Wanted Dead or a Wild Slot Review - Gameplay & Free Spins

Wanted Dead or a Wild Slot Review

Wanted Dead or a Wild brings a darker, more serious tone to the this Wild West themed slot than players might expect. Hacksaw Gaming has created a visually striking game with a blood-soaked sky and minimalist, stark design that sets it apart from typical saloon-and-tumbleweed Western slots. The modern take on classic Western scores might surprise players initially, but it ultimately adds a unique flavour to the overall experience.

The slot features a 5x5 grid with 15 pay lines, where wins require matching at least three symbols starting from the leftmost reel. The game's atmosphere is deliberately bleaker than most slots, showcasing a different side of the Malta-based developer.

RTP, Volatility & More

• Provider: Hacksaw Gaming

• Return to Player: 96.38% (top tier) - Note: Operators can adjust this down to 94.55%, 92.33%, or 88.42% depending on the market

• Volatility Rate: High (4 out of 5 on Hacksaw's scale)

• Max Win: 12,500 times your stake

• Paylines: 15

• Hit Rate: 19.36% (about one in five spins)

• Bet Range: £0.2 to £100

Hacksaw Gaming has established itself as a leading developer in the iGaming industry, with more than 140 video slots released since 2018. The Wanted Dead or a Wild slot has significantly contributed to their rise to prominence.

The slot is available in the UK, but UK players should be aware that the bonus-buy option is not available in their market due to regulations.

Free Spins & Game Features

Free Spins

Wanted Dead or a Wild offers three distinct free spins features, each with its own mechanics and volatility:

The Great Train Robbery

• Triggered by landing three or more Train Robbery symbols

• Awards 10 free spins

• All wilds that land become sticky for the duration of the bonus

• Medium volatility feature

• Available in the bonus buy menu for 80x your stake (96.27% RTP)

Duel at Dawn

• Triggered by landing three or more Duel symbols

• Awards 10 free spins

• Features more frequent VS expanding multiplier wilds

• High volatility feature

• Available in the bonus-buy menu for 200 times your stake (96.33% RTP)

Dead Man's Hand

• Triggered by landing three or more Dead scatters

• Begins with a Collect Phase similar to hold-and-win games

• Collects wilds and multipliers in separate meters (up to 20 wilds and a 31x multiplier)

• Respins reset to three when a symbol is collected

• Showdown Phase activates after three blank respins

• During Showdown, players get three spins with collected wilds in random positions

• All wins are boosted by the collected multiplier

• Available in the bonus buy menu for 400x the stake (96.43% RTP)

Wilds and VS Symbols

The Wild symbol is central to the game's mechanics:

• Substitutes for all regular pay symbols

• Can appear on all five reels

• Matches the pistol cylinder as the most valuable symbol (20x stake for 5 of a kind)

The VS (Versus) symbol is a special feature that:

• Can land in both the base game and bonus rounds

• Expands to cover the entire reel and turns wild

• Triggers a duel between two gunslingers

• Awards a random wild multiplier between 2x and 100x

• Multipliers are added together when multiple VS wilds contribute to a win

Is It Possible To Buy Bonus in Wanted Dead or a Wild?

Yes, non-UK players can take advantage of the Bonus Buy menu, which offers all three bonus features for purchase:

• The Great Train Robbery: 80x your stake (96.27% RTP)

• Duel at Dawn: 200x your stake (96.33% RTP)

• Dead Man's Hand: 400x your stake (96.43% RTP)

UK players cannot access the bonus buy feature due to Gambling Commission regulations.

What is the Duel Reels Mechanic?

The Duel Reels mechanic is one of the most exciting features in Wanted Dead or a Wild. When VS symbols land, they expand to cover the entire reel and transform into wild symbols. This triggers a duel animation between two gunslingers, resulting in a random multiplier between 2x and 100x being applied to the wild.

When multiple VS wilds contribute to a winning combination, their multipliers are added together, potentially leading to massive payouts. This feature can appear in both the base game and bonus rounds, though it appears more frequently during the Duel at Dawn free spins feature.

How to Play Wanted Dead or a Wild?

Playing Wanted Dead or a Wild is straightforward:

1. Set your stake between £0.2 and £100

2. Spin the reels to match symbols across the 15 pay lines from left to right

3. Aim to trigger one of the three bonus features or land VS symbols for multiplier wilds

The game includes turbo spin and autoplay options for eligible players.

Symbol Values

Strategy and Tips

While no strategy will guarantee wins in slot games, here are some tips to enhance your Wanted Dead or a Wild experience:

• Try to play the version with the highest Wanted Dead or a Wild RTP (96.38%) when possible

• Set a budget before you start playing and stick to it

• Remember that the base game can be dry for extended periods, so manage your bankroll accordingly

• Consider saving your bankroll for the bonus features, where the biggest wins are more likely

• If you're a non-UK player and want to try the bonus features, the Dead Man's Hand has the highest RTP (96.43%)

• Remember that slots should be played for entertainment, not as a way to make money

Where To Play This Hacksaw Gaming Slot?

This slot can be found at many reputable online casinos that partner with Hacksaw Gaming. Look for casinos that offer the highest RTP version of the game (96.38%) for the best odds.

Is It Possible To Find a Free To Play Demo?

Yes, you can play this demo for free at most online casinos. A demo version of Wanted Dead or a Wild is available at Hacksaw Gaming official site. It allows you to get familiar with the game's mechanics and features without risking any real money. 

The free play version is an excellent way to determine if the game's high volatility suits your playing style.

Other Western Classic Slots You Could Try

If you enjoy Wanted Dead or a Wild, you might also be interested in these Western-themed slots:

• El Paso Gunfight by NoLimit City - The third instalment in their Western series, featuring xNudge multiplier wilds and potential payouts up to 44,440x your stake

• Dead or Alive 2 by NetEnt - A legendary sequel with three different bonus rounds and a massive 111,111x potential

• Le Bandit by Hacksaw Gaming - A Western-themed slot with cluster pays and a 10,000x max win potential

These slots offer different takes on the Western theme with varying volatility and bonus features

How Is The Mobile Experience?

Wanted Dead or a Wild is fully optimized for mobile play, offering a seamless experience across all devices. The game performs well on both Android and iOS platforms, with no need to download any apps - simply play directly through your mobile browser.

The slot's clean, minimalist design translates well to smaller screens, and all features function identically to the desktop version. Touch controls are responsive, making it easy to adjust stakes and activate features.