Last updated: May 2026. Comparison based on side-by-side test sessions across all four featured casinos in April-May 2026 plus the official 3 Oaks Gaming product pages for both titles.
Booongo released the original Black Wolf in 2019. Four years later, post-rebrand, 3 Oaks Gaming released Black Wolf 2 on 21 September 2023 — a sequel that keeps the wilderness theme, the wolf, the moonlit forest, and the Hold and Win Respins, but rebuilds the math underneath with the studio's four-fixed-jackpot template and modernised visuals. For Aussie pokie players asking "which one should I play", the answer isn't simple. Both are medium-high volatility, both centre on Hold and Win as the headline feature, both deserve a place on AU-friendly casino lobbies. The differences are in pacing, ceiling, and which mechanics carry the bigger wins. This article puts them side by side.
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Headline comparison
| Spec | Black Wolf (2019) | Black Wolf 2 (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | Booongo (pre-rebrand) | 3 Oaks Gaming |
| Released | 2019 | 21 September 2023 |
| Grid | 5×4 | 5×4 |
| Paylines | 25 fixed | 25 fixed |
| RTP | 95.30% (default) | 95.54% (default) |
| Volatility | Medium | Medium-high |
| Min bet (AUD) | A$0.25 | A$0.25 |
| Max bet (AUD) | A$125 | A$125 |
| Max win | 1,500× stake | 2,000× stake |
| Hold and Win | Yes, 3-respin reset mechanic | Yes, 3-respin reset mechanic |
| Fixed jackpots | 3 tiers (Mini, Minor, Major) | 4 tiers (Mini, Minor, Major, Grand) |
| Free Spins | Yes, 10 spins, multiplier | Yes, 10 spins, persistent multiplier |
| Wild Wolf | Yes | Yes |
| Bonus Buy | Yes (where permitted) | Yes (where permitted) |
| Theme | North American wilderness | North American wilderness (refreshed visuals) |
The headline numbers are close but not identical. Black Wolf 2 adds the Grand jackpot tier that the original doesn't have, raises the max-win cap from 1,500× to 2,000×, and bumps the RTP slightly from 95.30% to 95.54%. The volatility profile shifts up a notch (medium → medium-high) because the higher ceiling and Grand tier expand the upper end of the distribution.
The case for Black Wolf (original)
Why the 2019 original is still a respectable choice:
- It's the canonical version. When players say "I want to play that wolf game", many still mean the original. Booongo built it as a flagship Hold and Win title and AU lobbies have stocked it for six years.
- Lower variance shape. Without the Grand jackpot pulling the upper end of the distribution, the original feels more sustainable — fewer extreme outcomes, more "average" rounds.
- Simpler jackpot panel. 3 tiers (Mini, Minor, Major) vs 4. Less cluttered if you find the four-jackpot panel busy.
- Better availability at some smaller casinos. The original has been around longer and is in more lobbies than the sequel.
- Slightly faster Hold and Win trigger rate. Marginal but observable.
If you want pure Hold and Win without the four-jackpot extra layer, the original is the cleaner pick.
The case for Black Wolf 2
Why the sequel earns its place:
- Refreshed visuals. The wolf, the forest, the moonlit ridge — all rebuilt with higher-fidelity art. If the original feels slightly dated visually, the sequel addresses that directly.
- Higher max win. 2,000× vs 1,500× — meaningful for chase-oriented sessions.
- The Grand jackpot tier. A 1,000× Grand award when the grid fills isn't in the original. This is the headline difference.
- Slightly higher RTP. 95.54% vs 95.30%. Small in absolute terms (24 basis points) but real across long-run play.
- Persistent multiplier in Free Spins. The original has a multiplier feature in Free Spins but it's not as cleanly built — the sequel's wild-driven build is more transparent.
If you want the canonical Hold and Win experience with the modern feature layers, the sequel is the right pick.
Mechanical differences in detail
Hold and Win Respins — both games have it, both use the 6+ money symbol trigger, both use the 3-respin counter with reset-on-new-money-symbol. Behaviour is functionally identical.
Money symbol values — both games print 1×-25× values on standard money symbols. Black Wolf 2 adds the Grand jackpot variant; the original tops out at Major.
Jackpot tiers:
| Tier | Black Wolf (original) | Black Wolf 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Mini | 5× total bet | 5× total bet |
| Minor | 25× total bet | 25× total bet |
| Major | 100× total bet | 100× total bet |
| Grand | (not present) | 1,000× total bet (grid fill) |
Free Spins — both games award 10 free spins on 3+ scatters. The multiplier mechanic differs slightly: the original has a fixed multiplier per round determined at trigger; the sequel has a building multiplier driven by Wild Wolf landings.
Wild Wolf — both games have it on reels 2-5 with similar substitution behaviour.
