Big Bad Wolf Pros & Cons
Big Bad Wolf has some standout features but also apparent limitations. The RTP alone makes it worth trying, but you need to know what you're getting into.
- 97.34% RTP crushes industry average
- Swooping Reels create chain wins
- Pigs turn wild in bonus (up to 3)
- €0.25 minimum bet is affordable
- Bonus triggers fairly often
- 1,220x max win is weak for 2025
- No buy bonus feature
- Medium volatility - no huge hits
- Fairy tale theme won't appeal to everyone
- Graphics look dated compared to new slots
Big Bad Wolf Slot Review - 97.34% RTP & Fairy Tale Wins
Big Bad Wolf takes the Three Little Pigs story and turns it into one of Quickspin's most popular slots. Released in 2013, this game still holds up because of one thing - a 97.34% RTP that beats almost every other slot out there. You get cascading reels (called Swooping Reels here), a bonus round where the wolf literally blows down houses, and pigs that turn wild. We tested Big Bad Wolf at SlotsGamblers and found it's perfect for players who want their money to last, though the 1,220x max win won't make you rich.
The game uses a classic fairy tale theme, but doesn't feel childish. The graphics are cartoon-style but well done, and the gameplay is smooth. The Swooping Reels mechanic means symbols disappear after wins and new ones drop down, so you can chain multiple wins from one spin. During the bonus round, you collect moon symbols to blow down three houses and turn pig symbols wild. It's a simple concept but addictive.
The 97.34% RTP is the real star here. Most slots sit around 96%, so you're getting back an extra €1.34 per €100 wagered over time. That adds up during long sessions. Volatility is medium, so you'll see regular wins but nothing massive. If you're hunting life-changing jackpots, skip this one. But if you want steady gameplay with excellent long-term value, Big Bad Wolf delivers.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Developer | Quickspin |
| Release Date | 2013 |
| Reels X Rows | 5 x 3 |
| Paylines | 25 (fixed) |
| RTP | 97.34% |
| Volatility | Medium |
| Min Bet | €0.25 |
| Max Bet | €100 |
| Max Win | 1,220x stake |
| Hit Frequency | ~35% |
| Default Bet Range | €0.25 - €100 |
| Mobile Compatible | Yes |
Symbols & Payouts
Ten symbols total - 5 character symbols and 5 card symbols. The pigs and wolves are cartoon-style and detailed, while the cards are simple, with a wood-grain texture. Three different pig symbols represent the three little pigs from the story.
🐷 Big Pig Symbol - High Value
The biggest pig is the top-paying regular symbol. He's wearing overalls and looks confident. Five on a payline pays 400x your line bet (16x total stake). He appears less often than other symbols, but when he shows up in a chain reaction during Swooping Reels, the wins add up fast. Design is a clean cartoon style that fits the fairy tale theme perfectly.
🐺 Wolf Symbol - High Value
The hungry wolf is the second-best paying symbol. He's got a menacing grin and looks ready to blow down some houses. Five wolves pay 200x your line bet (8x total stake). During the bonus round, the wolf becomes your ally by blowing down houses to turn pigs wild. The graphics are sharp with good detail on his fur and teeth.
🐖 Medium Pig - Medium Value
The middle pig wears a green shirt and pays 150x line bet for five symbols (6x total stake). He's more common than the big pig, so you'll see him more often. During the free spins bonus, this pig can turn wild if you blow down his house, creating extra win potential—simple but effective design.
🐷 Small Pig - Medium Value
The most miniature pig in a blue outfit pays 100x line bet for five (4x total stake). Appears fairly regularly and contributes to chain wins when Swooping Reels trigger. Like the other pigs, he can become wild during the bonus feature if his house gets blown down. Cute design that appeals to the fairy tale theme.
🏠 Beehive Symbol - Low Value
The beehive is the lowest-paying symbol, paying 80x the line bet for five (3.2x total stake). It appears frequently and often delivers the initial wins that trigger Swooping Reels. Design is simple - a classic golden beehive hanging from a branch. Not exciting, but it keeps the reels active.
🃏 Ace (A) - Low Value
Standard card symbol in brown wood texture paying 60x line bet for five. These fill out the paytable and create frequent small wins. They appear more often than character symbols, so expect to see lots of A, K, Q combos. Nothing special, but necessary for the game structure.
🃏 King (K) - Low Value
Another card symbol pays 50x line bet for five. Same wood texture as the Ace, but slightly lower value. Shows up frequently and helps trigger those Swooping Reel cascades, even when the wins are small.
🃏 Queen (Q) - Low Value
Pays 40x line bet for five symbols. You'll see this one all the time, along with the other card symbols. Contributes to maintaining your balance with frequent, minor hits.
🃏 Jack (J) - Low Value
Pays 30x line bet for five. One of the most common symbols on the reels, so you'll rack up tiny wins with it constantly. Helps maintain your bankroll between the bigger character symbols.
