Duel at Dawn

Making a slot game within a niche theme is easy. Even if you don’t excel at it, it’ll still get attention and praise because it’s something new and original. But the Wild West setting is something we’ve seen so many times in slot games, so crafting a new one that will stand out in a familiar genre is no easy task. So, how do you accomplish that? I wouldn’t know all the intricate details, but the creative minds at Hacksaw Gaming obviously do.

What adds tremendously to this game is its original, engaging features, but we’ll talk about that later. Right now, let’s focus on its thematic elements. Duel at Dawn is set at sunrise in a dry, rocky valley, likely nestled somewhere in Arizona, under a partly cloudy sky. We can imagine the crisp morning air and the desert breeze rustling the sparse bushes. It’s silent; pause for the gentle whisper of the breeze. It’s so silent—the calm before the storm. We meet a nameless and faceless outlaw — the shade of his hat shrouding his face — with a cigar in his mouth and a gun in his hand.

The slot grid is designed to resemble a coarse wooden table where outlaws of the frontier wastelands play their cards, which is how the lower-paying four symbols are presented. They feature the regular J, Q, K, and A, but in the form of weathered old playing cards. The higher-paying symbols are depicted as iconic Wild West items: a wooden cartwheel, a ram skull, a cowboy hat, a pair of revolvers, and the sheriff’s badge, which holds the spot as the highest-paying symbol.

Duel at Dawn is presented in a hand-drawn, almost aquarelle graphic style with nearly no sharp lines. The color palette is dominated by dark, pastel tones of brown, orange, muted yellow, and deep red, creating a rugged, atmospheric feel. The only striking contrast comes from the vivid fire animations, which are bold highlights within the visual design. These dynamic bursts of light cut through the muted backdrop, especially during intense moments, such as when two scatters land and you eagerly expect a third one.

Just like a good movie is incomplete without a good soundtrack, the same holds for slot games with specific themes. If a jam-packed game such as the Duel at Dawn slot featured a dull, plain soundtrack, it would’ve ruined the whole story and gameplay. But to my great delight, that’s far from the case. The soundtrack is essentially a classic Western melody but executed perfectly. It’s ambiental, relaxed, and nostalgic, but at the same time, full of enthusiasm and energy. Also, during free spins, it shifts to a fast-paced tune, evoking the excitement of a horse chase or a gunfight.

This game is not for the faint of heart. When you find yourself face to face with a hardened outlaw, you better be ready to risk it all! One wrong move, and you’re… out of the game. But at the same time, you’re a spin away from massive wins. The volatility level is classified as high, and I couldn’t agree more. At times, the base game feels like a long ride through the desert, with very little nourishment along the way. So be ready to endure some dry streaks. But if you persevere, you’ll get to enjoy the other end of a high-volatility game — massive wins in just a few spins!

The free spins, combined with the Outlaw and DuelReel features, can potentially deliver massive wins that can turn things around instantly. They’ll hit you with the force of a wild prairie horse’s kick, and you’ll love it! With a maximum win of 15,000x your bet, this slot offers rewards that are nothing short of impressive. At the same time, the Duel at Dawn RTP stands at 96.3%, which is just above the industry standards.

Don’t come to a duel unprepared! Start by trying a game’s free version at one of the best casino sites before wagering for real money and risking it all before practicing. Play the Duel at Dawn slot demo to get a feel for its mechanics and features, and step into the duel like a true outlaw.

Duel at Dawn is played on a classic, spacious 5×5 grid with 19 paylines. It includes 9 regular paying symbols, supplemented by the VS and Outlaw symbols, which we discuss further in the review. The symbols and their payout are displayed in the table below.

In addition to its immersive visuals and setting, the Duel at Dawn slot is further elevated by its innovative and highly engaging features. They complement the game’s Wild West theme and create an adrenaline-fueled experience that will keep you on the edge of your seat while playing. Let’s discuss each in more detail.

Scatter

Landing 3 scatters in the base game triggers 10 Wild Wild West spins, while landing 4  triggers 10 Dusk ‘Til Dawn spins.

DuelReels

When a VS symbol lands, it expands into a wild DuelReel if it contributes to a winning combination once expanded, and a duel occurs on each DuelReel. Each DuelReel features two multipliers, ranging from 2x to 200x, assigned to the Outlaw and the Sheriff. The winner of the duel applies their multiplier to the entire reel, impacting any wins involving the DuelReel. If multiple DuelReels contribute to the same win, their multipliers are combined before being applied. Only one VS symbol can appear per reel, and all DuelReels act as wilds.

The Outlaw

When an Outlaw symbol lands, it expands into a full wild Outlaw reel with a revolver and 1 to 6 bullets in the chamber. The number of bullets determines how many wild symbols the Outlaw shoots onto the grid. If multiple Outlaws appear, they can’t shoot wilds into the same positions or target each other. A maximum of 2 Outlaw symbols can appear per spin, with one per reel. Each Outlaw reel carries a multiplier ranging from 2x to 200x, applied to any win involving that reel. If multiple Outlaw reels contribute to the same win, their multipliers are combined before being applied.

Wild Wild West

Landing 3 scatters in the base game triggers 10 Wild Wild West spins. These spins retain the base game’s mechanics but offer a higher chance of landing high-value multipliers on DuelReels and Outlaw reels. Additionally, the chances of landing VS and Outlaw symbols are significantly increased. Landing 2 scatters during the feature awards +2 extra spins, while 3 scatters grant +4 additional spins.

Dusk ‘Til Dawn

Landing 4 scatters in the base game triggers 10 Dusk ‘Til Dawn spins. Players can unlock up to 4 DuelSpins during this feature, each guaranteed to include VS symbols. DuelSpins are triggered by Outlaw symbols shooting 6 wild symbols onto the grid, which can occur across multiple spins. Once unlocked, a DuelSpin is played immediately after the spin it was triggered on and does not use up one of the awarded free spins. A maximum of 2 DuelSpins can be unlocked in a single spin.

Additionally, multiplier DuelSpins are played sequentially before returning to the next free spin. Each successive DuelSpin guarantees an increasing number of VS symbols: the first guarantees at least 2, the second guarantees at least 3, the third guarantees at least 4, and the fourth guarantees 5 VS symbols. Each unlocked DuelSpin also grants +3 additional free spins. Outside of DuelSpins, VS symbols do not appear during this bonus feature.

Bonus Buy

The Duel at Dawn slot offers a range of bonus buy options, including:

• BonusHunt FeatureSpins (3x the bet): Each spin has a 5x higher chance of triggering free spins.
• Deadly Duels FeatureSpins (60x the bet): Each spin guarantees at least 2 VS symbols. FS scatters will not appear in this mode.
• Lone Outlaw FeatureSpins (60x the bet): Each spin ensures at least 1 Outlaw symbol with a minimum of 2 bullets. Free spin symbols do not appear in this mode.
• Wild Wild West Bonus (100x the bet): Unlocks the Wild Wild West free spins feature.
• Dusk ‘Til Dawn Bonus (200x the bet): Unlocks the Dusk ‘Til Dawn free spins feature.