The Wild Life Pros & Cons
The Wild Life has decent RTP and interesting sticky wild features, but it's held back by weak max win potential and dated graphics.
- 96.16% RTP beats industry average
- Pay Both Ways = 20 effective paylines
- Free spins retrigger up to 200 total
- Sticky expanding wilds during free spins
- Betting range 200 fits budgets
- 2,500x max win weak vs modern slots
- Graphics look 5+ years older than 2017
- High volatility = brutal dry spells
- No autoplay feature
- Only one real bonus feature
The Wild Life Slot Review – IGT's Safari Game Still Worth It?
IGT dropped The Wild Life in March 2017, and it's your basic African safari slot. You get expanding wilds, free spins with sticky features, and Pay Both Ways. We tested it at SlotsGamblers, and the 96.16% RTP is solid, but the 2,500x max win is weak. High volatility means you'll burn through spins with nothing, then suddenly hit something decent. Graphics look dated - we're talking 2012 vibes in a 2017 game. It works for players who want simple mechanics without learning complicated features, but if you're chasing massive wins, skip this. The free spins bonus with locked expanding wilds delivers the real action. Three scatters trigger 10 spins, and you can retrigger up to 200 total. Betting goes from 200 per spin, so casual players and mid-range bettors are covered.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Developer | IGT |
| Release Date | March 22, 2017 |
| Reels X Rows | 5x3 |
| Paylines | 10 fixed (Pay Both Ways - 20 total) |
| RTP | 96.16% |
| Volatility Level | High |
| Min Bet | $0.10 |
| Max Bet | $200 |
| Max Win Potential | 2,500x stake ($500,000 at max bet) |
| Hit Frequency | N/A |
| Default Bet Range | 200 per spin |
| Mobile Compatible | Yes (HTML5) |
Symbols & Payouts
9 regular symbols split between safari animals and cards. Animals pay better, and cards are filler. The wild lion appears only on reels 2, 3, and 4.
🦁 Lioness - High Value
The lioness is the most lucrative base symbol at 250x stake for five. She appears in profile, in warm colors, and glows when you win. Appears fairly often compared to other premiums, so you'll hit decent medium wins with her. Not flashy but gets the job done.
🐘 Elephant - High Value
Big gray elephant that pays well for safari collections. Five elephants pay around 100x your bet, and you'll see them regularly during the base game and free spins. Simple design with trunk raised, glows orange on winning lines. Solid mid-tier that keeps the balance moving.
🦏 Rhinoceros - High Value
Rhino pays decently but less than elephant and lioness. The design shows the horn in gray. Five pay roughly 75x your stake. Hit these often enough to stay interesting, but they won't make your day—basic glow animation.
🦒 Giraffe - Medium Value
Tall giraffes with spots pay around 50x for five. Yellow and brown colors stand out. You'll see these frequently, and they're good for keeping small wins coming during dry spells. Simple but recognizable.
🦓 Zebra - Medium Value
Black-and-white stripes pay similarly to a giraffe at 50x. Clean design makes it easy to spot. Shows up regularly and contributes smaller wins that keep you playing. Not exciting but necessary.
🃏 Ace (A) - Low Value
Red card symbol with African patterns. Five aces give you 50x. These show up constantly and pad losing spins with tiny wins. Design tries to fit the theme, but it's still just a card.
👑 King (K) - Low Value
Purple King with African decoration. Pays slightly less than Ace at 40x for five. You'll see these constantly. Filler symbols that keep the balance from tanking too fast.
♠️ Queen (Q) - Low Value
Blue Queen card pays 30x for five. Same decorated style as other cards. Shows up frequently with small wins. Nothing special, fills reels.
♣️ Jack (J) - Low Value
Green Jack is lowest at 20x for five. These land constantly and barely move your balance. Dead weight that fills your screen.
🦁 Wild Lion - Special
The Roaring Lion Wild appears on reels 2, 3, and 4. When part of a winning combination, it expands to cover the entire reel—substitutes for everything except scatters and locks during free spins. The roar sound effect when it lands is the most exciting part.
