Wanted Dead or a Wild is an immersive online video slot game designed by Microgaming that transports players to a thrilling world of outlaws and lawmen. This 5-reel, 243 payline game combines engaging graphics with exciting features, making it an enticing experience for both casual and seasoned gamers.
Theme and Design
The theme revolves around the Wild West era, where notorious Wanted Dead Or A Wild slot outlaws are being pursued by determined sheriffs. The background depicts a dusty town with buildings and cacti, setting the stage for a showdown between good and evil. The symbols include a Sheriff’s Badge, a Wanted Poster, a Gunslinger, a Lady, a Horse, a Boot, and standard card values from 9 to A. Each symbol has been carefully crafted to blend seamlessly into the Wild West atmosphere.
Symbols
The game features several high-paying symbols that can lead to substantial wins. The Sheriff’s Badge is the most lucrative, rewarding up to 2500 coins for five of a kind. The Wanted Poster offers payouts of up to 1500 coins, while the Gunslinger and Lady pay out up to 1000 coins each.
The lower-paying card values from 9 to A provide more frequent wins but with lower payouts, ranging from 50 to 200 coins. These symbols are essential for building winning combinations, especially during bonus rounds or free spins. The game also includes a Wild symbol represented by the Sheriff’s star logo, which can substitute any standard symbol (except scatters and special features) to help create more winning combinations.
Payouts
The payouts in Wanted Dead or a Wild follow a traditional slot pattern, with higher-paying symbols offering larger rewards for matching five of a kind. The maximum payout is capped at 25,000 coins, which can be achieved by landing the Sheriff’s Badge on all five reels.
While the game does not feature an impressive top payout, its relatively low volatility and consistent winning frequency make it appealing to players seeking more regular wins rather than occasional jackpots.
Wilds
The Wild symbol in Wanted Dead or a Wild has some unique features that set it apart from other slot games. The Sheriff’s star logo can substitute for any standard symbol (except scatters and special features), helping to create winning combinations. When the Wild appears on reel 1, it also expands to fill the entire row, increasing the chances of landing multiple wins.
Scatters
The Wanted Poster is the scatter symbol in this game, which triggers free spins when two or more appear anywhere on the reels (excluding bonus features). Three scatters award eight free spins with a three times multiplier applied to all wins. Four scatters grant ten free spins with a five times multiplier, and landing five scatters rewards 15 free spins with an eight times multiplier.
Bonus Features
The Sheriff’s Badge is the key trigger for two exciting bonus features: Outlaw Feature and Lawman Feature. When this symbol appears on reels 1-3, the game enters the Outlaw Feature mode, where each of these reels expands to fill three rows and five columns. This significantly increases the chances of landing a win.
On the other hand, when a Sheriff’s Badge appears on reel 5, the Lawman Feature is triggered, turning reel 2 into a sticky Wild that remains in place for two more spins. These bonus features combine elements of skill-based games with randomness, offering engaging gameplay without imposing strict rules or limited player choice.
Free Spins
As mentioned earlier, the Wanted Poster scatter triggers free spins when at least two appear on the reels (excluding bonus features). During these spins, a multiplier ranging from three to eight times applies to all wins. The maximum payout of 25,000 coins is achievable during this round if players manage to land five Sheriff’s Badges across the five reels.
RTP and Volatility
Wanted Dead or a Wild has an average Return To Player (RTP) rate of around 96.5%, which indicates moderate volatility levels. This means that while wins might be more regular than those in high-variance games, they may not exceed a certain limit too frequently. However, the game compensates for this with consistent payouts and multiple opportunities to land bonus rounds or free spins.
Betting Range
Players can adjust their bet value between 0.50 and 5 coins per spin across ten paylines (although 243 paylines are available in the base game). The maximum win of 25,000 coins is achievable within these parameters when five Sheriff’s Badges appear on all reels. Given its relatively low volatility, players seeking more frequent wins will find this betting range appealing.
Max Win
The maximum payout in Wanted Dead or a Wild has been capped at 25,000 coins for achieving the top win with the Sheriff’s Badge symbol across all five reels during normal play, including free spins and bonus features. This limit can be reached if players manage to trigger multiple winning combinations across several paylines while playing within their chosen bet range.
Gameplay
The gameplay in Wanted Dead or a Wild combines elements of both standard slot games and skill-based experiences. Players navigate through the base game with engaging symbols, frequent wins, and opportunities for bonus rounds, which can be enhanced by utilizing strategies to maximize payouts during free spins. The Sheriff’s Badge symbol expands across reels when triggered by either feature, offering players an opportunity to secure multiple wins in a row.
Mobile Play
As this slot was designed using Microgaming’s mobile-friendly Quickfire platform, it is accessible on Android and iOS devices with suitable browsers or downloadable apps. The user interface adapts seamlessly for optimal viewing on smaller screens, ensuring that the full experience remains intact even when played on-the-go.
Player Experience
Wanted Dead or a Wild caters to both novice and experienced players due to its straightforward gameplay mechanics and numerous opportunities for winning combinations and bonus rounds. By combining a captivating theme with accessible features, Microgaming has crafted an immersive gaming environment that encourages experimentation without feeling too complex for beginners.