Wanted Dead or a Wild Slot Review
We tested Wanted Dead or a Wild across many sessions, and this Wanted Dead or a Wild slot review is based on real hands-on play. Released by Hacksaw Gaming on 29 September 2021, this game is widely credited as the slot that put Hacksaw on the map and introduced the DuelReels mechanic to the world. Set on a dark, atmospheric 5×5 grid with 15 fixed paylines, it takes the Wild West theme somewhere darker and more serious than most pokies dare to go. With a 96.38% RTP, a 12,500x maximum win, three distinct bonus modes, and VS symbols that can turn entire reels into multiplier wilds worth up to 100x, there is a lot going on here. We walk through all of it below.
| Provider: | Hacksaw Gaming |
| RTP: | 96.38% |
| Type: | Video Slots |
| Launched: | 2021 |
| Volatility: | High |
| Max Win: | 12500x |
| Min/Max Bet: | $0.20/$100.00 |
Wanted Dead or a Wild Demo
Where To Play Wanted Dead or a Wild
- FastPay100% up to NZ$750 + 100 Free SpinsSecond deposit bonus 75% up to NZ$75
Author: Liam Harrington
Wanted Dead or a Wild Slot Game Overview
Wanted Dead or a Wild is a 5-reel, 5-row video slot from Hacksaw Gaming, released on 29 September 2021 on a 5×5 grid with 15 fixed paylines. Wins are formed by landing 3 or more matching symbols starting from the leftmost reel. The Wanted Dead or a Wild online slot carries a high-volatility rating at 4 out of 5 on Hacksaw’s scale, with a default RTP of 96.38%. It is worth knowing that operators can configure this game at lower RTP settings of 94.55%, 92.33%, or 88.42%, so checking the in-game paytable at your chosen casino before playing is worth a moment. The maximum win is 12,500x your total bet. The hit frequency sits at 19.36%, meaning a winning combination forms roughly once every five spins.
Our review of Wanted Dead or a Wild found a game that earns its reputation through atmosphere and mechanical innovation rather than complexity for its own sake. The DuelReels mechanic, where VS symbols land and expand to cover entire reels as multiplier wilds, creates moments of genuine tension every time one appears. The base game can go through quiet stretches, which is expected given the volatility profile, but when VS symbols land in clusters the whole grid can transform in an instant. The dark Western visual design, blood-red sky backdrop, and slow tension-building soundtrack create an atmosphere that is genuinely different from other slots in the genre. In 2022 the game logged over 1.1 billion minutes watched on streaming platforms, which tells you everything about how compelling it is to watch as well as play.
Wanted Dead or a Wild RTP, Payout, and Volatility
The Wanted Dead or a Wild slot review numbers require a closer look than most slots. The default RTP of 96.38% sits above the online slot industry average of around 96%, meaning over a very long run players theoretically get back $96.38 for every $100 wagered. However, this game has one of the widest configurable RTP ranges in the industry. Operators can set it as low as 88.42%, which creates a house edge of over 11%. Always check the in-game information panel at your chosen casino to confirm which RTP version is active before you start spending real money. When using the bonus buy feature the RTP varies between 96.27% and 96.43% depending on which option is purchased.
On the paytable, the Wanted Dead or a Wild online slot runs ten regular paying symbols. The low-paying symbols are the standard card ranks from 10 through to Ace. The higher-paying symbols are themed Western icons including skulls, outlaw figures, money bags, liquor bottles, and bullet chambers. The wild symbol pays 40x your bet for five of a kind on a payline. The maximum win of 12,500x is a strong ceiling that sits above Dead or Alive 2’s 111,111x in terms of realistic frequency but well below it in terms of theoretical maximum. Multiple VS symbol multipliers can stack on the same spin, and when several reels turn wild simultaneously with high multiplier values the result can be spectacular.
| Slot Name | Wanted Dead or a Wild |
|---|---|
| Game Provider | Hacksaw Gaming |
| RTP | 96.38% |
| Volatility | High |
| Paylines | 15 |
| Bonus Buy | Yes |
| Progressive Jackpot | No |
Volatility describes how risky a slot is to play. A low-volatility slot pays smaller amounts more often. A high-volatility slot pays less often but in larger amounts. Wanted Dead or a Wild sits at 4 out of 5 on Hacksaw’s own scale, which is very high. The hit frequency of 19.36% means a winning combination forms roughly once every five spins, which is less frequent than many comparable high-volatility titles. Most of those wins are small amounts from the card symbol lower tier.
