The Guide to Wild Symbols in Slots

Slot Wild Symbols - What They Are & How They Work

Have you ever wondered, what are wild slots? Wild symbols slot games are some of the most popular in our library, and understanding how they work can make your gameplay more rewarding. Slot wild symbols appear on the reels at random and act as substitutes for standard symbols. They complete winning lines and in doing so, enhance your chances of a payout. Some online slot games have different types of wilds, so knowing what they look like, and how they work, can help you get the most out of your gaming experience.

Introduction to Wild Symbols

Wild symbols can replace almost any other symbol on the reels to create winning combinations. Even the earliest slot machines in land-based casinos used versions of slot wild symbols. These special icons added something extra to the standard fruit machine mechanic. As games moved online, developers used wilds in new and creative ways. Now, some expand to cover many icons and some stick in place for multiple spins. However they appear, wilds add a huge amount of variety to the game.

Wild Symbol Restrictions

Wild symbols slot games have set rules when it comes to which symbols a wild can substitute for. In most titles, a wild cannot take the place of bonus symbols or scatters. These are already special icons that can net you a few free spins, give you access to bonus rounds, or even trigger a jackpot. However, in order to do so, they have to appear on their own. All wilds work in specific ways, so it makes sense to check a game’s paytable before you get started. Reading the fine print helps you understand the function of wild symbols in your chosen slot, and gives you confidence when they appear.

How to Identify Wilds

To ensure that they’re easy to spot, designers make slot wild symbols stand out from the other icons. They are often present in eye-catching colours and are sometimes animated. Others are labelled with the word ‘Wild’, so you immediately know what you’re dealing with. Some will be themed icons that match the overall look of the game. For example, in the whimsical title Wild Pixies, the wild is a golden butterfly symbol. Again, use the paytable as a guide before you hit ‘spin’. To maximise your budget, learn what the wild in your chosen game looks like, what it can do, and how it interacts with other symbols.

Modified Wild Symbols & Variations

If you’re new to this feature of online gaming, you might be wondering how you can spot the common variations. Here’s a look at five key slot wild symbols, all of which enhance your gameplay in unique ways:

• Wild multipliers – these wilds can increase a payout by multiplying the value of any winning combination they create.
• Sticky wilds – stickies occupy the same spaces through a set number of spins, so you get more chances of making a winning payline.
• Stacked wilds – these wilds stack to cover large sections of the grid and can complete several winning combinations over a number of paylines.
• Roaming wilds – these unpredictable wilds move upwards across the reels with each spin, potentially creating winning lines as they go.
• Expanding wilds – these symbols grow to cover a full reel and complete several winning lines. In some games, almost the whole reel is eventually counted as a wild.

What Impact Do Wilds Have in Slots?

Slot wild symbols alter the course of a game by forming winning paylines. By filling in for standard icons, they transform losing spins and improve your chances of a payout. For example, sticky wilds stay in place as you spin the reels, so you get more chances at spinning a winner. Other types of wild alter the value of two matching symbols by appearing alongside them and completing a trio. If you score a payout in a wild multipliers game, these symbols can work to double or triple your reward.

Can Wilds Help With Strategic Gameplay?

The outcome of all wild symbols slot games is entirely random, so there isn’t a strategy that can influence whether you win or lose. However, because wilds work as substitutes for one or more other symbols, they can make the gameplay more interesting, and improve the likelihood of a winning cluster appearing on the reels.

How to Find Slots With Wilds

Wilds slots are popular with players because they add variation to a huge range of great games. These symbols come in many forms. They make a game feel more dynamic and may even improve its payout potential. At Pink Casino, you can explore this feature in themed adventures, classic fruit machines and games with the Megaways mechanic. We’ve made sure that there’s a wild slots game to suit every player, so take a look through our library today.