Dead or Alive 2 is NetEnt's sequel to its classic Wild West slot. It keeps the 5x3 layout with nine paylines and sticky wild free spins, but adds three bonus modes with very different risk levels, including the High Noon Saloon with a top prize of 111,111x. It suits experienced players who are comfortable with very long losing streaks in exchange for extreme upside.
How does Dead or Alive 2 work?
You play on five reels and three rows with nine fixed paylines. Wanted poster wilds substitute for regular symbols, and scatters trigger the bonus.
Bets range from about 0.09 to 18 per spin. The low maximum bet reflects how large the multipliers in the bonus can get.
The low symbols are card values, and the outlaw characters, cowboy hats and other Western icons pay more. In the base game, wins are often small, as the game saves its potential for free spins.
The game has a dusty Western look with a calm soundtrack, and the reels are easy to read even on a phone screen.
What are the Dead or Alive 2 bonus features?
Three or more scatters trigger free spins, and you choose one of three modes, each with 12 spins. Old Saloon has sticky wilds with a fixed multiplier, Train Heist adds sticky wilds and multipliers that grow, and High Noon Saloon makes wild multipliers increase with every wild that lands.
Wilds in free spins stay sticky for the rest of the round, and retriggers add more spins. High Noon Saloon is the most volatile option and holds the 111,111x maximum.
In some markets a bonus buy is offered, but it is unavailable in places like the UK.
The difference between the modes is large. Old Saloon is the most forgiving, while High Noon Saloon can return very little in one round and a huge amount in another.
Is Dead or Alive 2 worth playing? RTP and volatility explained
The default RTP is 96.82%, which is above average. NetEnt may supply lower settings, so check the version you play.
Volatility is very high. Many sessions will end without a strong bonus, so play with an amount you are fully prepared to lose.
An RTP of 96.82% is a long-run average over millions of spins: in theory the game keeps about 3.18 of every 100 units wagered. It does not predict a single session. Very high volatility means most spins return little, and the bulk of the game's return comes from rare, large wins that many players never see in a session.
Tips before you play Dead or Alive 2
- Check the RTP in the game's info screen at your casino, because NetEnt lets operators choose from several RTP settings.
- Old Saloon gives the steadiest results; High Noon Saloon is the highest-risk choice.
- Keep stakes small because bonus rounds can be rare and short.