Carnival Spirit
Carnival Cruise Line
Aristocrat GamingBuffaloNo photo yet
Aristocrat Gaming · Ways to win
Buffalo
On cruise ships
Reported on 4 ships across 4 cruise lines
Carnival · MSC · Princess · Holland America
How it plays. Rather than choosing paylines, you pay to switch on reels; with all five active, matching animals on adjacent reels from the left pay in any position, giving 1,024 combinations. A sunset wild appears on the middle reels. More on how it plays
Saving adds it to a shortlist on this device. Sign in and it's kept under Favorite games on your dashboard.
Where Buffalo has been reported
4 dated public reports from 4 named ships, grouped by ship: mostly player videos, plus articles and cruise line pages. Machines move during refits, so check on board.
Oosterdam
Holland America Line
MSC Meraviglia
MSC Cruises
Sun Princess
Princess Cruises
Reported by members
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How Buffalo plays
How it plays
Three or more gold coin scatters start the free games (review sites list 8, 15 or 20 spins for three, four or five coins), and extra coins during the bonus add more spins. In free games every wild that completes a win carries a 2x or 3x multiplier, and several wilds in one win multiply together, which is what produces the screen-full-of-buffalo hand pays.
Features
- Pay-per-reel betting instead of paylines
- Sunset wilds on the middle reels
- Free games where wilds apply 2x or 3x and stack multiplicatively (reviews cite a 27x maximum)
- Retriggerable free games
At a glance
- Maker
- Aristocrat Gaming
- Series
- Buffalo
- First released
- 2008
- Type
- Ways to win
- Mechanics
- Xtra Reel Power (1,024 ways), Pay-per-reel betting, Free games with multiplying wilds, Retriggers
- Theme
- North American wildlife / prairie
- Layout
- 5x4, 1,024 ways (Xtra Reel Power, no paylines)
- Cabinets
- MAV 500 (original launch)
- Denominations
- Primarily penny; trade press credits Buffalo with making 1¢ the default video-slot denomination. Other denominations vary by casino.
- Bets
- Review sources describe 40 credits to cover all five reels, scaling up to about 400 credits (roughly $0.40–$4 on a penny machine); varies by version and casino
- Volatility
- High (maker rating)
- Jackpots
- No progressive on the original; the biggest wins come from stacked buffalo symbols during multiplied free games. Later family members add progressives.
- Payback
- Not published. On ships, the operator sets it and doesn't post it.
In the Buffalo series
Tips from players and reviewers
- Because you buy reels, playing fewer than five cuts the cost per spin but slashes the number of ways to win; most players keep all reels on and raise or lower the bet multiplier instead.
- Expect long dry spells: Aristocrat itself lists high volatility as part of the brand's DNA, and most of the value is in the free games.
- The original has no progressive or saved meter, so there is nothing to gain by picking a machine someone else just left.
Tips can't change the odds of any spin. They help you pick a bet level and a machine.
Industry standing and land-casino jackpots
Buffalo spent roughly a decade at or near the top of US performance charts, helped turn penny video reels into the industry standard, and had passed 20,000 installs by 2018. It remains Aristocrat's anchor core brand, with casinos opening dedicated Buffalo areas and new spin-offs every year.
Why it's popular
- Described in 2018 as one of only two games (with IGT's Wheel of Fortune) to stay atop the charts for about ten years, with 20,000+ installs
- Buffalo (with Cash Express) credited with lifting Aristocrat to #1 in the Eilers core (non-premium) category, April 2025 column
- Palms Las Vegas opened a ~50-machine Buffalo Zone (2023); the Plaza opened a 63-game Buffalo & Mo' Friends lounge (2025)
Help the next passenger know whether Buffalo is still aboard your ship
Played it on a cruise? A quick report (ship and month) tells other players where to look before they sail.
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How reports are checked
- Only signed-in members with a confirmed email address can report.
- One report per member for each game, ship and month, from the line's fleet list.
- Up to 20 reports a day per member.
- A report without a note is published straight away. A report with a written note is held until an editor has read it.
- Editors can approve or reject held reports and remove any report. You can delete your own reports at any time.
- Published reports show the line, ship, month and note, never your name or email.
More about how reports are checked and who runs Slots at Sea
Similar games
Sources (6)
- CDC Gaming: A Buffalo anniversary worth celebrating (Oct 2018) press
- Action Network: Buffalo slot review review
- CDC Gaming: Frank Floor Talk (Apr 2025) press
- PlayUSA: Palms debuts Aristocrat Buffalo Zone (Jul 2023) press
- SiGMA: Plaza launches 63 Aristocrat games (Sep 2025) press
- CDC Gaming: IGA 2025 Aristocrat lineup press
Checked October 2026. Game names are trademarks of their makers; Slots at Sea isn't affiliated with any maker or cruise line. Volatility and bet ranges vary by version and casino.
Slot results are random, and the house keeps an edge on every game. Play for fun with money you can afford to lose. If gambling is a problem for you or someone you know, call 1-800-GAMBLER.