Backstreet Wilds Slot Review
Please Note: DreamSpin is founded by the co-founders of Fruity Slots, and this review was written and scored by a third-party writer within Fruity Slots. We have made every effort to remain unbiased in our review, but please bear this in mind.
Backstreet Wilds furthers DreamSpin’s iGaming journey & development as the second release to date, and one that is drastically different from the busy space bees in Buzz Thrill. DreamSpin is a studio born from the ideas of the co-founders of Fruity Slots & Hideous Slots, making it a special release for both us and our community.
Unlike Buzz Thrill, Backstreet Wilds is a little more down-to-earth, and by that we mean a run-down back-alley with a high probability of being sliced & diced by angry Fruit. These fruits are certainly rotten to the core and long past their sell-by date…bruised, bitter, and ready to brawl.
Backstreet Wilds feels like a bit of a rough love letter to those who appreciate something uniquely different. It’s a game that requires not only brains but a fair amount of brawn if you’re to stand a chance against these ferocious fruits.
With a fixed RTP of 95.5% and a high volatility score, this game can produce wins worth up to 10,000 times your bet. As far as early releases go, Backstreet Wilds sets the bar high for future games from DreamSpin. This studio is not playing it safe as new providers often do, which is great if you’re hoping for more outlandish offerings…
Base Game & Features
Backstreet Wilds is a 6-reel, 5-row video slot with 15 pay lines available throughout each session. Creating a winning combination requires a minimum of 3 matching symbols to land from left to right, across connecting pay lines, starting from reel 1.
Looking into the paytable, the Dragonfruit acts as the highest-paying symbol, followed by Oranges, Apples, Strawberries, Blueberries, & Blackberries as the remaining high-paying symbols. Low-paying symbols fall to Spades, Clubs, Hearts, & Diamonds.
When a winning combination has been established on the reels, a fixed payout between 0.1x and 30x your bet is awarded. Another symbol of significance is the Wild, which can appear or be placed on all reels, substituting for all paytable symbols as part of a win. Wild symbols are available in multiple forms: Multiplier Wild, Walking Wild, & Scatter Wild.
Wild Features
Throughout gameplay, up to 3 Wild Features can trigger at different stages in the Base Game or Free Spins mode, awarding the following attributes:
- Smashing Wilds: When the reel set has settled, multiple symbols are destroyed and replaced with Wilds. Please note that Scatter symbols cannot be removed or replaced on the reels.
- Multiplier Wilds: Random Wild symbols in a spin may reveal a Multiplier of x2, x3, x4, or x5. The active Multiplier is applied to each winning combination it is a part of for that spin only. If 1 or more Multiplier Wilds are connected to the same win, their values are added together & applied to their payouts.
- Walking Wilds: Any Wild symbol in view may transform into a Walking Wild, spraying in a straight line, either left, right, up, or down, across 1-3 positions. Each affected position will reveal additional Wilds or upgrade the current value of existing Multiplier Wilds, up to a maximum of x5.
If a Walking Wild crosses paths with a Scatter symbol, it will instantly transform into a Scatter Wild, acting as both a Wild & Scatter symbol for that spin only. Please note that Wild Reels will never contain Walking Wilds.
Bonus Trail
When a single Scatter symbol falls upon the reels, it will trigger the Bonus Trail, which appears directly below the main reel set. Once active, the Bonus Trail reveals a series of Enhanced Features, which progressively increase in potential for every additional Scatter symbol that appears in view.
Once the reel set has settled, the following Feature Prizes are awarded depending on the number of Scatters available:
- 2 Scatters: Awards a Feature Respin (Enhancer Respin)
- 3 Scatters: Guaranteed entry into Free Spins (Bonus Activate)
- 4 Scatters: Instant access to Super Free Spins (Super Bonus Activate)
- 5 Scatters: Awards the Mega Free Spins session (Mega Bonus Activate)
Enhancer Respin
Once awarded, the Enhancer Respin will activate after all wins from the triggering spin have been paid out accordingly. During this feature, a single Respin is played out with one of the following Enhancers active:
- Remove Low Symbols: All low-paying (Royal) symbols are removed from the reels for the entire Respin, while Wild symbols remain unaffected.
