Yes. Alongside the original 2017 release, IGT built The Wild Life Extreme, which changes the base-game line count and reshapes the grid during free spins while keeping the lion wild and Africa scatter intact. No Megaways, cluster-pay, or jackpot editions of this exact title have been documented.
- Original: 5x3 grid, 10 fixed both-ways lines
- Extreme: fewer base lines, expanded 4-row layout in free spins
- Mobile and desktop builds run identical rules and paytables
How the Extreme edition changes the formula
The base The Wild Life runs on a 5x3 grid with 10 fixed paylines that pay both left-to-right and right-to-left, a structural choice that keeps every spin focused on a small, defined set of winning patterns rather than the sprawling all-ways math common in newer IGT releases. The Wild Life Extreme keeps the same African savanna cast — lion, lioness, elephant, giraffe, zebra — but restructures how that cast pays out.
In the Extreme build, the base game reportedly trims the payline count to around five fixed lines, a leaner setup than the original's ten. The trade-off arrives once free spins trigger: the grid or line structure grows to a four-row, ten-line configuration, effectively widening the win field exactly when the sticky expanding wilds are doing the most work. It is a deliberate volatility lever — narrower base game, wider bonus round — rather than a cosmetic refresh.
Paytable values also shift. Several credit multipliers in the Extreme version sit higher than their counterparts in the original title, consistent with the branding: this edition is built to swing harder, not to play more often. The core triggers stay recognizable — three to five Africa scatters for free spins, lion wilds expanding on reels two through four — so a player familiar with the original will recognize the mechanics immediately, even with the adjusted grid.
Outside of Extreme, no verified record exists of a Megaways, cluster-pay, or standalone jackpot version carrying The Wild Life name. Other IGT safari titles share visual DNA — roaring predators, dusty grasslands, similar symbol sets — but they are distinct games built on their own math models, not rebadged variants of this one.
Cross-platform, the picture is simpler: reviewers describe desktop, mobile, and tablet builds of The Wild Life as functionally identical, running the same paytable, the same bonus triggers, and the same betting range. There is no evidence of a separate 'Canadian build' with altered mechanics; what changes at individual casinos is more likely the RTP configuration selected by the operator than the underlying game logic.
Checking which version you are playing
- 1Open the paytable and count the fixed paylines shown for the base game.
- 2Compare the base grid rows against the free spins layout for any expansion.
- 3Check symbol credit values against the original paytable figures listed above.
- 4Confirm the title in the game info panel reads 'The Wild Life' or 'The Wild Life Extreme'.
Terms used across the variant lineup
Both-ways payline
A fixed line that pays on matching symbols read left-to-right or right-to-left, doubling the ways a single line can register a win.
Sticky expanding wild
A lion wild that expands to fill its reel and then remains locked in place for the rest of the free spins round, rather than resetting each spin.
Base-game line count
The number of fixed paylines active before any bonus feature triggers; this is the figure that differs most between the original and Extreme editions.
Grid expansion
A change in the number of visible rows or active lines that occurs specifically during the free spins feature, used by the Extreme edition to widen win potential.
Questions about The Wild Life's versions
Does The Wild Life Extreme use the same lion wild mechanic as the original?
Yes, both editions place the expanding lion wild on reels two through four and lock it in place during free spins; the trigger conditions and symbol art carry over unchanged.
Why does the Extreme edition run fewer base-game paylines?
Sources describe roughly five fixed lines in Extreme's base game versus ten in the original, a narrower setup that is offset by an expanded four-row, ten-line layout once free spins begin.
Are the credit values on the paytable the same between versions?
No, several symbols in the Extreme edition carry higher listed multipliers than in the original title, matching its more aggressive branding.
Is there a Megaways or cluster-pay version of The Wild Life?
No verified source documents a Megaways, cluster-pay, or jackpot build under this title; other IGT safari slots exist separately but are not formal variants.
Does the mobile version play differently from desktop?
Reviewers describe both as functionally identical, with the same paytable, bonus triggers, and betting range regardless of device.
Is there a distinct Canadian build of the game?
No specific evidence points to altered mechanics for Canadian players; differences between casinos are more likely tied to which RTP configuration an operator has selected.
Does the scatter-triggered free spins count differ between editions?
Both editions use the Africa scatter to award free spins on three, four, or five symbols, with the reported extra-spin bonus for additional scatters carrying over to Extreme.
How can a player tell which version a casino lobby is offering?
The game info panel names the title directly as either 'The Wild Life' or 'The Wild Life Extreme,' and the base-game payline count in the paytable confirms which structure is loaded.