Deadwood is a pokie from Nolimit City, released in 2020, set on the gritty main street of the Wild West town of Deadwood, with gunslingers and bounty hunters. The most distinctive thing about it is the xNudge Hunter Wild, which nudges to fill the reel and grows a multiplier with each nudge. The default RTP is 96.03%, and the maximum win is 13,950x your stake.
Deadwood Pokie Review: Nolimit City's Wild West
RTP 96.03%, very high volatility, max win 13,950x.
At a glance
- Provider
- Nolimit City
- RTP (default)
- 96.03%
- Volatility
- Very High
- Max win
- 13,950x
- Layout
- 5 reels, 3-4-4-4-3 rows
- Lines / ways
- 576 ways
- Released
- 2020
Theme, studio and what makes the format different
Deadwood is a 5-reel pokie from Nolimit City, released in 2020. The theme is a gritty Wild West main street in Deadwood, with gunslingers and bounty hunters. The layout is unusual: 5 reels with rows of 3-4-4-4-3, giving 576 ways to win. This is not a standard 5x3 grid; the middle reels are taller, which changes how symbols land and how features trigger. The xNudge Hunter Wild is the central mechanic: when it appears, it nudges to fill the reel, and each nudge increases its multiplier. This can lead to a full reel of wilds with a high multiplier, which is the core of the game's potential.
How to play: bets, paytable and controls
To play Deadwood, first set your bet using the bet selector, which ranges from a minimum to a maximum stake. The game has 5 reels with a 3-4-4-4-3 row layout, giving 576 ways to win. Wins are read from left to right across adjacent reels, starting from the leftmost reel. The paytable and game info are accessible via the info or paytable button, usually located near the reels. The spin button starts a round. There is a bonus buy option: you can purchase the standard free spins for 71x your bet, or the Shoot Out Free Spins for 750x. Switching on the bonus buy changes your bet to that multiple, giving you immediate access to the feature. Use it if you want to skip the base game and go straight to the free spins, but be aware of the cost.
A sensible way to approach Deadwood
Deadwood is very high volatility, meaning wins are infrequent but can be large. For a $50 session, a sensible bet is around $0.50 per spin, giving 100 spins. For a $200 session, you could bet $2 per spin, giving 100 spins. The bonus buy costs 71x your bet for the standard free spins, or 750x for the Shoot Out Free Spins. If you buy the 71x feature on a $0.50 bet, that's $35.50 per attempt. On a $2 bet, it's $142 per attempt. No betting system changes the RTP; the house edge remains the same regardless of bet size.
RTP versions, variance and the top prize
The default RTP is 96.03%. There are also versions with RTPs of 94.15% and 90.13%. If you play the 94.15% version, you lose $5.88 more per $100 wagered than on the default. The 90.13% version loses $5.90 more per $100 than the 94.15% version. The maximum win is 13,950x your stake. On a $1 bet, that's $13,950. On a $5 bet, it's $69,750. Always check the RTP version in the game's info panel before playing.
The features that do the heavy lifting
The key features are:
- xNudge Hunter Wild: This wild nudges to fill the reel, and its multiplier grows with each nudge. For example, if it nudges three times, it might have a 3x multiplier, turning a line of wilds into a bigger win.
- Shoot Out: Low-pay symbols on the middle reels turn wild, potentially creating more winning combinations.
- Hunter Spins: 8 free spins with a guaranteed nudging wild on each spin.
- Gunslinger Spins: 8 free spins with a sticky unlimited multiplier that builds across spins.
- Shoot Out Free Spins: 10 free spins, an upgraded version of the base feature.
- Bonus buy: You can purchase free spins for 71x your bet, or Shoot Out Free Spins for 750x.
Trying it for free before staking AUD
The demo mode uses play credits but the same maths and RTP version as the real-money build at the casino you open it in. For Deadwood, a demo session is useful to see how the xNudge Hunter Wild behaves and how often the Shoot Out and free spins features trigger. You can also test how different bet sizes feel across the range, from the minimum to the maximum. With very high volatility, you may go many spins without a win, so the demo helps you gauge your patience. When you switch to real AUD, bets are real and limits matter, so you'll need to manage your bankroll carefully.
Real money play: what to check first
You can play Deadwood for real money at Viperspin More Chilli, which offers AUD deposits. There is a demo mode available so you can try the game first. When you play for real money, check the RTP version in the game's info panel to ensure you're getting the default 96.03% version. Remember to play responsibly. For help, contact Gambling Help Online on 1800 858 858.
Verdict
Deadwood suits players who enjoy high-risk, high-reward pokies and are patient enough to wait for the xNudge Hunter Wild to build multipliers. It is not for those who prefer frequent small wins or have a limited bankroll, as the volatility can be brutal. The bonus buy is expensive, and the 90.13% RTP version should be avoided.
FAQ
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What is the maximum win in Deadwood?
The maximum win is 13,950x your stake. For example, a $2 bet could win up to $27,900. This is a high ceiling, but very high volatility means it may take a long time to reach.
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How does the xNudge Hunter Wild work?
The xNudge Hunter Wild appears on the reels and nudges down to fill the reel. Each nudge increases its multiplier. If it fills the reel, it can create a full wild reel with a high multiplier, leading to larger wins.
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Can I buy the bonus features?
Yes, there is a bonus buy option. You can purchase the standard free spins for 71x your bet, or the Shoot Out Free Spins for 750x. This gives you immediate access to the feature, but at a significant cost.
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Is Deadwood suitable for low-stakes players?
Given the very high volatility and the cost of the bonus buy, it may not suit players with a small bankroll. A $50 session might only last 100 spins at $0.50, and wins can be rare. Consider the demo mode first.
If you like this one, try these
Rise of Olympus — Both are high-volatility games with a max win above 2,500x. Rise of Olympus uses a 5x5 grid with cascades and a growing multiplier, while Deadwood uses a 5-reel layout with 576 ways and the xNudge Hunter Wild. Different studios: Play'n GO vs Nolimit City.
Immortal Romance — Immortal Romance shares very high volatility and a max win of 12,150x, close to Deadwood's 13,950x. It has multiple free spins modes, similar to Deadwood's Hunter and Gunslinger Spins. However, Immortal Romance is a 5x3 grid with a vampire theme, not Wild West.
Bonanza Billion — Bonanza Billion is a high-volatility game with a max win of 15,000x, slightly higher than Deadwood. It uses a 6x5 scatter-pays grid with cascades and multiplier symbols, while Deadwood has 576 ways and the xNudge mechanic. Both offer free spins with multipliers.