Wilderland slot review

By NetEnt

Wilderland Slot

Wilderland Basic info

Game provider NetEnt

Release Date 4/2020

RTP 96.16%

Game Technology HTML5

Popularity Medium

Min bet $0.20

Max bet $400

Max Win bet x 120

Gamble Feature Multiplier wilds, Walking wilds, Stacked wilds, Random wilds, Freespins

Layout 5x3

Devices Support all devices

Configurable Winlines No

Volatility Low

Progressive Jackpot No

If elves were to make a slot, then Wilderland would be the game they’d make. This is a breathtakingly beautiful game.

Wilderland is an intriguing game with a timeless feel to it. The players get a gaming experience that’s good today, tomorrow and even years from now. This is not some flavour of the month.

Simply put, the game is gorgeous and relaxing. It has a serene atmosphere, where you can just sit back and relax. Wilderlands takes you to the heart of a magical forest, where everything is perfectly quiet. NetEnt wasn’t exaggerating when they said that this is one of the prettiest games out there.

The forest and its magical inhabitants are the main focus of the slot. You’ll play under the watchful eyes of dryads, while you relax with this low-volatility slot.

Graphics and sound

Wilderland is easy on the eyes. The game looks like it was made by forest elves and is about their homelands. The calm and quiet atmosphere is brimming with magic.

This is not your average green forest with a couple of cute animals running around. No, this is a magical forest that bathes in purple shadows. There are magical creatures living in these woods, and the woods themselves are alive. The dryads watch over you as you tread on elven ground.

The soundscape earns praise as well. The music and sound effects are basically perfect for the theme. There is a mystical feeling in the air and the slow song fits the game to a T. The sound effects convey the same mysterious feeling. The reels are not moved mechanically, but rather with elven magic.

Now, I do have to mention the similarity between the visual style of Wilderland and The Lord of the Rings movies. The elves, their jewellery and the silver ornaments everywhere are basically the same in both. Sure, they both draw from the same fantasy tradition, but you can’t help but notice the similarities here.

Symbols and wins

NetEnt did a great job with the symbols. They are all quite distinct and suit the theme. Even the low-tier card suits look good, as they are now leaves in the shape of a suit. There are a total of four low-tier symbols, five high-tier ones and two special symbols, a wild and a scatter.

The game revolves around those wilds and the special Activation Zone. The glimmering zone in the middle of the screen can transform wilds into better ones. When two wilds touch on the Activation Zone, they will turn into walking wilds, multiplier wilds, scatter wilds or even expanding wilds.

Every transformed wild in this game is also a walking wild. Unlike many other games, they don’t give you free re-spins here. They move a single space to the left every time you spin the reels. They are also linked to your bet, so don’t go changing it after you get a good set of wilds.

Scatters and scatter wilds can activate the Free Spins feature. This is also a mysterious bonus, as you won’t get a set number of spins, but rather play until all wilds are gone. The Activation Zone also grows to fill the entire board, so making new walking wilds is easier.

The volatility of Wilderland is low and with so many wilds in play, the wins are also low. It is easy to win something, but hard to win big. To get a good hit, you either need to transform a good set of wilds or activate the free spin feature. Otherwise, you will just slowly drain your bankroll.

Features

  • Activation Zone: Wilds magically transform on the Activation Zone

During the base game, the Activation Zone fills up the entire middle row. If two wilds are touching there, they will link up and change form. The transformed wilds are all walking wilds and will move one space to the left with every spin. If a new wild touches a walking wild on the Activation Zone, it too will transform. These are the possible forms:

  • Walking Wild: The wild will start moving to the left a single space per spin.
  • Walking Multiplier Wild: The wild will get a multiplier on it and then start walking.
  • Walking Scatter Wild: The symbol will count as both a walking wild and a scatter.
  • Walking Expanding Wild: The wild expands to fill the entire reel and then walks with the rest.

A full stack of wilds has a little extra feature. Magic Wild might activate if a stack walks off the board and there are no other walking wilds. If it does, the entire stack of wilds is magically transported to the right side of the board.

  • Free Spins: These spins can go on for a long time

If there ever are three or more scatters and wild scatters on the screen at once, you activate the Free Spins feature. You don’t get a set number of spins here. You start off with a walking wild and the spins end when the last walking wild leaves the screen.

During the free spins, the Activation Zone is expanded to fill the entire screen. Now two wilds can link up and transform both horizontally and vertically.

Final Thoughts

If you are looking for a game that is easy to play, nice to look at and is also relaxing, then Wilderland is the game for you. This slot isn’t a roller-coaster of emotions, but rather a nice walk through an enchanted forest.

The visual style was the main reason why I first chose to play this game. I’ve always liked fantasy novels and films, so seeing that in a slot was an easy pick. When visuals are prioritised over mechanics, there is a chance that the game can be dull. This is not the case here, even though it is relaxing.

The focus on the wilds, and therefore the payouts being lower, is a double-edged sword. It’s nice that you get to win often, but it can be tiring when you can’t still get ahead. I know some people will hate this type of game, but I tend to enjoy the long sessions.

This game will not break the bank, but it can be a lot of fun to play. I am going to keep this game in mind if I need to fill a wagering requirement for a bonus, or want to play a long session with a small deposit.

Leticia Miranda

Leticia Miranda

Slot Games Analyst

Leticia Miranda is a former gambling reporter who knows everything about slot games and is happy to share her knowledge. She has covered a broad swath of topics and trends on gambling and is always full of new ideas and energy. Leticia also has a master’s degree in journalism from New York University and is passionate about writing.