Wanted Dead or a Wild is one of Hacksaw Gaming’s best-known Western slots. Released on 29 September 2021, it runs on a 5×5 grid with 15 paylines, rates 4 out of 5 on Hacksaw’s volatility scale and caps out at 12,500x the bet. Its design rests on two things: the DuelReels mechanic and three separate bonus rounds, each with its own scatter.
Key facts
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Provider | Hacksaw Gaming |
| Release | 29 September 2021 |
| Grid and lines | 5×5, 15 paylines |
| RTP versions | 96.38% / 94.55% / 92.33% / 88.42% |
| Volatility | 4 out of 5 |
| Max win | 12,500x the bet |
| Hit frequency | 19.36% |
| Bet range | €0.20 – €100 (casino-dependent) |
DuelReels: how the multipliers work
The VS symbol is the heart of the game. When it lands, it can expand into a full wild reel – but only if the expanded reel creates a win. Two bandits then face off, and the winner’s multiplier applies to the whole reel. Slot databases list the duel multipliers from x2 to x100.
When several DuelReels take part in the same win, their multipliers are added together, not multiplied. Two wild reels at x10 and x25 therefore give x35 on that win. That rule keeps results below what a multiplying system would produce, but it still makes two or three DuelReels on one spin the main route to big base-game results.
The low hit frequency – about one winning spin in five – is the other side of this design. Many spins pay nothing; the game’s value is concentrated in a few large hits.
Three bonus rounds, three scatters
Instead of one scatter with tiers, the game has three different scatter symbols. Three or more of a kind start that round:
| Round | Trigger | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Great Train Robbery | 3+ train robbery scatters | 10 free spins; every Wild that lands becomes sticky |
| Duel at Dawn | 3+ duel scatters | 10 free spins with a much higher chance of VS symbols – up to 5 DuelReels |
| Dead Man’s Hand | 3+ DEAD scatters | A collect phase followed by a three-spin showdown (see below) |
Dead Man’s Hand plays in two phases. First comes a collect phase of resetting spins that land Wilds, “+” symbols (each adds +1x to a multiplier) or skull blanks; it ends after three spins in a row with only blanks. Then the showdown gives three spins in which all collected Wilds are placed at random positions and every win receives the collected multiplier. Slot databases list the caps at 20 Wilds and x31.
OLBG rates the three rounds as medium, very high and high volatility respectively – Great Train Robbery is the gentlest, Duel at Dawn the wildest.
Bonus buys and their RTP
All three rounds can be bought where feature buys are allowed (not in the UK). There is no hidden, non-buyable top round in this game.
| Buy | Price | RTP |
|---|---|---|
| Great Train Robbery | 80x | 96.27% |
| Duel at Dawn | 200x | 96.33% |
| Dead Man’s Hand | 400x | 96.43% |
Prices are confirmed by OLBG and Bigwinboard; the per-buy RTPs come from SlotCatalog. The buy RTPs sit close to the top base-game version, so the choice is about how much volatility each attempt carries, not about return. At 400x per attempt, Dead Man’s Hand suits only budgets built around a handful of buys.
RTP versions
Hacksaw publishes four settings: 96.38%, 94.55%, 92.33% and 88.42%. The difference between the top and bottom version is just under 8 percentage points – on £1,000 of total stakes, about £80 of expected return. Our RTP versions guide explains how to check which one a casino runs.
Pros and cons
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Who it suits
[wpremark preset_name=”default-info” icon_show=”1″ icon_image=”info-circle-regular” icon_color=”#3da2e0″ icon_width=”32″ icon_height=”32″ icon_indent=”16″ background_show=”1″ background_color=”#e3f1f4″ border_top=”0″ border_right=”0″ border_bottom=”0″ border_left=”0″ border_width=”2″ border_color=”#3da2e0″ shadow_show=”0″ shadow_x=”0″ shadow_y=”5″ shadow_blur=”10″ shadow_stretching=”-5″ shadow_opacity=”0.3″ title_show=”0″ title_bold=”0″ title_italic=”0″ title_underline=”0″ title_uppercase=”0″ title_font_size=”18″ title_line_height=”1.5″ text_bold=”0″ text_italic=”0″ text_underline=”0″ text_uppercase=”0″ padding_top=”20″ padding_right=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”20″ margin_top=”20″ margin_right=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″ margin_left=”0″ border_radius=”5″]Good fit: experienced players who accept long dry spells and want three distinct bonus styles. Poor fit: anyone looking for frequent small wins – about four spins in five pay nothing. For a calmer Hacksaw title, see Le Bandit, rated 3/5.[/wpremark]
Verdict
Hacksaw’s western earns its reputation through clear, punishing maths: a 19.36% hit frequency, DuelReels with additive x2–x100 multipliers and three bonus rounds that range from sticky-wild free spins to a collect-and-showdown finale. With buy RTPs close to the 96.38% top version, the choice between modes is about volatility rather than return – provided the casino runs that top version.
Frequently asked questions
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18+. High-volatility games can produce long losing runs. Support services are listed on our responsible gambling page.