🗺️ Africa Scatter - Special
Scatter depicted as the African continent triggers free spins. Three, four, or five scatters anywhere award 10, 15, or 20 free games. Doesn't pay on its own.
| Symbol | 5 of a Kind | 4 of a Kind | 3 of a Kind | 2 of a Kind | Special Properties |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Lioness
|
250x | 75x | 25x | - | Highest paying |
|
Elephant
|
100x | 50x | 20x | - | Premium symbol |
|
Rhinoceros
|
75x | 40x | 15x | - | Premium symbol |
|
Giraffe
|
50x | 25x | 10x | - | Medium value |
|
Zebra
|
50x | 25x | 10x | - | Medium value |
|
Ace (A)
|
50x | 20x | 5x | - | High card |
|
King (K)
|
40x | 15x | 5x | - | Card symbol |
|
Queen (Q)
|
30x | 10x | 5x | - | Card symbol |
|
Jack (J)
|
20x | 10x | 5x | - | Lowest paying |
|
Wild Lion
|
- | - | - | - | Expands on reels 2-4, substitutes all except scatter |
|
Africa Map
|
- | - | - | - | Scatter, triggers free spins |
Bonus Features
Two features total. The expanding wild is always active. Free spins bonus is where sticky wilds actually pay off.
| Feature Name | Trigger Method | Description | Max Potential Win | Frequency | Re-trigger Possible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Expanding Wilds
|
Active always | Wild lands reels 2-4, expands to full reel when part of win | Varies | Common | N/A |
|
Free Spins
|
3,4, or 5 Africa scatters = 10, 15, or 20 free games | Expanded wilds turn sticky and stay for remainder of bonus | 2,500x total | Medium | Yes, each scatter during feature grants +2 spins up to max 200 |
RTP & Volatility
96.16% RTP is above average. High volatility offers chances for substantial wins. Max win 2,500x.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
|
Min Bet
|
$0.10 per spin |
|
Max Bet
|
$200 per spin |
|
Max Win
|
$500,000 (2,500x at max bet) |
|
RTP %
|
96.16% |
|
Volatility
|
High |
Mobile
Works fine on mobile through HTML5: no performance issues or loading delays. Graphics and buttons scale appropriately on smaller screens: same features and RTP as desktop.
Tips
Start with minimum bets
High volatility eats balance fast, test with $0.10 first
Free spins = real wins
Base game is dead spins, profits come from scatter bonus with sticky wilds
Watch for double wilds
When 2 expanded wilds land on reels 2-3 or 3-4, multiple substitution lines pay better
We recommend a 100x bankroll minimum
At 100 to survive dry spells
Pay Both Ways matters
Don't ignore wins starting from reel 5, you're paid both directions
Similar Games
Smash the Pig by IGT is simple, with charming graphics and 96.17% RTP. Siberian Storm has 720 paylines with the Pay Both Ways feature, way more win potential. Raging Rhino by WMS delivers high volatility African wildlife with 4,096 ways to win. Buffalo Blitz offers a similar animal theme but better graphics and a 10,000x max win.
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
Why does the wild lion only show up on the middle reels?
IGT limited wilds to reels 2, 3, and 4 to control volatility. If wilds popped up everywhere, the expanding feature would trigger constantly, and they'd need to drop the RTP.
How does Pay Both Ways actually work?
You win from left-to-right AND right-to-left, so 20 effective paylines instead of 10. Land 3 lioness symbols starting from reel 1 or reel 5, both directions pay.
What's the maximum free spins you can actually get?
Max 200 if you keep retriggering with +2 spins per scatter during the bonus. Realistically, you'll get 10-30 most of the time.
Is The Wild Life worth playing in 2025?
Depends on what you want. Our SlotsGamblers team tested tons of new slots, and this one feels basic compared to modern releases. Fine for relaxed low-stakes play, skip it if you want exciting features or huge wins.
Why is the 2,500x max win so low?
IGT designed this as a steady payout slot, not a jackpot chaser. The high volatility and 96.16% RTP mean smaller but more frequent big wins rather than a single massive payout.
Do sticky wilds during free spins actually make a difference?
Yeah, totally. When you lock 2-3 expanded wilds early in free spins, they substitute on every remaining spin, and wins stack fast. That's where 100x+ hits come from.
What's better for casual players - The Wild Life or Starburst?
Starburst is easier because low volatility means your money lasts longer. The Wild Life has high volatility, so it's prone to bigger swings and longer dry spells.
How often do free spins actually trigger?
Not often. High volatility means scatters don't appear frequently; expect to wait 100-150 spins on average before triggering a bonus. When it hits, though, sticky wilds make it worth the wait.