Ch***s · viewer
7/10
Might play it again
- Where
- Demo
- Bet size
- $2
- How long
- 10 to 30 minutes
I played Aurora Wilds in demo mode at $2 a spin and this is one of those slots that looks fairly simple at first but quickly becomes much more interesting once the Wilds start appearing. The game uses a classic 5-reel, 3-row setup with 10 paylines, mixed with a really nice northern-lights and wildlife theme.
The symbols include animals alongside more traditional slot-style icons, giving it a slightly old-school feel while still looking colourful and polished.
The main attraction for me was definitely the expanding Wild mechanic. Wilds can appear on reels 2, 3 and 4, and when one lands it expands to cover the entire reel before triggering a respin. That means even a fairly ordinary spin can suddenly turn into something much stronger if another Wild lands during the respin.
At $2 a spin the base game had a nice mixture of smaller wins and quieter stretches, but those expanding reels give every spin that extra bit of anticipation. You can also win combinations from either direction, which helps make the setup feel a little more generous.
Overall, Aurora Wilds is straightforward to understand, visually relaxing and has enough potential in the Wild feature to keep the spins interesting.
The bonus
The features are where Aurora Wilds really comes alive. Playing at $2 a spin in demo mode, the expanding Wild respins were easily my favourite part. Whenever a Wild lands on reel 2, 3 or 4, it expands to fill the entire reel and stays locked while the remaining reels respin.
If another Wild appears during that respin, that reel expands too and you receive another respin, meaning you can potentially build up several fully Wild reels at once.
You can get up to three respins from the sequence, so once that first Wild lands you're immediately hoping to see another one join it. Having two or three expanded reels on screen can create some really satisfying wins, especially because normal line wins can pay from either the left or the right.
There's also a Jackpot Wheel feature. Landing three Jackpot Trigger symbols awards a spin of the wheel, where one of four jackpot prizes is awarded. I like that this gives the game a second target beyond simply waiting for Wilds. Aurora Wilds doesn't overload you with complicated mechanics, but between the expanding Wilds, chained respins and Jackpot Wheel there is plenty going on to make the bonus side of the game enjoyable.
