Dead or Alive 3: Wanted — Everything You Need to Know About the 2026 Release
Dead or Alive 3: Wanted arrived in March 2026, and it brought changes significant enough to justify the new number in the title. NetEnt took the franchise in genuinely new directions while preserving everything that made the first two games classics. The result is the most feature-rich entry in the series and the one that will likely define the franchise for the next several years.
Upgrading to a 5x5 Grid
The most immediately noticeable change in DOA 3 is the grid size. Where the original and its sequels all used a 5x3 layout, DOA 3 expands to 5x5 Learn more — 25 symbol positions instead of 15. This single change has profound implications for the game's mechanics and win potential.
More positions mean more room for wilds to land and stick. The expanded grid also provides the foundation for the new Wanted Wilds mechanic, where wilds can carry multiplier values of up to 100x. When multiple multiplier-carrying wilds occupy the same expanded grid and interact with each other, the win potential increases dramatically.
Wanted Wilds and Bounty Hunter Wilds
Two new wild types define DOA 3's mechanics. Wanted Wilds function like the classic sticky wilds of the series but with the addition of multiplier values ranging from 2x to 100x. When the free spins round begins with Wanted Wilds active, these multiplier values stack and combine in ways that can produce enormous wins on a single spin.
Bounty Hunter Wilds are the more dramatic of the two new features. When a Bounty Hunter Wild lands, it sweeps across the entire reel it occupies, turning every position on that reel into a wild and absorbing every multiplier value from other wilds on the screen. A single Bounty Hunter Wild at the right moment can dramatically transform what the rest of the spin produces.
The Elevate System
Higher Elevate tiers guarantee better starting conditions for the free spins round, including guaranteed Wanted Wilds with higher minimum multiplier values and a greater chance of Bounty Hunter appearances. The max win potential with Elevate active increases from 33,333x to 66,666x.
Two Free Spins Modes
Like DOA 2, the third game offers a choice of free spins modes. The standard mode provides regular free spins with Wanted Wilds and the possibility of Bounty Hunter Wilds appearing. The Super Free Spins mode guarantees Bounty Hunter Wild appearances every round, dramatically increasing the action and the potential for cascading multiplier interactions.
RTP and Volatility
Dead or Alive 3: Wanted carries an RTP of 96.03% in its standard configuration, with the Elevate tiers carrying slightly different RTPs. The volatility is classified as high — consistent with the series DNA. The game is available on all platforms from launch.
Whether you are a long-time Dead or Alive fan or a newcomer to the franchise, DOA 3 is worth your attention. It respects the heritage of the series while pushing the mechanics into genuinely new territory.