Wild Hike Slot Review
Relax Gaming has carved out a reputation for high-volatility releases that challenge players to understand complex mechanics whilst rewarding those who do. Wild Hike represents a solid entry into their catalogue, delivering a nature-themed experience set in a mysterious forest at night. Rather than pursuing novelty for novelty’s sake, Relax Gaming have focused on refining the expanding wild mechanic into something genuinely compelling—a feature that can deliver substantial payouts whilst maintaining reasonable frequency during base gameplay.
Base Game & Features
Wild Hike operates on a 6-reel, 4,096 ways to win structure, with bets ranging from £0.10 to £50. The reel configuration emphasises accessibility without sacrificing mechanical depth. The base game experience leans toward the immersive rather than the frenetic, built around a mechanic that genuinely encourages players to engage with standard spins rather than skip to bonus features.
The star of base gameplay is the Expanding Wild Respins feature. When a wild symbol lands on reels 3 or 4, it expands to cover the entire reel and triggers a respin. With each additional wild that lands during the respin sequence, a multiplier increases—starting at 1x and scaling upwards. This creates momentum: early respins feel promising, and when the feature connects with high-value symbols, the payouts accumulate meaningfully. It’s not purely bonus-dependent play; the base game genuinely rewards attention.
The symbol set reflects the wilderness theme effectively. High-value creatures—Wolf, Bear, Hog, Deer, and Owl—dominate the paytable, whilst card values fill the lower positions. Wilds appear on reels 2, 3, 4, and 5, giving them strategic placement for the expanding mechanic. The thematic coherence between symbol design and game mechanics is one of Wild Hike’s subtle strengths; the forest setting doesn’t feel disconnected from gameplay but rather intrinsic to it.
Expanding Wild Mechanics Explained
The multiplier scaling system operates simply but effectively. Each respin iteration increases the multiplier, allowing wins to accumulate exponentially if fortune favours. However, this is where volatility enters meaningfully: many players won’t see the feature deliver multiple consecutive respins in a session. When it does, the results feel special rather than expected—which is precisely where high-volatility design succeeds.
Bonus Features & Free Spins
The Free Spins feature activates when 3 or 4 Scatter symbols land anywhere on the reels, awarding 7 or 10 free spins respectively. What makes Wild Hike’s implementation noteworthy is the multiplier carryover system: if you enter free spins whilst a multiplier is active from the base game, that multiplier persists and can increase further during the bonus round. This creates genuine strategic depth—players who trigger free spins from a high multiplier state are more likely to experience substantial wins.
During free spins, the expanding wild mechanics remain active, maintaining gameplay consistency rather than shifting into a different mode. Respins can be retriggered, allowing dedicated free spins sessions to develop compound multipliers. The feature rewards consecutive triggers within a session, though Relax Gaming’s high-volatility design means such moments feel genuinely fortunate rather than routine.
Bonus Buy Options
For players outside the UK, two bonus buy options are available. The first costs 75x the bet and awards 7-10 free spins directly. The second, 150x the bet, guarantees the Wild Free Spins variant with expanded wild coverage during the feature. This dual approach provides choice: committed players can bypass natural triggers, whilst those preferring organic gameplay can wait for scatter combinations. The premium option costs roughly double but delivers expanded wilds, creating a meaningful differentiation rather than a marginal upgrade.
Our Honest Verdict
- Overall Verdict: 7.5/10 – Excellent choice for players who value both presentation and mechanics
- Wild Hike is a fundamentally sound release that does the basics exceptionally well. The expanding wild mechanic feels more refined than shelf-filler territory, though it doesn’t push mechanical boundaries into revolutionary space. The 96.09% RTP with feature-dependent win patterns sits comfortably within industry standards, whilst the 20,000x maximum win potential rewards those willing to weather dry spells.
- The game grows on you. Initial impressions may feel underwhelming compared to more visually bombastic Relax Gaming titles, but prolonged engagement reveals a slot built with mechanical consideration. The base game genuinely offers opportunities for substantial wins through expanding respins, reducing the purely bonus-dependent feel plaguing many high-volatility releases. This balance between base and bonus gameplay is genuinely valuable.
- Volatility positioning sits between casual play and extreme high-variance action. The base game’s reasonable frequency of expanding wild triggers means the game doesn’t feel punishingly slow, yet the feature-dependent multiplier system ensures significant dry spells remain possible. This middle ground appeals to varied player segments—high-volatility chasers will find it engaging, whilst balanced players won’t feel oversaturated by extreme swings.
- Wild Hike positions itself as a solid release for Relax Gaming’s portfolio—not their most innovative offering, but thoroughly competent. For players seeking nature-themed immersion combined with mechanically interesting gameplay, this represents genuine value. Those expecting Relax Gaming’s most exceptional polish or groundbreaking features should manage expectations accordingly.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
What is the RTP of Wild Hike?
Wild Hike has a theoretical RTP of 96.09%, which is a standard RTP for modern slot games from Relax Gaming. The bonus buy variants offer slightly improved RTPs: Free Spins at 96.51% and Wild Free Spins at 96.54%. -
What is the maximum win on Wild Hike?
The maximum win on Wild Hike is 20,000x the player’s stake, achievable through the expanding wild respin feature combined with free spins multiplier carryover. -
Does Wild Hike have free spins?
Yes, Wild Hike features an excellent Free Spins mode triggered by landing 3 or 4 Scatter symbols anywhere on the reels, awarding 7 or 10 free spins respectively. The feature is enhanced by multiplier carryover from the base game. -
Can I play Wild Hike on mobile?
Yes, Wild Hike is fully optimised for mobile devices and can be played on smartphones and tablets through any online casino powered by Relax Gaming’s responsive platform. -
Does Wild Hike have a bonus buy feature?
Yes, Wild Hike includes two bonus buy options for players outside the UK: Free Spins (75x bet) and Wild Free Spins (150x bet), each offering direct access to bonus features without waiting for natural triggers. -
What is the volatility of Wild Hike?
Wild Hike has low volatility in the base game, providing frequent winning spins. However, the expanding wild feature introduces higher volatility moments, creating a balanced overall experience that appeals to varied player preferences. -
Who developed Wild Hike?
Wild Hike was developed by Relax Gaming, a leading premium slot provider renowned for combining innovative game mechanics with exceptional visual and audio design. -
What is the theme of Wild Hike?
Wild Hike features a nature and hiking theme set in a mysterious forest at night, complete with wildlife symbols (Wolf, Bear, Hog, Deer, Owl), atmospheric sound design, and an immersive visual environment that creates a genuinely calming gaming experience.
