Dead or Alive Slot Machine: Review & Free Play in Demo

Dead or Alive Review

8/10

Created by NetEnt in 2009, Dead or Alive is the first of a series of games that have taken the online casino world by storm. Despite its high volatility level, the game has a 96.82% RTP rate which is appealing to many players. Plus, we believe that the game is easy to follow for new players, as it only has 9 paylines on its 5 x 3 reel structure.

We know from experience that NetEnt has some of the best-designed games in the industry, so we scrutinized everything about it to see if this slot meets its high standards. While playing we did enjoy the theme and gameplay features, both of which we’ll explore in greater detail throughout this Dead or Alive slot review.

Software

NetEnt

Slot rows

5-3

RTP

96.8%

Jackpot Game

Release Date

2013

Pay lines

Volatility

Medium

Scatter Symbol

Technology

JS, HTML5

Slot reels

Max. win

54000

Wild symbol

Yes

Min. bet

0.01

Free spins

Yes

Symbol Stacked

Casino slot types

Video slots Real money slots Medium volatility 5 Reel Slots

Slot Theme

Wild West

Max. bet

0.5

Bonus game

Multiplier

Dead or Alive pros & cons

Hits
The $0.09 minimum bet makes it accessible to low-limit players.
The 12,000x max win is above average for a game such as this.
The limited paylines make the game easy to follow.
We like the pastel-esque colour palette of the game.
The 96.82% RTP rate is way above average for a high variance slot.

Misses
Only 9 available paylines limits your ability to find winning matches.
The maximum bet of $18 will be less appealing to high-limit players.
The lack of background music amplifies the repetitive sound effects.
The high volatility level will be off-putting to risk-averse players.
The whip-cracking sound effect is overused and becomes irritating quickly.

Best Casinos to Play Dead or Alive by NetEnt for Real Money

If you want to find the best place to play Dead or Alive for real money, we’ve got just the thing for you. Our team of experts has reviewed and evaluated each casino where they played Dead or Alive in Canada and have curated a list of the top casinos offering the game:

Lemon Casino

Rating: 9.9/10

Play here Lemon Casino Review

Must be 19+ to participate. T&Cs apply. Play Responsibly

Spirit Casino

Rating: 9.8/10

Play here Spirit Casino Review

Must be 19+ to participate. T&Cs apply. Play Responsibly

Bluffbet Casino

Rating: 9.7/10

Play here Bluffbet Casino Review

Must be 19+ to participate. T&Cs apply. Play Responsibly

Slot Theme and Storyline

Rating: 8/10

The game follows a traditional cowboy/wild west/saloon theme with its design which is clearly demonstrated by the wood panel surround and the desert depicted in the background. There’s a noticeable lack of background music, with the game instead choosing to repeat a handful of cliche Wild West sound effects. We initially enjoyed them as they added to the theme, but they quickly became old and made us want to turn the sound off altogether.

Dead or Alive Bonus Features and Free Spins

Rating: 8.2/10

Outside of the wilds, the bonus features of this game are limited to the free spins bonus round. While the lack of base game features is disappointing, the sticky wilds and retriggering free spins create the potential for large wins.

Sticky Wilds

During your free spins, any wild symbols that you find stay in place for the remainder of the round, increasing the possibility of making a match.

Retriggering Free Spins

While using your free spins, you can re-trigger the bonus by finding an additional three scatter symbols on your gameboard. In doing so, you get to keep any sticky wilds from the previous round.

Wilds, Bonuses and Free Spins

The Dead or Alive base game has two special symbols that provide bonuses when you find them on your game board. One unlocks the free spins bonus round, while the other can take the place of almost any other symbol.

Wilds: The wanted poster acts as the wild symbol in this game, substituting for every symbol except the scatter.
Free Spins: You can trigger 12 free spins by finding three or more of the duel pistol scatter symbols.
Bonuses: All winnings from free spins bonuses pay 2x.

Dead or Alive RTP, Bet Sizes, and Variance

Rating: 7.8/10

An often overlooked aspect of any online slot is its backend stats, such as its RTP and volatility. These have a strong impact on your results, so it’s important that you consider them before playing:

RTP Rate – The RTP rate of Dead or Alive sits at 96.82%, which is above average for a game of this kind.
Variance – Dead or Alive is considered a high variance slot, which means its payouts are significant yet infrequent.
Bet Sizes – The bet sizes range from as little as $0.09 to as much as $18 per spin. This translates to $0.01 per payline up to $2 per payline.

How to Play Dead or Alive for Real Money

Another great feature of Dead or Alive is just how easy it is to play. If you want to play Dead or Alive for real money at one of our recommended casinos, just follow our helpful guide:

Click on the Dead or Alive slot icon to load the game.
Choose your bet size using the plus and minus arrows in the bottom left-hand corner.
Click the dual-arrowed button at the bottom of the game to start spinning.

Expert NoteThere are multiple slot games with similar titles to Dead or Alive, so check the name carefully before you start playing.

Conclusion

All in all, Dead or Alive is a decent online slot that offers the potential for large consecutive wins thanks to its sticky wilds and re-triggering free spins multipliers. We also loved the authentic Wild West design and 12,000x maximum win.

Author: Gerda Grinova

99 articles

Expert in:

Casino reviews
Online Games
Online Slots

“

Overall, I enjoyed the gameplay of Dead or Alive and admired the effort that went into the art design. I particularly liked the sticky wilds mechanic in the free spins round.

”

DEAD OR ALIVE FAQs

Who makes the Dead or Alive slot games?

The Dead or Alive game provider is NetEnt. NetEnt is known throughout the industry as a top video slot developer, with players and critics noting its fantastic graphics and engaging gameplay features.

Does the Dead or Alive slot pay real money?

If you play the game for real money at one of our recommended casinos, you’ll receive real money payouts. However, these games come with a risk of losing, so always gamble responsibly. We recommend taking advantage of Dead or Alive free play options before playing for real money.

What is the bonus in Dead or Alive?

Dead or Alive has a free spins bonus that’s triggered by finding three or more of the dual pistol scatters. During your 12 FS, any wilds you find will stay in position for the rest of the round.

Is Dead or Alive a legitimate and fair slot game?

After extensive testing and research by our team of experts, we conclusively agree that Dead or Alive is a legitimate game. It’s developed by arguably the biggest slot developer, NetEnt, which is licensed in multiple jurisdictions to create real money casino games.

What is the Dead or Alive max win?

Dead or Alive has a maximum win of 12,000x your bet. If you bet the game’s maximum of $18 per round, you could win up to $216,000 in one spin.