Wanted Dead or a Wild Slot Review
Take a trip to the Wild West to experience everything from merciless outlaws and deadly duels to legendary robberies in this Wanted Dead or a Wild slot. Produced by Hacksaw Gaming and launched in 2021, this game has it all. From Duel symbols and Dead symbols that trigger action-packed features to Wild Multipliers and Sticky Wilds that could lead to 12,500 x max wins. Multiplier values could reach 100x, and there’s a Showdown at the end of the Dead Man’s Hand feature that could lead to big wins with all of the collected Wilds on the grid for the final 3 spins.
Wanted Dead or a Wild Slot – Reel Screen, Symbols and Payouts
The Wanted Dead or a Wild game unfolds across a grid with 5 reels and 5 rows, featuring 15 immutable paylines. Victories are secured by aligning a minimum of 3 identical symbols consecutively from the leftmost reel towards the right. Bets in the Wanted Dead or a Wild slot start at a modest $0.20 and can go up to $100 for each spin, accommodating both conservative bettors and high rollers. To adjust your bet, just click the plus or minus signs next to the spin button.
Symbols in Wanted Dead or a Wild are designed to fit the Wild West theme. Lower-paying symbols might include classic card values with a Western twist: 10, J, Q, K and A. If landing 5 of the same symbol types, it gives 1x your wager.
While higher-value symbols could feature iconic items from the Wild West, such as Horseshoes, sheriff badges, and wanted posters.
a Buffalo skull, a Bandit, a Money bag, a Whisky bottle and a Revolver drum. Achieving a combination of 5 identical symbols yields a reward that varies from 5 to 20x your wager.
The Wild symbol in the game is depicted by a sheriff’s badge inscribed with Wild, and landing five of these awards 20 times the bet. It can replace any symbol except for the VS and bonus game symbols.
As you play, you’ll encounter VS (Versus), The Great Train Robbery, Duel, and Dead scatter symbols. Collecting the necessary number of these symbols unlocks a variety of exciting bonus features.
| Symbol | Payouts |
| 10 | 3, 4, or 5 icons pay 0.1x, 0.5x or 1x |
| J | 3, 4, or 5 icons pay 0.1x, 0.5x or 1x |
| Q | 3, 4, or 5 icons pay 0.1x, 0.5x or 1x |
| K | 3, 4, or 5 icons pay 0.1x, 0.5x or 1x |
| A | 3, 4, or 5 icons pay 0.1x, 0.5x or 1x |
| Buffalo skull | 3, 4, or 5 icons pay 0.5x, 2.5x or 5x |
| Bandit | 3, 4, or 5 icons pay 0.5x, 2.5x or 5x |
| Money bag | 3, 4, or 5 icons pay 1x, 5x or 10x |
| Whisky bottle | 3, 4, or 5 icons pay 1x, 5x or 10x |
| Revolver drum | 3, 4, or 5 icons pay 2x, 10x or 20x |
| Wild symbol | 5 icons pay 20x |
| Dead symbol | 3+ triggers Dead Man’s Hand feature |
| Duel symbol | 3+ triggers Duel at Dawn feature |
| The Great Train Robbery symbol | 3+ triggers The Great Train Robbery feature |
| VS symbol | Expands upon contributing to a win and reveals multipliers |
| Multiplier symbol | The key to unlocking massive payouts, |
In the slot game, the Multiplier symbol is particularly significant and depicted by a plus sign inside the circle. These are usually associated with the game’s VS symbols. When these VS symbols land on the reels, they will expand to cover the entire reel, turning it into a wild reel. After they expand, a duel will occur, revealing a multiplier value.
Game’s Themes, Graphics and Sounds
The game is steeped in the themes of the Wild West, with visuals and sound design that evoke the era of outlaws and sheriffs. The graphics are a modern take on classic Western motifs, featuring symbols like guns, bandits, and gold. The background music and sound effects are reminiscent of a spaghetti Western soundtrack, enhancing the immersive experience.