- Wild Reel: All symbols within a single reel are transformed into Wild symbols. Please note that Scatter symbols cannot appear on a Wild Reel.
- Walking Wilds: All Wild symbols available on the reels are transformed into Walking Wilds.
- Activate Bonus: Guarantees a 3rd Scatter to land on the reels during the Respin feature, thus triggering Free Spins.
During the Enhancer Respin, Scatter symbols are held in position, whilst all other positions spin again, until the end of the feature. Once the reels have settled, any additional winning combinations will be paid out accordingly.
Backstreet Wilds Free Spins
Having 3, 4, or 5 Scatters appear in a single base game spin will trigger the Free Spins session, awarding 8 Free Spins, respectively. Before the session begins, a random Enhancer is chosen at random, up to a maximum of 3.
- 3 Scatters: Awards 1 Enhancer
- 4 Scatters: Awards 2 Enhancers
- 5 Scatters: Awards all 3 Enhancers
Throughout the session, Wild symbols are guaranteed to land on every spin. The following Enhancers can be awarded before the Free Spins session begins:
- Remove Low Symbols: Removes Diamonds, Spades, Clubs, & Hearts from the reels
- Wild Reel: Transforms all symbols into Wild symbols
- Walking Wilds: Guarantees a minimum of 3 Walking Wilds per spin
When a Scatter symbol appears on the reels, players will advance the Free Spins Bonus Trail, awarding +2 Free Spins for 2 Scatters & +5 Free Spins plus all Enhancers active for 3 Scatters, respectively.
Enhancer Upgrade
When 3 Scatters land during a Free Spins session, all active Enhancers are upgraded in the following ways:
- Remove Low Symbols: In addition to low-paying symbols, Blackberry, Blueberry, & Strawberry symbols are eliminated from the reels.
- Wild Reel: All symbol positions on two random reels are transformed into Wild symbols.
- Walking Wilds: Guarantees a minimum of 4 Walking Wilds per spin.
Extra Bet & Bonus Buy
Players within permissible jurisdictions can purchase any of the following Extra Bet & Bonus Buy options:
- Extra Bet: Increases the chance of triggering the Free Spins session for 1.5x your bet per spin (95.5%)
- Free Spins: Triggers the Free Spins session with 8 Free Spins and 1 Enhancer for 90x your bet (95.5%)
- Super Free Spins: Guaranteed entry into the Super Free Spins session with 2 Enhancers & 8 Free Spins for 360x your bet (95.5%)
- Mystery: Awards 8 Free Spins and 1, 2, or 3 Enhancers active for 200x your bet (95.5%)
Backstreet Wilds has a maximum win outcome of 10,000 times your bet. When a Free Spins session or single base game spin exceeds this, the current mode ends, and the player returns to the base game with the qualifying amount.
Our Honest Verdict
Most software developers look back on past experiences not with pride, but as valuable lessons for future endeavours. DreamSpin, however, can confidently look at Backstreet Wilds as something to be proud of, no matter where their creative journey takes them next.
Backstreet Wilds is a memorable, feature-rich addition to an already glowing portfolio. The multiple Wild Features are at the heart of gameplay and the centrepiece for great potential, appearing frequently in the base game and even more so in Free Spins.
In Free Spins, enhanced versions are available should a retrigger occur, significantly boosting their prowess with each spin. Backstreet Wilds is memorable in terms of theme, but honourable through its multiple features & mechanics. The game has a definite charm to it, even if each Fruit symbol rubs you the wrong way (if looks could kill, eh?)
If it’s potential you’re searching for, Backstreet Wilds holds up very well with its 10,000x max win potential, which sits in line with what most others have to offer – perfectly balanced between volatility and potential.
All in all, DreamSpin has once again smashed it out of the park with Backstreet Wilds, acting as a positive indicator of greater things yet to come for the studio.
*The images found in this slot review are currently from Demo Play. On average, our reviews are written prior to the initial release date and before real play is available.
