Wolf Moon Pokies
It might sound like a bone-chilling horror movie, but Wolf Moon is in fact a high-winning pokie pioneered by renowned games developer Aristocrat. There are a more than a couple of wolf-themed pokies on the market – Wolf Run, Timber Wolf, Winning Wolf, Wild Wolf – but Wolf Moon, which first appeared in online casinos in 2014, is about more than just howling wolves; there are moose, grizzly bears, polar bears and puffins in the mix, too.
As you play, you’ll be handsomely rewarded if you rescue a motley crew of animals from the radioactive snowstorm coming their way. There is also an array of lucrative bonuses up for grabs.
Xtra Reels, Extra Fun
This adventurous video pokie is a little different from many other Aristocrat titles in that it has six reels instead of the standard five. What’s more, four symbols are shown on each reel as opposed to the typical three. The bumper 6x4 grid means the action is more intense, the “ways to win” astronomical: there are over 4,000 opportunities to bag some loot. Big up, Xtra Reel Power.
The graphics are pretty sharp too, and the reels are set against the backdrop of a crisp arctic morning, with frosted fit trees clustered beneath a brightening sky. The icons are shaded in bright, alluring colours – the full moon is purple, the snowflake emerald-green, the arctic wolf a cool blue.
Wolf Moon
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Howling Good Fun
In Wolf Moon, there are no set pay-lines, at least not in the traditional sense. Players win by spinning matching symbols – regardless of their position – on adjacent reels. The only caveat is that the combination must start on the first reel. Naturally, the more consecutive reels your symbol lands on, the higher your pay-out.
The adorable puffins and stately moose are at the lower end of the spectrum, but they still pay out up to 250 coins. The twin wolves and grizzly bears, meanwhile, pay a jackpot of 500 coins. Sitting atop the pay-table are the fully-grown adult wolves; hit six of these and you’ll win 650 coins. But wait, there’s more. If you can land a radioactive snowflake (the ‘scatter’ in the game) before it hits the ground, you’ll be treated to 25x your total bet – ostensibly for preventing a radioactive epidemic. Neat!
Your luck is in if you land three or more radioactive snowflakes in succession. This eventuality activates the Lucky Zone feature, which grants the gamer free spins according to the number of snowflakes. Hitting three snowflake symbols triggers 12 free spins; four engenders 24; five creates 30; and six triggers a whopping 40 free spins.
If a luminous full moon (the wild) symbol appears in the second or third window of the middle two reels during a free spin, it will turn both windows wild and grant a further bonus spin. Reels three and four are partitioned off by a bold Lucky Zone border, so it’s pretty easy to watch out for this. On the plus side, the centre reels continue to be wild for the subsequent free spin. The potential for moneymaking during the Lucky Zone bonus round is obvious.
Incidentally, the full moon can substitute for all other symbols – except the scatter – to form winning combinations. Reels three and four are the only two in which the wild appears.
Risk vs Reward
Wolf Moon features the timeless gamble feature, meaning gamers eager to boost their bankroll can do so simply by guessing the colour or suit of a card. Guessing the correct colour doubles your winnings, while guessing the correct suit quadruples them. You can repeat the gamble five times – should you answer correctly each time – but that’s when the buck stops. Five gambles is the maximum allowed.
Howl’s About That?
With spin stakes starting from just 0.5 coins a spin, and over 4,000 ways to win, Wolf Moon is a seductive pokie – one almost impossible to ignore. The wolf tie-in is a common one, but with its abundance of bonus features, the gaming experience is undeniably enjoyable. Many pokies make do with a generic free spins bonus, and it’s to Wolf Moon’s advantage that their bonus is about more than just freebies.
The animations of the arctic landscape are convincing and rendered clearly, whether you’re playing on a laptop, tablet or mobile device. You can also still find Wolf Moon in land-based casinos throughout the world. Over all, this wolf-themed pokie is a breath of fresh air.