Wanted Dead or a Wild slot review
Wanted Dead or a Wild was the first slot by Hacksaw Gaming to feature its trademarked DuelReels mechanic, where reel expansions and shootouts can land multipliers of up to 100x.
Released in 2021 and themed after the Wild West, the slot features three separate bonus rounds with free spins and a maximum win potential of 12,500x. With 15 paylines across a 5×5 grid, it has high volatility and a base RTP of 96.38%.
However, when using the Bonus Buy option, RTP and volatility become variable depending on the mode used.
Highlights
RTP 96.38%
Volatility High
Stakes range 100
Max win 12500x
Number of reels 5
Number of rows 5-
Number of paylines 15 -
Jackpots No -
Slot type Slots -
Slot theme Wild West -
Software provider Hacksaw Gaming -
Launch date 01/01/1970
80/ 100
81% Playscore based on 4 critics
Wanted Dead or a Wild review summary
Wanted Dead or a Wild is a 5×5 slot that pairs gritty visuals with high volatility and big win potential driven by feature-heavy gameplay. This includes three distinct bonus games that can either be triggered naturally or accessed directly through the Bonus Buy option.
Meanwhile, the innovative DuelReels mechanic can deliver multipliers of up to 100x, offering some much-needed relief from what can otherwise be a harsh base game with modest symbol payouts.
Overall, the Wild West theme is backed up by solid feature design and engaging bonus mechanics. It’s designed for players who don’t mind taking a few risks and who are willing to ride out harsh dry spells in search of bigger wins. If all else fails, you can always fall back on the Bonus Buy feature.
Pros
Up to 12,500x max win
Three bonus games
Up to 100x multipliers
Cons
Modest pay symbols
Long dry spells
Only 15 paylines
Wanted Dead or a Wild comprehensive review
In this comprehensive Wanted Dead or a Wild review, I take aim at its RTP, volatility, and general gameplay. I’ll also take a closer look at the mechanics surrounding its three distinct bonus games. So saddle up and let’s ride this one out together.
RTP and volatility
Wanted Dead or a Wild RTP starts off at 96.38% and only changes when using the Bonus Buy option. The provider also rates the game four out of five for volatility, which places it in the high category.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| RTP | 96.38% |
| Maximum win | 12,500x |
| Number of paylines | 15 |
| Volatility | High |
However, as the table demonstrates below, volatility and RTP can change depending on the Bonus Buy option:
| Bonus Buy | RTP | Volatility |
|---|---|---|
| Duel at Dawn | 96.33% | Very High |
| The Great Train Robbery | 96.27% | High |
| Dead Man’s Hand | 96.43% | Medium |
During the base game and all bonus rounds, wins are recorded from left to right, starting from the leftmost reel across 15 fixed paylines.
After 100 test spins, I recorded a hit rate of 20%, which translates to one win for every five spins. This included two Wild reel expansions and one big win, which is very much in line with the game’s high volatility.
The low hit rate reflects the slot’s 15 fixed paylines, which can make gameplay feel limiting at times. That said, the RTP rates all sit above the industry average of 96%, which helps to balance things out. Plus, two out of three Bonus Buy options push the RTP slightly higher than the default.
Also, I appreciated how transparent the game is in listing RTP rates across its bonus features. Other Western-themed slots with multiple bonuses, like Dead or Alive 2 by NetEnt, only list one default RTP across the entire game.
Alexander Teoli
Bonus features
Easily identified by bold lettering, the Wild symbol substitutes for all other symbols except for bonus game icons and VS symbols. It can appear on any reel and also features in all bonus modes and the base game.
One of the game’s flagship mechanics has to do with its VS symbols. When a VS symbol lands, it will expand to cover the entire reel, but only if it would form part of a winning combination once expanded.
If triggered, an animation will take place within the reel featuring two cowboys on either end with a separate multiplier attached to each one. The two then take part in a one-shot showdown, with the winner’s multiplier added to boost any winning combinations. This is known as the DuelReels mechanic.
