Wild West-themed slot games have been a part of the industry for many decades, first becoming popular on the classic slot machines back in the 1980s. Ever since then, the theme has been developed and ventured into the online world. From using a real slot machine to being able to play casino slots online with the wild west theme, a lot has changed. Mechanics, visuals, bonus features, and trends have all changed over time, as well as trends in terms of what players appreciate in a game. This means there is a wide range of wild west-themed slot games players could choose from, with different mechanics, some easy to understand and some more developed. So today, we will be taking a look at the top 3 wild west-themed slot games.
Dead or Alive 2
Released in 2019, NetEnt’s Dead or Alive 2 slot game came after the success of the original Dead or Alive release, also following the popular wild west theme. This release is well known in the industry, and it is clear to see why with the quality of design and gameplay features. The design of the Dead or Alive 2 slot game correlates with the theme perfectly. The background is a darker aesthetic with a western village and a stormy sky, while the playtable is bordered by an old wooden structure, similar to the wooden-designed houses in the background. The symbols are also on theme, using imagery representing the wild west genre and animations when combinations land. The mechanics of the base game are relatively simplistic, with a standard 5×3 playtable hosting an available 9 individual paylines; however, this is elevated by the bonus features. Wilds are available, as well as numerous free spins modes that can be unlocked, making the base game simple yet interesting. The free spins games that can be unlocked include Old Saloon Free Spins, High Noon Saloon Free Spins, Train Heist Free Spins and finally standard Free Spins. Each game offers different gameplay features, unique to that mode, adding a unique twist to what is a popular bonus feature.
Duel at Dawn
Duel at Dawn is another incredibly popular Wild West-themed slot, thanks to its interesting visual display and bonus features. It was released in 2024 by Hacksaw Gaming and has instantly become a popular choice for players in the Western genre. It’s one of Hacksaw’s bigger releases of recent years, features some great gameplay, and has a modern design. The background features a western setting, with a sunset and deserted land, designed with large cliffs and several cacti to cement this image. The playtable features a dark background and border, in keeping with the theme. The symbols within the playtable are dark in colour, but follow the wild west theme. Finally, to finish the design, a cowboy stands to the left of the playtable, adding a character and storyline to this slot. The larger scale 5×5 playtable hosts 19 individual paylines, but is enhanced by the bonus features available in the base game. Wilds are available during the base game, like in many other slot games, but also feature a bonus game, the Wild Wild West mode. There are a couple of other symbols, including the Outlaw, which will add Wilds randomly to the playtable when the symbol lands, and DuelReels, unlocking a multiplier for combinations across 2 different expanding symbols. The unique bonus features, combined with the straightforward base game, are why Duel at Dawn is a popular choice in the Wild West genre.
Cowboy Coins
Cowboy Coins is one of Pragmatic Play’s Wild West titles, released in 2023, and is a popular choice when it comes to slot games in the Wild West genre as a result of the unique mechanics, standing out from others that adopt the same theme. But like many other games in the genre, the design remains very similar in terms of being set in an old western town. The blue skies are contrasted by the darker wooden buildings, while the playtable also adopts a wooden structure to hold the reels. The symbols in the playtable also maintain the theme well, with themed imagery and even characters that are used to not only hold a value, but also build a storyline behind the game. The mechanics are different in this game in comparison to others on the list, with a 4×4 playtable centralised, and two additional playtables on either side in a 1×5 format. There is also a higher-than-average number of paylines, standing at 2304 as a result of the pays mechanic being 3 or more of the same symbol landing in adjacent reels after a single spin. There are plenty of bonus features in Cowboy Coins, similar to the previously mentioned slot games on this list. Like many other games, a Scatter is available and will unlock the free respins mode. The free respins take on a relatively unique structure with plenty of different symbols involved, including payer, super payer, multi collector, super multi collector, collector, super collector, double booster and super double booster, making for some interesting gameplay. This features the popular money symbols as a value collector bonus game, keeping the game interesting while using a popular bonus feature. It is easy to see why Duel at Dawn is such a popular slot game, with unique gameplay features and a popular design used in many other top slots, making it one of the top wild west-themed slots.
