The Wild West called and we answered – the Wanted: Dead or a Wild did not disappoint. We quickly got into the theme thanks to the highly-detailed symbols and the true western tune playing in the background.
Just when we thought it couldn’t be more appropriate for the vibe, we realised new instruments were added every time we got a win (every five or so spins).
When it comes to the win potential and hit frequency – we can just say this game lives up to its highly volatile description. The gameplay is pretty straightforward even with multiple bonus features available, so you won’t have trouble getting the hang of it no matter what your level is.
Title:
Wanted: Dead or a Wild
Game Developer:
Hacksaw Gaming
Release Date:
2021
Layout:
5 x 5
Paylines:
15
RTP:
96.30%
Volatility
High
Minimum / Maximum Bet:
₹12.00/₹6,000
Maximum Win:
12,500x
Bonus Features:
Duel at Dawn, Dead Man’s Hand, The Great Train Robbery, Buy Bonus
You can’t miss the Wild symbol, as the word is written right over it. It substitutes all but four symbols – the three different Bonus symbols (Duel, Dead, and the Great Train Robbery) and the VS Symbol (that appears in the Duel at Dawn bonus round more).
Triggered by three Scatters of the same name, this bonus is actually a free spins round with 10 Free Spins. Wilds will be sticky throughout the whole round, giving you more chances to win.
By far our favourite bonus feature, as it captures the spirit of the wild west with the perfect animation. It’s triggered by three Duel scatters landing on the board and is essentially a duel of multipliers. When a VS symbol lands in a winning combination, it transforms the whole reel into two outlaws with different multipliers. Your win is multiplied by the last-standing outlaw (so if the surviving one has a 10x multiplier, your win is multiplied 10x) and the whole reel is treated as a Wild.
Separated into two phases – Collecting and Showdown-this bonus round is triggered by three Dead scatters landing on the board. In the first phase (Collecting), the goal is to collect as many Wilds and Multiplier symbols as you can. The phase ends when you spin three consecutive times without a win and then it’s time for a Showdown. Here, you’ll get three free spins with all the Wilds you collected in the previous phase appearing for each spin. Once the win is calculated, it will be multiplied by the total multiplier from the first phase (31x max).
If you want to trigger the bonuses without spinning the reels yourself, you can use the Buy Bonus feature for all of them.
We’re happy to say that Wanted: Dead or a Wild was an absolute hit-we love the vibe in this game, its win potential and also the attention to detail (especially the winning animations; like how the winning symbols pop up and twirl). This is mostly due to the innovative bonus features that put a spin on a classic western theme.
We reckon this game will appeal most to experienced players due to the game’s fast pace and wide range of bonus features, but don’t let that scare you away if you’re just starting out! You can start with the minimum bet (£0.20) and then gradually increase them as you get used to the mechanics.
Saddle up and ready your horses for more adventures in the Wild West:
If what appealed most to you about Wanted: Dead or a Wild was the complex yet rewarding gameplay and great bonuses, Tombstone RIP will be your next favourite.
While Wanted: Dead or a Wild focused on a duel and the Great Train Robbery, Tombstone RIP has the High Noon Saloon Free-Spins bonus and three different types of wilds. Of course, Wanted: Dead or a Wild’s win potential is amazing, but nothing can compare to Tombstone RIP’s 300,000x bet.
If you prefer a more classic slot vibe, Money Cart Bonus Reels is the way to go. It has some of the same features as Wanted: Dead or a Wild, such as wild symbols and free spins, but it is missing the more interactive bonuses.
Instead, it gives you a classic 5×4 grid filled with symbols and two extra Money Cart Bonus Reels that are activated in the respin feature. It’s also worth noting that Money Cart Bonus Reels has a maximum win of 2000x your bet – much less than Wanted: Dead or a Wild.