This feature comes with a total of 13 fixed multiplier values that range from 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, 6x, 7x, 8x, 9x, 10x, 20x, 25x, 50x, and 100x. However, if multiple VS showdowns take place at once, their multipliers are added together before being applied to the final win.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Bonus features | Wilds, Scatters, Reels, Free spins, Multipliers |
| Top features | DuelReels |
| Jackpot | N/A |
Duel at Dawn
Duel at Dawn triggers when three or more Duel Scatter symbols land during the base game. Alternatively, you can unlock this feature via the Bonus Buy option at a cost of 200x your stake.
Once activated, you are automatically awarded with 10 free spins. During the bonus, your chances of landing VS symbols increase dramatically. This in turn boosts your chances of landing VS showdowns with high multipliers for bigger payouts.
The Great Train Robbery
The Great Train Robbery awards 10 free spins and causes all Wilds to become sticky. This means that once they land, Wilds will remain in place for the duration of your free spins.
This feature can either be triggered naturally by landing three or more Train Scatter symbols during base play, or accessed automatically as a Bonus Buy option at a cost of 80x your stake.
Dead Man’s Hand
The Dead Man’s Hand is divided into two parts. During the Collect Phase, all standard pay symbols are replaced by placeholders and your aim is to collect as many Wild and Multiplier symbols as possible.
Multiplier symbols are identified by a plus icon, and each time you land one, a 1x multiplier is added to your total. You can collect up to 20 Wilds, while multipliers can reach a maximum of 31x.
Above the reels, two separate trackers help keep track of your collected Wilds and total multiplier. You initially start the round with just three free spins, but each time you land a Wild or multiplier symbol, your free spin count resets to three.
Once this phase ends, the Showdown Phase begins and your free spins reset to three for the last time. During this phase, all pay symbols return and the number of Wilds collected appears on the grid with each spin. All wins are then multiplied by your combined multiplier.
To trigger this feature, you need to land at least three Dead Scatter symbols during the base game. Alternatively, you can unlock it automatically at a cost of 400x your stake via the Bonus Buy option.
Innovative, fun, and engaging are just some of the words that come to mind when I think of the bonus features at Wanted Dead or a Wild. The DuelReels feature is a definite highlight, and its availability during the base game only adds to the game’s overall appeal.
The bonus rounds were also a real treat. Each one comes with its own set of risks and rewards, giving you something to really think about when using the Bonus Buy option, which in itself is a big plus.
There are, of course, plenty of slots that feature multiple bonus mechanics, with Huff N’More Puff by Light & Wonder being a prime example. However, its bonuses mainly feed into the same Free Spins round, while in Wanted Dead or a Wild, each bonus feels distinct and unique.
Alexander Teoli
Symbols and paytable
Wanted Dead or a Wild consists of 11 pay symbols, including five low-paying card icons (10, J, Q, K, and A) with identical payouts across all tiers. Three matches will award 0.10x your stake, four earns you 0.50x, and five gets you 1x your wager.
The six remaining high-paying symbols consist of five icons related to the Wild West and one special symbol, the Wild. The Wild only pays out when five appear anywhere on screen at once, while the rest award payouts for three, four, and five matches across fixed paylines.
The gun revolver and Wild symbols are actually the game’s highest paying icons, with each one awarding 20x your wager for five matches. The gun revolver also awards 10x your wager for four matches and 2x for three.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Theme | Wild West |
| Reel layout | 5×5 |
| Highest paying symbol | Five Wilds and five gun revolvers |
| Adjustable paylines | N/A |
| Visuals | Gritty |
| Sound | Good |
| Mobile quality | Good |
Next in line are the whiskey bottle and moneybag symbols, which share identical payout tiers. Each one offers 10x your bet for five matches, 5x for four, and 1x for three.
The two remaining high-paying icons also share the same payouts, earning you 5x, 2.5x, and 0.5x your wager across five, four, and three matches respectively.
The game’s maximum win potential is actually capped at 12,500x your wager. Realistically, this would require landing multiple DuelReels expansions with high multipliers, or hitting a strong combination during one of the bonus features.
With so many great talking points surrounding its bonus features, the payout symbols left me a little underwhelmed. The maximum win potential is respectable, but with modest returns across most pay symbols, you’ll need to trigger the game’s bonus features for any decent returns.
