Buffalo Power 2: Hold and Win is a high volatility pokie from Playson, released on 1 June 2023 as a sequel to the original Buffalo Power. The game runs on a 5×3 grid with 20 fixed paylines. The headline feature is the Hold and Win bonus round with five fixed jackpots, supported by a Buffalo Extra Bonus feature that can trigger the bonus game directly from the base game or Free Spins. RTP is 95.44%, volatility is high, and the maximum win sits at x10,468 the stake.
Buffalo Power 2 characteristics
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Provider | Playson |
| Release date | 1 June 2023 |
| RTP | 95.44% |
| Volatility | High |
| Hit frequency | 27.16% |
| Max win | x10,468 the stake |
| Grid | 5×3 — 20 fixed paylines |
| Min bet | AUD 0.20 |
| Max bet | AUD 100 |
| Bonus Buy | Not available |
| Free Spins | Yes — 8 spins, with Total Multiplier up to x11 |
| Jackpot | Yes — 5 fixed jackpots in the Hold and Win round, top jackpot x5,000 |
| Mobile | Full support — iOS and Android, portrait and landscape |
Where to play
Best casinos to play Buffalo Power 2 online
Buffalo Power 2 is available at online casinos that carry the Playson game catalogue. The options below highlight operators prepared for Australian players, with welcome offers and quick access to the game lobby.
Buffalo Power 2 pokie overview
Buffalo Power 2: Hold and Win is Playson's sequel to the original Buffalo Power, going live on 1 June 2023 with an expanded jackpot ladder and a new Buffalo Extra Bonus feature layered on top of the established Hold and Win formula. It's built on a 5×3 grid with 20 fixed paylines, which keeps the base structure familiar to anyone who's played the first title, while the bonus mechanics around it have been reworked to give more routes into the feature round. The studio has positioned it as a bonus-centric title rather than one that leans on base-game payouts, so most of the pokie's appeal sits inside the Hold and Win round, the Buffalo Extra Bonus, and the Free Spins multiplier rather than in regular line wins.
Theme, design and gameplay
The setting is the Arizona wilderness at dusk, with a desert canyon backdrop rendered in deep purple and burnt-orange tones. The reels sit over this landscape with the Buffalo Power 2 logo positioned above the grid, and the five jackpot tiers displayed permanently at the top of the screen so the current stake's jackpot values are visible at all times. Symbol artwork leans into a painterly, realistic style — the bear, cougar, eagle and wolf are all rendered with detailed fur and feather textures, and the buffalo wild's stacked appearance across reels gives it a noticeably larger presence than the other symbols when it lands.
Gameplay itself follows a standard payline format rather than anything experimental — there's no cascading, no cluster pays, no megaways reel heights. The pace is steady on normal speed and quick with Turbo engaged, and the audio leans on ambient desert drumbeats that pick up in intensity once the Hold and Win round triggers. Nothing about the core spin loop reinvents the format; the design budget is clearly concentrated on the bonus round presentation rather than the base game.
RTP, volatility and max win
Buffalo Power 2 carries a theoretical RTP of 95.44%, which sits below the wider market average for online pokies and is on the lower side even within Playson's own Hold and Win catalogue. Volatility is rated high, with a hit frequency of around 27.16% — meaning roughly one in four spins returns some kind of win, though most of those wins are small base-game hits rather than feature triggers. The maximum win achievable is x10,468 the stake, which combines the Free Spins Total Multiplier with a strong Hold and Win outcome; taken on its own, the Hold and Win round's top fixed jackpot (the Grand jackpot) caps out at x5,000 the stake. Given the gap between average RTP and high volatility, this is a pokie built around occasional large swings rather than steady, frequent returns.
How to play Buffalo Power 2
The stake is set using the plus and minus buttons either side of the bet display at the bottom of the screen, with bets running from AUD 0.20 up to AUD 100 per spin. Wins are formed across the game's 20 fixed paylines, running left to right, when matching symbols land on connected positions — there's no cluster or ways mechanic here, just a traditional payline structure.
The round "A" button on the right-hand side toggles Autoplay, letting a set number of spins run automatically without manual input. Next to it, the orange "Hold for Turbo" button speeds up the reel animation when held down, which is useful for players who want to get through more spins per session without changing the maths of the game. There's no separate gamble feature in Buffalo Power 2 — wins are paid directly to the credit balance.
Symbols and paytable
The paytable is split between four card-rank symbols (J, Q, K, A) as the low-paying tier and four animal symbols — cougar, eagle, wolf and bear — as the high-paying tier, with the bear sitting at the top of the regular paytable. Payouts scale with the number of matching symbols landed on a payline, from three-of-a-kind up to five-of-a-kind.
