Dead or Alive 2 is NetEnt’s high volatility Western sequel: 9 lines, three free spins modes with sticky Wilds or growing multipliers, 96.8% RTP and wins above 100,000x the stake.
Dead or Alive 2 is NetEnt’s high volatility Western sequel: 9 lines, three free spins modes with sticky Wilds or growing multipliers, 96.8% RTP and wins above 100,000x the stake.
Dead or Alive 2 is one of the most famous high volatility slots ever made, and it plays exactly like its reputation. NetEnt’s 2019 sequel keeps the 5×3 grid and 9 fixed lines of the original Dead or Alive, then adds a choice of three free spins modes, each with a different risk level. The base game is quiet. The bonus is where everything happens.
That makes it a slot for patient players with a budget that can handle long dry spells. The free spins land roughly once every 195 spins on average, and a single good round can pay more than everything before it. If you want frequent action, this is not that game.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Developer | NetEnt |
| Release date | 23 April 2019 |
| Reels and rows | 5 reels, 3 rows |
| Paylines | 9 fixed lines |
| RTP | 96.8% (standard version) |
| Volatility | High |
| Hit frequency | About 30% |
| Bet range | €0.09 to €9 per spin |
| Max win | Above 100,000x the stake in free spins |
| Free spins | 12 spins, three modes to choose from |
The reels sit in the doorway of a wooden frontier town, with a dusty main street behind them. Five outlaws act as the Wild symbols, and each one has its own portrait. Whiskey glasses, cowboy boots, hats and sheriff badges are the mid symbols, while card royals from 10 to A fill the low end. The guitar soundtrack is moody and slow, and it suits the long wait for the bonus.
All 9 lines are always active. Wins pay left to right, and the outlaw Wilds substitute for every paying symbol on a line. Five Wilds on a line pay on their own as well. Most base game wins are small, and roughly 30% of spins return something, so expect plenty of wins below your stake.
Two crossed revolvers are the Scatter. They pay anywhere on the reels: 2 Scatters return 2x the bet, 3 pay 4x, 4 pay 25x and 5 pay 2,500x. Three or more also start the free spins, so the Scatter is both a small cash prize and the key to the bonus.
When three or more Scatters land, you get 12 free spins and must pick one of three modes. This choice is the heart of Dead or Alive 2. Each mode handles the Wilds differently, and each one has its own balance between steady results and rare huge wins.
Old Saloon is the gentlest option. Every win in the round is doubled, and any Wild that lands becomes sticky, staying in place until the free spins end. Sticky Wilds can also bring 5 extra free spins. It is closest in feel to the original Dead or Alive bonus.
High Noon Saloon is the wild one. Wilds are sticky here too, but two Wilds on the same reel turn into a double multiplier Wild, and three on one reel become a triple. Multipliers on a line combine, so a few stacked reels can produce enormous totals. A sticky Wild on each reel adds 5 more spins. Many rounds end small, though, which is the price for the top potential.
Train Heist works with a multiplier meter. Every Wild that lands moves the meter up by one and awards an extra free spin. Reaching x16 adds 5 more spins, and the meter keeps climbing after that. NetEnt says wins in this mode can reach 100,000x the original bet. The Wilds are not sticky here, so results tend to build more slowly.
There is no wrong pick, but it helps to know what each mode does to a session. Old Saloon gives the most consistent results. Train Heist sits in the middle, with the meter rewarding long rounds full of Wilds. High Noon Saloon carries the most risk and the most potential, because the multiplier Wilds stick and stack.
If you have spent a lot of spins reaching the bonus, it is tempting to go for High Noon every time. It is fine to do that as long as you accept that many High Noon rounds pay less than the safer options. Some casinos also let you buy the feature where local rules allow it. That costs a fixed multiple of your stake and does not change the RTP.
NetEnt lists the RTP at 96.8%. The game sheet splits it into 68.6% from the base game and 28.2% from free spins, which shows how much of the return is tied to a feature you only see every couple of hundred spins. RTP is a long-run average, not a promise for a single session, and some casinos run lower settings. Our RTP guide explains what the number does and does not tell you.
Volatility is high, and it really means it here. Long runs of small or no wins are normal, and a short session can easily end without a bonus. The flip side is the ceiling: NetEnt’s game sheet shows wins above 100,000x the stake can happen, although they come up only a handful of times in hundreds of millions of spins. Our high volatility slots guide lists similar games.
You can play from €0.09 to €9 per spin in the standard setup. The bet is set with a coin value and a bet level, but the total in euros is shown on screen. Some older reviews mention €18, but NetEnt’s current sheet lists €9 as the top bet. A small stake is usually the smart move here, because it gives you enough spins to have a real chance of reaching the free spins round.
Set a budget before you start and decide in advance how many spins it should cover. If the bonus has not arrived when the budget runs out, stop rather than raising the stake to chase it.
The game runs in HTML5 in any modern browser on Android and iOS, with the same rules and RTP as on desktop. The 5×3 grid fits a phone screen well, and the mode choice screen is easy to use by touch. Our mobile casinos guide lists sites that work well on smaller screens.
Almost every casino with NetEnt games carries Dead or Alive 2. Before you play for real money, check the licence, the RTP version and the payment terms. Free spins offers on this slot are common, but they usually run at the minimum stake and carry wagering requirements, so read the terms in our free spins bonus guide first. A free demo is a good way to try all three modes without risk.
The sequel is loved for good reasons, and its weak points are the same features seen from the other side.
For players who enjoy high risk, yes. Dead or Alive 2 is still one of the best examples of a slot where the bonus decides everything, and the three modes give you more control than most games. If you prefer frequent wins, play something calmer such as Starburst, or try Narcos for a crime theme with more base game action.
Gambling is for adults aged 18 and over. Set a limit before you start, and see our responsible gambling page if you need help.
Quick answers on the RTP, the three free spins modes, the bet range and the top win in Dead or Alive 2.