Wild Swarm 2 Slot Review
Slot Provider: Push Gaming
RTP: 96.67% | Variance: High | Maximum Win: 10,000x
Our Score: 8.6
WHY YOU CAN TRUST THIS REVIEW: The information and opinions on this page are the result of an comprehensive process of information gathering and live game testing by the gambling experts who work at allslotsites.com. Find out more here.
About Wild Swarm 2
Reviewed by:
Published Date: 26th January 2024
How We Review Slot Games
We test and rate all slot games across 5 criteria, assigning a score out of 10 for each and an overall score that is an average of the 5. To build an accurate assessment of each game we gather information from the supplier and play in real play or demo mode. Find out more.Wild Swarm 2 is the sequel to Push Gaming’s Wild Swarm slot from 2018. The game has the same warm glow to it and many of the same features but the variance has been tweaked upwards and the max win increased to 10,000x. There is a Free Spins round with 2 reel multipliers and sticky wilds. But the main event is Swarm Mode with 10 free plays, triggered by filling the hive meter. It comes with 5 reel multipliers and a sticky wild stack to help boost wins.
Wild Swarm 2 is released on 29th February 2019. Spins start at 10p.
Wild Swarm 2 Game Information
- Release Date: 29th February 2024
- RTP: 96.67% | 95.7% | 94.67% | 90.65% | 88.79%
- Variance: High
- Maximum Win: 10,000x
- Progressive Jackpot: No
- Reels: 5
- Rows: 4
- Paylines: 20
- Minimum Stake: £0.10
- Theme: Animals
- Features: Wilds, Sticky Wilds, Pick Me Feature, Reel Multipliers, Free Spins, Swarm Mode
What We Liked
- Free Spins and Swarm Mode are more powerful than in the first Wild Swarm
- Reel multipliers combine with sticky wilds in free spins
- Really nice graphics and atmosphere
- A volatile game with potential to go off in Swarm Mode
- Clever Bee Hive Meter feature adds progressive element to gameplay
What We Didn't like
- Max win is not as high as other Push Gaming slots
Wild Swarm 2 Review Scores
- Theme and Design 9
- RTP and Variance 8
- Maximum Win 8
- Symbols and Paytable 9
- Features and Gameplay 9
What Our Reviewer Says ...
"Push have added lots more bite to what was already a top slot game, combining the charm of the original with more volatility, powerful reel multipliers and sticky wild stacks. Awesome!"
Overall Score: 8.6
Theme & Design
Our Score 9
A Tranquil Setting Belies a Voraciously Volatile Slot Engine
Wild Swarm 2 is set in the same tranquil forest space as the first game. With its hazy summer vibe, cute soundtrack, fairy tale trees, toadstools and busy bees it’s a heart-warming game that reminds us a little of Hacksaw’s Forest Fortune and NetEnt’s Bee Hive Bonanza too. One of the reasons for Push Gaming’s success, alongside original gameplay, is the quality of their production and Wild Swarm 2 is top class in that respect. If you like your cute animal slots with a lot of volatility thrown in, then you’ll love this one.
RTP and Variance
Our Score 8
What is RTP?
RTP (Return to Player) refers to the amount a game will pay out in cash prizes expressed as a percentage of all the money wagered on that game. For example, a 96% RTP means a game will pay out £96 for every £100 wagered. This is an average number and will vary from one session to the next. Read more here.What is Variance?
Variance refers to how far a game will deviate from its RTP over time. High variance games deviate a lot and produce uneven win distributions and unexpected windfalls. Low variance games provide a more stable and even distribution of wins. Read more here.Push Gaming give their slots multiple RTP settings and leave it to the operator to decide what rate they want to run the game on. Wild Swarm 2 has 5 RTP settings – 96.67%, 95.7%, 94.67%, 90.65% and 88.79%. Whilst the top rate of 96.67% is excellent – though less than the 97.03% found in the original Wild Swarm game – anything less is under average for an online slot game and should be avoided if possible.
You can find out which RTP setting the game is on by hitting the hamburger menu in the top corner then the ‘?’ button on the info screen. Scroll through until you see Return To Player. Most slot sites will run the game at one of the top 3 settings but beware because some will go as low as 88.79% which will noticeably impact your returns.
A good choice if you want to play at optimum RTP is MrQ from Lindar Media which always runs games at top RTP settings.
In terms of volatility, Wild Swarm 2 is a high variance slot, which means a little more volatile than the original which plays as medium-high.
Maximum Win
Our Score 8
What Is Maximum Win?
Maximum win refers to the maximum amount a player can win from one spin. It is expressed as a multiple of the stake. For example, where the maximum win is 100,000x, from a £1 stake, the maximum win would be £100,000.The change in volatility is reflected in the higher max win here. Whereas Wild Swarm had a top payout of just 3,100x, Wild Swarm 2 comes in at a much more respectable 10,000x which brings it more in line with current max wins, though still falls some way short of the numbers we see in many of the highest paying Push Gaming slots like Razor Returns (100,000x) and Dinopolis (50,000x), Big Bamboo (50,000x) and Fire Hopper (50,000x).