Playing the Demo of Wanted Dead or a Wild
Playing the demo version of Wanted Dead or a Wild is a great way to get familiar with the game’s mechanics without risking real money. Most online casinos or game review sites offer the demo mode. In this mode, players are follow these simple steps:
- Find a Casino Offering the Demo: Search for an online casino that hosts the demo version of Wanted Dead or a Wild.
- Launch the Game: Navigate to the game and click on the “Demo” or “Play for Fun” option.
- Set Your Bet: Although you’re using virtual funds, it’s good practice to adjust the bet size to a level you would consider wagering with real money.
- Explore the Features: Use this opportunity to familiarize yourself with the game’s features such as bonus rounds, free spins, and any special symbols.
- Play Without Risk: Spin the reels and enjoy the game without the risk of losing real money. This is a chance to understand the game mechanics and enjoy the theme.
Wanted Dead or a Wild Bonuses and Features
This slot offers five of bonus features, with multipliers and sticky Wilds being central elements. Two distinct features award 10 free spins each, while a third provides 3 spins followed by a climactic Showdown that could result in substantial payouts.
These rounds can be activated during regular play by landing specific symbols or can be instantly accessed via a purchase option, where available. Below is an overview of the mechanics behind each bonus feature: VS, Duel at Dawn, Dead Man’s Hand, The Great Train Robbery and Bonus Buy.
VS symbol
When a VS symbol contributes to a win, it unfurls to blanket the entire reel, showcasing a face-off between two outlaws each with varying multipliers. The victorious outlaw’s multiplier is then applied across the full reel, which also becomes wild.
Should you hit multiple VS symbols, their respective multipliers are tallied up and then applied to your win from that line. Moreover, if you’re fortunate enough to land a VS symbol on every reel, filling the entire 5×5 grid, the entire grid turns wild.
The multipliers you might encounter include: 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, 6x, 7x, 8x, 9x, 10x, 20x, 25x, 50x, and up to 100x.
The Great Train Robbery bonus round
Landing three or more Train Robbery symbols during the base game triggers The Great Train Robbery bonus. You are rewarded with 10 free spins, during which any wilds that appear will stick in place for the duration of this feature. This bonus is rated as medium.
Duel at Dawn feature
Securing three or more Duel symbols activates the Duel at Dawn bonus, bestowing 10 free spins. The distinctive aspect of this bonus round compared to the base game is the heightened presence of VS symbols, which can significantly increase volatility.
Dead Man’s Hand feature
Triggering the Dead Man’s Hand bonus requires landing 3 or more Dead symbols, initiating a two-phase feature. The initial phase provides three spins where only wilds, multipliers, or placeholder symbols will appear. Landing wilds or multipliers will accumulate and reset the spins to three. Up to 20 wilds and a maximum multiplier of x31 can be collected during this phase. If three spins in a row result in no new wilds or multipliers, this phase concludes. The action then progresses to the Showdown, where three final spins are awarded. Here, the amassed wilds are distributed on the grid, and any wins are boosted by the collected multiplier. This game is known for its high volatility.
Bonus Buy Feature
For immediate access to the bonus features, players can utilize the Bonus Buy option, paying the following amounts for each:
- The Great Train Robbery can be purchased for 80x stake with an RTP of 96.27%,Volatility is medium.
- Duel at Dawn for 200x stake with an RTP of 96.33%, Volatility is very high.
- Dead Man’s Hand for 400x stake at an RTP of 96.43%, Volatility is high.
Wanted Dead or a Wild RTP and Variance
The game boasts a default return to player (RTP) percentage of 96.38%, although this can fluctuate across its three distinct bonus features. Wanted Dead or a Wild is known for its high volatility, presenting the fortunate player with the opportunity to secure winnings up to 12,500 times their wager.
Conclusion
Wanted Dead or a Wild stands out as a dynamic and engaging slot game with a well-executed theme and the potential for high payouts due to its volatility. The game offers a variety of special features and bonus rounds that keep the gameplay exciting. Whether you’re a fan of the Western genre or just looking for a slot game with a strong narrative and atmospheric graphics, Wanted Dead or a Wild is a title worth trying out, especially if you enjoy games that combine traditional slot mechanics with innovative features and storytelling.
