Wild Symbol Types Wild Symbol Types
Wild symbols substitute for other symbols, and they are named by the extra traits they have, such as expanding, stacked, sticky, walking, or multiplier. One wild can combine several traits.
| English | Wild Symbol Types |
|---|---|
| Classification | Game Features |
| Basic role | Substitutes for other symbols (usually not scatter or bonus) |
| By shape | Expanding wild, stacked wild |
| By movement | Sticky wild, walking wild |
| By value | Multiplier wild |
| Main examples | Starburst, Jack and the Beanstalk, Dead or Alive |
Overview
Wild types (Wild Symbol Types) are the names given to wild symbols, which substitute for other symbols to form wins, based on the extra trait each one has. A basic wild simply replaces one other symbol in its spot, but wilds in today’s slots usually have one or more added traits, such as growing to cover a whole reel, staying in place, walking sideways, or attaching a multiplier.
Short definitions of each wild name are in slot symbol types. This article groups wilds by three criteria, “shape, movement, and value,” and shows how they combine in real games.
Wilds sorted by three criteria
| Criterion | Wild type | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Shape | Expanding wilds | Covers the entire reel position it lands on with wilds. |
| Stacked wilds | Lands already stacked vertically, such as 2 or 3 symbols high. | |
| Movement | Sticky wilds | Locks in place for a set period (usually until the free spins end). |
| Walking wilds | Moves one reel sideways with each spin, keeping the chance of wins going. | |
| Value | Multiplier wilds | Multiplies wins that include the wild, such as 2x or 3x. |
One wild often fits several criteria at once. For example, a “sticky multiplier wild” combines movement and value. In most games, wilds can’t substitute for scatter and bonus symbols, so it’s a good idea to check the substitution rules in the in-game paytable.
Wild combinations seen in games
Expanding + respin: Starburst
NetEnt’s Starburst has a star-shaped wild that expands across the whole reel when it lands, and it also awards one respin. Because each wild gives another chance to spin, it is often cited as a classic example of an expanding wild paired with a respin.
Walking + growing: Jack and the Beanstalk
The walking wild in Jack and the Beanstalk moves one reel to the left with each respin and disappears from reel 1, and wins that include the wild are tripled (3x). In free spins, collecting 3 keys on reel 5 turns wilds into 2-high stacks, 6 keys into 3-high stacks, and 9 keys into full-reel expanding wilds.
Sticky: Dead or Alive
In Dead or Alive, wilds that land stay locked until the end of the 12 free spins. If every reel gets at least one sticky wild, 5 more free spins are added, and line wins during free spins are doubled (2x).
Multiplier + sticky: Wild West Gold
Pragmatic Play’s Wild West Gold attaches 2x, 3x, and 5x multipliers to wilds, and when a win includes several multiplier wilds, the multipliers are added together. In free spins these multiplier wilds stay locked, so they pile up as the spins continue.
Level-based: Mystery Mice
The power wilds in Mystery Mice have levels 1 to 10 and stay locked during a chain of wins, then disappear when the level drops to 1 or there are no more wins. There are also separate symbols that raise the level by 1 to 3.
AI Slot example games at a glance
| Games | Wild traits | RTP | Max win |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dead or Alive | Sticky (free spins) | 96.82% | 8,600x |
| Jack and the Beanstalk | Walking, stacked, expanding | 96.28% | 7,100x |
| Starburst | Expanding + respin | 96.08% | 800x |
| Wild West Gold | Multiplier, sticky (free spins) | 96.51% | 10,000x |
| Mystery Mice | Level-based, sticky | 96.49% | 5,000x |
RTP and max win are based on AI Slot game info. Even with the same sticky wild, volatility varies a lot depending on whether it stays locked through all the free spins or for just one respin. Games with multiplier wilds generally have higher max wins and bigger swings in win size.
