Infective Wild – What Is This Slot?
Infective Wild is a Halloween spooky-themed video slot by Pragmatic Play that was released in October 2023. Infective Wild's gameplay takes place on a 5×5 grid with 40 active paylines. The game includes a variety of symbols, including Ravens, Cats, Bats, Potion Bottles and playing card Royals such as Aces and Kings. The visual design for Infective Wild is dark in theme and includes visual elements that represent the Halloween season.
Infective Wild's main feature is the Infective Wild mechanism. Whenever a Wild symbol is spun onto the 5×5 game field, it will normally substitute for the other symbols on the reels. In addition, though, it will "infect" any high-paying symbols that are adjacent to the landed Wild symbol and convert them to additional Wild symbols. Any newly-converted Wild symbols will also seek out and "infect" any high-paying symbols adjacent to themselves; the infections can therefore spread across the game field from a single Wild symbol if high-paying symbols are clustered together in one area.
Infective Wild's main bonus is awarded to players who land 3 or more Scatter symbols. During the bonus round, 8 mini-reels will begin spinning and award between 0 and 3 free spins to the player. During the bonus spins, any Wild symbols that land (from either the base game or the Infective Wilds) will be held sticky for the remainder of the bonus round. A Bonus Buy is available at 100× the total bet.
How to Play Infective Wild
- The minimum bet is $0.40 and the maximum bet is $240 per spin. These values can be adjusted with the + and - buttons located to the right of the cash balance.
- A single click of the Spin button begins the game and spins the reels. Wins are paid according to the symbols that match along each of the 40 paylines from left to right.
- Watch for Wild symbols to land on the grid. Any Wild symbols that are landed will substitute for the other symbols. Additionally, they will "infect" any high-paying symbols (Ravens, Cats, Bats, Potions) that are adjacent to any landed Wilds — those will be converted into Wild symbols as well.
- Any Wild symbols that were created as a result of the Infective Wild will also begin to "infect" any high-paying symbols that are adjacent to themselves; the infection can chain across the field if high-paying symbols are clustered near any initial Wild symbols.
- A player can land 3 or more Scatter symbols on the grid to trigger the Free Spins bonus round.
- The bonus round begins with 8 mini-reels spinning. Each mini-reel will award the player between 0 and 3 spins. The total of all 8 results will determine the number of spins the player receives in the bonus round.
- During the bonus round, any Wild symbols that land on the game field will be held as Sticky Wilds for the remainder of the bonus round. Thus, Wild coverage of the field increases over time.
- A player can purchase the bonus round by clicking on the Bonus Buy button at 100× the player's total bet. This will allow the player to skip to the bonus round without landing Scatter symbols.
Bonus Features
Infective Wild
Infective Wild's main feature — the Infective Wild — works as follows: if a player lands a Wild symbol on the game field, that Wild will substitute for the other symbols. Additionally, though, it will "infect" any high-paying symbols next to that newly-landed Wild. Those high-paying symbols are also converted into Wild symbols. These newly-created Wild symbols will also "infect" any high-paying symbols adjacent to themselves. Thus, the infective properties of the Infective Wild can spread across the game field if high-paying symbols are clustered together near the initial Wild that was landed.
Scatter Symbol & Free Spins Trigger
The Scatter symbol can appear anywhere on the game field. If a player lands 3 or more of the Scatter symbols, they will be awarded a round of Free Spins. There is no prize that is awarded for landing Scatter symbols. The more of the Scatter symbols that are landed, though, the more Free Spins may be awarded as a result.
Sticky Wilds (Free Spins Only)
During Free Spins, any Wild symbols that land on the game field (whether from the base game or the Infective Wilds) will be held as Sticky Wilds for the remainder of the bonus round. Thus, the more spins that occur during the bonus round, the more Sticky Wild symbols will appear on the field and the more likely that payouts will occur later in that bonus round.
Mini Reels – Free Spins Count
Infective Wild's bonus is triggered when a player lands 3 or more Scatter symbols. Once triggered, 8 mini-reels will spin before the bonus round begins. Each mini-reel will award the player between 0 and 3 spins for the bonus round.
