The Dog House Dog or Alive

The Dog House Dog or Alive Review

Pragmatic Play has unleashed a new addition to their popular The Dog House series with «The Dog House Dog or Alive.» This Wild West-themed slot takes our favorite canine characters from suburbia to the dusty frontier, offering players a thrilling adventure with the potential for substantial payouts.

Game Overview

The Dog House Dog or Alive is a 5-reel, 3-row video slot with 20 fixed paylines. It boasts high volatility and an impressive RTP of 96.52%, which is above the industry average. Players can wager between 0.20 and 240 coins per spin, making it suitable for both casual players and high rollers.

Theme and Graphics

The game transports players to a classic Western setting, complete with wooden buildings and a dusty main street. The reels are set on a wooden stage, with the formidable Sheriff Rottweiler keeping watch from the side, cigar in mouth. The attention to detail in the graphics is commendable, with each dog character sporting appropriate Wild West attire.

Symbols and Payouts

The paytable features a mix of card royals (10 to A) and various dog breeds dressed as cowboys. The highest-paying regular symbol is the Sheriff badge wild, which can award up to 750x the bet for five of a kind. Here’s a breakdown of the top symbol payouts for a 1 coin bet:

Game Features

Wild Multipliers

The star-shaped Sheriff badge serves as the wild symbol, appearing on reels 2, 3, and 4. Each wild comes with a random multiplier of either 2x or 3x, which is applied to any winning combination it’s part of. If multiple wilds contribute to a win, their multipliers are added together, potentially leading to significant payouts.

Free Spins Bonus

Landing three safe scatter symbols on reels 1, 3, and 5 triggers the Free Spins bonus. Before the round begins, players are treated to a unique «shootout» mini-game where the Sheriff dog fires at 9 barrels arranged in a 3×3 grid. Each barrel reveals 1-3 free spins, with a total of 9-27 free spins up for grabs.

During the free spins, wild symbols become sticky and remain in place for the duration of the feature. The bonus round can be retriggered by landing 3, 6, or 9 wilds, awarding an additional 3 free spins each time. What’s more, each retrigger doubles the multipliers of all visible wilds, creating the potential for massive wins.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• High RTP of 96.52%
• Engaging Wild West theme with adorable dog characters
• Potential for big wins with wild multipliers and sticky wilds in free spins
• Wide betting range suitable for various player types

Cons:

• High volatility may not suit all players
• Base game can be relatively uneventful compared to the bonus round

Final Thoughts

The Dog House Dog or Alive is a worthy addition to Pragmatic Play’s popular series. It successfully combines the charm of the original with an exciting Wild West twist. The game’s high volatility and potential for massive wins during the free spins round make it particularly appealing to thrill-seeking players.

While the base game might feel a bit slow at times, the anticipation of triggering the bonus feature keeps the excitement level high. The innovative shootout mechanic for determining free spins adds an extra layer of engagement, making each bonus round feel unique.

For fans of the series or players looking for a high-volatility slot with a quirky theme, The Dog House Dog or Alive is definitely worth a spin. Just remember to manage your bankroll carefully due to the game’s high variance nature.