Free demo with play-money credits. No download, no sign-up.
- Maker: NetEnt
- RTP: Up to 96.82%, depending on the casino's setting
- Lines: 9 paylines
- Volatility: High
Dead or Alive is NetEnt’s Wild West slot, first released in 2009. It is an online game and has never stood on a casino floor, but among online players it is one of the most talked-about slots ever made. The demo on this page is the original game and plays with free credits.
Its reputation comes from the free spins. You get 12 of them, every line win is doubled, and any wild that lands sticks in place until the round ends. Most bonuses pay modestly. Now and then the sticky wilds line up along a payline early, and the remaining spins pay again and again.
Dead or Alive Quick Facts
| Game maker | NetEnt |
|---|---|
| Released | 2009 |
| Reels | 5 reels, 3 rows |
| Paylines / ways to win | 9 paylines |
| RTP (payback) | Up to 96.82%, depending on the casino's setting |
| Volatility | High |
| Bet range | 0.09 to 18 per spin |
| Bonus round | 12 free spins with doubled wins and sticky wilds |
| Free demo | Yes. No download, no sign-up |
How Dead or Alive Works
The game has five reels, three rows and only 9 paylines, which pay from left to right. Bets run from 0.09 to 18 per spin. The symbols are Wild West items, and the wild is a wanted poster. With so few lines, wins in the base game are less frequent than on most modern slots, and the game leans heavily on its bonus.
The scatter pays on its own. Two or more scatters anywhere on the reels win a prize based on your total bet. Three scatters pay 4 times the bet, four pay 25 times and five pay 2,500 times. Three or more scatters also start the free spins, so a trigger always comes with a scatter prize.
The RTP is 96.82% in the top setting, and lower settings exist. RTP is the share of all bets a slot pays back over a very long time. Volatility is rated high. Volatility describes how often and how big a slot pays, and this game sits at the far end: many dry spells and a small number of very large wins.
Dead or Alive Bonus Features
Free Spins
Three or more scatter symbols anywhere on the reels award 12 free spins. All payline wins during the free spins are doubled. The round is played at the same bet as the spin that triggered it.
Sticky Wilds
Any wild that lands during the free spins becomes a Sticky Wild. It stays in its position for every remaining spin of the round, so each new wild makes all the later spins stronger.
5 extra free spins
If at least one Sticky Wild lands on every one of the five reels during the feature, you are awarded 5 extra free spins. The sticky wilds stay in place for those extra spins too.
Scatter wins
Scatters pay anywhere, without a payline. Two or more win a prize multiplied by your total bet, rising to 2,500 times the bet for five. These wins are paid in the base game on top of any line wins.
More Dead or Alive Versions to Play Free
Three related games are playable here. Dead or Alive 2, from 2019, keeps the 9 paylines and lets you choose between three free spins rounds: Old Saloon with doubled wins, High Noon Saloon where wilds become multipliers, and Train Heist. Dead or Alive 2 Feature Buy is the same sequel with an option to pay for direct entry to the bonus. Dead or Alive 3: Wanted is the newest game in the series.
Good to Know Before You Play
- With only 9 paylines, base game wins are thin. The game is built around its free spins.
- Sticky wilds only matter when they share a payline. Wilds scattered across different lines pay far less than a few on the same line.
- NetEnt supplies lower RTP settings as well as 96.82%, so the game may pay back less at some casinos.
- This is a high volatility slot. In a demo session it is normal to see the balance fall steadily between bonuses.
Play Dead or Alive for Real Money
The demo on this page uses play money, so nothing you win or lose is real. If you want to play slots for real money, the Play for Real button takes you to an online casino we have reviewed. Game line-ups differ from casino to casino, so look for Dead or Alive or a similar NetEnt game in its lobby.
You can also compare our best real money casinos, or the sweepstakes casinos that are legal in most states.
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Dead or Alive FAQ
Can I play Dead or Alive for free?
Yes. The demo on this page runs on play-money credits, with no download and no sign-up. It is the full game, including the sticky wild free spins. The credits have no cash value and cannot be cashed out.
What is the RTP of Dead or Alive?
NetEnt lists the RTP of Dead or Alive at 96.82%. The game is also supplied with lower settings, so some casinos run it at a reduced figure. RTP is the share of all bets paid back over a very long run.
How do you trigger the bonus in Dead or Alive?
Land three or more scatter symbols anywhere on the reels. You win 12 free spins with all line wins doubled. Wilds that land during the round stick in place, and a sticky wild on every reel adds 5 extra spins.
Why is Dead or Alive considered so volatile?
It has only 9 paylines, so base game wins are thin, and most of its value is packed into the free spins with sticky wilds. Many bonuses pay little and a few pay a great deal. That uneven pattern is what high volatility means.
Last updated: October 2026 · Reviewed by the SweepWiz Editorial Team · Editorial policy
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