NetEnt Dead or Alive review
Dead or Alive is a slot machine from NetEnt ,as well as one of the most popular and recognized in the field of Online casino .
Its theme, which draws heavily from the typical imagery of the Wild West, and the 12,000x win are just some of the factors that have contributed to its success since its release in 2013. In fact, the developers at NetEnt felt almost "obligated" to create a worthy sequel, which led to the birth of... Dead or Alive 2 .
So prepare yourself for a series of duels on the reels in perfect western style, because in this review we are going to see what made Dead or Alive one of the classics of the Online Slots , even before the model was replicated by its successor.
How I tested Dead or Alive slot
Like all of my tests, I used the classic GaymerX evaluation method to get to know all the details of the Dead or Alive slot. Here it is summarized in the key points:
- Symbol Exploration: From Wild “outlaw” posters to cowboy gear, to get a clear idea of the most important symbols to look for;
- Payout analysis: after seeing the symbols, we will find out if the game is worth the candle by focusing on the maximum payout and the RTP;
- Volatility: we will study the level of volatility, i.e. how this will affect the frequency of winnings during our games;
- Bonuses and free spins: the highlight of the game, in which we will find out if there are extra modes, free spins and all the special features that increase the chances of winning;
- Graphics and audio: finally we will give an evaluation of the aesthetic aspect and the sounds, seeing how they can contribute to the gaming experience.
The best bonus for Dead or Alive slot
Most of the Legal operators we work with have chosen to cater to the many fans of the Dead or Alive slot by including it as a hit in their game package.
Each casino also offers different Welcome Bonus and others Promotions exclusives that will allow you to immediately discover the true essence of the Wild West.
You can play at home or easily even when you're on the go, thanks to HTML5 technology that guarantees top graphics and performance both on PC and on mobile devices !
Dead or Alive symbols and payouts
The gameplay transports us to a Far West world, where only the most daring and courageous can win great rewards. Let's find out how.
The symbols
The symbols of this slot are everything needed to stage a remake of a Sergio Leone film: cowboy boots, a cowboy hat, a bullet belt, a sheriff badge, and a pair of whiskey glasses.
In support there are also the classic symbols 10, J, Q, K and A, which pay less.
The Scatter symbol depicts 2 smoking guns and gives you 12 free spins (we'll analyze them in the dedicated section), each with a 2x multiplier.
Watch out for this symbol: 5 Scatters pay 1,500x your stake!
The Wild symbol is instead represented by 5 "wanted" posters with some of the most famous wanted criminals of the time, from Billy the Kid to Jesse James.
This wild replaces all other symbols except Scatters and transforms into a Sticky version during free spins, awarding an additional 5 free spins.
Below is a rundown with all the symbols and winnings obtainable with a $0.90 bet.
Paylines
The Dead or Alive slot is set up on a 5-reel, 3-row grid with 9 fixed paylines.
To get a winning bet you must have at least 3 symbols on consecutive reels within one of the active paylines, always starting from left to right.
The only exception is, of course, the Scatter symbol, which can also pay on non-adjacent reels.
Minimum and maximum bets, Autoplay feature
The minimum bet to play is $0.09 per spin, while the maximum bet is $18 per spin.
The Autoplay function button is essential, with up to 1,000 selectable automatic spins and the option to stop automatically when free spins are activated or when a threshold of winnings or losses is reached.
RTP (Return To Player)
The slot has a pretty good return to player (RTP) percentage of 96.82%.
Volatility
Volatility is high for this slot, so we advise you to always monitor yours very carefully bankroll , even if the slot awards big wins from time to time.
Jackpot / Maximum payout
No fixed jackpot, but the maximum achievable win is 12,000x your stake!
A journey to the Far West full of breathtaking opportunities!
This slot allows us to immerse ourselves in an adventure of other times, following the most fearsome bandits and with quite enticing rewards at stake. The 96.82% RTP and the maximum win of 12,000x, associated with high volatility, promise substantial prizes, but to obtain them, one must also arm oneself with patience.
Slot Features
Dead or Alive slot probably has one of the modes Free Spins most intriguing around, as it allows you to get up to 29 free spins with multipliers that double your win!
Wilds, re-spins and other features
As mentioned earlier, the Dead or Alive Wild symbol is a Wanted poster that substitutes for all other symbols except Scatters.
And during free spins, the wilds become Sticky Wilds and will stay stuck on their reel for the duration of the game.
On top of that, one or more extra Sticky Wilds also rewards you with an additional 5 free spins!
Free Spins
3 or more Scatter symbols on the reels are required to activate the Dead or Alive free spins feature, which awards you 12 free spins with a 2x multiplier.
But that's just the beginning: the Dead or Alive free spin feature can be retriggered only once with 3 more Scatters.
In summary, thanks also to the Wilds, you can get up to 29 consecutive free spins, all with doubled winnings!
Free spins and… more free spins: the Far West becomes even wilder!
Wild Sticky symbols capable of giving away an additional 5 spins and 2x multiplied prizes are the juiciest ingredients of a high-adrenaline free spin mode. And in case of three more Scatters, another 12 spins are added to the initial 12, creating a spiral of increasingly thrilling winnings!
Graphics and sounds
| Graphics | 3D |
| Optimized for mobile | 👍 |
| Music | Western |
| Special functions | Sticky Wild |
From the wild landscape to the fiery saloon!
Dead or Alive is a slot with very well-crafted graphics, capable of instantly transporting you to the most typical Far West landscape: a barren panorama, marked by a storm. The contribution of atmospheric sounds is also remarkable (the creaking of a chair, the gust of wind, a barking dog, a screeching condor, and so on). The free spin round, on the other hand, takes place inside a saloon, in the midst of a shootout!
What to do if you have problems while playing
In the event of a technical glitch interrupting your game, the simplest solution is to reopen the slot to continue where you left off.
However, if the problem persists, I advise you to contact the casino's customer support: the operators are trained to resolve any issues quickly and may even reward you with a Bonuses for the misunderstanding.
Conclusions of the review
Dead or Alive is practically an icon in the field of video slots.
This game has proven capable of securing a following of devoted players, thanks primarily to one of the most interesting free spin modes in circulation and the strong character of its Western setting.
From the dry landscape of the Far West, our hunt for the notorious bandits moves to an action-packed saloon, between Sticky Wilds and prizes multiplied by 2x.
Sure, winnings are not so frequent due to the high volatility, mainly due to the only 9 paylines, but when luck kisses you, the rewards can also be quite substantial!