Walking wild explained
A walking wild is a wild symbol that moves one reel sideways after each spin, usually to the left, and triggers a respin every time it moves. It keeps walking until it steps off the edge of the grid, so a single wild can take part in several consecutive spins without any extra stake.
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Key takeaways
- Walking wilds shift one reel per respin, usually right to left, until they leave the reels.
- Where it lands decides how many respins it gives: further from the exit means more.
- Respins triggered by a walking wild cost nothing extra.
- NetEnt’s Jack and the Beanstalk is the best-known walking wild slot.
- Behaviour
- Moves one reel per respin
- Usual direction
- Right to left
- Triggers
- A respin each time it moves
- Most respins from
- The reel furthest from the exit
- Best-known example
- Jack and the Beanstalk (NetEnt)
What a walking wild is
A standard wild symbol helps on the spin where it lands and then disappears. The walking version gets a second life, and often several. After wins are paid, it moves one position across, the reels spin again around it, and any new wins are paid. Then it moves once more.
Each of those extra spins is a respin: a spin awarded by the feature, not paid for from your balance. The sequence stops when the wild walks off the first or last reel and no other walking wilds remain.
How many respins a walking wild gives
On a five-reel slot where wilds walk to the left, the reel a wild lands on sets how long it stays. The further right it starts, the more respins it earns.
| Wild lands on | Reels it walks through | Respins awarded | Spins it takes part in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reel 5 | 4, 3, 2, 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Reel 4 | 3, 2, 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Reel 3 | 2, 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Reel 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Reel 1 | None | 0 | 1 |
Several walking wilds on the screen at once walk together, and the respins continue for as long as any of them remains. A new wild that lands during a respin also starts walking, which can stretch a sequence well beyond four spins.
One walking wild sequence, step by step
- You spin at your chosen stake, say 20p, and a wild lands on reel 4.
- Any wins including the wild are paid as normal.
- The wild moves to reel 3 and the game awards a respin at no cost.
- The other positions spin again; new wins with the wild are paid.
- The wild moves to reel 2, then reel 1, with a respin each time.
- On the next move it leaves the grid and the sequence ends.
In this example, one 20p stake covered four spins. If two of the respins each paid 30p, the round returned 60p in total. The figures are illustrative; the point is that the walking wild spreads a single stake across several looks at the reels.
Jack and the Beanstalk, Narcos and other walking wild slots
Jack and the Beanstalk by NetEnt is the game that made the term familiar. Its walking wilds move one reel to the left with a free respin each time, and the mechanic carries through into its free spins round. NetEnt used the idea again in Narcos, which includes a walking wilds feature among its base game extras.
| Slot | Developer | RTP | Volatility | Layout | Max win |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jack and the Beanstalk | NetEnt | 96.28% | Medium-High | 5 reels × 3 rows, 20 paylines | Not listed |
| Narcos | NetEnt | 96.23% (default) | Medium | 5 reels × 3 rows, 243 ways | 1,506x |
More of the studio’s catalogue is profiled on our NetEnt page.
Walking wild variations
- Left-walking: the standard version, moving from reel 5 towards reel 1.
- Right-walking: the mirror image, starting from the left.
- Shifting or random-direction wilds: move to a random adjacent position each spin, sometimes up or down as well as sideways.
- Walking stacked wilds: a full or partial stack that walks as a block, combining walking with stacked symbols.
- Walking multiplier wilds: carry a multiplier with them, applying it to each win they join.
A sticky wild is the opposite approach: it stays in one place rather than moving. Both extend a wild’s life beyond one spin.
Walking wilds and the maths of a session
Walking wilds usually live in the base game and land fairly often, so they work as a steady source of small and medium returns between bigger features. That tends to suit medium-volatility designs, such as the two NetEnt titles above. The respins feel like a bonus, but they are part of the published RTP; they do not add anything on top of it.
How often walking wild sequences start is a question of feature frequency, which developers rarely publish. Over a long run, the RTP is the only reliable number: at 96.28%, £50 staked across 250 spins at 20p has a theoretical return of about £48.14, and actual sessions will vary widely around it. Our broader slot features guide shows how walking wilds sit alongside other base game extras.
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Frequently asked questions
What is a walking wild in slots?
A walking wild is a wild symbol that moves one reel across after each spin and triggers a respin every time it moves. It keeps stepping across the grid, usually from right to left, until it walks off the edge. During each respin it substitutes for regular symbols like any other wild. A wild landing on reel 5 of a five-reel game can give four respins before it leaves. The mechanic is best known from NetEnt’s Jack and the Beanstalk. For a wild that grows instead of moving, see the expanding wild entry.
Do walking wild respins cost money?
No. The respins triggered by a walking wild are part of the original spin’s feature and do not take any further money from your balance. You pay your stake once, and every respin that follows while the wild walks is played at that same stake level for no extra charge. Wins from the respins are added to your balance as normal. Because UK slots show your net position, you can see the overall effect of the sequence once it finishes. The total bet entry explains how stake and spin cost relate.
Which direction do walking wilds move?
Most walking wilds move one reel to the left on each respin, starting wherever they land and leaving the grid after reel 1. Some games reverse this so wilds walk to the right, and a few use shifting wilds that move in a random direction, sometimes up or down as well as sideways. The direction matters because it decides how many respins a wild earns from each landing position. The game’s rules screen describes the movement. Our page on what a slot bonus round is explains how these base game extras differ from full features.
Is a walking wild more likely after a dry spell?
No. Every spin on a licensed slot is decided independently by its random number generator, so a run of spins without a walking wild makes the next one no more likely. The game has no memory of previous results. Thinking a feature is due is a common trap that can lead to longer sessions and chasing losses. If you notice that pattern, a break or a time-out tool can help. Our explainer on how a slot RNG works sets out why each result stands alone.
Do walking wild respins follow the UK spin speed rules?
Yes. UK slot design rules apply to every spin, including respins awarded by a feature. Since October 2021 each game cycle on an online slot must last at least 2.5 seconds, turbo and slam-stop functions are banned and autoplay is not allowed. Each walking wild sequence therefore plays out at the regulated pace, with each step visible. The rules exist to slow play down and help players keep track of spending. Our page on why UK slots are slower covers the background to the change.
Do walking wilds make a slot pay better?
No. Walking wilds change how a slot’s wins are spread, not how much it returns overall. All the respins they can generate are included in the game’s published return to player figure, so a walking wild slot at 96% costs the same over the long run as any other 96% slot: about £4 for every £100 staked. Where they make a difference is the rhythm of play, adding frequent small sequences in the base game. Our RTP entry explains what the published figure does and does not tell you.