Day of the Dead Slot Review 2025 – RTP, Max Win & Where to Play in US

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I noticed that there are two different slot games with similar names on the market. This review will focus on the latest version and we will compare the main differences between them.

Slot Type, Theme & Developer

Day of the Dead is a vibrant video slot that celebrates the colorful Mexican festival of Día de los Muertos. IGT developed the original version with its innovative Multi-Way Xtra wagering system. The game combines traditional Mexican motifs with casino-style artwork and creates exciting visuals with authentic mariachi style music.

Pragmatic Play launched their own Day of the Dead slot in October 2021 and it has become quite popular. Both games capture the festive yet slightly macabre spirit of the celebration. The screen comes alive with colorful skulls, masks and celebratory imagery.

RTP, Volatility & Max Win

IGT's version has a return to player (RTP) between 92.52% and 93.71%, with relatively low volatility. Players can win up to 250,000.00 by playing the maximum bets.

Pragmatic Play's version offers a better RTP of 96.49%, which is above the industry average. This version has high volatility, scoring 5 out of 5 on Pragmatic's own scale. Players can win up to 4,500 times their bet, up to 450,000.00 with the maximum bet of 100.00 per spin.

Release Date & Platforms (Desktop / Mobile)

IGT released their Day of the Dead version in 2013 and it became one of the most popular online casino games. Pragmatic Play's version came much later, in October 2021.

Both games work seamlessly across all platforms. Players can enjoy them on desktop computers, Android and iOS smartphones and tablets, and Windows phones. The mobile version looks and plays just like the desktop version. Plus, the HTML5 framework allows you to play instantly without downloading any additional software.

How Day of the Dead Works – Gameplay & Mechanics

I've had a chance to get hands-on with both Day of the Dead slots. These games play very differently even though they share similar themes.

Reels, Rows & Paylines

IGT's version has a unique grid layout. The 5 reels form a hexagonal shape in a 3-4-5-4-3 pattern with a total of 19 slots. This design works with their MultiWay Xtra system and gives players 720 ways to win. Players can create winning combinations with matching symbols on consecutive reels. The game offers wins in both directions - left to right and right to left.

Pragmatic Play takes a more classic approach with a 5x4 grid and 20 fixed paylines. Wins only count from left to right, starting with the first reel.

Symbols, Wilds & Multipliers

Both games feature symbols from the Mexican celebration. IGT's slot features flowers, fruit bowls and warm drinks as low-value symbols. The premium symbols include dancing skeletons, a mariachi band and the game logo. The game logo pays the most - 1,000 coins for five matches.

Pragmatic play uses suits (spades, hearts, diamonds, clubs) for low payouts. Maracas, drums and guitars are the medium value symbols. The character symbols pay the highest regular wins. Players can get up to 15 times their bet for five matching characters (man, woman, elderly lady, dog).

Wild symbols complete winning combinations in both games. IGT uses a coffin joker. Pragmatic Play gives players two options: a standard green wild and an expanding tombstone wild.

Bonus Features: Free Spins, Pick 'n' Win, etc.

IGT's bonus game is quite generous. Five bonus symbols on consecutive reels give you 8 free spins. The best part? You get 8 spins for each winning combination on the trigger spin. That means you can start with up to 96 bonus spins! Players can retrigger these spins up to a maximum of 240 times.

Pragmatic Play's version features the Walking Wild bonus. A tombstone wild expands to fill the reel and starts respins. The expanded wild moves one position to the left on each respin until it leaves the screen. Three Scatter symbols start the Free Respin feature. This bonus continues as long as the Walking Wilds are in sight.

Visuals, Animations & Sound Design

The Day of the Dead slots grab your attention with their stunning visuals as soon as you start playing. Having spent countless hours on both versions, I can say that the graphics greatly enhance the overall gaming experience.

Graphics Quality & Theme Immersion

Pragmatic Play's version features detailed 3D graphics with cool animations that take you straight to a Mexican cemetery celebration. A mysterious graveyard stretches behind the 5x4 grid, which is set in festively decorated frames. Glowing fireflies light up both sides of the screen, adding to the atmosphere.

IGT's version blends traditional Mexican designs with casino-style art to create bright visuals that really stand out. The symbols bring the theme to life with skeleton mariachi bands, dancing couples, pumpkins and assorted fruits on the reels. Both games use immersive backgrounds that work perfectly with the reels to create a deeper themed experience.

Soundtrack & Effects

Both versions really shine when it comes to audio design. IGT's slot features amazing mariachi style music that plays throughout the main game. The lively trumpets and guitars, along with the occasional bursts of fill music, create a real festival atmosphere.

Pragmatic's version has a jazz-mixed mariachi soundtrack that brightens up the spooky graveyard setting. I love how the upbeat music and rich graveyard visuals create this interesting contrast that really captures what Día de los Muertos is all about - both celebration and reflection.

Mobile vs Desktop Experience

Having tested both versions on various devices, I can tell you that the mobile and desktop experiences are unparalleled. Pragmatic Play built their Day of Dead game using HTML5, which gives you continuous play across all platforms without any downloads.

The game works great on iPads, iPhones, Android devices and Windows phones. The mobile version retains all the bright visuals and smooth animations you get on the desktop - something that many other slots struggle with. Players will find that the game fits perfectly on smaller screens without losing any of the graphics quality or features.

