Going from strength to strength is an apt way to describe the trajectory developer Nolimit City has been on recently. The journey received a kick start not long ago with the rawness of Punk Rocker and has culminated (so far) in the chaps shakingly good slot (and strong contender for slot of the year) Deadwood. This Western-themed extravaganza picks up right where its predecessor Tombstone left off by injecting another shot of adrenaline in a well-worn genre.
Tombstone itself is no slouch, and its launch in 2019 was in many ways Nolimit City’s break out title. With Tombstone, the developer threw down the gauntlet to challenge entrenched favourites such as NetEnt’s Dead or Alive. Yet, with Deadwood, Nolimit City slapped the Dead or Alive franchise across the chops with the gauntlet and hustled them outside for a showdown.
It’s clear the moment Deadwood loads a ton of passion went into its making. So much so it is hard not to be absorbed into its rich world. For a start, the handling of the theme is outstanding, with an old town setting, and detailed imagery that brings the old west roaring to life. The soundtrack has to be the kicker though. Players are treated to a motley crew of fiddlers doing their thing as if their very lives depended upon it. It all adds up to one of the most immersive western slots in a highly saturated market.
Good looks, atmosphere, and banging tunes only go so far though. This is a slot after all not a whistle-stop tour of the Texas Pan Handle. Players want bang for their buck, and this is where Deadwood manages to outshine its glistening veneer. When it comes to extras, Deadwood is something of a Nolimit City showcase with compelling features bulking out the base game as well as its desirable bonus games.
For one, the versatile xNudge mechanic returns with full reel wilds that are nudged into view dragging multipliers along with them. More than one xNudge Wild can appear at the same time combining their multipliers to up the ante when they do. Also keeping things fresh is the Shoot Out feature which transforms all low pay symbols on the three middle reels wild for a potentially cheeky win.
As always it’s the bonus game you want, and Deadwood packs more than one variation to be triggered. Or, where possible bought outright via the feature buy option. Tread carefully though, the larger of the options, the Shoot Out Free Spins, comes with a hefty price tag which is not to be treated lightly. This has proven to be one of the game’s biggest talking points, with many being intrigued by exactly what 750 times the stake can buy you.
Whether you plump for free spins or land them organically, Deadwood is a game that can go mental on its day. It might not pack the insane potential of Dead or Alive II, but with max payouts in the region of 13,950x, there is a ton to play for. For a taste of what this outstanding entry in the Wild West category can do, check out 10 of the biggest wins to date here on the highlight reel. Feeding ‘em to the pigs was never so much fun.
