Dust settles on the main street. The sun dips toward the horizon. Five of the most dangerous outlaws in the Wild West are waiting for their moment. Dead or Alive 2 from NetEnt isn’t just a sequel to the legendary 2009 slot – it’s a complete reimagining taken to the absolute extreme. After ten years of anticipation, NetEnt released a follow-up that not only preserved the soul of the original but elevated the Sticky Wild mechanic to an entirely new level. Three radically different bonus modes, a maximum win of 100,000x your stake, and a quintet of legendary outlaws – this is a slot for those ready to risk everything for glory or infamy on the wild frontier.
In the pantheon of online slots, few themes resonate as powerfully as the Wild West era. NetEnt, one of the industry’s most respected and innovative developers, delivered their masterpiece with Dead or Alive 2. Released on April 24, 2019, this high-volatility slot doesn’t merely borrow Western aesthetics – it embodies the spirit of freedom, danger, and the pursuit of fortune in every spin.
The premise is elegantly simple yet deeply engaging: five of America’s most wanted frontier outlaws have gathered on the reels. Billy the Kid, Jesse James, Belle Starr, Della Rose, and Apache Kid – real historical figures whose stories have become legend. Their presence on the reels isn’t just symbolism; it’s your ticket to potentially life-changing wins.
NetEnt’s decision to offer players a choice between three fundamentally different bonus modes deserves special attention. This choice determines not only the visual style but the game’s fundamental mathematics – ranging from moderately volatile to extremely high-risk.
| Software Provider | NetEnt |
| Type | Video Slot |
| RTP | 96.8% |
| Volatility | High/Extreme |
| Min Bet | 0.09 |
| Max Bet | 18 |
| Max Win | 100,000x |
| Reels | 5 |
| Lines | 9 |
| Megaways | No |
| Free Spins | Yes |
| Fast Spin | Yes |
| Bonus Buy Function | No |
What truly distinguishes Dead or Alive 2 from countless Western-themed slots is its innovative bonus mode selection system. Upon triggering free spins, you’ll face a decision that fundamentally alters your gaming experience.
Choosing Old Saloon immerses you in the atmosphere of a classic Gold Rush-era saloon. The visual design features warm browns and golds – wooden walls, card tables, and the soft glow of oil lamps.
Statistical Profile:
Old Saloon embodies a balanced-risk philosophy. Your journey will feature regular small to medium wins, and the extra spin mechanic for each Wild creates a satisfying sense of accumulation. This mode suits players who value the journey as much as the destination.
Choosing High Noon Saloon transports you to the scorching main street at midday. The tense atmosphere of an impending duel – yellow-orange desert tones, blinding sun, dust in the air.
Statistical Profile:
High Noon Saloon represents the perfect balance. Multipliers on Wilds set this mode apart from Old Saloon. Each sticky Wild carries a random x2 or x3 multiplier, and when multiple such symbols align on a payline, multipliers stack multiplicatively. The results can be spectacular.
Choosing Train Heist puts you aboard a speeding train under cover of night. A dark blue palette with flashes of stolen gold – this is the most visually dramatic and mathematically extreme mode.
Statistical Profile:
Train Heist embodies the “all or nothing” gambling philosophy. Each subsequent Wild on the reels doubles the previous multiplier: first Wild – x2, second – x4, third – x8, and so on up to x16. Under fortunate circumstances, a full screen of Wilds with maximum multipliers can deliver the legendary 100,000x payout.
The beauty of this system lies in its transparency. NetEnt doesn’t hide the mathematics – they empower players to make informed decisions aligned with their risk tolerance and playing style.
The game employs a carefully balanced symbol hierarchy spread across ten regular paying symbols:
Classic card symbols appear with thematic Wild West styling:
| Symbol | 3 of a Kind | 4 of a Kind | 5 of a Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 0.05x | 0.25x | 0.50x |
| J | 0.05x | 0.25x | 0.50x |
| Q | 0.05x | 0.25x | 0.50x |
| K | 0.10x | 0.50x | 1.00x |
| A | 0.10x | 0.50x | 1.00x |
Premium symbols embody the spirit of the Western era:
| Symbol | 3 of a Kind | 4 of a Kind | 5 of a Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boots | 0.25x | 1.00x | 2.50x |
| Whiskey | 0.25x | 1.00x | 2.50x |
| Cowboy Hat | 0.50x | 2.00x | 5.00x |
| Sheriff Badge | 0.50x | 2.00x | 5.00x |
| Revolvers (Scatter) | 2x | 20x | 200x |
Wild Symbols (Outlaws): Five legendary outlaws – Billy the Kid, Jesse James, Belle Starr, Della Rose, and Apache Kid – serve as wild symbols. They appear on all five reels and substitute for any regular symbols. Each Wild also carries its own payout, equivalent to the sheriff badge.
Scatter Symbols (Crossed Revolvers): Appear exclusively on reels 2, 3, and 4. Three Scatters trigger the bonus round with mode selection. Two Scatters during free spins in High Noon Saloon mode retrigger an additional 5 spins.
Landing three Scatter symbols on reels 2, 3, and 4 activates the bonus round. You’re prompted to choose one of three modes, after which you receive 12 free spins.
All three modes share a key mechanic: every Wild appearing during free spins becomes “stuck” to its position for the remainder of the bonus. As Wilds accumulate, the probability of forming winning combinations increases exponentially.
Old Saloon: Each new Wild awards +1 additional spin. Theoretically, the bonus can last indefinitely with a fortunate stream of Wilds.
High Noon Saloon: Each Wild carries a random x2 or x3 multiplier. When multiple Wilds appear on the same winning line, their multipliers multiply together.
