The Wanted Dead or a Wild slot machine is an online casino game developed by NetEnt, a well-known provider of high-quality gaming content. This review aims to provide in-depth analysis and insights into the features and mechanics of this entertaining slot.
Theme and Design
Wanted Dead or a Wild is set in Wanted Dead Or A Wild slot the American West during the late 19th century, a time characterized by lawlessness and outlaws. The game’s theme revolves around cowboys, gangsters, and outlaws on the run from the law. The background image of a dusty street with old buildings, wanted posters, and cacti creates an immersive atmosphere, drawing players into the world of outlaws.
The game’s design is simple yet visually appealing, with clear cut-out images of characters and objects used as symbols. Each symbol is well-designed, ranging from low-paying ones like horseshoes to high-paying symbols featuring key characters in the story. The most striking feature, however, is the Wild Outlaw figure that takes the place of any standard symbol, providing more winning combinations.
Symbols
The game features a range of 10 standard symbols: the Ace and King through Queen and Jack of cards (9-3), as well as six high-paying symbols based on characters from the story:
- Wanted poster with an image of the sheriff
- A group of outlaws
- Sheriff’s badge
- Gun holster
- Cactus flower
- Horse
Each symbol has its unique payout, ranging from 20 coins for two Ace or King cards to 2000 coins for five Wild Outlaw symbols.
Payouts
The game offers standard payouts based on the paytable and combinations of three or more matching symbols landing on adjacent reels. These payouts range from relatively low (5-10 times the bet) to significant winnings (up to 1,000 times the total bet).
It is worth noting that some players may see the relatively high payout multipliers in this game as misleading since they can only be achieved by using Wilds and special symbols.
Wilds
The Wild Outlaw figure plays a pivotal role in the gameplay. It substitutes any standard symbol to create winning combinations, potentially triggering larger payouts. When at least three or four outlaws are caught (landed), extra rewards will be earned: two, four or six free spins, respectively.
While they may not provide the largest payout multipliers themselves, these extra free games can lead to big winnings and high volatility.
Scatters
There is a wanted poster symbol, acting as a Scatter when appearing at least three times anywhere on the reels. No other special bonus features are activated in this game by scatters; their role seems limited mainly to providing access to the next level of the Free Spins feature, "Wanted Dead or Alive."
Bonus Features
One primary aspect distinguishing Wanted Dead or A Wild is its focus on a straightforward yet varied reward system with simple features. The core gameplay revolves around creating combinations using standard and wild symbols.
There are three levels to this bonus: "Wanted", "Wanted Live," and the ultimate goal of "Wanted Dead." Each one offers additional free games, each starting from three and potentially rising up to twelve rounds.
Free Spins
Each level has its unique mechanics regarding free spins:
- "Wanted Dead" : After completing the previous bonus levels with more combinations caught (landed), players get access to this final goal where they can enjoy as many spins as possible.
- "Wanted Alive": The highest potential with all six extra rounds is active, giving 4+ free game opportunities for every winning combination.
These features add a mix of simple rules and rewarding gameplay to the base mechanism, offering engaging action in each bonus level.