Wanted Dead or a Wild Review
Wanted Dead or a Wild is one of Hacksaw Gaming's signature slots: a dusty western on a 5×5 grid where VS symbols turn into full-reel wilds with multipliers of up to x100. Three different bonus games sit on top, each with its own volatility.
A 5×5 western
The game was released on 29 September 2021 and pays across 15 lines from the leftmost reel. Bets range from 0.20 to 100, and the maximum win is 12,500× the bet.
Hacksaw rates it 4 out of 5 for volatility, and the hit frequency is listed at 19.36%.
Wanted Dead or a Wild Features
VS symbols
A VS symbol expands to cover its reel and holds a duel that awards a wild multiplier from x2 to x100. If several VS wilds take part in one win, their multipliers are added together.
Great Train Robbery
Three or more Train Robbery scatters award 10 free spins. Every wild that lands becomes sticky for the rest of the round. It is the gentlest of the three bonuses and costs 80× the bet to buy.
Duel at Dawn
Three or more Duel scatters award 10 free spins with VS symbols landing more often. It is the highest-variance bonus and costs 200× the bet.
Dead Man's Hand
Three or more Dead scatters start a two-phase bonus. In the collect phase you get three respins; each wild or multiplier that lands is collected and resets the count. Then three showdown spins place the collected wilds at random, with every win boosted by the collected multiplier. It holds up to 20 wilds and x31, and costs 400× the bet.
RTP versions
Hacksaw lists 96.38% as the top setting, with 94.55%, 92.33% and 88.42% also available to casinos. The bonus buys run at 96.27% to 96.43%. We could not confirm which setting the demo uses.
If you like the multiplier wilds, Hacksaw's Chaos Crew is also in the catalogue.
Wanted Dead or a Wild Pros and Cons
Strengths
- Three distinct bonus games
- VS multipliers up to x100
- 12,500× maximum win
Limitations
- High volatility
- Several lower RTP settings
- Bonus buys unavailable in the UK
Our Verdict
Wanted Dead or a Wild earned its reputation: the duels are dramatic and the bonuses genuinely play differently. Try each bonus in the demo before deciding which suits your bankroll.
Wanted Dead or a Wild FAQs
What is the maximum win in Wanted Dead or a Wild?
12,500× the bet.
How do VS symbols work?
They expand to cover the reel and award a wild multiplier from x2 to x100; multipliers in the same win add together.
How much do the bonus buys cost?
80× for Great Train Robbery, 200× for Duel at Dawn and 400× for Dead Man's Hand.
What is the RTP?
Up to 96.38%, with 94.55%, 92.33% and 88.42% also in use.
Sources and game-version notes
Information checked 30 October 2026.
Figures come from a catalogue listing; the RTP setting of the embedded demo was not verified.
