What are Wilds in Slot Games? Stacked, Sticky, Random Wilds Explained

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What Does the Wild Symbol Do?

So, what exactly does a wild symbol do? In short, it saves your bacon.

Wilds are like the jokers of the slot world. Their job is to step in and complete a winning line when you’re just one symbol short. I like to think of them as shapeshifters. They can take the place of most other symbols on the reels to help you land a payline you’d otherwise miss.

Let me give you an example. Say you’re playing a classic four-reel slot, and you need four matching symbols in a row to win. You spin in something like Ace–Ace–King–Ace. Close, but no cigar. Now, swap that king out for a wild and suddenly you’ve got Ace–Ace–Wild–Ace. And remember your wild can shapeshift and act as an ace. Lo and behold, that’s a winning combo.

It’s one of those moments where a wild can turn frustration into celebration in a single flick of the reel.

Do all Slot Games Have Wilds?

These days, it’s pretty rare to find an online slot that doesn’t have a wild symbol tucked away somewhere. But not all slot have them. Your most classic of classic slots may not. 

To be sure if a game does include one or more wilds, just check the paytable. All the symbols should be laid out there, including your wilds. I know it’s tempting to dive straight in and start spinning, but taking a quick peek can save you from missing out on what that wild is really capable of. Sometimes wilds are just there to complete a line, but other times, they carry their own value. I’ve seen wilds that trigger bonus rounds, dish out free spins, or unlock extra features if you land enough of them. 

Where Did the Wild Symbol Come From?

Wild symbols have been kicking around in slot games since way back in the 70s. Sure, they were way simpler then. No fancy animations or bonus triggers, for one. But the idea behind them is much the same.

They were inspired by the Joker in a deck of cards. You know, that unpredictable wildcard that can stand in for just about anything? Slot developers borrowed that concept, twisting it to a symbol that could swoop in and complete winning lines where you'd normally walk away empty.

Fast forward, and wilds have become a huge part of what makes modern slots so engaging. They’re not just fillers. They’re full-blown features, helping create more dynamic gameplay and keeping you on your toes with every spin.

Now we know what and why, let’s discuss how specific types of wilds will work in your game. 

How to Spot Wilds in a Slot Game

Each slot is going to have a different-looking wild. There’s not one set icon or symbol to find here, and they usually link in with the theme of the slot.

Wilds have had a serious glow-up over the years, though, I can tell you that. They’re no longer just bland, fill-the-gap symbols. They do all sorts. There are now loads of variations, and I’ll get on to discussing the various types later.

Otherwise, identifying the wild symbol is very simple. All you need to do is click on the paytable or the menu button to see what symbols are represented as the wild. Some will be more obvious than others, but most are distinctive from other symbols in some way. In any well-designed slot game, you can spot them easily. 

Types of Wilds in Slot Games

They’re a simple concept, for sure. But how wilds work within a given slot game can be…  varied. Thankfully, these various ways have common, widely understood names. Which makes life easier for me while I try describing them to you. 

Sticky Wilds

I’ll tell you straight up. These are some of the most exciting symbols you’ll come across in any online slot. And I don’t just mean among the wilds. They’ve got potential to seriously ramp up your wins, especially if they land at the right moment.

As the name gives away, sticky wilds don’t disappear after just one spin. These dudes like to hang around. Usually for a few spins, sometimes for an entire bonus round. That means you’ve got more chances to build winning lines without starting from scratch each time. And let me tell you, when you get a few of these locked in early, it can be absolute chaos - in the best way.

Some games even take it a step further and stick the whole reel, not just the wild symbol. When that happens, you’re in for a wild ride (pun fully intended). It's all about giving you more shots at lining things up across multiple spins.

Slots with Sticky Wilds

Sticky wild symbols appear in a wide range of online slots. Though they show up less in the newest games than they once did. Here are a few games where you’ll find them:

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Review and Demo

Review and Demo

Review and Demo

Stacked Wilds

Now let’s talk about stacked wilds. Because when these land, things can get serious in a hurry.

Stacked wilds tend to show up in slots that are a bit more high-octane: high variance, loads of paylines, and the potential for some real fireworks. These wilds don’t just pop up one at a time. They pile on top of each other, literally stacking up on the reels. And suddenly, you've got way more chances to score a win.

I’ve played a few slots where an entire reel goes full wild thanks to stacking. It's quite the moment! Combine that with 20, 50, or even 100 paylines, and you’ll start to see just how powerful these wilds can be. When they hit, they hit big.

