Dead or Alive
Netent
Since it came out in 2009, Dead or Alive has been a big deal in online slots, loved by many fans as a classic. Its cool gameplay inspired other high-stakes slots, and it’s still super popular today. This slot game is famous for being a bit risky, almost like a cult favorite.
It’s easy to play with a few great features, and when it first came out, people were amazed by the chance to win up to 12,000 times their bet. Let’s take a trip back to the Wild West days to see what made it so special.
Dead or Alive Overview
Since 2009, Dead or Alive has been a standout in online slots, cherished by fans as a classic. Its unique gameplay influenced new high-variance slots and ensured its lasting popularity.
Following the standard format of online slots in 2009, the game has a 5×3 layout with 9 paylines. It features a scatter jackpot for unexpected big wins and a famous free spins feature that can pay out over 10,000 times your stake. Playable on all devices, bets range from 10 cents to $18 per spin.
Designed by NetEnt, the game immerses you in a western town with dust, wooden buildings, and a sheriff defending against invasions.
Symbols include western-style playing cards (10 to A) and higher-paying icons like whisky, cowboy boots, a Stetson, and a gun holster. The sheriff’s badge is the top standard symbol, offering a max reward of 100 times your stake. Get 5 scatters in the base game, and you instantly win 2500 times your stake.
The Game Setting
The Dead or Alive 2 slot brings players to the 19th century with a Western theme, focusing on crime, action, and the battle between good and evil. Symbols like liquor, a gun, a Sheriff’s badge, a cowboy hat, and shoes fit the Wild West setting.
Give the Dead or Alive 2 slot demo a try for its impressive graphics. The background music sets the mood, shifting from slow Western tunes to lively saloon melodies. Expect some gun-shooting sounds, adding to the excitement. You can enjoy the same great experience on your mobile at a reliable Dead or Alive 2 online casino since the game is mobile-friendly.
How to Play Dead or Alive
Dead or Alive looks good, even though the graphics aren’t super fancy, especially after being around for a while. The reels are in the middle with a smoking gun logo on top. On the left, there’s a swinging gas light, and on the right, a Wild West-style windmill tower. There are nine signs next to the reels with numbers 1-9 for the paylines. All the buttons to play the game are at the bottom.
To win, you need at least three of the same symbols on any of the nine paylines from left to right, starting from the first reel. The Scatter Symbol is an exception, making a combo with just two symbols anywhere on the grid. You bet on each of the nine paylines, so the smallest bet is 0.9; there’s no 1. You can play the game on mobiles, tablets, and computers.
Symbols and Payouts
This slot is all about the Wild West, featuring famous outlaws like Billy the Kid and Jesse James. There are 12 symbols in total: 5 low-value symbols (10, J, Q, K, A), 5 high-value symbols (bourbon, cowboy boots, cowboy hat, gun holster, sheriff’s badge), and a scatter and a wild. The wild is a ‘Wanted poster,’ and the scatter is an image of two pistols.
Medium-paying symbols are two shot glasses and cowboy boots, paying 1.1X to 1.3X for three and 22.2X to 33.3X for five.
The top symbols are a cowboy hat, a holster with a revolver, and a sheriff star, paying 1.67X to 2.2X for three and 44.4X to 111.1X for five.
The Wild Symbol is a “Wanted Dead or Alive” poster, replacing other symbols and paying 166.7X for five. In free spins, the wild sticks and shows different bandits.
The Scatter Symbol, two crossing revolvers, triggers free spins with three or more symbols and pays up to 277.8X for five.
Slot Volatility and RTP
NetEnt classifies it as a high variance slot, but in reality, it’s more like an extremely high variance slot. Most of the winnings are reserved for massive prizes of 2,000x the bet or more, with little left for medium-sized prizes like 50x to 500x the bet.
The game suits all players with stakes from 10 cents to $18 per spin. Autoplay lets you choose 10 to 1,000 autospins, with options to stop on fund decrease or feature trigger.
With a high RTP of 96.82%, the game returns $96.82 for every $100 on average, giving the casino a 3.18% margin.
Dead or Alive is a high variance slot, offering less frequent but potentially generous wins. The hit frequency is 30.4%, meaning almost a third of spins result in a win.
The max win is an impressive 13,888 times your stake, occurring once every 7.5 billion spins on average.