The key difference: Black Wolf 2 layers on the Grand jackpot tier and the persistent-multiplier free-spin mechanic that the original doesn't have. These two additions are what give the sequel its slightly higher volatility and max-win cap.
Volatility feel comparison
Both games are in the medium / medium-high volatility band, but the shape of the variance differs:
Black Wolf (original) variance shape:
- Hold and Win trigger frequency: ~1 in 170-200 spins (slightly faster than sequel).
- Most rounds pay 15-60× total bet.
- Big rounds (100×+) are rare but reasonably regular.
- The 1,500× max-win ceiling is a moderate outlier event.
Black Wolf 2 variance shape:
- Hold and Win trigger frequency: ~1 in 180-220 spins (marginally slower).
- Most rounds pay 15-80× total bet (slightly higher mid-range).
- Big rounds (100×+) appear at similar rate.
- The Grand jackpot tier creates a new ceiling category (rounds at the 1,000×-2,000× mark).
In session terms: Black Wolf 2 produces slightly fewer but bigger memorable Hold and Win rounds. The original produces slightly more frequent but lower-ceiling memorable rounds.
Which one for which player
Pick Black Wolf (original) if:
- You prefer simpler mechanics (3 jackpots, not 4).
- You're brand new to 3 Oaks Gaming and want the canonical introduction.
- You enjoy medium volatility — sustainable session pacing.
- You don't care about chasing a 1,000× Grand fill.
- The casino you use has the original but not the sequel.
Pick Black Wolf 2 if:
- You've played the original heavily.
- You want refreshed visuals.
- You want the Grand jackpot ceiling.
- You prefer the slightly higher 95.54% RTP.
- You like the building wild-multiplier in Free Spins.
Play both if:
- You have bankroll for both.
- You enjoy A/B comparing slot variance feels.
- You're a 3 Oaks Gaming / Booongo catalogue fan (Dragon's Element, 9 Lions, Tiger Stone, etc.).
Bankroll planning across both
A clean bankroll allocation for someone wanting to play both games:
- 60% Black Wolf 2 — slightly higher RTP, more compelling chase ceiling.
- 40% Black Wolf (original) — slightly faster trigger rate, more session-stable.
Both at the same bet size for direct comparison purposes. Same 150× bankroll rule per bet level applies to both.
At which casinos can I play both?
All four featured casinos in our AU shortlist carry both games. RTP shown is 95.54% on Black Wolf 2 and 95.30% on the original at every featured casino in our May 2026 verification. Vegasnova has the smoothest cross-game UX — same account, same wallet, same launch experience. Joe Fortune carries the deepest 3 Oaks Gaming catalogue (Dragon's Element, 9 Lions, Tiger Stone plus both Black Wolf titles). GreatSlots is the cheapest entry point for trying both via low minimum deposit. CasinoRocket is best for high-stakes sessions on either game, with bonus-cap caveats on A$5000.
Will 3 Oaks Gaming release Black Wolf 3?
We're not seeing official confirmation, but 3 Oaks Gaming's release cadence (multiple Hold and Win titles per year) and the commercial success of the Black Wolf brand suggest a third entry is possible. The 2019-to-2023 gap was four years; if they hold the same cadence, a 2027 release would be the natural pattern. Watch this space.
Try both — see which fits you▶ Play Black Wolf 2 · 🎁 Welcome Bonus
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Quick FAQ
Is Black Wolf 2 better than the original? Not "better" — different. Higher max win, Grand jackpot, refreshed visuals. The original is purer and slightly more session-stable.
Do both games have the same max win? No — 1,500× on the original, 2,000× on the sequel.
Can I use the same casino account for both? Yes — both games are in the same 3 Oaks Gaming catalogue at all four featured casinos.
Are the bonuses transferable between the games? No — separate games, separate bonus rounds. The welcome offer applies to your casino account, not the specific game you play.
Which has better graphics? Black Wolf 2 has the more recent art (2023 vs 2019). The original's art is dated but distinctive.
Is the original worth playing in 2026? Yes — six-plus years on, the Hold and Win mechanic still works. The game is in active deployment everywhere.
Why did Booongo rebrand to 3 Oaks Gaming? Corporate rebrand in 2022 — same studio, same team, refreshed name and positioning. Both games are part of the same catalogue.
About this comparison
Side-by-side testing across all four featured casinos in April-May 2026. Minimum 100 spins on each game per casino, including at least 1 Hold and Win round per game. Visual and mechanic differences cross-checked against 3 Oaks Gaming's product pages for both titles.
Gambling responsibly. Playing two similar games in one session is a fast way to lose track of total exposure. Track your bankroll across both games, not per-game. AU support: gamblinghelponline.org.au · BetStop · 18+ only.
Further Reading
Related reading in this guide: