Wanted Dead or a Wild

Wanted Dead or a Wild by Hacksaw Gaming is the game that put the studio on the map. Released in September 2021, this very high volatility slot plays on a 5x5 grid with 15 paylines and a maximum win of 12,500x your stake.

The headline mechanic is the DuelReels™ feature: VS symbols expand into full wild reels and trigger a multiplier duel between two gunslingers. Three distinct free spins modes offer different risk profiles, from the steady Great Train Robbery to the explosive Dead Man’s Hand. A bonus buy option is available in permitted jurisdictions.

How to play Wanted Dead or a Wild

Wanted Dead or a Wild plays on a 5x5 grid with 15 fixed paylines, left to right.

• Set your stake — bets range from €0.20 to €100.00
• Winning method — 15 fixed paylines, left to right, minimum 3 matching symbols
• Feature triggers — land bonus symbols in the base game; or use the bonus buy to jump straight in
• Bonus buy — Great Train Robbery (80x), Duel at Dawn (200x), Dead Man’s Hand (400x)

Play responsibly. Set a budget before you start and stick to it.

Game theme and visuals

Wild West setting with a dusty desert town backdrop. The art style is gritty and stylised, not cartoonish. Symbols include gun cylinders, whiskey bottles, money bags, skulls and playing cards. Duel animations are the visual highlight — two gunslingers face off when VS symbols trigger. The soundtrack shifts between ambient tension and high-energy guitar during features.

Slot features and bonus rounds

VS symbols and DuelReels™

When two VS symbols land on the same spin, they expand to cover their entire reels, turning wild. A duel then triggers between two gunslingers, awarding a random multiplier between 2x and 100x that applies to all wins on that spin.

The Great Train Robbery (medium risk)

10 free spins. All wilds that land become sticky for the duration of the round. Steady accumulation of wilds across the grid. Good for consistent results.

Duel at Dawn (very high risk)

10 free spins. VS symbols appear more frequently, triggering wild reel duels with multipliers. Higher variance than Great Train Robbery but stronger peak potential.

Dead Man’s Hand (extreme risk)

Two-phase bonus. Phase 1 (Collect): accumulate up to 20 wilds and multipliers up to x31. Phase 2 (Showdown): all collected wilds and multipliers are placed on the grid for a final set of spins. This is where the 12,500x max win lives.

Bonus buy

Available where permitted by jurisdiction:

Symbols and payouts

Payouts below are based on a €1.00 bet.

High-pay symbols

Low-pay symbols

RTP, volatility and maths model

• RTP: 96.38% (default version; other configurations exist at 94.55%, 92.33%)
• Volatility: Very high — long dry stretches punctuated by massive feature wins
• Max win: 12,500x your total stake
• Who it suits: experienced high-volatility players and feature hunters; the bonus buy makes it popular with streamers

About Hacksaw Gaming

Hacksaw Gaming is a Swedish studio founded in 2018. They specialise in high-volatility slots with innovative mechanics. Other popular titles include Chaos Crew, Stick ’Em and Le Bandit.

Similar slots

• Le Bandit — same studio, similar high-volatility profile with multiplier collection
• San Quentin xWays — Nolimit City, comparable Wild West theme and extreme volatility
• Chaos Crew — Hacksaw Gaming, sticky wilds mechanic with bonus buy

FAQs

Can I play Wanted Dead or a Wild for free at Wildz?

Yes. Wanted Dead or a Wild has a demo mode at Wildz. You can try all three bonus modes with virtual credits before wagering real money.

What is the RTP of Wanted Dead or a Wild?

The default RTP is 96.38%. Some versions may run at 94.55% or lower. Check the in-game info panel for the exact RTP at Wildz.

Does Wanted Dead or a Wild have a bonus buy?

Yes. Three bonus buy options are available where permitted: Great Train Robbery (80x), Duel at Dawn (200x) and Dead Man’s Hand (400x). Availability depends on your jurisdiction.

What is the max win in Wanted Dead or a Wild?

The maximum win is 12,500x your total stake, achievable in the Dead Man’s Hand bonus mode through accumulated wilds and multipliers during the showdown phase.