Wild Symbols: What Are They and How Do They Work?

Slot Fans Go Wild for Wild Symbols

Very few modern slot games are without a wild symbol or two; in fact, even the most basic slot games are sure to add a wild symbol into the mix. But what exactly are wild symbols? Stay tuned and keep on reading this article to find out.

What are Wild Symbols?

So, what are wild symbols? Well, wild symbols are the staple of many slot machines and are special symbols which are able to stand in for all other symbols aside from other special symbols, such as scatters and bonus symbols. In most slots the wild symbol doesn’t have a value of its own because it is able to make winning combinations from other symbols, but other slot machines will attach cash values to their wilds and sometimes the wild symbol will even offer the highest payout value.

Most Common Types of Wild Symbols

Sticky Wilds

This is one of the most common form of slot machine wild symbol, and can also be called a ‘locked wild’. These are wilds that, when landed on the reels, will stick in place for a set amount of spins. Sometimes sticky wilds will move down the reels until they disappear or continue to be locked in place as long as certain conditions are met; such as more wilds landed.

Stacked Wilds

Stacked wilds are wild symbols which are able to stack on top of each other to take up an entire reel. Stack wilds can land in bands of 2, 3, 4, or 5 symbols, and may form a complete image when all are landed; usually of a character from the game. Some slots can have stacked wilds on any reels, while other slots will have dedicated reels that wilds can land on.

Expanding Wilds

Expanding wilds are wild symbols in slot machines that grow in size when landed on the reels. Expanding wilds is quite an umbrella term because almost every slot machine interprets what their expanding wild will do differently - Some will spread to every adjacent space, others may only expand on one side, or expand to random positions.

Colossal Wilds

Colossal wilds are wild symbols that appear in a size larger than the traditional 1x1 symbol format. Most commonly colossal wilds will come in 2x2 or 3x3 formats, and can really help players to land impressive symbol payouts.

Multiplier Wilds

These are some of the most exciting examples of wild symbols used in slots and can dramatically change the payout potential of your chosen slot machine. Put simply, multiplier wilds are standard wild symbols with multiplier values attached to them; think of it as the two for one wild symbol.

Top Slots with Wild Symbol Feature

Spinning Wilds

In Spinning Wilds, a fantastic retro-inspired title from Green Valley Games (GVG), the wild symbol can not only stand in for all other base-game symbols, but also has a payout value of its own and can reward players with up to 500x their wager. 

Cleopatra

The way wild symbols are incorporated into IGT’s Cleopatra is iconic in the slot world. The wild symbol used in this slot is Cleopatra herself, and she is not only the wild (and can therefore stand in for all base game symbols), but has a payout value of its own starting at a respectable 10x your wager and soaring to the slots jackpot of 10,000x!

Starburst

The Starburst slot machine is a classic slot game that most slot fans have played. In this slot game the wild symbol used is very straight forward, and doesn’t have a payout value and instead stands in for all other base-game symbols used in the Starburst slot.

Play Wild Symbol Slots at Slingo.com

At Slingo.Com we love wild symbols because the developers we feature on our site are always getting creative and experimenting with the experiences this symbol can give to players. From the humble, classic wild symbol, to funky expanding wilds and humongous colossal wilds, at Slingo.com we have it all! Sign up and play today.