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Buffalo Pokies Review
Head to any land-based casino and you are bound to find Buffalo pokies. The solid Aristocrat original has developed into an entire range of games. Popular variants include Buffalo Gold, Buffalo Grand and Buffalo Link. Based on the wildlife of the North American plains, Buffalo features multiplier wilds, free spins and all-ways action.
You can now enjoy Buffalo slot machines online – including on your mobile devices.
Features
Reels/Rows
5/4
Payline
1024
Payout Ratio (RYP)
94.85%
Stake (Min/Max)
40c / $4
Game Developer
Aristocrat
Bonus Feature
Yes
Setup of Buffalo Pokies
The original Buffalo pokies have five reels, each with four rows of symbols. This game dispenses with paylines using the reel-power all-ways winning system. Consecutive symbols from the left to right trigger prizes, regardless of their position. You can bet from 40c up to $4 and switch denomination for bigger wagers.
Buffalo are the highest paying symbols. They are stacked on the reels. Connecting buffalo with sunset wilds (which appear on the middle reels) can trigger multiple line hits from a single spin. During the free spins bonus round, wilds get 2x or 3x multipliers. This is where the potential for giant wins kicks in. Those wilds work together for multipliers of up to 27x. Add the easy retriggers to extend your free spins repeatedly.
Return to Player Percentage
Buffalo returns 94.85% to players on average. This is on the lower size of average for an online pokie. Add the fact that the original Buffalo slot machines do not have a progressive jackpot and this RTP% is not particularly impressive. While there are regular small line hits in the base game, the returns are volatile. Big wins from free spins are possible, but to balance this the base game spins need to take money with a low win rate.
The returns of newer in-person casino Buffalo pokies are more volatile still. This is to accommodate the progressive jackpots and oversized wins from the updated bonus features.
Buffalo Pokies Bonus Features
Free Spins with Multiplier Wilds
Gold coins trigger the free spins bonus on all Buffalo slot machines. You’ll need a minimum of three anywhere in view to win 8 free spins, with 15 and 25 free spins available for 4 or 5 gold coins.
The theme tune which accompanies your free spins is memorable and you will quickly start to recognise it when you visit in-person casinos around the world. The gameplay looks the same as in the base game, though there are two crucial differences.
First, the wilds on reels 2, 3 and 4 get a multiplier. These are 2x or 3x and will multiply together when you get more than one wild. Combine these with the high paying symbols – especially buffalo – for huge prizes. Second, free spins can be retriggered easily. Just two more gold coins get you five more free spins, with more than eight coming if you get three or more.
New versions of Buffalo slots have more interesting features. They include wheel bonuses, collection of golden buffalo heads and even ‘stampedes’ which expand the reels.
North American Wildlife Slot Symbols
You cannot miss the purple buffalo symbols on this pokie. They show the beasts head on, and when you win with them an animation shows them running towards you. Buffalo are stacked and will frequently cover entire reels. These are the top paying symbols.
Other high paying symbols include wild animals. There are cougars, eagles, elk and wolves. These are joined by playing card symbols from aces down to nines which make up the smaller and regular wins.
Sunset wilds only appear on the middle three reels. They substitute for the regular symbols, though not for the old coin bonus symbols. With the all-ways (‘Xtra Reel Power’) system in play, wilds are more valuable than on standard payline pokies. They will often help to trigger multiple winning combinations in a single spin.
In addition to triggering the bonuses, gold coins have scatter prizes. These can be up to 100x your total bet for five on a single spin in addition to the maximum 25 free spins.
Play Buffalo Slots on Mobile Devices
Buffalo slot machines are available at the best mobile casinos. Like many classic Aristocrat slots, they have been adapted for mobile gaming rather than designed with this in mind. HTML5 technology means that the reels will adjust to your screen size and you can tap the spin button, rather than click with a mouse. That said, the graphics are a little dated compared to more recent mobile pokie titles.
Can You Play Aristocrat Buffalo Pokies for Free?
You can enjoy Buffalo pokies for free at leading online casinos in demo mode. This gives you the opportunity to see how well the game works on your mobile devices. It also allows you to check out the solid gameplay and the free spins bonus feature before you risk any of your own cash.
Newer versions of Buffalo are not yet available online.
Buffalo Pokies: Pros/Cons
Pros:
- Buffalo pokies are hugely popular worldwide
- All-ways wins dispense with paylines for more hits
- Wild symbols connect stacked buffalo for big wins
- Free spins bonus with multiplier wilds, up to 27x wins are possible
- Retrigger the free spins with just two gold coins
Cons:
- Only one bonus feature on this version of the game
- No progressive jackpot
Wrapping Up: Has Aristocrat’s Original Buffalo Pokie Stood the Test of Time?
When you play Buffalo slots you will quickly understand why these became famous and found their way into casinos all around the world. While many slot providers have tried, none have come close to matching the popularity of Buffalo pokies.
The original Buffalo game has stacked symbols, all-ways wins and wilds. There is only one feature by way of the free spins bonus. When the multiplier wilds boost your wins, you will see that this is better than most of the free spins bonus features offered by other games.
Once you have enjoyed the original Buffalo slot, there are many new titles that build on this classic to enjoy.
