Fire Stampede 2 Linked Awards: Slot Overview
If there’s one thing people are naturally drawn to, it’s connection—whether in friendships, business, or, in this case, slots. Wild Streak Gaming, in partnership with Pragmatic Play, has embraced this idea with its signature Connect & Collect mechanic, seen in previous releases like Firebird Spirit and Fire Stampede. Now, they’re back with Fire Stampede 2 Linked Awards, aiming to rekindle the spark with another round of interconnected reel action.
At first glance, Fire Stampede 2 doesn’t stray far from its predecessor. The familiar setup returns: a 5-reel game grid on the right, prize indicators on the top left, and a fiery bison occupying the bottom left corner. The environment has shifted from canyon cliffs to open grassy plains with distant mountains, offering a subtle visual change. While the background may be different, the overall layout remains largely the same—suggesting that Wild Streak Gaming stuck with a formula they know works.
That said, the similarities are striking, not just in layout but also in prize values, which appear unchanged from the original. For returning players, this may feel more like a light refresh than a true sequel—one that plays it safe rather than charging forward with bold innovation.
Fire Stampede 2: Base Game & Symbols
Fire Stampede 2 unfolds on a 6×5 reel grid, though not every position functions like a standard reel space. The entire rightmost reel, along with the top and bottom positions on reel 3, are reserved exclusively for award symbols, which affects the number of active ways to win—bringing it down to 1,875 paylines.
Bets range from €0.25 to €250 per spin, catering to casual players and high rollers alike. The game runs on a high volatility math model, with 96.51% RTP being the most favorable of its multiple configurations (if available in your region).
Winning combinations form from left to right on adjacent reels, beginning with reel 1. On the paytable, you’ll find:
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Low-paying symbols: 9 through A card ranks, awarding 0.4x to 0.6x the bet for 5-of-a-kind.
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Premium symbols: cactus, bird, gold nugget, and bison, awarding 1x to 4x the bet for a 5-symbol hit.
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Wild symbols: These can land on reels 2, 3, and 4, substituting for all standard pay symbols to help complete winning lines. Wilds do not replace scatter or Connect & Collect symbols.
Fire Stampede 2 – Features Overview
Fire Stampede 2 charges forward with a powerful lineup of features, including Connect & Collect mechanics, free spins, random awards, and a feature buy option.
Connect & Collect
The Connect & Collect symbol can land on all standard reel positions except the rightmost reel. These symbols form chains from left to right, connecting horizontally or vertically, and if the chain reaches a special award position on reel 3 or the rightmost reel, the corresponding prize is awarded.
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On the rightmost reel, several awards may be highlighted. If a connection reaches any highlighted prize, all highlighted prizes are granted.
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Special positions on reels 3 and 6 (rightmost) can randomly contain the following rewards:
▶ Available Awards:
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Respins (Reel 3 only) – Triggers 5 respins, where all Connect & Collect symbols lock in place. New ones do the same. If no awards are connected by the end, a 3x–10x consolation prize is paid.
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Money Value – Grants 2x–20x on reel 3 or 10x–200x on reel 6.
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Add Wilds – Adds wilds to random positions on reels 2–5.
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Free Spins – Awards 7 to 25 free spins plus a 2x payout.
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Mystery Prize (Reel 6 only) – May award 25x (Minor), 200x (Major), 350x, 400x, 500x, or a 4,000x Grand. Minor, Major, and Grand may be multiplied by x2.
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Stampede – Adds high-paying symbols to random reel positions.
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Minor (25x) – Found on reel 3 only.
Free Spins
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Triggered by landing 3, 4, or 5 scatters, awarding 7, 10, or 15 spins plus a 2x payout.
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Any free spins won via Connect & Collect are added to the total.
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Wilds now carry x2 or x3 multipliers, and when multiple wilds appear, their multipliers combine.
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Connect & Collect remains active during the bonus.
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Additional spins can be won via the Connect & Collect free spins symbol.
Random Modifiers
On any spin, the game may randomly add:
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Wild symbols
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Connect & Collect symbols
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Top-paying symbols
…to random non-special reel positions.
Feature Buy
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For 100x the stake, players can instantly buy access to free spins.
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The triggering spin guarantees a full Connect & Collect chain, reaching reel 3 and reel 6, with reel 6 containing only free spins awards.
Fire Stampede 2: Slot Verdict
Fire Stampede 2 Linked Awards sticks closely to the formula established by its predecessor—both visually and mechanically. The core Connect & Collect mechanic remains the centerpiece, offering an alternative, symbol-chain-driven path to rewards. While it’s still an engaging feature, some of the novelty has worn off after being used in earlier Wild Streak Gaming titles like Firebird Spirit and the original Fire Stampede.
That said, Fire Stampede 2 isn’t without its upgrades. Most notably, the max win potential has nearly doubled to 8,300x, which certainly boosts the game’s appeal. A few fresh touches—like the Stampede feature that adds high-paying symbols randomly, and Mystery Prizes with multipliers—help to shake things up. The new Minor award at 25x is less exciting, but the inclusion of grouped prize awards and wild multipliers in free spins are definite improvements. One possible step back, however, is the shift from a Random Grand Award to more generalized Random Awards, which might feel like a downgrade to some players.
Ultimately, Fire Stampede 2 feels like a solid sequel aimed primarily at fans of the original. Its improvements and boosted top prize make it a more rewarding experience, but the changes may not be bold enough to convert players who weren’t already sold on the first game. For returning players, though, this one is likely worth saddling up for.