Free Spins – Sticky Wilds & Mini Reels
Infective Wild's bonus is triggered by spinning 3 or more Scatter symbols on the field. Prior to the bonus round, the 8 mini-reels will spin. The total of all 8 mini-reel spins will determine the number of bonus spins the player will receive.
| Mini Reel Range | Per Reel | Total Spin Count |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum (all zeros) | 0 | 0 spins |
| Average | ~1.5 | ~12 spins |
| Maximum (all 3s) | 3 | 24 spins |
Once the bonus spins are triggered, the player can expect that any Wild symbols (both created during the base game and by the Infective Wild) will be held as Sticky Wilds; they will not leave the game field during those bonus spins.
During the bonus round, the player will land the initial number of Sticky Wilds. Additionally, each subsequent spin will pay for the player; the Sticky Wilds will pay for themselves and contribute to wins during each individual spin. Thus, later spins will pay for the player better than the early spins in the bonus round; the payouts are cumulative.
Bonus Buy
Infective Wild includes a Bonus Buy feature to allow a player to directly access the bonus round. The bonus buy is available at the following bet amount:
| Option | Cost | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| Buy Free Spins | 100× total bet | Immediate access to the Free Spins feature (8 mini reels spin to determine total spins) |
RTP & Variance Explained
Infective Wild's RTP is 96.09%. Some online casinos may offer a version of Infective Wild at a reduced RTP such as 95.06% or 94.02%. Pragmatic Play slots typically have three different published RTP values. The RTP that is in effect while the player is in the casino can be viewed in the game's information panel. This value should be confirmed before the player begins playing for real money.
Infective Wild is a slot game with low volatility. The 5×5 game field with 40 paylines, the Infective Wild feature and the Sticky Wilds during bonus rounds all contribute to the low volatility of the game. The maximum win of 5,000× is available during the bonus round but the low volatility means that wins during the base game will be lower than other slots with higher volatility.
| Bet Mode | RTP |
|---|---|
| Normal play | 96.09% |
| Reduced (certain regions) | 95.06% |
| Further reduced (certain regions) | 94.02% |
Our Verdict
✅ Pros
- Infective Wild's main feature of "infectious" Wild symbols creates exciting and potentially high-paying moments during the base game.
- The Sticky Wilds that are created during the bonus round create a game where later bonus spins pay for the player better than the early spins.
- The 5×5 game field with 40 paylines allows players to land a high number of wins.
- The low volatility of Infective Wild means that it is a suitable game for players who have a low bankroll but wish to play for extended amounts of time.
- Infective Wild includes a Bonus Buy at 100× to help a player directly access the bonus round.
- Infective Wild's standard RTP is 96.09% which is considered good for online casino slots.
- Infective Wild's free play mode is available for players who do not wish to deposit money into their casino account.
❌ Cons
- The maximum winning potential of 5,000× is relatively low compared to other Pragmatic Play titles.
- Because the number of bonus spins is determined by a mini-reel spin, the bonus round may be short or long depending on the spins.
- The Infective Wild spreading properties only occur for symbols that pay high rates; lower-value symbols will not be converted by the spread.
- Infective Wild does not include an Ante bet which could increase the chances of landing Scatter symbols.
- Because Infective Wild includes three different RTP values, some players may be encountering the 95% or 94% versions without even knowing it.
Infective Wild FAQ
Infective Wild's RTP is 96.09%. Some online casinos may offer a version of Infective Wild with an RTP of 95.06% or 94.02%. The RTP that is in play while the player is in the casino can be seen in the game's information panel. This value should be confirmed before the player begins playing for real money.
Yes, the free play mode of Infective Wild is available on this website. No registration or deposit is required to play for free.
Infective Wild's main feature causes any Wild symbols that are landed to "infect" any high-paying symbols next to the Wild; those high-paying symbols are converted to Wild symbols. These newly-created Wild symbols will also "infect" the high-paying symbols adjacent to themselves.
Free Spins are triggered by landing 3 or more Scatter symbols on the game field. Prior to the bonus round, 8 mini-reels spin and award between 0 and 3 spins.
During Free Spins, any Wild symbols that land (both from the base game and from the Infective Wilds) are held sticky for the remainder of that bonus round.
Yes, Infective Wild does have a Bonus Buy at 100× the player's total bet. The bonus buy may not be available in all jurisdictions.
Infective Wild pays out a maximum of 5,000× the player's total bet. If a round reaches this amount, the bonus round ends and any remaining bonus spins are lost.
Infective Wild is a slot game with low volatility. The payouts during the base game are less likely to be high than in other Pragmatic Play slots but the low volatility ensures that players tend to win frequently during their playing session.