When you combine this with its high volatility, 15 paylines, and identical payout tiers across all card icons, the base game can feel like a very unforgiving place at times, especially during dry spells without landing VS symbols.
This isn’t unique to this game, with other Hacksaw Gaming titles like 2 Wild 2 Die also featuring identical pay tiers across low-value icons. It reinforces the game’s high volatility and is the reason why I kept my bet per spin ratio relatively low throughout my session, only increasing it slightly when using the Bonus Buy option.
Alexander Teoli
How to play Wanted Dead or a Wild
After loading the game, use the arrow keys beneath the reels to increase or decrease your bet per spin. With 27 different betting options ranging from $0.20 up to $75, your total stake will be displayed beside the arrow keys.
To start playing, click the big spin button with the circular arrow. The smaller button beside it will open up autoplay options, allowing you to choose between several preset options ranging from 10 to 1,000 autospins.
From here, you can also access advanced autoplay settings, allowing you to set conditions that will automatically end autospins. This includes a single win limit, a loss limit, or ending autospins when a bonus feature is triggered.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Min bet | $0.20 |
| Max bet | $75 |
| Autoplay | Available |
| Turbo mode | Available |
| Game history | N/A |
To access a feature directly, select the Bonus Buy button and choose from three bonus games. You can even adjust your bet size to change the total cost of each feature.
Identified by three horizontal lines, the hamburger icon gives you access to several additional settings. This includes turning game sounds and music on or off. There are also Turbo and Super Turbo modes that can be applied separately to the base game and bonus rounds.
The hamburger icon also includes an info button. Selecting this will give you access to the paytable, game rules, and a breakdown of how each of the bonus mechanics work.
Casinos where to play Wanted Dead or a Wild
Wanted Dead or a Wild is one of Hacksaw Gaming’s most popular slot titles and can be found across many top-performing gambling platforms. You can play Wanted Dead or a Wild for real money or just for fun at the following online casinos:
| Casino Logo | Rating | Bonus | Go-to-casino button | Show more | T&C |
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1
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91/100
Expert rating
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84%
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Expert rating
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Expert verdict
The base game and its dry spells can feel pretty brutal at times, but the satisfaction I gained from landing DuelReels made it all worthwhile. This was especially true on those few occasions when multiple would land at once to really stack up my multipliers.
I also need to highlight just how creative the bonus games really are. These aren’t just minor tweaks or simple modifiers, but each one delivers something unique, with its own set of mechanics, risks, and rewards.
I thought the game’s maximum win potential was pretty respectable too, compared to some of the most played online slots of the moment. However, proceed with caution. The low number of fixed paylines, high volatility, and reliance on bonuses can make base gameplay feel very slow and harsh. Sure, you can always use the Bonus Buy option, but this comes at a cost.
In my opinion though, the game’s positives far outweigh any negatives. Plus, the simple yet gritty grid design works well with the theme, while the feature animations help balance things out really nicely.
FAQs
What is the RTP of Wanted Dead or a Wild?
Wanted Dead or a Wild has a default RTP rating of 96.38%. However, this can vary depending on the Bonus Buy feature selected, with the Dead Man’s Hand feature offering the highest return at 96.43%.
How many bonus games does Wanted Dead or a Wild have?
Wanted Dead or a Wild features three main bonus games: Duel at Dawn, The Great Train Robbery, and Dead Man’s Hand. Each one comes with its own trigger, although all of them can be accessed via the Bonus Buy option.
Does Wanted Dead or a Wild have a buy feature?
Yes, you can purchase all three of the game’s bonus rounds. The Great Train Robbery costs 80x your stake, Duel at Dawn 200x, and Dead Man’s Hand costs 400x your wager.
What is the maximum win potential of Wanted Dead or a Wild?
The maximum win potential in Wanted Dead or a Wild is capped at 12,500x your stake. Theoretically, this can be achieved through a combination of Wild reel expansions and high-value multipliers.
What is the volatility of Wanted Dead or a Wild?
Wanted Dead or a Wild is a high volatility slot. However, depending on the Bonus Buy selected, this can range from medium volatility to very high.
