Wild Wild Riches Returns (Pragmatic Play) Slot Review

Wild Wild Riches Returns: Slot Overview 

Pragmatic Play invites players back to the emerald hills of Ireland in Wild Wild Riches Returns, the latest addition to the popular Wild Wild series. First introduced over five years ago, the franchise has seen several spin-offs — from Wild Wild Riches and its Megaways edition to Wild Wild Bison and Wild Wild Joker. Each release has revolved around the studio’s trademark Money Collect feature, blending bright Irish charm with win-boosting mechanics. This new 2025 installment attempts to breathe fresh life into the formula with an expanded reel set, higher jackpot potential, and modernized visuals. 

Wild Wild Riches Returns keeps the essence of its predecessors while introducing a few smart tweaks. The 3-4-4-4-3 grid setup replaces the 3-3-4-4-4 format from the original, creating 576 ways to win instead of fixed paylines. The familiar Money Collect system makes a comeback but now includes boosted jackpot prizes — culminating in the enormous Emerald Prize, worth 10,000x the bet. With a medium volatility rating and a solid RTP of 96.50%, this game aims to appeal to fans of both relaxing gameplay and the occasional big payout chase.

Design and Graphics 

Pragmatic Play once again leans heavily into Irish folklore aesthetics — a lush, picturesque countryside awash with rolling green fields, bright rainbows, and the golden glint of treasure-filled chests. The visuals are colorful yet refined, with upgraded animations that make Wild Wild Riches Returns feel more dynamic than earlier versions. The game opens under a bright blue sky, but the atmosphere shifts to a twilight hue during free spins, adding a sense of magic to the proceedings.The reels are framed in carved wooden borders entwined with shamrocks, while the pay symbols themselves carry familiar Celtic motifs. Lower-value symbols are represented by card suits (clubs, diamonds, hearts, and spades), while higher-paying ones include mushrooms, pipes, horseshoes, and overflowing chests of gold. The green wild symbol — embellished with a shining x2 multiplier — is particularly eye-catching and plays a central role in activating the slot’s money-collecting feature. 

Visually, it’s an improvement over the original Wild Wild Riches, with smoother transitions and more detailed artwork, though it still treads familiar territory rather than breaking new ground. It’s cheerful, bright, and unmistakably Irish — exactly what fans of the series expect.

Gameplay Mechanics 

At its core, Wild Wild Riches Returns is a 5-reel, 4-row slot with 576 ways to win, using a ways pays system instead of traditional paylines. Winning combinations form from left to right or right to left, depending on the presence of wilds and money symbols. The change in reel layout gives the game a slightly more modern rhythm — less rigid than the original but still instantly recognizable to series veterans. 

The wild symbols appear only on the first and second reels and can substitute for all regular paying symbols. When wilds appear in combination with Money symbols on the remaining reels, they activate the Money Collect feature, awarding instant prizes or jackpots. Wilds may also come with an x2 multiplier, which doubles the value of collected money symbols and applies to all ways wins that include them. 

The base game plays smoothly and at a medium volatility pace. Smaller wins occur regularly, while the bigger money-collect hits or feature triggers add spikes of excitement. The 1 in 3.32 hit frequency ensures steady action, striking a balance between low-risk spins and engaging bonus moments.

Sound and Music 

The soundtrack continues the Irish theme with lively flute and fiddle melodies, gently looping in the background during normal play. When the bonus round or money feature activates, the tempo picks up, layering in celebratory harp and accordion sounds reminiscent of a Celtic festival. The result is a pleasant auditory experience that supports the visuals without becoming intrusive or repetitive. 

Sound effects are crisp and contextually satisfying — coins clinking during collections, symbols chiming softly during cascades, and a dramatic swell when jackpots are close to landing. Pragmatic Play has fine-tuned the sound design so that it feels immersive without overwhelming players. It’s cheerful, consistent, and perfectly suited to the game’s bright tone.

Bonus Features 

Wild Wild Riches Returns centers on three main feature sets: the Money Collect, Free Spins, and the Irish Spin with a Feature Buy option.Money Collect 

The signature mechanic remains the heart of the gameplay. Money symbols can land with values ranging from 1x to 8x the bet, or they may carry one of five jackpot prizes: 

Mini – 10x the bet 

Minor – 25x the bet 

Major – 50x the bet 

Mega – 100x the bet 

Grand – 1,000x the bet 

Emerald Prize – a massive 10,000x the bet 

To collect these values, players need at least one wild symbol on reels 1 or 2 and money symbols on any of the other reels. Each wild collects the visible values independently, meaning multiple wilds can significantly multiply total wins. 

Free Spins 

Landing three scatter symbols triggers the bonus round, awarding 6 to 20 free spins at random. Before starting, players can gamble their number of free spins for the chance to win more — or lose them entirely. During free spins, all collected money values accumulate in a meter. At the end of the feature, an extra super spin occurs: the middle reels display one giant symbol containing all collected money values, while the outer reels spin normally. Any wilds that land during this final spin award the accumulated total — a thrilling climax to the round. 

Irish Spin and Feature BuyPlayers can jump straight into the action by activating the Irish Spin, which costs 10x the current bet. In this mode, only blanks, wilds, money, or scatter symbols appear, increasing the odds of triggering the collect feature. Alternatively, players can purchase direct access to the free spins bonus for 100x the bet, bypassing the base game entirely. These options give players more control over volatility and pace — perfect for those who prefer strategic engagement over pure luck.

Betting Options and Payouts 

Betting in Wild Wild Riches Returns ranges from $0.25 to $250 per spin, accommodating both casual players and high rollers. With medium volatility, the game offers a balanced experience — frequent moderate wins punctuated by the potential for large jackpot payouts. 

The theoretical RTP of 96.50% is right in line with Pragmatic Play’s typical offerings, though the value can vary slightly depending on jurisdiction or feature-buy mode. The maximum win of 10,000x the bet — achievable via the Emerald Prize — represents a significant leap from the original game’s cap, making this sequel much more rewarding in the long term. However, that jackpot has an approximate probability of 1 in 35,714,300, so while it’s technically attainable, it remains a true long shot. 

Free spins trigger roughly once every 224 spins, with a hit frequency of 1 in 3.32, meaning players can expect a solid rhythm of wins across an extended session. Combined with the lower volatility of the Irish Spin and the risk/reward excitement of the gamble feature, the payout design is flexible and engaging.

Conclusion 

Wild Wild Riches Returns successfully revives one of Pragmatic Play’s most popular franchises while refining its mechanics for a smoother and more modern experience. Though the gameplay remains familiar, the restructured grid, improved jackpots, and polished visuals give it just enough freshness to stand on its own. The inclusion of the super spin mechanic and the 10,000x Emerald Prize inject genuine tension into the bonus rounds, keeping players invested even after long stretches of standard spins. 

While it doesn’t reinvent the wheel — or the shamrock — Wild Wild Riches Returns offers a polished blend of charm and potential. Fans of the original game will appreciate the continuity and bigger prizes, while newcomers will find a welcoming entry point into Pragmatic Play’s Irish-themed universe. 

In short, Wild Wild Riches Returns feels like a festive encore: familiar melodies, brighter colors, and a louder finale. It may not surprise seasoned players, but it certainly entertains — proving there’s still plenty of luck left at the end of this rainbow.