The three bonus modes have their own individual volatility ratings, which is an unusual and useful piece of information that Hacksaw provides to players. The Great Train Robbery is rated medium and provides the most consistent bonus round experience. Dead Man’s Hand is rated high and involves collecting wilds and multipliers before releasing them. Duel at Dawn is rated very high and is described as an all-or-nothing experience where enhanced VS symbol frequency can either deliver enormous results or next to nothing. The balance between base game and bonus round is heavily skewed toward the features, and the DuelReels mechanic in the base game provides the most consistent source of meaningful wins between bonus triggers.
Wanted Dead or a Wild Special Features and Bonus Options
The Wanted Dead or a Wild online slot bonuses are built around one groundbreaking base mechanic and three distinct bonus modes that each deliver a different experience. The DuelReels mechanic runs through both the base game and all three bonus rounds, and it is what makes this game feel genuinely different from other high-volatility Western slots. The three free spins modes offer genuine choice about risk level, which is a structural similarity to Dead or Alive 2, though the mechanics inside each mode are completely different. The Wanted Dead or a Wild slot game features also include a three-tier bonus buy system with different costs and RTP levels for each mode, giving experienced players control over both which feature they enter and how much they pay to access it. No other Hacksaw Gaming slot at the time of release had this level of feature flexibility.
DuelReels Mechanic (VS Symbols)
The DuelReels mechanic is the signature innovation of Wanted Dead or a Wild and the feature that Hacksaw Gaming has since trademarked and used across multiple subsequent titles. VS symbols can land on any reel during the base game and all three bonus rounds. When a VS symbol lands and forms part of a winning combination, it expands to fill all five positions on its reel, turning the entire reel into a wild. Two outlaw characters then appear on that wild reel and duel each other. Each carries a random multiplier value between 2x and 100x. The winner’s multiplier applies to all wins passing through that reel. When multiple VS symbols land on different reels in the same spin, the multiplier values from each winning reel are added together and then applied to all wins. If VS symbols land on all five reels simultaneously, the entire 5×5 grid becomes one massive wild with all multiplier values combined.
In practice this mechanic creates some of the most dramatic individual spin moments in the slot market. A base game spin can go from unremarkable to extraordinary in an instant if two or three VS symbols land with high multiplier values. A combined multiplier of 200x or higher across multiple reels with a full match on the top symbol is where the 12,500x ceiling becomes reachable. The tension of watching the duel animation play out, waiting to see which multiplier value wins, is something genuinely unique to this game and its successors in the Hacksaw catalogue.
The Great Train Robbery (Free Spins)
The Great Train Robbery is triggered by landing 3 or more Train Robbery scatter symbols in the base game and awards 10 free spins. The defining mechanic of this bonus round is sticky wilds. All wild symbols that land during the feature stay in place for the remainder of the free spins, accumulating across the grid as spins progress. The DuelReels mechanic also operates during this bonus, so VS symbols can still appear and turn entire reels into multiplier wilds. When those multiplier wilds become sticky and stack up across multiple free spins, the win potential builds considerably. Hacksaw rates this bonus as medium volatility, making it the most consistent of the three modes and the best starting option for players who want a more reliable bonus outcome. The features on Wanted Dead or a Wild online slot in this mode produce fewer dramatic all-or-nothing results and more steady accumulation of win value across the full 10 spins.
Duel at Dawn and Dead Man's Hand
Duel at Dawn is triggered by landing 3 or more Duel scatter symbols and also awards 10 free spins. The key difference from The Great Train Robbery is that VS symbols appear at a significantly higher rate during this mode, meaning DuelReels activations are far more frequent. Hacksaw rates this bonus as very high volatility and describes it as all-or-nothing. Sessions in Duel at Dawn can deliver spectacular results when multiple VS symbols with high multipliers fire across the grid, or they can produce very little if the multiplier values land low. It is the most exciting and most punishing of the three modes.
