The best way to explain these wild symbols is that they are responsible for triggering wins that can drive most players crazy. Wild symbols are found in most slot machines and are often referred to as the most beneficial symbols.
They can also take the place of any of the standard symbols in the game, which greatly increases the chances of forming combinations. Due to the popularity of wilds, software developers have created wilds with different functions. These include nudges, scatters, sticky, multipliers, stacked, expanding and shifting.
More about wilds
Wilds generally transfer to any adjacent reel. On online slot machines that feature wild transfers, the set of reels typically consists of different reel sizes, meaning that reels one and two are larger than reels three, four and five. Transferring or nudging wilds appear on the first two reels, and then go to other reels while remaining in the same position.
Others expand to adjacent reels by transforming standard symbols into wilds, guaranteeing increased winning odds.
Scatter wilds extend or expand to cover the entire reel on which they appear. This creates the perfect opportunity for massive winning conditions.
Sticky Wilds
Players love the sticky wild or “Sticky Wild” for the abundance of wins they offer. These usually appear on free spins and remain in place until the end of the bonus round.
If more sticky wilds appear, another re-spin will be awarded and therefore sticky wilds can generate significant winning opportunities.
Multiplier wilds
Multipliers or multiplier wilds are another great feature aimed at increasing players’ chances of big wins. It means that a wild symbol not only substitutes for standard symbols but also has a multiplier value.
Because of this multiplier value, once a wild is part of a combination, the payout is multiplied by 2 or 3 times (the specific figure will always be indicated on the paytable).
Scatter symbols
Scatter symbols are probably the most appreciated bonus symbols, as when they are present, prize wins can come from anywhere, even when they do not form a traditional combination on a payline. In addition to the payouts that are easily achieved no matter where these symbols are scattered, they bring with them great excitement as they have the power to trigger bonus rounds.
Once three scatters appear in a single spin, it is usually the case that the free spins bonus round is triggered immediately. A minimum of three scatters can unlock the free spins round and award up to 20 free spins, while four scatters increase the number of free spins to around 30, and when five scatters are visible, 50 to 100 free spins are awarded.
The amount of free spins differs greatly from game to game. During the free spins bonus round, three or more scatter symbols can reactivate the bonus, which means that more free spins are added to the amount of free spins remaining. In some slots, the appearance of scatters during the free spins bonus round adds a multiplier value to the free spins payouts.
Bonus symbols
Numerous online slots feature free spins and bonus rounds on a second screen. While scatters generally trigger the free spins round, bonus symbols often activate opportunities to choose from a range of bonus features on the screen. Bonus symbols are also often responsible for triggering progressive jackpot bonus rounds that could include the spinning of a wheel of fortune.