Detailed Slot Info
| Software | NetEnt |
| Reels | 5 |
| Paylines | 9 |
| RTP | 96.8% |
| Volatility | High |
| Coins Range | 0.01-0.50 |
| Minimum Bet | 0.01 |
| Maximum Bet | 0.5 |
| Bonus Features | Free spins |
| Jackpot | 2500 |
| Free Spins | 12 Free Spins / 2x Multiplier & Sticky Wilds |
| Slot Theme | Wild West |
Dead or Alive Bonus Features
Dead or Alive may not have the most features, but it still brings some excitement to spinning its reels. Look out for the wild symbol, the “Wanted” poster, which appears on all reels and helps create winning combinations by substituting for other symbols. When Scatters aren’t triggering rewards, they activate the Free Spins game. In Dead or Alive 2, you can choose from three Free Spins games each time the bonus round is triggered.
| Bonus Type | Description |
| Wilds | Wild symbols, outlaw wanted posters, substitute for all except bonus scatters. Also, they become sticky in free spins |
| Scatters | Scatters, represented by Colt guns, pay to find 2 or more on the screen. Trigger free spins by finding 3. |
| 12 Free Spins | Trigger 12 free spins by landing 3 or more scatters on the screen. |
Free Spins
The game’s best feature is the Free Spins round, triggered by getting three or more scatter symbols (crossed pistols). This rewards you with 12 free spins, and during this round, all wins are doubled, boosting your balance.
A cool part is the sticky wilds during free spins. These wild symbols stay in place, substituting for others and bringing extra rewards. If you get sticky wilds on every reel, you’ll get 5 more free spins. The goal is to make a “wild line,” preferably more, as each one gives you a win of 333 times your stake on each remaining spin.
How to Activate the Bonus
In the Old Saloon Free Spins, wins are doubled, and getting one or two Sticky Wilds adds five extra spins. Also, if two Wilds land on the same reel, they become multipliers.
Choosing the High Noon Free Spins introduces various multiplier Wilds. Two Wilds on one reel turn into 2x multipliers, and three Wilds become 3x multipliers. If 2x and 3x multiplier Wilds land together, they multiply each other.
Choosing the Train Heist Free Spins brings Wilds, multipliers, and extra bonus spins. When a Wild lands, it adds 1x to the multiplier and one Free Spin. The multiplier increases as Free Spins continue, and reaching 16x gives you the usual bonus spin and an extra five Free Spins. These features make it one of the best slots with bonus rounds.
Tips and Strategies for Dead or Alive
In the Dead or Alive slot, you’ll find symbols like cowboy hats and sheriff stars, creating standard combinations that align with the cowboy theme.
The Bonus Round, triggered by Gun Scatters, introduces a streak of multipliers, providing a wild hunt experience. Though there’s no jackpot, the multiplier can go up to x2500, with Wanted posters acting as Wild symbols for significant wins. During bonus rounds, these posters become Sticky, giving extra free spins and maintaining a high roll. Despite the base game possibly feeling dull for casual play, the engaging “outlaw hunt” bonus round has kept players returning to this NetEnt classic for over a decade.
The Dead or Alive slot by NetEnt has an RTP of 96.82%, an average figure. This means casual play might not yield substantial wins compared to games with higher RTPs. The key strategy revolves around the “outlaw hunt” bonus round, requiring players to endure and make numerous low-to-medium value spins.
For an optimal experience:
- Use Autoplay with low bets for extensive spinning.
- Focus on landing Scatters and free spins before raising the stakes.
- Be patient due to the game’s high volatility, leading to many empty spins.
- Consider cashing out after experiencing a Wanted Poster run with a favorable multiplier.
Quick tips include researching and reading the in-game manual for a better understanding. Service providers are obligated to provide transparent information about their machines, helping players make informed decisions.
Responsible Gambling
We’re not done yet! Here are a few tips to help you start playing this slot at online casinos:
- Read the rules: Understand how to place bets and troubleshoot by reading the rules. It will make your experience much better.
- Use bonuses: Check if the casino offers bonuses for the slot. Remember to meet the wagering requirements to claim your winnings.
- Be responsible: Online gambling is a big responsibility. Set a strict budget, only bet what you can afford to lose, and avoid chasing losses.
Conclusion
NetEnt’s Dead or Alive slot, despite being an older game, still holds its ground in the world of online slots. Its popularity is attributed to its visual simplicity, outstanding potential in both the main game and free spins round, and a broad bet range appealing to a diverse player base.
Created in 2009, Dead or Alive remains a favorite, although its high volatility requires caution to avoid quickly depleting your bankroll. The key to substantial wins lies in the Free Spins feature, marked by a 2x multiplier and sticky wilds, contributing to its cult status. Despite its basic visuals, the game’s graphics stand the test of time, and its soundtrack is well-balanced, avoiding the excesses seen in some other slots.
For fans of the Wild West theme, NetEnt’s Dead or Alive 2 offers increased volatility and maximum wins of 40,500x for a more intense experience.
- Max wins of 13,888x stake
- Engaging free spins feature
- RTP of 96.82%
Dead or Alive has a very high variance, meaning you can win big, but be cautious as losses can happen quickly. You can play this slot for free or with real money at licensed NetEnt casinos.