Dead Man’s Hand is triggered by landing 3 or more Dead scatter symbols and operates differently to the other two modes. Rather than a free spins round, it is a two-part respin feature. In part one, you start with 3 spins that reset to 3 each time a wild or multiplier lands. During this phase you collect wilds and a growing multiplier, up to a maximum of 20 wilds and a 31x multiplier. Once the collection phase ends, part two, the Showdown, begins. The collected wilds and multiplier are released onto the grid for 3 final spins. The combination of a fully wild-loaded grid with a significant multiplier applied is where Dead Man’s Hand can produce its biggest outcomes. Hacksaw rates this bonus as high volatility. The bonus buy options cover all three modes at 80x, 200x, and 400x your total bet respectively.
How To Play Wanted Dead or a Wild
Wanted Dead or a Wild is more approachable than its reputation suggests. The 5×5 grid with 15 fixed paylines is simple enough, and the DuelReels mechanic is easy to understand once you have seen it activate a couple of times. The main things to know before you start are how VS symbols work and which of the three bonus modes suits your risk level. Here is how to get started.
- 1
Set your bet size
Use the controls at the bottom of the screen to choose your stake. Wanted Dead or a Wild accepts bets from $0.20 to $100.00 per spin, which is a much wider range than most comparable high-volatility pokies. Before you start, check the in-game paytable to confirm which RTP version is active at your casino. Given the high volatility and the one-in-five hit frequency, having at least 150 to 200 spins worth of bankroll at your chosen stake is sensible. - 2
Spin the reels and look for VS symbols
Hit spin and watch the 5×5 grid settle. Wins are formed by landing 3 or more matching symbols on any of the 15 paylines from left to right. The most important symbols to watch for are the VS symbols. When a VS symbol lands as part of a winning combination, it expands to cover its entire reel and becomes a multiplier wild via the DuelReels mechanic. - 3
Watch the DuelReels duel animation play out
When a VS symbol expands, two outlaw characters appear on that reel and duel each other. Each carries a random multiplier between 2x and 100x. The winner’s multiplier applies to all wins passing through that reel. If multiple VS symbols land on different reels in the same spin, all the winning multiplier values are added together and applied to all wins on that spin. - 4
Trigger a bonus mode by landing 3 scatter symbols of the same type
There are three different scatter symbols, each triggering a different bonus mode. Three Train Robbery symbols start The Great Train Robbery with 10 free spins and sticky wilds. Three Duel symbols start Duel at Dawn with 10 free spins and enhanced VS frequency. Three Dead symbols start Dead Man’s Hand with the respin collection phase. - 5
Use the bonus buy to enter a specific mode directly
If you prefer to skip the base game grind, the bonus buy feature offers three options. The Great Train Robbery costs 80x your bet. Duel at Dawn costs 200x. Dead Man’s Hand costs 400x and has an RTP of 96.43%, the highest of the three options. Bonus buy is not available in all regions, including the UK.
Wanted Dead or a Wild Online Slot: Pros and Cons
Wanted Dead or a Wild is one of the most impactful slot releases of the 2020s and it earns that status through genuine innovation rather than hype. The DuelReels mechanic is genuinely exciting and creates moments no other slot quite replicates. Three bonus modes with individually rated volatility levels give players meaningful choice. The max bet of $100 is higher than most comparable high-volatility pokies and suits serious bankrolls. The atmosphere is exceptional. On the downside, the configurable RTP is a real concern and the 88.42% floor is exceptionally low by industry standards. The hit frequency of 19.36% means the base game can feel lean, and Duel at Dawn’s all-or-nothing profile can be genuinely frustrating when the multipliers land low.
-
DuelReels mechanic is genuinely innovative and creates multiplier wild moments that no other slot quite replicates. - Three bonus modes with individual volatility ratings give players meaningful control over their risk level.
- Maximum bet of $100 per spin is significantly higher than most comparable high-volatility pokies.
- Dark atmospheric Western theme is visually distinctive and stands apart from every other Wild West slot.
- 12,500x maximum win is achievable and the 19.36% base game hit frequency keeps sessions moving.
-
Configurable RTP can drop as low as 88.42% at some casinos, so always check the in-game paytable before playing. - Duel at Dawn bonus is all-or-nothing and can produce very little when VS multiplier values land low.
- Base game hit frequency of 19.36% means one win every five spins on average, which makes for a lean base game.