Symbols and payouts (multiplier of total stake)
| Symbol | 3 of a kind | 4 of a kind | 5 of a kind |
|---|---|---|---|
 Buffalo (Wild) | x0.75 | x2.50 | x12.50 |
 Bear (highest-paying animal) | x0.75 | x2.50 | x12.50 |
 Cougar | x0.25 | x2.00 | x10.00 |
 Eagle | x0.25 | x1.50 | x7.50 |
 Wolf | x0.25 | x1.25 | x5.00 |
    A, K, Q, J (card ranks) | x0.25 | x0.50 | x2.50 |
The Buffalo Wild matches the Bear's payout values when it completes a winning combination by itself. Our own screenshots from gameplay confirmed the King's x0.50 for three-of-a-kind and the Queen's x0.25 for five-of-a-kind shown above, both at a AUD 1.00 stake.
Buffalo Power 2 rules
- Buffalo (Wild): the buffalo head substitutes for any of the regular paying symbols to complete winning combinations.
- Bonus symbol: a coin-style symbol that contributes toward triggering the Hold and Win round. Landing six or more Bonus and/or Power symbols across the grid starts the bonus game.
- Power symbol: the gold coin marked "POWER" only pays out during the Hold and Win round itself, where it awards one of five fixed jackpot tiers.
- Free Spins symbol: landing three of these on the reels triggers the Free Spins round.
- Mystery symbol: appears during the Hold and Win round or the Buffalo Extra Bonus feature and transforms into either a Bonus or Power symbol once revealed at the end of the round.
Buffalo Power 2 bonus features
Hold and Win
Hold and Win is triggered when six or more Bonus and/or Power symbols land on the grid in a single spin, either in the base game or during Free Spins. Once triggered, every position that held a special symbol locks in place, and the player receives three respins. Landing a new Bonus or Power symbol during a respin resets the respin counter back to three, so the round can continue as long as new symbols keep appearing. The round ends once the respins run out or every position on the grid is filled.
Power symbols only pay during the Hold and Win round, and they pay according to the count collected by the end of the round, across five fixed jackpot tiers. Based on a AUD 1.00 stake, our screenshots showed these jackpot values:
| Power symbols collected | Jackpot (at AUD 1.00 stake) | Jackpot (at AUD 50.00 stake) |
|---|---|---|
| 6x — Grand | AUD 5,000.00 | AUD 250,000.00 |
| 5x — Mega | AUD 1,000.00 | AUD 50,000.00 |
| 4x — Major | AUD 150.00 | AUD 7,500.00 |
| 3x — Minor | AUD 50.00 | AUD 2,500.00 |
| 2x — Mini | AUD 20.00 | AUD 1,000.00 |
All five jackpots scale directly with stake — the Grand jackpot pays a flat x5,000 the bet regardless of stake size, which is the maximum payout available from the Hold and Win round itself. Only Bonus and Power symbols pay anything during the bonus game; every other symbol on the grid is inactive once the round starts.
Buffalo Extra Bonus
Any Bonus symbol landing on the reels during the main game or Free Spins gives a chance of triggering the Buffalo Extra Bonus feature. When it activates, the game adds extra Bonus, Power or Mystery symbols to the grid in a quantity sufficient — or more than sufficient — to immediately activate the Hold and Win round. This effectively gives a second route into the bonus game beyond simply landing six qualifying symbols naturally on one spin.
Mystery Symbols
Mystery symbols can appear during the Hold and Win round or as part of the Buffalo Extra Bonus feature. Rather than showing a fixed value, they're revealed one by one at the end of the bonus round and transform randomly into either a Bonus symbol or a Power symbol, which then counts toward the relevant jackpot tier.
Free Spins
Landing three Free Spins symbols on the reels awards 8 free spins. During the round, a Total Multiplier applies to winnings, building up to as high as x11 across the feature according to Playson's official game information. Free Spins symbols and Bonus/Power symbols can both still appear during the round, meaning a Hold and Win trigger remains possible while spins are running, which can extend the value of the round considerably beyond the base 8 spins.
Buffalo Power 2 on mobile
Buffalo Power 2 runs on Playson's standard HTML5 framework, so it loads directly in a mobile browser without a separate native app — there's no dedicated Playson app for this title, just browser play through a casino's mobile site. We tested the game on an iPhone 14 and a Samsung S23 over standard Australian 4G, and the interface scales cleanly to both portrait and landscape orientation.
- All core controls — bet size, spin, Autoplay, Hold for Turbo and the paytable/info menu — remain accessible on the mobile layout, with the side panel buttons shifting position depending on orientation.
- The Hold and Win and Free Spins rounds play identically to desktop, with the same jackpot tiers and respin logic.
- Load times were quick on both Chrome and Safari during testing, and the reel animations stayed smooth even with Turbo spin engaged.
- There's no Bonus Buy option on mobile, consistent with desktop — this isn't a feature Playson has built into Buffalo Power 2.
Pros and cons
- Pros:
- Two distinct routes into the Hold and Win round — landing six symbols naturally, or via the Buffalo Extra Bonus feature — which softens the long droughts typical of this pokie format.
- Five fixed jackpot tiers, with the Grand jackpot paying a flat x5,000 the stake regardless of bet size.
