Bounty Showdown (Fantasma Games) Slot Review

Bounty Showdown: Slot Overview 

Fantasma Games saddles up for a dusty trek into the American Wild West with Bounty Showdown, released on June 8, 2021. The Western genre remains a beloved theme for slot players, and Fantasma brings its own interpretation—stylish, tense, and driven by rifle-crack sound effects and skull-marked wilds. Compared to Fantasma’s more experimental releases, Bounty Showdown is a relatively simple slot, but simplicity works in its favor: the action is focused, the base game straightforward, and the bonus mechanics revolve around one thing players love—wild multipliers. 

Set on a traditional 5×3, 10-payline layout, the slot is easy to follow but hides potent surprises behind its bonus wild skulls and Gatling Wheel mechanic. The RTP sits at 96.16% during regular play, but increases to 97.11% when using the bonus buy, and the volatility sits firmly in the medium range. The max win of 4,500× may not compete with the extreme highs of Deadwood or DOA2, but it suits the game’s balanced nature. 

Fantasma describes this slot as “bringing video-gaming to the world of gambling,” and the influence is clear: Bounty Showdown is tightly paced, reward focused, and driven by the thrill of chasing wild symbols. If enough land, you’ll walk away from this town with your boots dusty and your pockets full. If they don’t … well, you’ll be riding out at sunset whistling a different tune.

Design and Graphics 

The Wild West theme is familiar, but Bounty Showdown presents it with style. The action unfolds in a deserted one-horse town under the vivid light of a setting sun. Wooden houses lean against each other, a windmill creaks on the far right, and dust swirls through the air. The visuals combine sharp comic-style character art with stylized backgrounds that capture the mood of an outlaw standoff.Symbols include classic Western imagery: J-A royals burned into wooden tiles, a lady with a blade, a dynamite-wielding desperado, a tough female outlaw, and a flaming-eyed skeleton with a skull face reminiscent of Ghost Rider. Premium symbols can deliver respectable payouts of 30× to 100× the stake for full-line hits—a notable return considering the small number of paylines. 

The wild symbol, represented by a skull, doubles as both wild and scatter, giving it an identity that stands out from the crowd. The bonus wheel overlays, fiery bullet animations, and glowing win counters add excitement without ever congesting the screen. Overall, Fantasma excels in creating a polished, cinematic Western atmosphere that enhances every spin.

Gameplay Mechanics 

Using a classic 5×3 grid with 10 fixed paylines, Bounty Showdown keeps its base gameplay straightforward. Wins form by landing three or more matching symbols from left to right, starting on the first reel. While the base game is not packed with numerous extra mechanics, the simplicity highlights the importance of the wild skull symbol. 

Wild Symbols as Core Gameplay 

The skull symbol is: 

Wild – substitutes for all regular symbols 

Scatter – triggers bonus features 

Multiplier carrier – during free spins 

Landing just two skull symbols activates the Double Bonus Respin feature, locking the reels holding skulls and re-spinning the other reels in search of additional skulls. The focus on wilds makes the base game swingy but exciting—wilds appear often enough to keep things moving, and their presence is always meaningful. 

Base Game Feel 

The base game has a medium volatility feel—steady enough to provide regular line hits, yet capable of explosive bursts when two or more skulls land. Although the 10-payline structure means many spins whiff completely, the simplicity ensures all attention remains on the next potential wild hit or scatter tease.

Sound and Music 

Fantasma Games put real care into the audio backdrop of Bounty Showdown. The soundtrack is one of the standout elements: a slow, moody Western track reminiscent of Bon Jovi blended with Deadwood-style guitar slides and metallic twangs. When bonus rounds trigger, the music kicks into a higher gear with heavy riffs and tension-building percussion—almost Reload-era Metallica in tone. 

