slot machines
Wild Hike (Relax Gaming) embarks on a nocturnal hike, amidst a damp forest, wild animals, and large wooden symbols. The pace is rather simple to start with, then the game picks up as soon as the expanding wilds begin to trigger respins.
Quick overview (what you need to know)
Format | 6 reels × 4 rows, 4,096 ways to win |
|---|---|
RTP | 96.09% |
Volatility | High (irregular winnings, potential in bonuses) |
Max win | 20,000× the stake |
Bets | From 0.10 to 50 (depending on the casino) |
Theme, symbols, and gameplay feel
Visually, the game focuses on a dark forest and animals (wolf, bear, boar, owl) as premium symbols, with the classic 10 to A to fill the grid. Wins are “ways-based”: there are no fixed lines to remember, you just have to align the same symbols on consecutive reels from the left. This structure makes the respins very readable: as soon as a wild expands on the 3rd or 4th reel, you quickly understand whether the sequence can scale or not.
The mechanics that make a difference
The heart of the game is the Expanding Wild Respins: when a wild lands on reels 3 or 4, it can expand over the entire reel and trigger a re-spin. As long as winnings land, the respins continue, and the multipliers of the wilds increase by +1 with each re-spin. When two expanding wilds are involved in the same combination, their multipliers can multiply each other — this is where the biggest hits occur.
The Free Spins bonus is triggered with 3 or 4 scatters (7 or 10 free spins). During the free spins, the multiplier increase does not reset: if a session starts well, it can really stretch. 🐺🌲
Bonus buy feature
Wild Hike offers a Buy Feature: purchasing the free spins usually costs 75× the stake, and a “wild free spins” version can go up to 150× with a guaranteed win on double expanding wild. It’s tempting but should be reserved for a budget planned for variance (volatility remains high).
Gameplay tips (without unrealistic promises)
📌 Bankroll management: given the volatility, a stable and moderate bet helps to withstand the downturns.
🎯 Goal: aim for respins sequences with multipliers, rather than regular small wins.
🧪 Demo: try in fun mode to understand the frequency of respins and scatters.
Further explore on 8Fortuna
To stay within the Relax Gaming realm, two titles to compare: Money Train 3 (more “action/bonus”) and Winter Champions (snowy setting). And to try other games without pressure: free slot machines.