- Free Spins carry a Total Multiplier up to x11, and Hold and Win can still trigger mid-feature.
- Full mobile support with no loss of features compared to desktop.
- Cons:
- 95.44% RTP is below the wider market average for this pokie format.
- No Bonus Buy option — the feature round can only be reached through natural play.
- Base game payouts outside of wild substitutions are fairly flat, so sessions without a feature trigger can feel uneventful.
- No progressive jackpot — all five jackpot tiers are fixed multiples of the stake.
Our take
Buffalo Power 2 suits players who are comfortable with high volatility and don't mind extended cold streaks between bonus triggers in exchange for the chance at a five-figure multiplier when the Hold and Win round lands well. The Buffalo Extra Bonus feature is the most distinctive part of the package — it gives a second, less predictable path into the bonus game rather than relying purely on landing six Bonus or Power symbols outright, which softens the long droughts that high volatility Hold and Win pokies are known for.
On the downside, 95.44% RTP sits below the wider market average for this pokie format, and there's no Bonus Buy option for players who want to skip straight to the feature. The base game itself, outside of wild substitutions, is fairly flat — most of the pokie's value is concentrated in the Hold and Win round and the Free Spins multiplier, so sessions that don't reach either feature can feel uneventful. There's also no progressive jackpot here; all five jackpot tiers are fixed multiples of the stake, capped at x5,000 for the Grand jackpot.
Buffalo Power 2 FAQ
What is Buffalo Power 2 and who developed it?
Buffalo Power 2: Hold and Win is a video pokie from Playson, released in June 2023 as a sequel to the original Buffalo Power. It's set on a 5×3 grid with 20 fixed paylines and a North American wildlife theme.
What is the RTP of Buffalo Power 2?
The official RTP of Buffalo Power 2 is 95.44%. Some casinos may offer a reduced RTP configuration, so it's worth checking the in-game info screen at your chosen operator before playing.
How do you trigger the bonus round in Buffalo Power 2?
The Hold and Win round triggers when six or more Bonus and/or Power symbols land on the grid in a single spin. The Buffalo Extra Bonus feature offers a second route in, adding extra qualifying symbols to the grid when triggered from a Bonus symbol landing during the main game or Free Spins.
Can you buy the bonus in Buffalo Power 2?
No. Buffalo Power 2 doesn't include a Bonus Buy or Feature Buy option — the Hold and Win round and Free Spins can only be triggered through natural play.
What is the maximum win in Buffalo Power 2?
The maximum win is x10,468 the stake, combining the Free Spins Total Multiplier with Hold and Win jackpot outcomes. The largest single fixed jackpot within the Hold and Win round on its own is the Grand jackpot, paying x5,000 the stake.
Is Buffalo Power 2 available on mobile?
Yes. Buffalo Power 2 runs on Playson's HTML5 framework and is fully playable through a mobile browser on iOS and Android, with the same features available as on desktop.
Where can you play Buffalo Power 2?
Buffalo Power 2 is available at online casinos that carry the Playson game catalogue. Check our recommended casino list for licensed operators offering this title to Australian players.
Player reviews of Buffalo Power 2
- James, Sydney (2026): "Landed 6 Power symbols on spin 53 and the respins kept extending — ended up filling most of the grid before the round closed out. Walked away with the Mega jackpot at a $2 stake."
- Sarah, Melbourne (2026): "Volatility is no joke. Went close to 90 spins at $1 with nothing bigger than a small wolf line. When the Buffalo Extra Bonus finally kicked in it was worth the wait though."
- Tom, Brisbane (2026): "No buy bonus option, which is annoying when you just want to see the Hold and Win round without grinding for it. Graphics are solid and the buffalo wild animation is a nice touch."
- Emma, Perth (2026): "Triggered Free Spins twice in one session on a $0.50 stake. Multiplier built up to around x7 the second time, which made the 8 spins genuinely worthwhile."
- Nick, Adelaide (2026): "Hit the Hold and Win round but only collected 3 Power symbols before the respins ran out — Minor jackpot, nothing huge. The mechanic feels fair, just very dependent on how the respins go."
- Olivia, Sydney (2026): "Played on my Samsung over 4G and didn't notice any lag, even with Turbo on. RTP feels a bit lower than other Playson titles I've played, but the jackpot structure makes up for it when it lands."
iGaming analyst and pokie reviewer
Michael Turner is the lead iGaming analyst on this website, specialising in online casino platforms and pokies available to Australian players. With over 10 years of hands-on experience in the industry, he focuses on payment behaviour, RTP structures, bonus mechanics, and real transaction systems used across international operators. His analysis is based on actual platform use rather than promotional claims. Michael reviews wagering models, bonus limits, and withdrawal timelines across cards, e-wallets, and crypto methods, evaluating how each system performs in real conditions. Based in Sydney, he continuously tracks changes in the iGaming market and updates reviews according to how platforms operate in practice, not how they are advertised.
Published October 21, 2025 / Updated June 17, 2026