You know what surprised me about Big Wild Buffalo? After throwing a few hundred spins at different bet levels, this slot isn't quite what I expected from Belatra. I've been playing it pretty much non-stop for the last couple weeks, testing everything from €0.20 bets to some bigger €100 spins, and I've got plenty to share about this wild ride through the American prairie.
At first glance, Big Wild Buffalo looks like your standard wildlife-themed slot. But don't let that fool you – there's more going on here than meets the eye. The 5x4 grid with 1024 ways to win immediately caught my attention, and after a few sessions, I realized this game has some serious potential hiding beneath its seemingly simple exterior.
The moment you load up Big Wild Buffalo, you're transported to the vast American plains. The reels are set against a backdrop of rolling hills and golden grass swaying in the breeze. I found myself getting lost in the atmosphere, especially during longer sessions.
The symbols are beautifully designed, with the buffalo taking center stage as you'd expect. Other wildlife like eagles, wolves, and cougars round out the high-value symbols, while card suits make up the lows. I particularly appreciated the attention to detail in the animal designs – they actually look majestic rather than cartoonish.
One small gripe: the background doesn't change during free spins or other features. It would've been nice to see some visual variety to match the excitement of bonus rounds.
Big Wild Buffalo uses a fairly standard 5x4 grid with 1024 ways to win. Wins form by landing matching symbols on adjacent reels from left to right. What sets this game apart is how these mechanics interact with the special features.
I found myself hitting decent wins fairly regularly in the base game, but the real excitement came from triggering the various features. One session stands out where I landed a full screen of buffalo symbols during free spins, resulting in a massive 750x win that had me on the edge of my seat.
As mentioned, the buffalo is king here. Landing five of them on a payline will net you 2.5x your bet, which doesn't sound like much until you factor in the 1024 ways to win. I've had several wins over 100x just from buffalo combinations in the base game.
The other animal symbols pay decently, with the eagle being next in line at 2x for five of a kind. Card suits make up the low pays, ranging from 0.5x to 1x for five.
The wild symbol, represented by a scenic mountain vista, substitutes for all symbols except the scatter. I found it showing up fairly often, helping to create some nice wins.
Big Wild Buffalo packs in a few special features that kept me coming back for more:
Randomly during any spin, wild symbols can come with 2x or 3x multipliers attached. These multiply any win they're part of, and better yet, they stack! I managed to hit a win with two 3x wilds, resulting in a juicy 9x multiplier that turned a modest win into a big one.
This feature triggered for me about once every 100 spins or so. When it hits, a herd of buffalo charges across the reels, turning random symbols wild. It's always exciting to see, and I've had it lead to some monster wins, especially when combined with wild multipliers.
The free spins bonus is where Big Wild Buffalo really shines. Landing three or more scatter symbols (represented by a dream catcher) triggers 8, 15, or 20 free spins. I found myself hitting this feature roughly every 150-200 spins on average.
During free spins, wild multipliers appear more frequently, and the Buffalo Stampede feature is guaranteed to trigger at least once. My best run came from a set of 20 free spins where I retriggered twice, ending up with a total of 48 spins and a 450x total win.
On the flip side, I've also had some disappointing free spin rounds that barely paid 10x. It's definitely a high-variance feature.
Speaking of variance, Big Wild Buffalo is definitely on the higher end of the volatility scale. I experienced some long dry spells punctuated by big wins, which is pretty typical for a high volatility slot.
The RTP is stated at 96.12%, which feels about right based on my sessions. I had swings both ways, but overall, my bankroll tended to last a decent amount of time even during unlucky streaks.
Based on my experience, I'd recommend starting with smaller bets until you get a feel for the game's volatility. I found €0.50 to €2 per spin to be a sweet spot for balancing exciting wins with reasonable bankroll longevity.
Don't be discouraged by low wins in the base game – the real potential is in the features. I focused on lasting long enough to hit free spins regularly, as that's where the biggest wins tend to come from.
I tested Big Wild Buffalo on both my iPhone and iPad, and I'm happy to report it runs smoothly on both. The touch controls are responsive, and I didn't experience any lag or crashes during my mobile sessions.
One minor annoyance: on smaller screens, the paytable text can be a bit small and hard to read. It's not a dealbreaker, but something to be aware of.
Visually, Big Wild Buffalo is a treat. The graphics are crisp and detailed, even on mobile devices. Animations are smooth, particularly during the Buffalo Stampede feature.
The soundtrack is suitably atmospheric, with a gentle western-inspired theme playing in the background. Sound effects are well done, especially the thundering hooves during the stampede. After long sessions, I did find myself turning down the volume, but that's pretty standard for most slots.
Pros:
Cons:
From my testing, I found the following strategies helpful:
Big Wild Buffalo reminds me a bit of Buffalo King Megaways, but with its own unique twists. I found the Buffalo Stampede feature more engaging than similar mechanics in other games.
Compared to other Belatra slots I've played, this one feels more polished and has higher potential for big wins.
I tested Big Wild Buffalo at several online casinos, including Betsson and LeoVegas. Both offered smooth gameplay and quick loading times. I didn't run into any issues with payments or withdrawals at either site.
After two weeks of intense play, I can confidently say that Big Wild Buffalo is a solid addition to the wildlife slot genre. Its high volatility and big win potential make it best suited for players who enjoy a thrill and don't mind weathering some dry spells.
While it may not revolutionize slot gaming, it offers enough unique features and beautiful design to stand out from the herd. If you enjoy high-volatility games with the chance for massive wins, stampede over to Big Wild Buffalo and give it a spin.
How often do the free spins trigger?
In my experience, roughly every 150-200 spins on average.
What's the maximum win potential?
While I didn't hit it personally, the game info states a max win of 5,000x your bet.
Can you retrigger free spins?
Yes, I managed to retrigger several times during my testing.
Is there an autoplay feature?
Yes, you can set up to 1000 autospins with various stop conditions.
Does Big Wild Buffalo have a jackpot?
No, there's no fixed jackpot, but the potential for big wins is still there.