Sticky Wilds and Respins Explained
By Scatter Drop Editorial Team · Updated 10 November 2026 · 2 min read
Wilds substitute for other symbols. Sticky wilds go one step further: they stay put for more than one spin, so the same wild can help form wins again and again. Pair them with respins and you get some of the most readable features in slots.
Types of sticky wild
- Sticky for the bonus. The simplest form: any wild that lands in free spins stays until the round ends. The Dog House is the classic example, with multiplier wilds that stay for the whole bonus.
- Sticky until used. In several Nolimit City games, wilds drop to the bottom of their reel and stay until they are part of a win.
- Sticky multiplier wilds. In Thunderkick's The Wildos, multiplier wilds stick in the bonus and keep boosting every win they join.
- Growing sticky wilds. In Circle of Life, a winning tree wild sticks and grows one row taller on each respin.
Respin features
A respin is a free re-spin of some or all reels, triggered by something in the base game. Common patterns:
- Win respins – winning symbols stay and everything else respins. Tomb of Nefertiti awards a respin on every win, with wilds held in place throughout.
- Wild respins – a new wild triggers a respin with all wilds held. Ultimate Slot of America keeps respinning as long as new Liberty Gems land.
- Cluster respins – The Wildwood Curse rewards wilds landing in a 2x2 square with special "cursed" clusters.
Walking wilds
Walking wilds move one position each spin – usually one reel to the left – and pay again wherever they land. A wild that lands on the far right reel can pay up to five times before walking off the grid. See all of them in our moving and walking wilds list.
Why these features are popular
Sticky and walking wilds create visible momentum: you can see what the next spin is building on. That makes them great for demo play and for learning a game. Volatility varies widely, though – a sticky multiplier wild in a high-volatility bonus can swing results far more than a simple win respin.
Explore the sticky wilds and respin slots lists to find games with each style.
