Wanted Dead or a Wild: Slot Review and Overview – Saddle Up for a Wild Ride

Hacksaw Gaming is back in the saddle with their latest slot, Wanted Dead or a Wild. This Wild West-themed game combines Hacksaw's unique style with the allure of the frontier, offering players a chance to experience the untamed West like never before. In a world where cowboys, gold prospectors, saloon owners, gamblers, and outlaws roamed the wild plains, the Wild West has always been a captivating setting, and online slot developers often draw inspiration from its rich culture. Let's dive into the world of Wanted Dead or a Wild and see how it measures up.
The game begins with a 5×5 grid set against a backdrop of twisted trees and a barbed-wire fence as the sun sets, creating an eerie atmosphere that sets it apart from typical Wild West slots. It leaves players wondering where exactly they are in this desolate landscape. Are they waiting to hijack a train in one of the bonus games, or are they on the run from the law? The beauty of Wanted Dead or a Wild is that players can choose the scenario that best matches their Wild West fantasies. While it has a darker tone compared to most Western slots and Hacksaw's previous games, it shares similarities with their 2020 hit, Chaos Crew.

Wanted Dead or a Wild is available on all devices, with a betting range from 20 p/c to £/€100. The game's overall volatility is rated as high, but the three bonus rounds have individual volatilities ranging from medium to very high, and this is clearly indicated if players choose to buy one of them. The default RTP is 96.38%, but it's worth noting that this can be configured differently, potentially offering a lower return. When buying the bonus game, the theoretical return varies from 96.27% to 96.43%.

Initially, Wanted Dead or a Wild was rumoured to be a cluster-pay slot, similar to recent releases from Hacksaw. However, it was changed to a payline system, featuring 15 fixed ways to win. The game includes ten regular symbols, consisting of card ranks 10-A, skulls, outlaw attire, money bags, liquor bottles, and bullet chambers. Landing a combination of five premium picture symbols can yield a payout of 5 to 20 times the stake. Wild symbols can appear anywhere, replacing regular symbols and offering a payout of 20x the bet for a line of five wilds.
Wanted Dead or a Wild: Slot Features
Wanted Dead or a Wild offers several exciting features, including full-reel wild multiplier symbols and three bonus rounds that can be triggered from the base game or purchased.

• VS Symbols: These symbols can appear in the base game or in the Duel at Dawn feature. When they land, they expand to cover the entire reel and become wild. They also come with win multipliers ranging from x2 to x100. If more than one VS symbol appears, the multipliers are combined before being applied to any winning combination.
• Train Robbery Feature: When 3 or more Train Robbery symbols land in the base game, the Great Train Robbery feature is triggered, awarding 10 free spins. During this feature, all landed wilds remain sticky for the duration. The volatility of this bonus is rated as medium.
• Duel at Dawn Feature: Landing 3 or more Duel symbols triggers the Duel at Dawn bonus feature, also awarding 10 free spins. In this bonus, more VS symbols are loaded, making it highly volatile.
• Dead Man's Hand Feature: This highly volatile feature is triggered by landing 3 or more DEAD symbols. It consists of two parts. In the first part, players receive 3 spins, during which only wild symbols, multiplier symbols, or placeholder symbols land. Wilds and multipliers are collected and reset the spin count to 3. Up to 20 wilds and a win multiplier of x31 can be collected in this phase. After three consecutive non-winning spins, the feature transitions to the Showdown, where players receive 3 spins. The collected wilds are added to the grid on each spin, and the multiplier is applied to any wins.

In addition to triggering bonus rounds, players have the option to buy The Great Train Robbery, Duel at Dawn, or Dead Man's Hand for 80x, 200x, or 400x the bet, respectively.

Wanted Dead or a Wild: Slot Verdict

Wanted Dead or a Wild continues Hacksaw Gaming's tradition of high-strung, mathematically volatile games. Each of the three bonus rounds offers a different experience, and they can be unpredictable regardless of their official volatility rating. The Dead Man's Hand bonus can be especially thrilling when collecting a substantial number of wilds and multipliers. Duel at Dawn introduces the excitement of full-reel wild multipliers, adding an extra layer of unpredictability. The Great Train Robbery, while less volatile, provides a smoother ride for those who prefer a more controlled gaming experience.
For players who enjoy buying bonus features, Wanted Dead or a Wild offers an enticing selection. Each bonus round has its unique charm and the potential for significant payouts. With its unique vision of the Wild West and Hacksaw's signature style, Wanted Dead or a Wild is another impressive addition to its game portfolio.