Buckshot Wilds (NetEnt) – Review & Demo Play

The Buckshot Wilds Slot Game

I spent a good run on Buckshot Wilds from NetEnt, a Wild West slot set on 5 reels with a default 5x4 layout that can expand to 8 rows and 20 to 48 paylines. The base game sits in a canyon by day, while free spins switch to a warm night scene with a country tune backing the action. Core features are Wilds, Scatters, Expanding Reels, Expanding Wilds, Free Spins, a Feature Buy, and a Bonus Bet, which keep spins lively even when wins stay modest.

Symbols and Payouts in Buckshot Wilds

The Buckshot Wilds paytable uses five lows and four highs plus two specials. Ten to Ace cards pay the bottom end, awarding around 0.1x to 1x for three to five of a kind. High pays are the Blue, Green, and Brown character symbols along with Crossing Pistols, topping out at 5x, 6.25x, 7.5x, and 10x respectively. Wins land when three to five identical symbols connect from the left across active lines, and all displayed prizes scale in line with your selected stake.

The Sheriff's Badge Wild can form wins of its own, paying 1x to 15x for three or more, while also substituting for regulars. It takes centre stage in the feature set too, as new or nudging wilds can trigger extra effects. The Scatter symbol is your ticket to the bonus rounds, with three to five activating free spins. With the expanding grid in play, symbol placement and wild behaviour make or break most better hits.

Buckshot Wilds Symbols and Paytable

Symbol	Quantity	Payout
	5	x10
	4	x2.5
	3	x0.75
	5	x7.5
	4	x2
	3	x0.75
	5	x6.25
	4	x1.25
	3	x0.5
	5	x5
	4	x1
	3	x0.5
	5	x1
	4	x0.3
	3	x0.15
	5	x0.75
	4	x0.3
	3	x0.15
	5	x0.5
	4	x0.2
	3	x0.1
	5	x0.5
	4	x0.2
	3	x0.1
	5	x0.5
	4	x0.2
	3	x0.1
	Wild
	5	x15
	4	x3
	3	x1

Buckshot Wilds Slot Bonus Features

In Buckshot Wilds, up to several wilds can appear and then nudge down one row at the start of each new spin until they leave the bottom. When a fresh or nudging wild covers a trigger symbol, an on-reel shootout fires. Symbols adjacent to that wild turn wild as well, horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. Those temporary wilds clear before the next spin, which keeps the grid tidy and sets up room for the next chain of wild activity.

Expanding Reels can activate randomly in the main game. The reels grow to eight rows and payline count rises to 48. During this state, any wild sitting in the top four rows will clone another wild exactly four positions below on the same reel. When the spin resolves, the grid returns to the default height. The interplay between added rows, extra lines, and drifting wilds is the heartbeat of this slot's base game rhythm.

Free spins trigger with three, four, or five scatters for 6, 10, or 15 spins. In the bonus, reels stay at eight rows. On the first spin you get one to three wilds, then every subsequent spin adds one guaranteed new wild. Any scatter that lands adds +1 spin. You can buy free spins for 100x your bet, or 125x with Bonus Bet. Bonus Bet doubles the spin cost in the base game, guarantees new wilds, and improves the odds for expansions and bonuses.

How to Win at Buckshot Wilds Slot

Gameplay is simple. You're working with 5 reels, 4 rows, and 20 paylines by default, expanding to 8 rows and 48 lines when the feature kicks in. Set a stake between 0.10 and 100, then spin manually or with Autoplay. Quickspin speeds things up. Wins require three or more matching symbols in sequence from the left on active lines. For me, the best sequences come when Expanding Reels land as wilds drift down, creating overlapping lines that can stack tidy medium hits.

Buckshot Wilds Slot RTP & Volatility

NetEnt lists the Buckshot Wilds RTP at 96.04%, with an alternative 94% build in some markets. Volatility reads medium to high on paper, though sessions often lean towards frequent small and mid-range wins. The max win caps at 859x and occurs around 1 in 50 million spins on average. Stakes run from 0.10 to 100, so bankrolls of most sizes can have a go without changing the maths behind the features.

Bonus Bet costs double per spin in the main game and adds a guaranteed new wild, with improved chances for Expanding Reels and Free Spins. In the bonus, extra scatters can land to add more spins. You can also buy free spins for 100x, or 125x with Bonus Bet applied. The net effect is steady feature frequency and a ceiling that stays modest, which suits players who prefer consistent action over chasing giant jackpots.

Final Thoughts on Buckshot Wilds

I rate Buckshot Wilds as a tidy, feature-forward western where wilds do the heavy lifting. The Expanding Wilds and Expanding Reels combo is the draw, and free spins keep the tempo brisk with guaranteed wilds. Payouts rarely go off the charts due to the 859x cap, so I treat it as a session slot for regular hits rather than a jackpot hunt. If you want engaging wild mechanics and frequent events, this NetEnt outing does the job.