Wanted Dead or a Wild Final Thoughts
Wanted Dead or a Wild is one of the best high-volatility slots of the last five years and the game that established Hacksaw Gaming as a genuine force in the slot industry. Across our testing sessions the base game delivers exactly what the volatility label promises: stretches of quiet punctuated by DuelReels activations that can change a session in a single spin. The three bonus modes are genuinely different from each other and the fact that Hacksaw labels each with its own volatility rating is a refreshingly honest piece of communication. The Great Train Robbery is our preferred mode for sustained sessions. Dead Man’s Hand is the one we play when we want the highest drama. Duel at Dawn is the one we both love and slightly dread in equal measure.
We recommend Wanted Dead or a Wild to experienced high-volatility players who have a bankroll that covers at least 200 to 300 spins at their chosen stake. The first thing to do before playing for real money is check the RTP in the game’s paytable at your chosen casino, as the difference between 96.38% and 88.42% is significant. Try the demo first to see the DuelReels mechanic in action and decide which bonus mode interests you. This is a game that rewards patience and punishes impatience, but when it fires well there are very few slots that match the experience.
FAQ
What is the RTP of Wanted Dead or a Wild?
The default RTP of Wanted Dead or a Wild is 96.38%, which is above the online slot industry average. However, this game has one of the widest configurable RTP ranges available. Operators can set it at 94.55%, 92.33%, or as low as 88.42% depending on their market. Always check the in-game paytable at your chosen casino before playing to confirm which version is active. The bonus buy options have slightly different RTPs ranging from 96.27% to 96.43%.
What is the DuelReels mechanic in Wanted Dead or a Wild?
DuelReels is Hacksaw Gaming’s trademarked mechanic, introduced in this game. VS symbols can land on any reel and when one forms part of a winning combination, it expands to fill all five positions on its reel, turning it into a wild. Two outlaw characters then appear carrying random multipliers between 2x and 100x each and duel. The winner’s multiplier applies to all wins through that reel. When multiple VS symbols land on different reels in the same spin, all winning multiplier values are added together and applied to all wins on that spin.
What is the maximum win in Wanted Dead or a Wild?
The maximum win in Wanted Dead or a Wild is 12,500x your total bet. At the maximum stake of $100 per spin that equates to a potential payout of $1,250,000. If a game round reaches the 12,500x cap the round ends immediately and the full amount is awarded. The cap is most reachable through the Duel at Dawn or Dead Man’s Hand bonus modes when multiple VS symbols with high multiplier values land across the grid simultaneously.
What are the three bonus modes in Wanted Dead or a Wild?
The Great Train Robbery awards 10 free spins with sticky wilds and is rated medium volatility, making it the most consistent of the three. Duel at Dawn also awards 10 free spins but with enhanced VS symbol frequency and very high volatility, described by Hacksaw as all-or-nothing. Dead Man’s Hand is a two-part respin feature where part one collects up to 20 wilds and a multiplier up to 31x, then releases them in the Showdown phase for 3 final spins. It is rated high volatility.
Does Wanted Dead or a Wild have a bonus buy feature?
Yes, Wanted Dead or a Wild has a bonus buy feature with three options corresponding to the three modes. The Great Train Robbery can be bought for 80x your total bet. Duel at Dawn costs 200x. Dead Man’s Hand costs 400x and carries the highest RTP of the three at 96.43%. The bonus buy feature is not available in all regions, including the UK, due to local gambling regulations.
Is Wanted Dead or a Wild suitable for beginners?
Wanted Dead or a Wild is not particularly suited to beginners. The DuelReels mechanic needs a few spins to understand, the three bonus modes have meaningfully different mechanics and risk levels, and the configurable RTP means you need to check the game settings before playing, which is an extra step many newcomers may not be aware of. The hit frequency of one win every five spins can also be discouraging if you are not expecting it. We strongly recommend trying the free demo version first to get comfortable with the DuelReels mechanic and to see each bonus mode in action before committing real money.
If you enjoy the DuelReels mechanic and high-intensity bonus rounds of Wanted Dead or a Wild, there are a few other slots worth exploring. Dead or Alive 2 from NetEnt shares the three-mode bonus structure in a Wild West setting and carries a significantly higher maximum win ceiling of 111,111x. Chaos Crew from Hacksaw Gaming uses the same studio’s design philosophy with a different theme and a hold-and-win style bonus that fans of Dead Man’s Hand will recognise. Money Train 3 from Relax Gaming delivers extreme hold-and-win bonus action with a 100,000x ceiling. Here are some other popular titles our readers also enjoy.
