Buffalo Slot Review

Originally launched in 2008 for land-based casinos, the Buffalo slot from Aristocrat also became available online in 2023. Buffalo is a hugely popular slot with a North American wildlife theme, five reels, four rows, and 1,024 ways to win through the XTRA REEL POWER mechanic. You can bet from $0.40, but there is also high volatility to deal with. In this Buffalo slot review, we will help you understand how to tackle the volatility and play the game for free or real money.

• Provider: Aristocrat
• Release date: 2008
• Reels: 5
• Rows: 4
• Paylines: 1,024
• RTP: 94.85%
• Volatility: High
• Minimum bet: $0.40
• Maximum bet: $80
• Maximum win: 12,000x

Who Should Play Buffalo

Because of its high volatility, the Buffalo slot is for players with a larger bankroll that could last through a long session. The game’s minimum stake of $0.40 won’t appeal to all budget bettors, so Aristocrat’s Buffalo is perfect for casual players with a slightly bigger bankroll to spend.

Buffalo Biggest Win

Buffalo has big win potential thanks to its high maximum stake and lucrative symbol payouts. You can win up to the maximum payout of 12,000x your bet.

How to Play Buffalo

For its popular land-based slot Buffalo, Aristocrat brought all the same game elements to online casinos. There are five reels, four rows, and 1,024 ways to win, with payouts coming by matching symbols from left to right on the reels. You can spin the reels for as little as $0.40, whereas if you hit the “Change Denom” button and select the “10₵” icon, you can bet as much as $80 per spin.

One of the reasons why Buffalo is an enduring favorite amongst slot players is its XTRA REEL POWER paylines mechanic. This feature lets players choose how many paylines to activate during a spin. The more reels, the bigger the stake will become, but you will also increase your chances of landing winning combinations up to 1,024 ways.

Symbols and Payouts

You can claim wins through low-value symbols by getting 3, 4, and 5 matching symbols, which are 9, 10, J, Q, K, and A. High-value symbols include North American wildlife, such as a stag, wolf, puma, eagle, and the titular buffalo. The latter symbols are the highest payer, delivering 300x your stake if you match 5 on the reels.

There is a landscape wild symbol that replaces standard paying symbols to form winning combinations. A gold coin serves as the scatter symbol, which triggers the free spins feature and pays out up to 800x your stake.

Below are the top payouts for each symbol:

If animal-themed slots are your thing, you may want to explore 5-Lions Megaways.

Play Buffalo on Mobile

You’ll have no problems running the Buffalo slot on mobile if that’s what you prefer. The game is compatible with iOS and Android devices thanks to embedded HTML5 technology. Some casino sites allow you to play through a downloadable app, while with others, you simply play Buffalo through your mobile browser.

Buffalo RTP, Payout, and Volatility

Buffalo has an RTP of 94.85%, which is lower than the 96% average for online slots. The reason for this is Buffalo’s origins as a land-based slot machine, where its RTP is much more normal. Either way, this is a high-volatility slot with a low RTP, so you must be careful with your betting.

Wins will land infrequently, but the payouts can be substantial when they do. This is especially true if you trigger the free spins bonus. If the best case happens, you could win a maximum of 300x your stake.

If you prefer slots with high RTP, you may want to check out our list of best RTP online slots.

Buffalo Bonus Features

The Buffalo slot has modifiers such as multipliers and wilds but also offers a full free spins feature.

Free Spins

When you land 3, 4, or 5 scatter symbols, the game rewards you with 8, 15, or 20 free spins, respectively. A multiplier on free spins can offer 2x and 3x the amount on regular wins. For example, if you get three puma symbols that normally pay out 200x, with a 2x multiplier, you could win 400x your stake. During the bonus, you can re-trigger the feature by getting three or more scatter symbols for five additional free spins.

Graphics & Sound

Despite its age, Aristocrat has done well to in the design and visuals department.

North American wildlife has become a popular genre, so there are modern online slots that look stunning. But many of them took inspiration from Buffalo. Sure, this is now an aging slot, and the visuals will not blow your mind. Even so, the overall look and sound of the game are immersive enough to keep your gameplay interesting.

Gameplay and Overall Experience

Buffalo is a game that requires careful management of your bankroll due to its high volatility. You will notice during gameplay that triggering the bonus round does not happen often. Thankfully, you can win big on regular spins without the free spins bonus, but you may need to be patient. Make stakes that fit your budget over a long session, as you may need plenty of spins to get lucky on the Buffalo slot.

Our Own Gameplay Experience

We took the Buffalo slot through 100 spins and found a game that lives up to its highly volatile reputation. During the session, we got some decent moderate payouts but also lots of dead spins. Even so, being able to end a session on such a volatile slot only a little down on your bankroll is a decent result. Especially because it is clear the Buffalo slot has the potential to flip the other way and deliver a profit.

• 200 spins at $2.00 per spin across all 10 lines. Result: $12.30 loss
• Biggest wins: $54.00, $33,40, $26.00, $22.00
• Free Spins triggers: 1

In terms of graphics, we find Siberian Storm to be a good counterpart to Buffalo. It’s winter-themed graphics make for a strong contrast, combined with an RTP of 96% and 720 paylines.

Playing Buffalo on Demo Mode

Like any slot with high volatility, understanding Buffalo’s betting dynamics is essential. This game can chew up a bankroll or deliver big wins, so you should always play Buffalo free before committing your own money. You can find the Buffalo demo on the top casino sites we recommend. While you cannot cash out winnings in demo mode, you can learn about the game and take it for a test run before you deposit and play for real money.

Playing Buffalo with Bonus Money

You can enjoy Buffalo with bonus cash by claiming casino promotions such as a deposit match welcome bonus. While casinos also offer free spins on slot games, you cannot choose which game you spend your free spins on. Casino cash is more flexible because you can pick the slot on which you want to use the funds. Still, always read the promo T&Cs and ensure you meet the wagering requirements before withdrawing. Once you do, you can cash out the winnings you make with your bonus.

Play Buffalo for Real Money

Each of the Buffalo casino sites we recommend allows you to play the game for real money. Staking your own cash to potentially win a payout is what this popular online slot machine is all about. All you need to do is register with a casino of your choice and then make a minimum deposit. One of the good things about the Buffalo slot is that you can spin the reels for a low amount, so even the smallest deposit can go a long way.

Buffalo Pros and Cons

Buffalo Summary

Buffalo really nails that land-based slot machine feel with its fast-paced base game and lucrative free spins bonus. While it’s not the most feature-packed slot, Buffalo delivers high-volatility gameplay that offers plenty of excitement. Just ensure you have the bankroll and patience for when the reels are not offering regular payouts. If you want to play Buffalo free or for real money, choose one of the casino sites we recommend. You can claim a generous bonus and start playing within minutes.

Our Score: 4.5/5

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