, I wanted to highlight the best 243 Ways online slots because those are the games I’m most familiar with.

1- Narcos by NetEnt

NetEnt’s Narcos is fun, especially if you’re a big fan of the Netflix series its based on. I’m a sucker for licensed slots, especially for properties that I’m already into. That’s the case with Narcos.

The theme is excellent especially for an online slot game. I’m happy to report that if you like the show you’ll appreciate the little design touches in the game. The images are animated, but they’re lifelike enough to suit a fan like me.

NetEnt’s Narcos has excellent bonus features. The random “Drive-By” bonus is well-done; it actually scared me the first time it happened. It turns random symbols wild. There’s also the free spins game, which you start by landing three or more Free Spins symbols on the reels. Random wilds are built into all the bonus features, which makes them more exciting.

NetEnt says Narcos has an average RTP of 97%. That places it high on the list of the best 243 Ways to Win slots online. 243 Ways slots aren’t known for high average return percentages, so this one is kind of a standout.

2- Immortal Romance by Microgaming

Immortal Romance is Microgaming’s best vampire-themed game. I can say that because as far as I can tell it’s the only vampire-themed game. Still, if you’re into vampires, and you like 243 Ways slots, you should check it out.

The standout feature to me is the max prize – 12,150x your bet. But that’s far from the only goodie in the game. There’s a free spins round, a bonus game, a wild symbol that sometimes acts as a multiplier, and a random multiplier feature.

Immortal Romance has a unique story-like aspect to its free spins round and bonus game. You have to trigger the Amber bonus round three times before you get to the free spins bonus. Once there, you trigger a different set of bonuses depending on which character symbols you land. You can win up to 25 free spins, and you can also earn either multipliers, avalanching reels, or spreading wilds during those rounds.

Microgaming says Immortal Romance has an average RTP of 96.9%. Remember, the version you play is likely to pay higher or lower than that.

3- Stardust by RTG

Stardust is a fairy themed 243 Ways slot by RTG. Don’t sniff at the fairy theme – you can win up to 2,000x your bet. The game also pays out up to 50 free spins. It’s a pretty serious game with a decidedly cute theme.

Slots players will probably also like the betting range, as it’s fit for people with low bankrolls. You can play at a max bet for as little as $0.40 per spin.

The theme is gentle and based on a few game symbols and a static background image. You’ll see some unicorns, some fairies, and other fairy-adjacent things like mushrooms and woodland creatures.

As far as I’m concerned, the best feature is the free spins round. It’s triggered by three or more hollow willow tree symbols. If you land five of those symbols to trigger your free spins, you get 50 of them. That’s a lot higher than a typical slot machine rewards. During your free spins, fairy symbols act as stacked wilds, and a random Lucky feature can trigger, introducing five stacked wilds and an extra respin.

RTG says Stardust has an average RTP of 96.5%. That puts it among the better odds 243 Ways slots online.

Conclusion

This post is the best guide I can write for 243 Ways to Win slot machines. 243 Ways is still a popular format for slot machines, but it’s a lot bigger online than in brick and mortar casinos.

If you enjoy 243 Ways slot machines, you should check out the other Ways slots. Designers have put together a bunch of other “Ways to Win” formats including higher numbers of ways. You can now find slots that go up to 3,125 Ways to Win.