Dead or Alive

And we assure you, Dead or Alive is one of them. Released in 2009, this game showed the world the gorgeous visuals NetEnt could create.

But what truly made it shine were its special features, and the promise of a 3000x jackpot! Today, we answer the question: does this classic still hold up ten years later?

Dead or Alive Review

This release is played on five reels, and each one can house three symbols at a time. There are a total of nine fixed paylines. Somewhat low for our liking, but Dead or Alive makes it work!

Winning is a simple affair in this slot! Simply collect three or more identical symbols in adjacent positions, starting with the leftmost reel. If the winning combination follows one of the nine active paylines, then you’ll receive the appropriate cash prize.

If you want a simple game that doesn’t require much thinking, this is the perfect NetEnt release for you. But don’t mistake this for a negative! It just goes to show that a good math model can make even sticky Wilds and free spins incredibly fun.

Theme & Symbols

Westerns used to be everywhere back in the day, but the genre’s popularity has faded away. In its place came the era of sci-fi and superheroes, relegating cowboys to the backdrop. However, Dead and Alive keeps the flame lit! We were also quite impressed that it doesn’t devolve into repeating the same stereotypes we see in every other slot.

The background image is our favorite part of the graphics. The colors are quite varied. You have an incoming storm slowly blotting out the sun and the clear blue skies above. Occasionally, a flash of lightning will light up the dark clouds. Wind will cause the lantern to move back and forth, threatening to blow it away! In the distance, you can see the tall Rockies, beautifully contrasting against the storm clouds that slowly approach you.

Sadly, nobody is perfect (except for us), so it’s okay for this game to stumble here and there. The symbols are a mixture of playing card royals, and the necessities of each and every cowboy! A shot of whisky, a pair of boots with spurs, a cowboy hat, a gun and a holster, and a sheriff’s badge. All of these are instantly recognizable! The only real problem is how generic the letters and numbers feel. It cheapens what’s otherwise a near perfect NetEnt release.

How to Play Dead or Alive

Dead or Alive is played on a 5×3 playing field with 9 fixed paylines. Very traditional, at first glance. We can’t help but wish that there were more winlines available! If you’re used to having 25 as a baseline, this slot will take some getting used to. It’s undeniable that having less paylines means fewer opportunities to win. Do not worry, dear readers! NetEnt uses its special features to make up for this design flaw.

Of course, getting to that point will require some patience. This is a high variance game, so you can’t expect to hit the free spins immediately. Much like the cowboys of old, you’ll have to brave the barren wasteland of boring, regular spins. But once you reach the nearest town, you’ll immediately be treated to extra turns and sticky Wilds to boost your morale.. and your wallet!

The one good thing about having only 9 paylines is the low minimum stake! If you want, you can play for as little as €0.09 for each spin. If that’s not great value for casual players, we don’t know what is! In contrast, your maximum bet only goes up to €18.00 per spin. Not nearly as high as other NetEnt releases. Then again, few of them can boast a 3000x jackpot, either!

Dead or Alive Slot Bonus Features

There’s only two special features in Dead or Alive, and you get one by activating the other. Perfect for online gamblers hoping for a fun slot with simple, but engaging gameplay!

• Free Spins

Collect three or more Scatters to win twelve free spins. During the bonus, all wins are doubled thanks to the 2x multiplier! It is possible to retrigger free spins, but you can only do so once. The Scatters also have a cash prize, but it’s not that high. Unless you collect five Scatters, at which point it can rival even the jackpot!

• Sticky Wilds

This special feature only becomes active during free spins. Instead of the faceless poster, each one now depicts a member of the gang our cowboy must catch. These Wilds, once they land on the reels, become frozen in place. They will remain in position even as the reels spin, and only disappear when free spins end. If you have at least one sticky Wild on each reel, you get five more extra turns.

Dead or Alive Payouts

This game has a high volatility, with a maximum prize worth 3000x your total bet! The RTP for this NetEnt release is 96.82%, almost a whole percentage point higher than the current industry average.