NetEnt has developed some amazing video slots over the years. Without question, Dead or Alive is one of its most popular. The game is themed upon the famous outlaws from the Wild West and features explosive free spins bonus rounds, sticky wilds and an impressive RTP of 96.82%.
Get ready to grab your stetson hat and step into your cowboy boots as we take a closer look at this iconic slot. If it sounds like the type of game you would enjoy, our team has hand-picked the best Dead or Alive casinos in Canada. All you need to do is compare the sites, select a favourite and sign up to play.
How to Play
Dead or Alive is compatible with desktops, tablets and mobile phones. While the user interface varies slightly on portable devices, the game is easy to play on all platforms. Follow these steps to begin spinning the reels.
- Choose a casino
Undecided on where to play? Choose one of the best Dead or Alive sites from our list. It only takes a minute to create an account.
- Learn about the slot
Click/tap on the “i” icon to reveal the information about the Dead or Alive slot. It explains the bonus features, the symbols and their values, and the paylines.
- Set the cost per spin
In the bottom left (on desktops) there’s a box labelled ‘Cash’, with negative and positive buttons beside it. Use these to set how much you want to bet on each spin.
- Hit spin
The spin button is the circular arrow located below the reels. Alternatively, there’s an ‘autoplay’ feature which can be set for 10 spins up to 1000.
Gameplay, RTP and Variance
This is a 5-reel, 3-row video slot with 9 paylines. You can start spinning the reels for as little as $0.09 a game. The maximum bet varies depending on the Dead or Alive casino you play at. Most sites accept wagers up to $18.00 a spin. However, there are some casinos where the limit is $9.00 or $7.20.
The reel set is encased in a carved wooden frame with flashes of lightning striking in the desert background. The soundtrack, which fits perfectly with the theme, will be familiar to anyone who has watched old western movies.
On the reels, you’ll find ‘Wanted: Dead or Alive’ poster symbols as the wilds and two crossed pistols are the scatter. There are further Wild West-related symbols, including a sheriff’s badge, a buscadero, a cowboy’s hat, cowboy boots, a glass of bourbon and the playing cards – Ace down to 10.
Dead or Alive slot is known to be highly volatile, so players need to manage their bankroll. You will go through barren spells with very few payouts. However, when the slot warms up, players can expect some massive payouts.
Bonus Features
Compared to some slots, Dead or Alive isn’t overloaded with bonus features, but it has enough to keep players excited.
Wild
The Wanted: Dead or Alive outlaw poster is the wild symbol in the base game. It can substitute all other symbols, except for the scatter, to help form winning combinations. Additionally, three wilds on a winline pays 2.78x your stake and 4 wilds pays 16.67x. Meanwhile, land 5 wild symbols and you’ll be paid a generous 166.67x your stake.
Free Spins
This slot comes to life with the free spins feature, which is activated when three or more scatters appear on the reels in the base game. The scatter is the highest value symbol too, with a payout of 2,500x when 5 appear anywhere on the reels.
Players are awarded 12 free spins. However, if another three or more scatters land on the reels, they will re-trigger, giving 12 more spins.
Sticky wild symbols come into play during the free spins round. These are also wanted posters, but now they have the names and faces of five famous outlaws – Billy, Della, Jesse, Belle and Apache.
As soon as one or more of these wilds appears, players get 5 additional free spins. That means a total of 29 free spins is possible. The sticky wilds remain in place throughout the feature, and all wins have a 2x multiplier.
Mobile
Dead or Alive is mobile-friendly, so players can enjoy this slot on the go. The game is instant play, meaning no download is necessary. You only need to tap on it from the mobile casino or app and start playing.
Design, Sound and Graphics
NetEnt is known for creating slots with sharp graphics and smooth gameplay. Dead or Alive ticks both boxes. The theme and the sound combine to great effect to draw you in. A nice touch is the ‘preview feature’ button. This lets players see a demo version of the free spins and the possible wins up for grabs.
Verdict
The Dead or Alive slot has cult status among casino enthusiasts. It’s simple yet engaging. Everything centres around the free spins bonus round with the 2x win multiplier. This is where the big payouts are won. For instance, if you hit five scatters during this feature, you win 5,000x your stake.