Keeping up with everything that is going on in the world of online gambling is very exciting. The fact is that the more developers experiment and innovate themselves, the better choice of games we are going to have as players. In today’s article, we’re going to be taking a look at a new mechanic called countdown wilds that has been developed by none other than Relax Gaming. We will talk about everything revolving around this new form of the well-known wild symbol in slots and what you can expect to see in future games. We will also talk about the title that Relax Gaming used to introduce this mechanic – Shark Wash. Now, let’s see if this is going to be worth your time and money at the end of the day.
Countdown Wilds: How Does it Work?
First and foremost, let’s talk about how this mechanic actually functions. Well, to put it simply, it’s a sticky wild with a timer. If you’re not aware of what a sticky wild is, it’s basically a wild symbol that “sticks” or “freezes” on the spot it has landed on.
In most online slots, these are used in free spins and bonus rounds, in order to maximize the wins for players. If you’ve been playing online slots for at least a while, you probably noticed how popular and sought-after this mechanic actually is.
Well, countdown wilds put on another spin to the mechanic, which gives them an extra layer of surprise and anticipation. On top of being sticky, these wilds have a countdown that is specific to every symbol, that showcases how many spins they are going to remain in the same spot. With every winning combination that the wilds are involved in, their timer decreases by 1.
Once the countdown wilds vanish, their initial value is transmitted to a multiplier that multiplies the next cascading winnings until the next spin starts. Taking into account that only one game currently has this feature, this might be subject to change in future titles with the same mechanic.
While you might think that this isn’t a huge deal at first glance, you would be surprised to know how it actually changes the game being played. It certainly has its own charm and we can definitely see why a lot of punters would enjoy spending hours being absolutely entertained by it.
Did Relax Gaming Reinvent The Wheel?
Now, you’re probably wondering whether or not this is something Relax Gaming did as a gimmick, or if they actually tried to do something ambitious that is going to reinvent the wheel in the world of online slot gaming.
Well, as we’ve mentioned before, countdown wilds can certainly be felt during the gameplay of Shark Wash. It is an integral mechanic that puts an accent on itself during the whole time, and we must admit that it really feels like something we haven’t played before.
We’ve always mentioned how we think that experimenting with game features is something all software providers should do at all times, as that is going to bring us more variety when it comes to our choices.
How many times has it happened that you’ve stumbled upon many same-looking online slots that you’re having a hard time differentiating? Probably more than a few, and that is essentially the biggest flaw in the slot market.
Too many developers are going for the safe route of not being experimental with their titles, and that can certainly hurt the industry in the long term. That’s why we heavily commend Relax Gaming for being those that bring something new to the table.
In our opinion, we can confidently say that countdown wilds are something worthwhile experiencing as it something we haven’t seen before. For sure it didn’t shake up the market like Megaways did when it was released back in the day, but it can definitely hold its own.
Are Big Wins Possible With The New Take of Sticky Wilds?
The next thing you’re most probably asking yourself is whether or not big wins are going to be possible with this type of wild symbol. Judging by Shark Wash, this is most certainly going to be the case.
The fact that you have wild symbols that stay for a set amount of time combined with multipliers that can go up to 7 is something that can definitely bring in lots of cash in, especially for those who are looking to play on bigger bets.
Since these games are probably going to be played on cascading reels as well in most cases, there are a lot of combinations that you can expect to win in. Taking all of that into consideration you can probably guess that ludicrous winnings aren’t out of reach, especially when players end up devising their game strategies later on.
When it comes to Shark Wash, players are going to be able to attain up to x5000 the original bet during free spins. This is certainly not a small number we are talking about here, and we can expect future games to have similar reward outcomes as well.
Is it Fun and Exciting?
It doesn’t matter whether or not you can gain big wins or if the multipliers can increase your chances dramatically in an online slot if you’re not having fun. Entertaining ourselves is the number one reason all of us go to online casinos, and if that’s lost, then there is no magic left there.
This brings us to the next question on our topic: are countdown wilds actually fun? We believe that they most definitely are. The feelings of excitement and thrillingness are constantly present when you are experiencing this feature, and it’s more than obvious why that is.
Since the wild symbols are sticky and they have a set timer on them, something is almost always going on in the game. You’re going to be less bored while playing since there aren’t going to be a lot of empty spins.
Another addition to the aforementioned excitement is the multipliers, which are always responsible for a good time. Seeing your winnings getting doubled, tripled, and quadrupled is something all players simply love to experience. All of those are the reasons we think countdown wilds are definitely a worthwhile addition to online slots when it comes to pure fun.
A Quick Review of Shark Wash
Since this mechanic has just recently debuted on the online slot market, we thought it would be good for you to read up on a quick review of Shark Wash. As we have already mentioned, Relax Gaming implemented countdown wilds for the first time here when they released this title.
Shark Wash is a cascading reel title with 5 reels and 1024 ways to win. Of course, it has the countdown wild feature which compliments this game structure perfectly and allows for some unexpected wins to happen.
Players can obtain free spins by getting three or more scatter symbols. The number of free spins you can obtain is either 7, 10, or 15. During the free spins, the countdown multiplier is persistent for the entire duration of the bonus round. Also, every time a bonus symbol lands during the bonus round, another free spin is awarded to the player. Relax gaming also allows players to buy the bonus round which costs 80x the original bet.
When it comes to the theme of the game, it is obviously an ocean-themed one-armed bandit, which is something people have polarizing opinions on. As for the graphics themselves, we have nothing to complain about. They are definitely better than average. We are sharing the same sentiment with the sound design, although the soundtrack might be a bit repetitive.
All in all, we believe that this is a very solid online slot with lots to offer, especially considering there is a very innovative mechanic involved. Those that love sticky wilds in their game should definitely give this one a shot.
Experience Countdown Wilds Safely
In the end, we would like to take note of the fact that you should absolutely follow all of the responsible gambling guidelines during your playtime of countdown wilds. Since this feature brings a lot of anticipation and excitement, it can be a bit problematic for those who are prone to spending a lot of money.
Chasing the multipliers and waiting for wilds to arrive is something that is both very fun and a bit dangerous if you’re a gambler who is known for going over the budget limits. That’s why you should remember to play safely even if you’re having loads of fun, as you shouldn’t risk developing a gambling problem.
Conclusion: Is it Worth it?
In summary, we believe that the countdown wilds from Relax Gaming are certainly going to be worth your time and money. The feature is explosive and rewards players quickly. If you’ve been looking to try out something new since you’re bored of the same old online slots, then we highly recommend that you try Shark Wash Out. You definitely won’t regret it, that’s something we guarantee.
