Let’s Get Wild: Stacked & Expanding Wilds Explained

Wild symbols are already some of the most helpful symbols in slot games, replacing regular symbols to help you win. But when they cover an entire reel? Now, that’s just wild. And that’s the point of this guide.

Today, we’re letting our hair down and discussing how expanding wilds slots and stacked wilds slots work. By the time we’re done, we’ll release you into the wild so that you can experience this game-changing feature for yourself.

What are Wild Symbols in Slots?

A wild symbol is one of the most essential slot features. It can swap places with most other symbols to help you complete a winning combination. In that way, if you were just about there, the wild symbol can carry you from “not quite” to “got it!”.

Although the symbol is rogue, usually a wild cannot replace a scatter, bonus symbol, or any other special symbols. It’s designed mainly to replace regular symbols.

Variations of the Wild Symbol

Outside of its standard function, developers have broken free from the norm and gotten incredibly creative with what they can do with a wild. Stacked and expanding wilds are two of the most popular variations.

Stacked Wilds

Now imagine that instead of a single symbol appearing on the reel, several wilds stack together like bricks to form one tall unit. That’s how stacked wilds work. This unit fills the reel vertically for as many rows as the grid has.

For example, if the grid has five reels and three rows, the stacked wild will cover the entire reel, or three spaces. If it has five reels and four rows, the stacked wild will cover four spaces, and so on.

Even though it’s taller, a stacked wild acts the same way as a regular wild, replacing eligible symbols to create wins. The difference is that now you have more wild positions working for you at once, which means more ways to make winning combinations and more paylines activated in a single spin. They don’t call it “stacked” for nothing!

Expanding Wilds

Now we know what stacked wilds are, which brings us to our next question: what are expanding wilds in slots? The wild symbols serve the same function, but they’re not quite the same.

An expanding wild starts out looking like any regular wild, landing as a single-space symbol. But hang tight, because this symbol is about to pull a Freddie Mercury and ‘break free.’ After it lands, it stretches to cover every row on that reel, opening up the chance to score wins across all paylines it touches.

Speaking of Freddie. Expanding wilds are renowned for their pizzazz and are known for putting on a show. When they grow, they often reveal a hidden part of the game’s theme. You might see a single rose bloom into a gothic woman shooting you a come-hither glance, a rose held teasingly between her lips. Or maybe a mysterious black cat transforming into an evil black witch (BOO! That’s Monster Manor – see the feature in our slot review). The graphics are wild with possibilities.

Stacked vs. Expanding Wilds: Key Differences

Two buff men scratch their heads and lift their arms in confusion. Their blue tank tops say “Stacked Wild” and “Expandig Wild,” and they’re standing on a green background.

Tbh, there isn’t a massive difference between stacked and expanding wilds, aside from their theatrics.

A stacked wild already appears as a tower, with the same symbol repeated in the reel’s spaces. You’ll find both within free spins and bonus rounds, with some base-game appearances, too.

An expanding wild lands as a single symbol and then stretches into a larger, often more detailed version of itself. Since it expands right away, it ends up working just like a stacked wild in practice.

That said, you might encounter some key differences. For example, you might catch an expanding wild… in the wild, that expands horizontally instead of vertically, providing you with another angle and set of paylines to tackle.

A stacked wild could also play by different rules. A popular variation is the nudging wild reel. In this case, a stacked wild lands partly on the grid and then nudges upward or downward to cover the whole reel.

Pros and Cons of Stacked & Expanding Wilds

Slots with expanding wilds and stacked wilds are overflowing with perky upsides. But there are a couple of downers to be aware of, too.

Pros:

Cover more of the reels for bigger win potential
Can trigger wins across multiple paylines at once
They look awesome!
Add a little “wait for it…” suspense when they expand or nudge

Cons:

Don’t appear as often as regular wilds
May only show up in bonus rounds
Some games limit how often wild reels appear

Which one is better?

It’s a tie!

They both cover the entire reel, and they both help you form more wins across more paylines. Sometimes they’re accompanied by multipliers or other special features, but both are used essentially the same way. So if you see expanding wilds or stacked wilds, go for it. You’re not missing out by passing on one or the other.

What else can a wild symbol do?

Wild symbols truly are the jack of all trades. A slot without a wild is like a beach without sunshine. It simply wouldn’t work!

Because of their importance, slot developers have dipped into the costume trunk and gone all-out in dressing up the famous wild symbol in all manner of extras. Knowing how wilds work can help you choose the right slot game for you.

Sticky Wilds: These wild symbols appear as a single symbol and stay locked in place for several spins, usually until the bonus round ends or your respins run out.

Walking Wilds: You’ll find these either stacked or expanding. When they reach their full height, a walking wild shifts one reel to the right or left with each new spin, until it either slips off the edge or the bonus round ends.

Trigger Bonus Rounds: Most often in a slot game, three or more scatter or bonus symbols trigger the free spins or bonus round. But in some new slot games, a wild can randomly trigger the bonus round.

Where can I find games with stacked and expanding wilds?

If you’re ready to play slots packed with stacked and expanding wilds, SlotsLV Casino is where you’ll find them. Our collection includes hundreds of games with every type of wild on the slots roster, including stacked, expanding, sticky, and more.

But before you jump the gun and sign up at SlotsLV Casino, there are a few things you should know.

First, our bonuses are some of the most generous around. If you’re a first-timer, we welcome you with more than words – we welcome you with cash! Our Welcome Bonus offers up to $3,000, which you can use on expanding wild and stacked wild slots.

Second, our game selection grows constantly. We’re never satisfied with the basics, so you’ll find everything here, from the tried-and-true simple to the boundary-breaking modern.

And if anything ever goes off track, our customer support team is available 24/7 to help you sort it out fast. From bonus help to gameplay questions, we’ve got you covered.

Wilds are the free spirits of the reels. Stacked or expanding, they replace regular symbols to push you toward a win. Try out the games at SlotsLV Casino. And the next time you hit ‘spin’ and see an expanding or stacked wild land, brace yourself. It might just break free and take you on a wild ride of boosted wins.