There are many types of wild symbols, including Classic Stick, Expanding, and more.
Wild symbols are used to substitute for other symbols to complete paylines.
You can determine if a game offers wild symbols by examining the paytable of a slot.
I’ve always viewed wild symbols like a joker in a card game. What I mean by that is that wild symbols, like jokers, can be substituted for any symbol in a slot game. This comes in handy to help finish off paylines and create winning paylines.
When wild symbols are present, this adds excitement to the game, as you know there’s another way to get that winning payline, and the unpredictable nature adds to every spin.
Other types of wilds include expanding, multiplying, sticky, and more.
Below, I’ll explain the different types of wilds, how wild symbols work, how they impact gameplay, compare them to other symbols, and more.
What Are Wild Symbols?
As mentioned above, wild symbols can be substituted for any other symbol in a slot game. That’s where the comparison to the joker in a card game comes from, as jokers, in certain games, play a similar role.
Substituting for any symbol, allows you to finish paylines and get those wins you otherwise wouldn’t have.
These differ from scatters and bonuses in that wild symbols still need to land in the necessary spot to finish the payline. In contrast, scatters can land anywhere and unlock key bonuses like free spins and other mini-games. Depending on the game, you may need several scatters to land to unlock them.
Bonus symbols can unlock interactive moments within a game, such as choosing between rewards, spinning more reels, and more.
Types of Wild Symbols
You may come across numerous types of wild symbols in your slot-playing journey. I’ll explain each of them below.
Classic Wilds: This is the basic wild symbol. These are used to substitute other symbols to complete a winning payline.
Sticky Wilds: When you spin and land a sticky wild, they’ll remain on the board for multiple spins, providing more chances for winning combinations.
Expanding Wilds: These expanded vertically or horizontally across multiple reels.
Stacked Wilds: These can appear in groups and fill up an entire reel.
Walking Wilds: These move across reels in a specific direction and move with each spin until they fall off the grid.
Random Wilds: These appear at any time throughout gameplay, often featured in bonus rounds or other features.
Multiplying Wilds: Not only do these substitute for other symbols, but they also multiply the win by 2x or more.
Shifting Wilds: These are similar to Walking Wilds in that they change positions during each spin.
I’ve encountered other wilds when playing, including exploding, colossal, transferring, and linking.
Colossal Wilds: These cover large blocks of the reel and can end with multiple paylines winning.
Exploding Wilds: These will explode on the screen to transform other symbols into wilds.
Transferring Wilds: These appear on one reel and will go into the next with each spin.
Linked Wilds: When a wild lands, it’ll link across reels, turning other symbols into wilds.
With these different types of wilds and their impact on the game, you’ll find that some games alter the RTP to accommodate for the power these symbols can wield. Simply put, wilds can provide massive payments, and RTPs for those games will adjust to that.
How Wild Symbols Affect Gameplay
If you play a game with wilds, you can win even more as these complete winning combinations. There are even other types of wilds that can allow for even more winnings, like multiplying wilds.
However, games with wild symbols, especially these other versions that can award larger prizes, can be more volatile. Volatility in slot games means that you may win less often, but there’s a chance for massive payouts. That’s the trade-off we make for these added wild symbols.
Some of the most popular games with wild symbols are Starburst, Age of the Gods, Gonzo’s Quest, and Dead or Alive 2. Here’s how they manifest in these games:
Starburst: Here, you’ll find Expanding Wilds. These cover an entire reel and trigger re-spins.
Age of the Gods: This game series has numerous wild symbols, such as Expanding and Stacked wilds. As mentioned, Stacked Wilds appear in groups and fill up a reel.
Gonzo’s Quest: You’ll find Walking Wilds and Multiplying Wilds.
Dead or Alive 2: The primary wilds you’ll find here are Sticky Wilds and Multiplying Wilds, but there are others.
Strategies for Maximizing Wins with Wild Symbols
If you’re looking for tips and strategies to maximize your winnings when playing slots with wild symbols, you’ve come to the right place.
Here are some of my top tips below:
Check for Special Features: I enjoy games that offer more than just your Classic Wild. These add excitement to the game.
Look for Bonus Rounds: Look for games that offer wild symbols within their bonus rounds. These will provide massive wins.
Examine the Volatility: With these extra wilds, chances are you’ll find high-volatility slots, but if you find anything that isn’t high-volatility and has those features, target those games.
Check the RTP: Return to Player Percentage illustrates how much money is paid to players per $1 wagered. For example, if a game has an RTP of 97%, $0.97 per $1 wagered is paid out.
Target These Wilds: My favorite wild symbols are Sticky, Multiplying, and Walking. I’ve found these to lead to the biggest payouts for me.
Balance Your Gameplay: Low volatility slots with wilds pay out more but offer less upside regarding the amount you could win. Conversely, high volatility leads to massive payouts, but wins are less frequent. Try to find something in the middle.
Comparing Wild Symbols with Other Special Symbols
Wilds vs. Scatters: Wilds substitute for regular symbols, whereas scatters unlock features like a free spin or bonus round, and no payline is required.
Wilds vs. Bonus Symbols: Wilds can immediately award higher payouts because of the replacement of the symbols, whereas bonus symbols can unlock features that could award you more money.
Advanced Wild Symbol Features
Above, I mentioned numerous types of wild symbols, which can lead to re-spins, free spins, and bonus games. We see this in Starburst with the Expanding Wild. It covers the entire reel and triggers the re-spin.
Another example is Dead or Alive 2, where you can land Sticky Wilds during free spins and receive massive payouts.
You can also find wild symbols with progressive jackpot games. Several wild symbols can unlock a jackpot feature or trigger the progressive jackpot in some slots. For example, a specific combination of wilds can unlock the wheel you spin to win a jackpot in Mega Moolah.
Finding the Best Slot Games with Wild Symbols
If you’re looking for games with wild symbols, I recommend checking out the game’s paytable. This is where you’ll find information about the symbols.
From there, you should check out player reviews to see if anyone touches on how often they’ve found the wild symbols. You can also try demo versions of the game to see how it feels.
I mentioned RTP above, and that’s something else you should consider. The higher the number, the higher the chances of winning.
Finally, many online casinos will allow you to filter slots by whether or not wild symbols are available.
Conclusion
Wild symbols can add a ton of excitement to your gameplay, especially if you play games with wild’s that go beyond the Classic Wild. I recommend you try different types of wilds to see what you enjoy most and then find games that offer those.
In addition to find those preferred wilds, make sure you find games that pay out reasonably well and have a medium volatility.
Enjoy your time with wild symbols at your favorite games.
FAQs
What are wild symbols?
Wild symbols are symbols that you can spin for at specific slot games. These substitute for other symbols and can help finish off paylines.
How often do wild symbols appear?
It’s hard to say. I will say that, depending on the type of wilds, this can lead to high-volatility games, which could also lead to fewer appearances as these symbols can lead to wins.
Are wild symbols and scatter symbols the same?
No. Scatter symbols can appear anywhere on the grid and trigger features where wild symbols are used to replace symbols and finish paylines.