Slots With Stacked Wilds

Stacked wilds are a little harder to come by than other type of slot game wild. Luckily for you, I've found a few:

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Random Wilds

Random wilds are more commonly found within bonus rounds. These wilds are usually ones that take over a more common symbol.

The online slot in question may already have a dedicated wild symbol, but as the game changes to a bonus round or even free spins round, some of the main symbols will change into wilds as well.

Some of the games may also be able to work with multiple wilds within a single slot. As you can imagine, these then become highly lucrative and whilst random wilds are rare, they are games that lots of players target for this very reason.

Slots With Random Wilds

Slots with random wilds are, as stated, quite rare, but some big games have incorporated the feature over the years, with the ones listed below about as big as they come.

• Immortal Romance
• Werewolf Wild
• Vikings Go Wild

Expanding Wilds

Expanding wilds, for us, are the best of the bunch. What we like about this style is that they can offer huge scope to create a winning payline.

The basis for the wild is common with all slots and the wild functions in the same way. However, they expand from just a single symbol to usually cover a whole reel within the game.

For slots that have a huge number of paylines available to them then expanding wilds take some beating in terms of the amount of money that can be won.

It’s worth noting that most expanding wilds will not cover that of bonus or scatter symbols and only take the place of regular in-game symbols.

Slots With Expanding Wilds

One of the best features of these types of slots is that they are incredibly well designed, for the most part at least. They can be linked to some massive, branded games as well, meaning that visually, they are stunning.

Below is a list of what are some of the best expanding wild slots on the market right now.

• Thief
• Beowulf
• Enchanted Crystals

Other Types Of Wild Symbols In Online Slots

Whilst we’ve mentioned several forms of wilds above, there are still plenty of others to choose from. The ones we’ve listed below aren’t as common, but they are still great features within their respected games.

• Multiplier Wilds – Some wilds will double as win multipliers here meaning that the winning payline will get a boost. Most slots work the multiplier based on the symbols on that payline, but others will base the win off the value of the multiplier symbol as well. Dead or Alive II has a great example of this feature.
• Colossal Wilds – As the name would suggest, colossal wilds are much bigger than your standard symbol. They will take up multiple sections of the board and in some, games, will cover the whole board for massive wins. RoboCop has this feature, incorporating it brilliantly into this stalwart of an online slot game.
• Shifting Wilds – Shifting wilds can move in one of two ways. They either move around the board to create the biggest possible payout or they will remain and, on the board, and move left until they disappear. Dolphin Cash has one of the best shifting wild functions for online slots.

Find Slot Games With Wild Features

Most modern slots come with some sort of wild included in the game. Pretty much all of the new releases have them and most of the “older” style have either had them from the start or have had them incorporated in at a later date.

One of the easiest places to start is the software developer for that game. On their site they will be able to give you a detailed run-through of their game, talking about how it works and any features, such as wilds.

If you are already signed up with a casino, then you can use their filter functions on-site to see which games include wilds. Some casinos have more detailed filters than others, so this might be limited when it comes to dialling in for different types of wilds.

You can open any game and then access the pay table section to get a detailed look at the wild and how it functions. Whilst this is a little more tedious a process than the others, it’s likely going to give you the more detailed information.

Progressive Jackpots With Wild Features

Progressive jackpots are some of the most popular online slots in the industry. They allow users to win huge sums of money from a tiny outlay and offer up sensational sums of money as a result.

The games are often linked to styles that are more basic than some of what we would refer to as cutting edge games. There are still a number of these that include wild symbols within, of which we have listed below.

• Siberian Storm
• Mega Moolah
• Beach Life
• Mega Fortune

Conclusion

There’s no doubt that the wild symbol is now one of the most important aspects of any online slot. We’ve seen older games that have been redesigned to include them, such is their popularity amongst online slot players.

The range of wilds that you can choose from is ever-increasing as well. As we’ve mentioned, the days of a “standard” wild that simply creates more winning paylines are starting to diminish and in return, they are now more dynamic than they’ve ever been.

As a player, you need to find a slot that incorporates wilds into the game in a manner that is going to offer entertainment and value. Whilst the styles that we’ve spoken about are all good, they only work as part of the bigger picture and the overall game.

Don’t get too hung up on which wild to choose, but instead take the time to see how it changes and ideally improves how the slot works, rather than just be there to tick boxes.