Wild West Themed Online Slots 2024

Wild West Slots – Western Games History and Basics

What is it about the Wild West that has developers and players so transfixed? Why have we seen so many video slots use this feature? Well, it’s partly down to the popularity of the Wild West genre in general. Every generation has fallen in love with the Old West, and that applies across the Western world, including here in the UK.

The ‘50s and ’60s marked the golden age of the Western genre, with legends like John Wayne, Yul Brynner, and Client Eastwood giving us classic films that are still enjoyed today. This “spaghetti western” era defined the category and gave way to numerous shows that ran throughout the ’70s and ’80s before a revival in the 2000s spurred on by the video gaming industry. Fallout: New Vegas, Red Dead Redemption, Call of Juarez, Desperados, and countless others (not to mention TV/movie remakes like True Grit and Westworld), have kept this genre alive.

It clearly inspired something in people, and from a developer’s standpoint, it’s an era packed with possibilities. Who wouldn’t get excited by the idea of creating a game featuring gold prospectors, cowboys, outlaws, sheriffs, bounty hunters, and a big showdown in a dusty street?

The Earliest Wild West Slot Games

It’s rarely the first game in a particular category that sets a trend. If you know your Megaways history, for example, you’ll know that BigTimeGaming’s Bonanza was not the first Megaways slot, contrary to what people might think. It was just the one that captured the public’s imagination, so it became the one that popularised the feature.

It’s a similar story with the Wild West genre. NetEnt wasn’t the first developer to tackle this slot theme, but its Dead or Alive slot in 2009 helped to set the stage. The proceeding decade saw a number of solid releases, but in the mid-late 2010s, developers began to capitalise on an increasing demand for Wild West slots—primarily driven by 2016’s Westworld, 2018’s Red Dead Redemption 2, and then many films, TV shows, and games that sought to emulate their success by releasing a flurry of titles.

Money Train, Sticky Bandits, Wolf Gold, and numerous other titles that are now considered classics were released during this period.

How to Play Wild West Slots

The Wild West theme is often found on multi-line video slots and bonus slots, as the multitude of features and the big graphics don’t really work on slimmed-down retro games. These games often use outlaws, revolvers, horses, horseshoes, and other Western paraphernalia as symbols, and more often than not, they are either set in an Old West town, a saloon, or on a train (that’s almost certainly about to get robbed).

The exact way you play these games and the experience they provide differs greatly from slot to slot, but here are some points:

• Check the paytable: Every slot has a payable that explains the features, rules, payouts, and more. Look for an “i” or “?” icon along the bottom of the reels. It may also be available under the menu icon (three horizontal lines).
• Set your stake: You’ll either see an option to adjust your “Total Bet”, which is self-explanatory, or “Coin Value” and “Lines”. For the latter, adjust both options while paying attention to the total combined stake.
• Mute: Not in the mood for Western ambiance à la Ennio Morricone? Toggle the soundtrack and sound effects with the mute button. A lot of effort goes into creating soundtracks for the best slots, but that isn’t true for all of them, and some can be a little tedious.
• Auto-Play, Turbo, and Buy Feature: All of these mechanics are common on modern Wild West slots, but they’re not available to players in the UK. If you read about other features that you can’t actually find yourself, it could be a result of the strict UK regulatory body.
• Spin: When you’re ready to play these games, just click the spin button, usually represented by a play icon. Remember, UK players can’t skip or speed up spins, so remain patient!
• Common Features: Pay-anywhere mechanics have popped up on a couple of Wild West slots, but if there is one feature that seems to have defined these games, it’s the sticky wild. Seen on Sticky Bandits, Wild West Gold, and others, this feature sticks wilds to the reels when they land and involves them in future spins.
• Base Game vs Free Spins: Learn the difference between the base game and the free spins, as modifiers and additional features can mean these two are very different. The base game is where you take your first spin. The free spins feature is an unlockable round that sometimes transports you to another reel set (although not always) and gives you free chances to spin the reels.
• Other Notable Features: Wilds are common on these slots, as are scatter symbols that launch free spins. The volatility is often high, and some of the best games have a big fixed or progressive jackpot.

Once you have checked the paytable and made note of the paylines, symbols, features, and top prizes, you’re ready to go. Just remember, regardless of you play these games, make sure you only risk an amount you can afford to lose, always stop when you are frustrated or angry, and never chase losses.

Earn your spurs by gambling responsibly. You’ll appreciate these slots and the work that goes into them much more.

Popular Game Developers That Have Explored the Wild West Theme

Most major developers have dipped their toes into the Wild West category, including Playtech (Sticky Bandits, Mega Fire Blaze: Wild Pistelero), Nolimit City (Tombstone R.I.P), and Games Global/Games Global (Cash Carts: Western Wagons). But Pragmatic Play, Relax Gaming, and NetEnt have arguably had the biggest impact on this genre.