Wild West-themed slots are usually a bit of a hit and a miss. I must admit – this isn’t my niche, yet there are a few exciting slots you must try. Buckshot Wilds is one of them. Developed by NetEnt, it starts with amazing visuals and great audio paired with an expandable grid and other surprises.

Let’s start with the math model first. This is a highly volatile slot with an RTP of 96.04%. That’s very decent for a slot machine with that many features. The original setup is 5x4, and the paylines range from 20 at the start-up to a maximum of 48. As expected, out of a NetEnt slot, it looks more than great. The top visuals are nestled with great audio in tow and supplemented with amazing features, too.

It’s easy to play the slot as it’s not very different from other NetEnt releases in terms of layout. You can choose from a wide range of bets in small denominations. As the name suggests, you can expect plenty of wild action on the reels in addition to a bonus round. You can play this Wild West adventure for free or real money at nearly all online slot sites right now.

Buckshot Wilds is a Wild West-themed slot with a 5x4 setup. Like NetEnt, it often comes with stunning graphics and excellent audio. The reels are set against a rocky canyon, which certainly fits the theme. As for the symbols that occupy them, expect sheriffs, outlaws, a sheriff’s badge, horseshoes, and other similar icons.

It’s all very American-like, so it’ll appeal to fans of westerns. The slot’s fairly easy to play. You have all the controls lined up under the reels, so it’s easy to adjust your bet and start spinning. There’s also the game’s guide under one of these buttons, allowing you to check out the paytable and see how it all works.

Before you set out on this Western adventure, you should place a bet first. The minimum bet is just 20c, while the maximum is $500 per spin. That’s a typical NetEnt range and suitable for most players. When you fire up the slot, you’re looking at 20 fixed paylines and a 5x4 grid. However, that grid can expand to 8x4 with double the number of lines and better-winning potential.

Winning combinations are created for three or more matching symbols per reel. Wilds can help create winning combinations when they substitute for any regular pay symbols. When they land, wilds will turn sticky on the reels, moving a position down before they fall off the grid. If they land over a trigger symbol, they activate a shootout because what good would a Wild West slot be without a shootout? All adjacent symbols around them then turn to wilds and are removed for the next spin.

As mentioned earlier, the reels in Buckshot Wilds can expand. This happens randomly on any spin. Any wild on the top four rows is cloned downward on four positions. The maximum expansion is 8x4 with 48 paylines.

Buckshot Wilds doesn’t rest its laurels on the expanding grid. It has a bonus round, too, which is triggered by three, four, or five scatters. You get 6, 10, or 15 bonus spins with a fully expanded grid for the duration of the round. True to its name, a few wilds are also added to the reels (up to 3), and a new wild is guaranteed per bonus spin.

Landing scatters award an extra spin, so there’s plenty of extra winning potential here. The bonus buy slots feature will set you back 100x, which is a bit steep. But you can also activate the Ante Bet at any point. It costs just a tiny bit more but guarantees wild and expanding wilds and gives you a greater chance for grid expansions.

My experience playing the Buckshot Wilds slot has been…wild. I already said I don’t like Wild West slots that much, but this one’s a great choice. It comes packed with excellent features that can deliver great wins per spin and has just enough wild specials to keep you entertained. It may not pay the biggest wins, but I managed to hit wins a couple hundred times the bet.

That happened in the bonus round, which I ended up paying for. I can honestly say that the expanded grid does wonders, boosting the slot’s winning potential and eventually helping me regain my bonus buy investment.

The Buckshot Wilds RTP is set to a decent 96.04%. That’s the average for highly volatile slots. The maximum projected win is 859x the bet.

While some players might be disappointed by the lower winning potential, it’s fair to say that Buckshot Wilds is focused on fun instead of big wins. Plus, if you max out your bet, you’ll have a great time with potentially sky-high rewards on the wings. As a NetEnt slot, it’s a fact that you’ll be more than entertained in this one, so if you love the Wild West theme, it’s the right choice.

For those looking for a different kind of action at top casinos, make sure to try NetEnt’s Dead or Alive 1 and 2. There are plenty of others to pick from, so explore the niche, and you’ll find something to like.