Winning Potential & Volatility

Day of the Dead Slot shows you what it's all about right from the start - big risks and big rewards. I've spent time spinning hundreds of times to get real data on what you can expect.

Hit Frequency & Max Payout Breakdown

The base game gives you a win about every fourth spin, with a hit rate of 25%. Big wins are rare. You'll see a 1000x win once in 433,204 spins. The maximum win of 4,500 times your bet occurs once in 94,145,464 spins. Players betting the maximum $100 could win up to $450,000.

My sessions showed that most of the regular wins came from simple payline hits. The bigger thrills came from hitting multiple paylines at once.

RTP in Context: Fair or Not?

The game comes in two different RTP versions, each offering a unique experience. The premium version has an RTP of 96.49%, while the lower version sits at 94.47%. This difference makes all the difference in the world.

Let's break it down: If you start with $100 and bet $1 per spin, the higher RTP version gives you about 2,849 spins before your bankroll runs out. With the lower version, you only get about 1,808 spins. That's 40% fewer chances to win! Make sure you know which version your casino offers.

Best Strategy Tips for Day of the Dead

The game has earned its 5/5 volatility rating, so here's what works best:

Keep your bets small - no more than 1% of your bankroll per spin. Look for casinos that offer the 96.49% RTP version for better results over time.

The free spin feature is your ticket to the biggest wins. It lasts as long as Walking Wilds remain on the screen. Focus on triggering this bonus round. If you're in an eligible region, you can buy the bonus feature for 100 times your bet.

Real-Money Test Results & Session Insights

My real-life experiment with Day of the Dead consisted of two play sessions that helped me learn about the game's behavior.

Deposit → Bonus Activation → Spin Logs

I added $200 to my casino account and activated a 100% match bonus, which gave me $400 to play with. At the time, my chosen casino only offered the 94.47% RTP version of the game. I managed to keep the bet size at $1 per spin to keep the results consistent.

Number of Spins, Features Triggered, Cashouts

The first session was rough and I couldn't trigger any bonus features even after 150 spins. The game performed much better during my second session, triggering 3 free spins features in less than 200 spins. My biggest win came during the third bonus round when I won more than 50 times my bet. The base game delivered decent results, though nothing spectacular, with my best regular win reaching just under 30x.

Screenshots & Timestamps

The most exciting visual moment of the game occurred when an Expanding Wild appeared on reel 5 and triggered a respin sequence. This feature started about a minute into my session and continued with several Walking Wilds. The Walking Wild feature was quite rare and usually appeared once per session.

About the Developer: IGT

I've played slots from many providers and wanted to know more about the creators of Day of the Dead. International Game Technology (IGT), who made the original version, is a legendary developer that's been around since 1975. They are headquartered in Reno, USA.

Other Popular Slots by IGT

IGT's impressive portfolio goes far beyond Day of the Dead. Their collection shows that they really shine with video poker slots. Games like Fortune X Poker, Dream Card Poker and Hot Roll Poker demonstrate IGT's expertise in this niche. The company supplies games to online platforms and brick and mortar casinos throughout the United States.

Founded in 2015, Pragmatic Play is a 7-year-old company that has grown rapidly with more than 350 slot games in its collection. Players can enjoy their award-winning games in 33 languages across all major certified markets.

Track Record & Game Certifications

IGT takes certification standards seriously. Organizations like the ISTQB test and certify their games to ensure quality. Pragmatic Play may be newer, but they follow strict licensing rules in more than 40 jurisdictions. Both companies put responsible gaming first and meet the highest industry standards required to operate in US markets.

Day of the Dead Slot – FAQs for US Players

Many players have asked me questions about this popular slot game. Here are the answers to the most common Day of the Dead questions for US players.

What are the minimum and maximum bets in Day of the Dead? The minimum bet is 0.50 per spin, while the maximum bet is 10.00. The game uses a 50 coin system and you choose the value of each coin from 0.01 to 0.20.

Is Day of the Dead available for mobile devices? Yes, it is! I've played it on Android phones, iPhones, and tablets with no problems. The mobile version looks and plays just as good as the desktop version.

What's the maximum win possible? You can win up to 250,000.00 when playing at maximum stakes.

How do the MultiWays Xtra paylines work? This format is different from regular paylines. You win when matching symbols appear on adjacent reels. The best part? Getting the same symbol multiple times on a reel multiplies your winnings.

Can I play automatically? Yes, you can use Auto mode to play up to 50 spins in a row.

How many free spins do I get? You start with 8 free spins. You can get up to 96 bonus games if multiple winning combinations occur at once. These can be retriggered up to 240 free spins.

Where can I play Day of the Dead in the USA? You can find this game at recommended online casinos in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Final Verdict: Is Day of the Dead Worth Playing in 2025?

I've spent countless hours testing both versions of the Day of the Dead slot, and despite their similar names, these games offer two completely different experiences. The IGT version shines with its MultiWay Xtra system that gives players 720 ways to win. The newer Pragmatic Play version boasts a higher 96.49% RTP and beautiful 3D graphics.

Your playing style should guide your choice between these games. The IGT version works well if you like lower volatility and frequent small wins. Pragmatic Play's high-volatility game will appeal more to risk-takers who chase the potential 4,500x maximum win.

You should check which RTP variant your casino offers before you start playing. The difference between 96.49% and 94.47% is a big deal, as it means that your long-term playing experience will be different. Smart bankroll management suggests betting no more than 1% per spin, which becomes even more important with Pragmatic's 5/5 volatility rating.