ABOUT DEADWOOD SLOT
If you’ve read any of The Slot Buzz’s game reviews this year, you’ll know that we’re huge Nolimit City fans. They originally established a reputation for itself in 2019 with their high variance western, Tombstone, and in the early months of 2020, they’ve been setting the bar high with some very unique and punchy slots that stand out from the crowd. Punk Rocker and Barbarian Fury, for example, contain some exhilarating twists and turns and are designed to appeal to the high-risk gamers among us. The xNudge Wild, a Nolimit trademark, is one of their most well-known features. It isn’t exactly Megawaysâ„¢, but it is a gaming mechanic that we are growing to like.
So, how about Deadwood? The good news is that this game does not disappoint — on any level, from the dazzling graphics to the entertaining storyline with Gunslinger Spins and Shootout bonuses to the now-familiar xNudge Wilds with win multipliers. And it’s all moving along at a breakneck speed, and with a weak maths model but huge promise, this is a slot we’ll be talking about for years. Indeed, we’d go so far as to say it’s right up there with NetEnt’s Dead or Alive, another high-variance classic set in the Wild West.
Do you believe you’re prepared? Then let’s get started and learn more.
SETTING UP THE GAME, SYMBOLS, AND GRAPHICS
Without a doubt, this is a fantastic reel package. With the dusty looking wild west town of Deadwood as the backdrop, the visuals are spot on. There are a total of six reels in this game. The latter two rows each feature three symbols, whereas the middle four each have four. The cards, from 10 to Ace, are the low-value symbols, while the premium symbols are a high-quality assortment of western emblems, including gold bars, watches, whiskey bottles, shotguns, and safes to store the gold in. The gold bar is the highest paying symbol, paying out 3.5 times for five on a payline. But don’t worry, there are lots of multipliers to help you increase your winnings. There’s also a Hunter Wild emblem that appears in stacks and activates the xNudge function.
Keep an eye out for the Buffalo Skull scatters, which are required to activate the free spins, as well as the Sheriff’s Badge, which activates an unique Shoot Out feature, which is discussed further below.
RTP, VARIANCE, AND PAYOUTS FOR DEADWOOD SLOTS
Deadwood is a high-risk slot with an extremely high amount of variation. So, if you want a more calm gaming experience with consistent rewards, you might want to reconsider visiting this town. There are 576 paylines in play at all times across the five reels, and the RTP is set at a fair 96.03 percent for those that do. It is possible to reach a peak payout of 13,950x, albeit it is improbable given the odds. That’s a lot of potential, however it’s not as high as some of the most popular Megawaysâ„¢ games right now.
FEATURES AND GAMEPLAY
Deadwood shares many of the same characteristics as its predecessor, Tombstone. The following are the details:
xNudges and Hunter Wilds
The Hunter is the Wild symbol, and it appears in stacks on the middle three reels. When the stack falls partially in view, the xNudge function will nudge it up or down until it covers the whole visible space of the reel. Each nudge multiplies the value of a multiplier by one. Once the multiplier is in effect, any winnings, including wilds, are subject to the multiplier. The multipliers combine if more than one stack is in play and included in a win.
Featured Shootout
Keep an eye out for the Sheriff’s Badge, which appears on reels 1 and 5. This will activate the Shoot Out feature, which will turn all low-value symbols that land on the middle reels into wilds, increasing your chances of winning.
Free Spins for Gunslinger and Hunter
Three or more Buffalo Scatters landing anywhere on the reels will activate one of two free spins rounds in Deadwood. In each case, you will be given eight spins.
The Gunslingers are the game’s most unpredictable characters. The Hunter Wild stacks have a UNLIMITED wild multiplier, which means the multiplier rises by 1x every time the xNudge is engaged. When the nudging sequence is over and the following spin begins, the multiplier stays the same — it never resets during the round.
And… if you land additional Sheriff’s Badges on reels 1 and 5 during Gunslinger, you can get extra spins.
During the Hunter Spins, which have a lesser volatility (but still a high one), you will always get a wild stack. In this case, however, unlike the Gunslingers, the multiplier re-sets between spins.
Free Spins on Demand
Deadwood has one additional element that raises the stakes even more. Shoot Out Free Spins may be triggered by landing a Sheriff’s Badge on reels 1 and 5 at the same time during either free spins round, or by landing three scatters and two Sheriff’s Badges at the same time in the main game.
You have the option of picking 10 Gunslinger Spins or 10 Hunter Spins here. Regardless of the option you select, all low-value symbols on the middle reels turn wild throughout the spins, and the Sheriff’s Badges remain locked in place for the duration.
OUR OPINION
Without a doubt, this is a badass slot game that will provide some spectacular sessions and fantastic prizes. The artwork and gameplay are a cut above the majority of the slots we’ve encountered this year, and the free spins round options have the potential to generate some fantastic win sequences. The Gunslinger Spins’ limitless xNudge multiplier appears to be a standout feature that we’ll want to witness in action many times. But, as always, we begin our review with a word of caution: these slot games are high-risk, which means you should proceed with caution, tread cautiously, and always bet sensibly.
