In June 2018, Leander added the Japanese-themed Golden Wild to its collection of online slots. To find out whether this high-volatility game might be for you, check out this review and discover all you need to know about its symbols, features, and bonus games, including its progressive slot jackpot mechanism.

Game Overview

The Asian theme immediately stands out upon loading the game, with traditional Japanese architecture and pink sakura trees surrounding the reel grid. There are 30 paylines on the 5×3 layout, with a minimum bet limit of $0.40 and a relatively low maximum stake of $40.

One of the key facts about slot machines is that the return to player (RTP) rate reveals the percentage of wagered money that the player can expect to receive back in wins over time. Golden Wild has an RTP of 95.22%, which is not much below the average for video slots online these days. However, in the version with two progressive jackpots to shoot for, that figure jumps to 96.72%. 

Jackpot slots bonus aside, the maximum potential payout is 3,000x the wager. Finally, Golden Wild by Leander is a high-volatility game, ranked 5/5 by its developer.

How To Play

Golden Wild uses a traditional payline method of rewarding players. There are 30 on the grid, and you’ll need to match a minimum of three identical symbols from left to right to secure a win. 

Use the arrows below reel 3 to set your stake. Then, you can start a spin by tapping the green button on the bottom right. You’ll notice that an additional 10-coin ante bet is deducted with each spin. For instance, the minimum $0.01 coin bet costs $0.40 instead of the $0.30 you’d expect.

It’s possible to speed up the reel animations and enjoy faster gameplay. Simply click on the cog icon, followed by the lightning bolt. Autoplay is also an option when you press the triangle symbol below the fourth reel.

Regular Symbols

Any useful guide to casino slots must address the game’s symbols — read on for more info on the symbols in Golden Wild.

This particular title features playing cards A through 9 as its lowest-paying icons. The A and K both offer 8x your line bet for three, with 20x and 80x for four and five on a payline. However, the remaining card symbols only pay half of those values.

Higher-paying symbols include traditional Asian items, such as a fan and a pot of gold coins. The most rewarding regular symbol of all is the lady with the ornate headwear who pays 400x for matching five. She’s unique among regular symbols in the sense that you only need to find two in order to secure a prize. Doing so will return 5x.

Special Symbols

Two other symbols can be found in Golden Wild. First is the scatter, which triggers the bonus feature described in more detail below. However, these also pay a cash prize of 60x, 300x and the maximum payout of 3,000x, for three, four, and five, respectively. 

Next is the gong, which acts as the game’s wild. These substitute for any regular symbol to complete wins while also paying out rewards of their own. You only need two for a win of 10x, with 50x, 150x, and 800x also possible payouts.

Graphics

Intricate details are a common feature in Asian slots, and it’s fair to say that Golden Wild is no different. From the beautiful backdrop, featuring waterfalls, blossoming sakura trees, and traditional houses to symbols on the reels, the design is simply stunning throughout.

The lady who stars in the game wears an extremely ornate headdress. The other symbols, including a fan, gong and pot of coins, are also represented in extraordinary detail. Additionally, a peaceful and traditional tune plays in the background. Winning at slots isn’t everything; sometimes, it’s just nice to play a relaxing game, which is exactly what you’ll get here.

Features

After any winning spin other than a jackpot, you’ll notice the casino chip icon below the reels turn green. This is the slot’s optional Gamble feature, which allows you to take your newly-acquired winnings and try to increase them. 

If you choose to play this game, one of the four aces from a deck of playing cards will be drawn at random. Your task is to ascertain its suit or color — the choice is yours. 

Click on either red or black and, if you’re correct, you’ll double your winnings. If you opt to gamble on the suit instead, your potential reward will be 4x. However, if you fail to guess correctly at any point, you’ll lose all of your winnings from the spin.

Should you win a bet, you can choose to gamble again in the same manner indefinitely. You can take your winnings at any time.

Bonuses and Jackpots

The slot’s main feature is the free spin bonus game. Landing three, four, or five scatters will kick things off. Regardless of the number of scatters triggering the bonus, you’ll receive eight ordinary free spins and three Gold Spins. 

First, your eight free spins play out. Any wins acquired will be added to the overall payout from this feature. However, should a wild be used to complete any wins during free spins, the symbol it represents becomes golden. These are logged in the top-right of the screen. 

Why is that important? Because during the three Gold Spins at the end of the feature, these golden symbols become wild. As a result, they’ll also substitute for others to form wins. The more golden symbols you can accumulate during free spins, the bigger the potential rewards.

Progressive Jackpot

Some versions of the Golden Wild slot feature two progressive jackpots. This variation of the game boasts an increased RTP of 96.72%, along with a Minor and Major jackpot pool.

Like all progressive slots, these prize pools start off with a seed amount. In Golden Wild, these are $500 for the Minor jackpot and $8,000 for the Major. As the game is played, 0.39% of every bet is taken and distributed between the two jackpot pools.

There is nothing you can do to actively shoot for either jackpot. You simply play as normal. If it’s your lucky day, a prize will trigger at random. However, both jackpots are guaranteed to pay out before they hit the upper limit of $1,000 and $10,000.

Similar Games

Like the sound of Golden Wild and want to try more online casino games with an Asian theme? Check out the following titles:

• Prized Panda (Novomatic): The cute and cuddly panda stars in this high-variance slot with an RTP of 95.00%.
• Moon Dancer — Wheel Bonanza (Ainsworth): Ainsworth blends a wheel of fortune and a classic 5×3 slot. Asian symbols like koi and lotus flowers adorn the reels.
• Tiger Emperor (Wizard Games): This high-volatility slot boasts a respectable 96.23% RTP and a Chinese theme.

Enjoy Slots and Table Games at BetMGM

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