It doesn’t matter if you are a newcomer or a seasoned slot veteran, if you have played slots in casinos at leastonce, you are probably already familiar with the concept of the Wild symbols. With all due respect to other icons, we can easily say that they are the true stars of this category of games.
Drawing a parallel between slots and card games, Wilds are the Jokers of slot machines. They have the power to transform into any other tile on the reels, and more often than not, bring more opportunities for winning big if they are a part of the hit combination.
Nevertheless, they come in different shapes and sizes, and we took up the task of introducing you to all of the variations that you can encounter on the reels of your favourite titles.
Multiplier Wilds
The name for this specific type comes from its ability to increase the win several times. To put this into perspective, if you trigger a Multiplier Wild, the final win will be multiplied several times depending on the sequence and the symbol it substitutes. For example, in NetEnt’sDead or Alive II video slot, each wild that appears during High Noon Saloon feature automatically transforms into a Multiplier. If you land a wild on each reel, you will have a chance to boost your win up to x15 and potentially get another batch of extra Spins.
Sticky Wilds
Sticky Wilds operate by staying attached to the reels during the spin. Basically, if you manage to activate this feature, the Wild that appeared on the reels will remain in its position while you spin again. Other names for this feature are Frozen and Locked Wilds, but the point is the same – they will stay right where they are and possibly contribute to the win if favourable sequences appear.
Expanding Wilds
When we said that Wilds come in different shapes and sizes, this is what we were referring to. Some slot games boast expanding symbols – tiles that appear on the reels in the form of 2×2 instead of regular size. The same can happen to the Wild. A great example of this feature is NetEnt’sStarburst slot where up to 3 Expanding Wilds can cover entire reels. If this happens, the chances for a substantial win skyrocket.
Spreading Wilds
Another NetEnt’s famous slot is a typical example of a game where such Wilds appear. Jack and the Beanstalk slot features a Wild that, once it hits the reels, spreads to encompass 1 tile on the left adjacent reel and an additional re-spin to see if you can acquire even more Wilds.
Duplicating Wilds
The difference between Expanding and Duplicating Wilds is that, if we are playing with Wilds that only expand, it still doesn’t have to mean that it will necessarily cover the entire reel. However, with Duplicating or Replicating Wilds, one Wild certainly does so. Grim Muerto slot is a great example of a slot where you can find this feature. Before a spin, one certain reel is highlighted. If the Wild appears, it will duplicate and cover that whole reel.
Colossal Wilds
Colossal Wilds refer to 3×3 Wilds that land on the reels during turns. They bring massive chances of winning – and winning big – and appear either during Free Spins or during regular base games. Playtech’s video slot RoboCop is the best place where you can find this type of feature. During Free Rounds, each turn includes one Colossal Wildspread on the reel set.
Random Wilds
Last but not least, some of the games feature heaps of wild symbols that drop randomly during your session. They usually have no special powers, but the fact that there are always chances of acquiring Wilds when you least expect it is a great benefit for you.