A walking wild is a wild that moves one step across the grid on each spin, usually one reel to the left, and triggers a free respin every time it moves. It keeps walking and substituting until it steps off the edge of the grid.
What walking wilds are
A walking wild combines two ideas: a wild that persists for more than one spin, like a sticky wild, and a respin that does not need a new stake. The difference is movement. Each respin shifts the wild one position, so it helps form wins in a different place every time. A wild landing on the far right reel can produce several respins as it crosses the grid, while one landing on the first reel may produce only one or none.
How it works, step by step
- You place a stake and the reels stop.
- A walking wild lands, often on any reel, sometimes only on certain reels.
- Wins are evaluated with the wild in place.
- The wild moves one step, usually one reel left, and the other positions respin at no cost.
- Wins are evaluated again with the wild in its new spot.
- Steps 4 and 5 repeat until the wild leaves the grid. Any new walking wilds that land during respins join in, extending the sequence.
- All wins are added for the total of the original spin.
Common variations
- Direction: left is most common; some games walk right, down or randomly.
- Stacked walking wilds: a full reel of wilds walking together.
- Walking multiplier wilds: a multiplier attached to the wild, sometimes growing with each step.
- Free spins with walking wilds: in free spins, walking wilds may also award extra spins.
- Shifting wilds: a close relative where wilds shift position but do not award respins.
What it does to the maths and the feel
Walking wilds spread a single trigger across several spins, so each landing tends to produce a short run of small to moderate wins rather than one big one. Where the wild lands matters: on a five-reel game a wild on the fifth reel gives up to four respins before leaving, one on the first reel gives none. The game's maths averages across all landing positions, so this is reflected in the RTP, not something you can steer.
As a base-game feature, walking wilds usually add steady, modest returns and keep volatility moderate. Combined with growing multipliers in a bonus, they can produce bigger swings.
Rules in Great Britain
Walking wild games are available on GB-licensed sites. The respins belong to the original game cycle, so the stake limits apply to the stake for that spin. The game design rules apply as normal, including the minimum game cycle of 2.5 seconds.
Questions people ask
Which way do walking wilds move?
Most move one reel to the left each respin, but some move right, up, down or in a random direction. The info screen shows the rule.
Do I pay for the respins a walking wild gives?
No. The respins are part of the spin that landed the wild.
What happens when two walking wilds meet?
It depends on the game. Some merge them, some add a multiplier, and some simply keep both on the grid. Check the paytable.