Big Buffalo Slot

The online slot market has been a haven for buffalo-themed slot games for a while. Aristocrat started the trend in 2008 with the Buffalo slot, and everyone from High 5 Games to Pragmatic Play has jumped on board. Among the staples, Skywind's Big Buffalo slot stands with the very best.

Still, it isn’t the most innovative title in real money online casino sites. In fact, it got a pretty lukewarm reception from players when it debuted in 2019. However, its popular theme, somewhat unusual 4x6 grid with 4,096 paylines, and potential for up to 100 free spins made it stand the test of time.

But are these features enough to compete with the more recent buffalo-themed slot releases? That’s what I’m here to find out. In this review, I discuss Big Buffalo gameplay, design, volatility, RTP, and features. Read on to discover how this game works and whether it’s worth playing at Casino.com.

Skywind isn’t one to experiment, as showcased by its 200+ game portfolio filled with recreations of popular slot themes. Big Buffalo is no exception to this trend.

The grid features a well-known selection of animals, from the titular buffalo and symbolic bald eagle to the essential wolf, fox, and cougar. The background depicts the classic brick-colored canyons on a sunny day. Even the soundtrack includes the familiar Native American-inspired flute melody, interrupted by animal cries.

The layout doesn’t stray from Aristocrat’s classic design, either. Whether you try the Big Buffalo slot demo or play for real money, you’ll enjoy the expanded 4x6 grid with 4,096 paylines. The accessible paytable and wide betting ranges accommodate online casino beginners, while the two special features offer the reward potential high rollers are after. 

If you, like me, don't mind the lack of novelty, Big Buffalo is a complete package.

Playing the Big Buffalo slot for real money is as easy as pie. Simply find the best online casinos that host the game and launch it on your go-to gaming device. Before spinning the reels, check out the Menu section to get a quick glance at the paytable. Once you see what rewards you can expect, you can adjust your bet size.

The Big Buffalo betting range starts at $0.40 and reaches $300, so finding a sweet spot shouldn’t be an issue, whatever your budget. After that, you can hit the Spin button and cross your fingers. The goal is to land at least two high-paying or three low-playing symbols across adjacent reels.

The high volatility may make your job harder than it has to be, but the 4,096 way to win and the special features should work in your favor. Stay away from the Turbo and Autoplay modes, and you’ll have a fair chance at the top prize without risking a fortune.

The Big Buffalo slot bonus features are this game’s main attraction, even though they come in only two formats – wilds and free spins.

Wilds will be easy to spot on the reels. They are represented by an image of a canyon panorama with the word Wild plastered on it. You’ll see them on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th reel during the base and the bonus game. As usual, they substitute other symbols to help you create more winning combinations.

However, the real appeal of the Big Buffalo wilds comes into play during free spins, as they apply 2x and 3x multipliers to the wins that include them. This boost may not be massive, but it makes a difference in a high-volatility slot. 

Still, the big draw in Big Buffalo, from my perspective, is the free spins. They’re the safest route to hitting the $500,000 max payout when you’re playing the slot for real money at top slot sites. All you need is perseverance and a little luck. 

Get 3 to 6 Free Games symbols, and you’ll score between 5 and 100 free spins. What’s great is that there’s no limit – keep landing Free Games symbols during the bonus round, and you can continue spinning Big Buffalo for free indefinitely.

My experience playing Big Buffalo went just as expected. Released in 2019, the slot has made its way into most online casinos, so I didn’t struggle to find it. A few special features, standard buffalo slot symbols, and wide betting limits made adjusting it to my gaming style a breeze. 

Overall, smaller bet sizes proved most effective at bagging prizes. Wilds were especially rewarding when paired with lower-paying symbols at wagers of $20 or less. In fact, they kept my balance in the black over the first 15+ consecutive spins. My biggest score – the 6-symbol Buffalo combo – occurred at the lowest stake ($0.40).

My main gripe with the Big Buffalo real-money version was its free spins bonus. This feature is the game's main selling point, yet I barely triggered it once during my long gaming session. The round kicked off with three Free Games on a $2 default bet and concluded with no substantial boosts for my total.

While this hit frequency isn’t uncommon for high-variance slots, it’s bound to disappoint beginners and big-bucks chasers. I suggest you try the Big Buffalo demo mode to see how you feel about it before saddling up for real-money gameplay.

The Big Buffalo RTP hovers around 95.50%, an industry average for modern casino slots. Its gameplay offers no jackpots, but its $500,000 max payout comes pretty close size-wise. 

Big Buffalo’s high volatility might make anticipating a big win feel like waiting for a stampede. You can hear it in the distance, but you never know when it’s going to strike. However, if you arm yourself with patience and stick to smaller bets, you could still score a solid prize in the long haul.

The Big Buffalo slot holds its own against others in its category. The game brings the full prairie experience to life with beautiful imagery, lively music, an unconventional grid, and a chance to walk away with a hefty prize in your pockets.

The fact that the bonus round is as rare as a buffalo sighting in the desert was the biggest letdown with the game. That is, aside from its lack of originality, which has become a given with buffalo-themed slots. If either of these flaws bothers you, here are a few titles you might like more:

• Buffalo Rising Megaways by Blueprint Gaming
• Buffalo Toro by ELK Studios
• Buffalo Collector by Red Tiger

Feel free to search for these games at some of the top online casinos we recommend at Casinos.com. Try your hand at them through demo mode and find your favorites hassle-free.