Sound effects include: 

Rifle cracks and revolver clicks 

Metal bullet whirs during the Gatling Wheel 

Skull symbol jolts accompanied by echoing drum hits 

Sharp re-spin audio cues 

The audio elevates the cowboy atmosphere dramatically. It’s immersive, punchy, and perfectly timed with gameplay events. This soundtrack alone puts Bounty Showdown among the more atmospheric Western slots released in recent years.

Bonus Features 

While Bounty Showdown keeps its feature list tight, the game’s bonus mechanics revolve entirely around its powerful wild skull symbols and the Gatling Wheel multiplier system.Double Bonus Respin Feature 

Triggered by landing 2 skull symbols anywhere on the reels. 

The reels with skulls lock in place. 

All other reels respins to potentially land another skull. 

This can lead into triggering Showdown Free Spins if a third skull appears. 

This feature offers an additional chance to push through to the main bonus round—simple but effective.

Showdown Free Spins 

Landing 3, 4, or 5 skull symbols awards: 

10 free spins (3 scatters) 

15 free spins (4 scatters) 

20 free spins (5 scatters) 

a payout of 10×, 25×, or 100× the stake, respectively 

Before the free spins begin, the Gatling Wheel appears. This wheel includes 16 bullet chambers, each containing a value between 1 and 100. You receive 3 spins of the Gatling Wheel: 

Each result adds to your round multiplier 

This multiplier applies to all bonus wild payouts during the entire free spin round 

This is the defining mechanic of Bounty Showdown. A high Gatling Wheel result dramatically changes your free spins potential.

Free Spins Wild Mechanics 

During Showdown Free Spins: 

Each skull symbol that lands awards the combined Gatling Wheel multiplier 

This is added on top of any regular line wins 

Landing 3, 4, or 5 skulls results in 3, 4, or 5 extra free spins 

An additional spin of the Gatling Wheel also occurs, increasing the total multiplier further 

This can lead to a snowball effect where multipliers climb rapidly. The frequency of skulls heavily determines how profitable the round becomes.

Bonus Buy Option 

Where available:80× the bet triggers Showdown Free Spins instantly 

RTP increases to 97.11% 

No need to wait for skull symbols to land naturally 

For many players, especially those drawn to the high-octane thrills of bonus rounds, buying free spins is the preferred route in Bounty Showdown.

Betting Options and Payouts 

Min Bet: €0.10 

Max Bet: €100 

RTP: 96.16% (97.11% with bonus buy) 

Volatility: Medium 

Paylines: 10 

Max Win: 4,500× 

The payout potential is modest compared to modern high-volatility Western slots, but the consistency of multipliers during free spins ensures solid win possibilities. The game is approachable to all budgets thanks to its wide betting range and steady payout rhythm.

Conclusion 

Bounty Showdown is Fantasma Games’ gritty, stylish take on the Wild West—a fast-paced, wild-driven slot with a sharp atmosphere and a highly satisfying bonus system. While the base game is simple, the focus on skull wilds keeps each spin interesting, and the Double Bonus Respin mechanic provides extra suspense when two scatters appear. 

The free spins round is the heart of the experience, delivering some of the game’s most thrilling moments. The Gatling Wheel multiplier system makes every bonus round feel personal—your fortune changes depending on how generous the wheel is. Hit strong multipliers, and you can coast through the bonus with a wave of instant payouts. Hit low ones, and the round becomes a tense struggle. 

Where the game falls short is purely in potential. With a max win of 4,500×, Bounty Showdown doesn’t compete with the genre’s heavy hitters like Nolimit City’s Deadwood or NetEnt’s Dead or Alive 2. But Fantasma wasn’t aiming for an all-or-nothing volatile monster. Instead, they created a tight, fun, medium-volatility Western slot that’s easy to enjoy, rewarding to play, and exceptionally entertaining when the skulls hit. 

For players who love Wild West themes, multiplier-based bonuses, and clear, focused gameplay, Bounty Showdown delivers one of Fantasma Games’ most solid and satisfying mid-range slots.