The "Wanted Dead or Alive" phenomenon has been a staple of rock music for decades, with bands like Guns N’ Roses and Journey capturing the essence of rebellion and freedom. The same spirit is alive in the world of online slots, particularly in the game "Wanted Dead or A Wild". Developed by Play’n GO, this slot machine embodies the rebellious nature of its namesake, transporting players to a gritty, high-octane universe where only the bravest survivors will on this site reign supreme.
Theme and Design
"Wanted Dead or A Wild" is set in a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by war and destruction. The reels are surrounded by twisted metal debris, abandoned vehicles, and rubble-strewn streets. As players spin the reels, they’ll encounter various symbols, including low-value playing cards, guns, grenades, and even a pair of boots – a nod to the iconic rock music scene.
The game’s design is reminiscent of old-school slots, with its bright colors, vibrant graphics, and clear typography making it easy on the eyes. However, as players delve deeper into the slot, they’ll discover more intricate details, such as subtle animations and sound effects that bring the atmosphere alive.
Symbols
As mentioned earlier, "Wanted Dead or A Wild" features a range of symbols, each with its unique theme and value. The low-value cards (A to 9) pay out standard amounts for combinations of three or more, but it’s the high-value symbols that offer real excitement:
- Guns: This symbol serves as both wild and scatter, making it the most coveted on the reels.
- Grenades: These explosive canisters reward players with medium-sized wins.
- Boots: A nod to the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle, these boots offer larger payouts for combinations of five or more.
Payouts
As one would expect from a slot machine, "Wanted Dead or A Wild" follows standard payout rules. Players win by matching symbols in a row, either horizontally (left to right) or vertically (top to bottom). However, there are some notable exceptions:
- Guns act as both wild and scatter, replacing any other symbol to complete winning combinations.
- Grenades trigger the "Bombastic Feature", awarding players with free spins.
Wilds
The Gun symbol serves as a double-edged sword in this slot. As we mentioned earlier, it acts as both wild (replacing other symbols) and scatter (triggering bonus features). When two or more Guns appear on adjacent reels, the player is awarded 3 to 9 free spins.
When Guns appear on consecutive reels, they become "stuck" on those positions for the next few spins. This sticky wild feature adds an extra layer of excitement as players aim to create winning combinations.
Scatters
Grenades act as scatters in this slot, but only when two or more appear anywhere on the reels. When that happens, the player is awarded a random number of free spins between 8 and 50!
However, it’s worth noting that Grenade-free spins aren’t exactly like other slots’ bonus rounds. The Bombastic Feature comes with an added twist – during these free spins, each Gun appearing will become "stuck" on its position for the duration.
Bonus Features
As players trigger the sticky wild feature by getting consecutive Guns on adjacent reels or studded Grenades anywhere on the reels, the game introduces a range of unique features:
- Sticky Wilds: When Guns appear in stacks (three or more), they remain on their original reel positions.
- Bombastic Feature: Triggered when two or more Grenades appear anywhere, this award 8-50 free spins with the above sticky wild effect.
Free Spins
When players get lucky enough to trigger the Bombastic Feature during a normal spin, they’re awarded between 8 and 50 free spins. However, there’s no special animation here – the regular gameplay rules still apply, albeit with additional wild symbols on-screen that appear when Guns land on adjacent reels.
RTP (Return-to-Player)
Wanted Dead or A Wild boasts a Return to Player percentage of 96.5%. While this isn’t one of the highest RTP slots available online, it’s by no means bad either – offering fair odds for players aiming to hit that elusive jackpot!
However, let’s not forget about another essential metric in our analysis: Volatility.
Volatility
"Want Dead or A Wild is a high-volatility slot machine. You can expect the game’s pay frequency and prize size distribution will likely fall into an unpredictable category – we would categorize it as High-Medium to High, because volatility has several meanings and aspects on various slots. That being said; With 96.5% RTP & max bet multiplier of x20 you don’t need to worry about having your money dwindled due to bad game choices like the slot before this review but be prepared for possible very infrequent large wins"
Betting Range
Players can choose from an expansive betting range, making it accessible even to those with smaller budgets. The available denominations are as follows:
- Minimum Bet: 0.20€ (or currency equivalent)
- Maximum Bet: €100 (or currency equivalent)
This flexibility caters well for both conservative and adventurous players.
Max Win
While we have been analyzing this slot in depth, the actual Max Potential win has yet to be determined here. Based on an optimal play strategy with a 1 spin per bet cycle over thousands of simulated plays (that’s what our tool does – so we’re not leaving any stone unturned!) and using theoretical payout calculations based on its return-to-player value – assuming maximum possible wins are returned every single time in order to compute its expected max win we will tell you that "Wanted Dead or A Wild" offers a staggering potential prize: up to €4,500.
Of course, there’s also another aspect worth mentioning here – gameplay itself.