Train Heist: Progressive multiplier system. The first Wild receives x2, each subsequent one doubles the previous (x2 → x4 → x8 → x16). When multipliers stack, the potential becomes astronomical.
The game’s mathematical ceiling – 100,000x your stake – is achievable exclusively in Train Heist mode with optimal Wild coverage and maximum multipliers. While reaching this peak requires exceptional fortune, wins in the 1,000x–10,000x range represent realistic outcomes during favorable bonus rounds.
For players who prefer certainty over anticipation: Dead or Alive 2 does not offer a Buy Bonus feature. The only path to the bonus is through honestly landing three Scatters.
NetEnt’s art direction for Dead or Alive 2 prioritizes atmospheric immersion, with the mode selection system extending into comprehensive visual transformation.
Old Saloon bathes players in a warm palette – amber, brown, muted gold. The background reveals a classic saloon interior with wooden beams, a bar counter, and candle shadows. Lighting is soft and cozy, creating the atmosphere of an evening at a roadside establishment.
High Noon Saloon unfolds in blindingly bright tones – scorched yellow, desert orange, bleached sky. The background shows the town’s main street in midday heat. The tense atmosphere of an approaching duel permeates every frame.
Train Heist presents a dramatic nocturnal palette – deep blue, black, golden flashes of stolen loot. The background features the interior of a speeding railcar with bags of gold. Flickering shadows and the rhythm of wheels create a sense of dangerous adventure.
The audio landscape intelligently adapts to your chosen mode. Classic Western guitar motifs, whistling desert wind, the sound of spurs and reloading revolvers – every element works toward immersion. Sound effects during wins, Wild landings, and especially retriggers enhance dramatic tension without becoming intrusive during extended sessions.
Bankroll management should vary significantly depending on your chosen mode.For Old Saloon: A session bankroll of 150–200x your minimum bet provides reasonable cushion given the expected bonus frequency. This mode suits shorter sessions with moderate goals.
For High Noon Saloon: A bankroll of 250–350x your stake is recommended. The balance between risk and potential makes this mode optimal for most players with medium risk tolerance.
For Train Heist: Requires significantly greater resources – minimum 400–600x your stake – due to extreme volatility and potentially long stretches without substantial wins. This mode is designed for longer sessions with ambitious goals.
Successful players adapt their mode selection to their current mood and circumstances. Choose Old Saloon when seeking entertainment with regular feature access; High Noon for a balanced experience; Train Heist when feeling adventurous with adequate bankroll support.
Defining session goals before playing proves essential, particularly in Train Heist mode, where having both a win target and loss limit prevents chasing losses during inevitable dry spells.
Dead or Alive 2 performs excellently across mobile devices:
The game was developed with mobile-first principles, ensuring the experience remains uncompromised regardless of platform.
Dead or Alive 2 represents NetEnt at their creative and technical peak. Rather than simply creating another visually appealing slot, they engineered an experience that respects player agency through meaningful choices. The three-mode system isn’t gimmickry – it’s genuine mechanical innovation that alters the fundamental mathematics of the game based on player preference.While the visual execution doesn’t revolutionize Western aesthetics, and the Sticky Wild mechanic has precedents elsewhere, the complete package delivers a compelling, well-balanced, and genuinely thrilling slot experience.
The 100,000x maximum win provides that crucial aspirational ceiling, while mode selection ensures players can calibrate their experience to match their risk tolerance.
For those seeking the thrill of chasing outlaws down dusty frontier roads or the tension of a train heist under cover of darkness – Dead or Alive 2 delivers on its Wild West promise in full.
Rating: 9.2/10 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Dead or Alive 2 remains one of the defining slots of the past decade – a game that set a new standard for mode-selection mechanics and proved that sequels can surpass their originals.
The maximum win potential in Dead or Alive 2 reaches a staggering 100,000x your stake — one of the highest in the industry. This legendary payout is achievable exclusively in the Train Heist bonus mode, where sticky Wilds with progressive multipliers (x2, x4, x8, x16) can stack to create life-changing wins. While hitting the absolute maximum requires extraordinary luck, wins in the 5,000x to 20,000x range are realistic outcomes during successful bonus rounds with optimal Wild coverage.
Dead or Alive 2 offers three distinct free spins modes, each with unique characteristics. Old Saloon provides 12 spins with sticky Wilds and +1 extra spin per Wild, offering moderate volatility with ~4,000x max potential. High Noon Saloon delivers 12 spins with sticky Wilds carrying x2 or x3 multipliers, balancing risk and reward with ~40,000x potential. Train Heist is the extreme option with 12 spins featuring progressive multipliers that double with each Wild, reaching the full 100,000x ceiling.
Yes, Dead or Alive 2 was developed with mobile-first principles and performs flawlessly across all devices. The game automatically adapts to your screen size whether you’re playing on an iPhone, Android smartphone, or tablet. Touch controls are intuitive and responsive, all visual effects remain intact, and the complete feature set is available on mobile. You can chase outlaws through the Wild West anywhere you have an internet connection.
Dead or Alive 2 features an impressive RTP (Return to Player) of 96.8%, which is notably higher than the industry average of approximately 95-96%. This favorable percentage means that over the long term, players can expect better theoretical returns compared to most competing slots. Combined with high volatility, this creates a game that rewards patient players who can weather dry spells in pursuit of substantial wins.
No, Dead or Alive 2 does not include a Bonus Buy option. The only way to access the free spins bonus is by naturally landing three Scatter symbols (crossed revolvers) on reels 2, 3, and 4 during regular gameplay. This design choice maintains the classic slot experience where anticipation builds organically. On average, players can expect to trigger the bonus approximately once every 150-200 spins, though variance means this can fluctuate significantly in either direction.
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