🌕 Moon Scatter - Special
The moon symbol is your ticket to free spins. Three or more anywhere on the reels trigger the bonus round. During free spins, collecting moons blows down the pig houses one by one and turns those pig symbols wild. It's a simple white moon with a face - nothing fancy but easy to spot.
| Symbol | 5 of a Kind | 4 of a Kind | 3 of a Kind | Special Properties |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Big Pig
|
400x line bet | 100x | 20x | Can turn wild in bonus |
|
Wolf
|
200x line bet | 50x | 15x | Blows down houses in bonus |
|
Medium Pig
|
150x line bet | 40x | 10x | Can turn wild in bonus |
|
Small Pig
|
100x line bet | 30x | 8x | Can turn wild in bonus |
|
Beehive
|
80x line bet | 25x | 5x | - |
|
Ace (A)
|
60x line bet | 20x | 4x | - |
|
King (K)
|
50x line bet | 15x | 3x | - |
|
Queen (Q)
|
40x line bet | 12x | 3x | - |
|
Jack (J)
|
30x line bet | 10x | 2x | - |
|
Moon
|
- | - | - | 3+ triggers free spins |
Bonus Features
Two main features here - Swooping Reels and the Blowing Down the House bonus. Simple, but they work together well.
| Feature | Trigger | Description | Max Potential | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Swooping Reels
|
Any win | Winning symbols vanish, new ones drop in, chain wins possible | Varies | Every win |
|
Blowing Down the House Bonus
|
3+ moon scatters | 10 free spins, collect moons to turn pigs wild, cascading multipliers | 1,220x | Medium |
|
Pigs Turn Wild
|
Blow down houses in bonus | Small/Medium/Big pig becomes wild | Up to 3 wilds active | During bonus only |
RTP & Volatility
97.34% RTP and medium volatility make this a bankroll-friendly slot. You'll play longer sessions with the same money as in most games.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
|
Min Bet
|
€0.25 |
|
Max Bet
|
€100 |
|
Max Win
|
1,220x stake (€122,000 on max bet) |
|
RTP
|
97.34% |
|
Volatility
|
Medium |
|
Hit Frequency
|
~35% |
Mobile Experience
Works perfectly on phones and tablets. Touch controls are responsive, and the game scales well to smaller screens. No performance issues or lag. Quickspin optimized this correctly, so it runs as smoothly on mobile as on desktop.
Start with minimum bets
The high RTP means your money lasts, so don't rush to max bet. Test the game at €0.25-0.50 per spin first.
Aim to blow down all three houses in the bonus
The big pig turning wild creates the best winning potential. We recommend staying patient during free spins and letting moons accumulate.
Set a win limit
The 1,220x max isn't huge, so if you hit a 200-300x win, consider cashing out. Chasing bigger wins often leads to losing what you've won.
Play longer sessions
The 97.34% RTP shines over time. Budget for 500+ spins to really feel the difference compared to lower-RTP slots.
Don't chase retriggers
They're nice when they happen, but forcing them by continuing to play after a bonus is how you lose. SlotsGamblers recommends treating each bonus as its own event.
Similar Games
Piggy Riches
Another pig-themed slot from NetEnt with free spins and wilds. Lower RTP (96.38%) but similar medium volatility.
Jack and the Beanstalk
Fairy tale theme from NetEnt with walking wilds and free spins. More features, but also a lower RTP of 96.28%.
Goldilocks and the Wild Bears
Quickspin's other fairy tale slot with bears turning wild. Similar mechanics, but 97.09% RTP is slightly lower.
Reactoonz
Not fairy tale themed, but has cascading symbols and multipliers like Big Bad Wolf. Way higher volatility, though, at Play'n GO's 96.51% RTP.
Play Responsibly - 18+ Only
Gambling should be entertaining and fun. Remember that slots are games of chance, and there's no guaranteed way to win. Never gamble more than you can afford to lose, and always set limits for yourself. If you feel gambling is becoming a problem, please seek help immediately.
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
How do you blow down all three houses in the bonus round?
You need to collect nine total moons during the free spins. The first house needs two moons; second, five total; third, nine total. Each house blown down turns that pig symbol wild for the remaining spins.
Can you retrigger the free spins in Big Bad Wolf?
Yeah, land 3+ scatters during the bonus, and you get another 10 spins. You keep all the pigs you've turned wild, plus your multiplier progress carries over.
Why is Big Bad Wolf's RTP so much higher than other slots?
Quickspin designed it that way to attract players looking for long-term value. The trade-off is that the max win is only 1,220x instead of 5,000x+ like newer slots: high RTP but lower ceiling.
What's the hit frequency on the bonus round?
Triggers roughly once every 100-150 spins based on what we saw. Medium volatility means it's not super rare, but you'll still sometimes have to wait a while.
Is Big Bad Wolf better than Piggy Riches?
Depends on what you want. Big Bad Wolf has way better RTP (97.34% vs 96.38%), so your money lasts longer. Piggy Riches has slightly better graphics and more features, though. We'd pick Big Bad Wolf for the RTP alone.
How often do you actually blow down all three houses?
Not often, honestly. 1 in 5 bonus rounds will get all three houses down. Getting the brick house needs nine moons, and you only have 10 spins (plus retriggers). Totally possible, but it takes luck.
Does Big Bad Wolf still hold up in 2025?
Graphics look dated compared to brand new slots, but the gameplay is solid. That 97.34% RTP never gets old, and the mechanics are simple enough that age doesn't matter if you care more about RTP than cutting-edge visuals, absolutely still worth playing.
What's the realistic max win you can expect?
Most good bonuses pay 50-150x your stake. Exceptional bonuses with retriggers and all three pigs wild might hit 300-500x. The 1,220x max requires perfect conditions—we've never personally hit it, but it's possible with multiple retriggers and insane luck.