Symbols and Paytable
Our Score 9
Wild Swarm 2 follows the same 5 reel, 4 row set up as the first game, with 20 paylines to land wins on. Wins require 3 or more identical symbols to land across the reels from left to right, starting at the far left.
Symbol values are reasonably good. The low payers are the cards, Jack through to Ace. Their values are from 0.2x for 3 Jacks up to 0.7x for 5 Aces on a line. The premiums show continuity from the original game, with a purple flower, white flower, honey pot and dollar sign which pay out up to 15x for 5 dollar signs on a line.
Also of interest are TWO wild symbols. These are the Wild Honey and the Sticky Wild which will both substitute for any pay symbol to complete a win line AND pay out on their own when 3, 4 or 5 appear on a line, maxing out at 15x for 5.
Features and Gameplay
Our Score 9
Wild Swarm 2 takes the base elements of the first game and powers them up with reel multipliers and sticky wild combinations in Free Spins and Swarm Mode, which feels like a very enticing proposition.
Sticky Wild
During the free spins round and Swarm Mode the Sticky Wild is activated. It’s the same bee and honey splat as you see in the original game and it sticks when it lands for the full feature.
Pick Feature
You will also recognise this one from the original Wild Swarm game. At any point in the game – base or free spins – when a chest symbol lands it will trigger the Pick Feature. There are 5 chests to choose from. The player picks one and reveals a prize of 2x to 1,000x, Free Spins, a boost to the Hive Meter or direct entry to the Swarm Mode.
If you trigger the Pick Feature during Free Spins or Swarm Mode then you can win between 1 and 6 extra spins or a Sticky Wild Reel with a multiplier.
Free Spins
The free spins round has been tweaked to give it more potential via reel multipliers and sticky wilds, and it is better for it. There are two ways to trigger the round.
- Landing 3 scatters gets you 7 free spins with a guaranteed minimum of 3 sticky wilds
- Landing 4 scatters gets you 8 free spins with a guaranteed minimum of 4 sticky wilds
- Landing 5 scatters gets you 10 free spins with a guaranteed minimum of 5 sticky wilds
- Picking the Free Spins prize in the Pick Feature gets you entry direct to Free Spins
Now, reels 2 and 4 have 2x and 4x reel multipliers for the round and your Sticky Wilds are guaranteed to land on one of these reels where they stay until you run out of spins.
Those reel multipliers only become active if you fill the entire reel with sticky wilds, which also earns you 1 extra free spin.
Swarm Mode
As with Wild Swarm, the holy grail of this game is the Swarm Mode. It is triggered by collecting bees in the hive to the side of the reels. Any time a worker bee or queen bee lands on a spin, it will fly into the hive, leaving a Honey Wild behind to help score wins.
A worker bee will add 1 to the hive meter whilst a queen bee will add 5. The objective is to hit 5 on the meter. When this happens, the hive is primed and landing another bee of either type MAY trigger it. This doesn’t always happen, so you may have to wait for a few bees to land before it does, but keep in mind that the queen bee has a greater chance of triggering the swarm.
The Swarm Mode is the best chance you have of hitting the 10,000x max win. Now you have multipliers above EVERY reel – 2x, 3x, 4x, 6x and 8x. You start with 10 free spins and a stack of Sticky Wilds that is dropped onto one reel.
NOTE: You can also enter the Swarm Mode via a the Pick Feature if you get really lucky!
The Final Verdict
This is an exciting sequel to what was already a very popular Push Gaming slot. The most exciting moments will come from the Swarm Mode but if it’s anything like the original it will be tough to crack, so don’t expect to unlock it every time you play. But for those who do, the reel multipliers and sticky wild stacks give it much more power and the chance to see some big wins. To put it another way, the enhanced features are offset by much more volatility. I think that makes this into a much better game overall. You can find out for yourself from 29th February!
Useful Tips When Playing Wild Swarm 2
Remember, online slots are games of chance, there is NO strategy that can improve your odds of winning. However, reading our review and following these tips will help you get the most out of your time playing this slot game.
1. Check The RTP Setting Before You Play
Always check the RTP setting when playing games with a multiple rates. Some casinos will run the game below its optimum level. Whilst there is not much between 96.67% and 95.7%, you will feel it if you play at 88.79%. So beware!
2. Try To Collect As Many Bees As Possible
The name of the game here is triggering Swarm Mode where the most powerful combinations of features are available. Queen bees are a rare site, but workers more common. You only need 5 to give yourself the chance of entering Swarm Mode so keep your eyes peeled!
3. Start With A Low Stake
I recommend you start playing with a low stake – the minimum is just 10p – because this is a volatile slot that can burn your balance quickly. It is good bankroll management practice to choose a sensible bet size to stretch your funds further.
4. Only Play At Licensed UK Casinos
We have chosen the sites on this page because they are licensed by the UK Gambling Commission which means they adhere to strict guidelines to ensure the games are fair, your funds are secure, and you have responsible gambling tools to keep things safe.
Who Made Wild Swarm 2?
- Name: Push Gaming
- Established: 2010
- UK License: 54984
- Total Games: 30 +
- Known For: High variance grid slots, smart artwork, high max win slots
- Popular Slots: Big Bamboo, Mad Cars, Razor Returns, Fat Rabbit
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