Slot Description
Stack ‘Em opens on an elongated 5 reels panel with 6 rows. The slot doesn’t have any payline and instead works on cluster pays mechanics, which requires hitting a cluster of at least 5 identical symbols either vertically and/or horizontally. Bets start from a minimum of 0.20 coins, while the max betting limit is fixed at 100 coins per spin. Although what’s truly impressive about the specifications is the slot’s max win potential of 10,000x the stake, which is pretty great considering it’s a 2021 release.
But what players need to be cautious of is the slot’s variance since the game is highly volatile, with a hit frequency somewhere around 10%. What this means is that you might have to face a long dry spell before a major breakthrough is realized. However, on the positive note, Stack ‘Em RTP of 96.20% is a decent score and stands above the industry average pinned for online slots.
Our first impression of the game made us realize the rapidity with which Hacksaw is progressing in the igaming industry. Considering the game provider is relatively new in the world of online slots, it is quite impressive to see the continuous improvements they are making with their releases. While Stack ‘Em might not be the ideal Hacksaw title, it’s one of those early releases that made a name for itself as a distinguished slot from the game provider’s portfolio. And now that a few years have passed since the game’s release, it’s important to see the slot from every aspect to find out if it’s still worth it and whether it is capable of generating big payouts for players.
Theme, Design, and Sound
Bracketing Stack ‘Em into any theme is a difficult task since the slot is a deliberate attempt to conjure a meaningless, eccentric world. The weirdness comes not only from the two main game characters but also from the use of game symbols. As for the visuals, the background is an open, idyllic setting where the bright sky and green shrubs lend a positive and charming vibe to the game.
The animations are rather minimalistic, except for the bouncy protagonists. Meanwhile, the background score heavily uses the piano to render a piece of jumpy jazz music. But if you find the BGM to be too interfering the mute button might come in handy.
Symbols and Payouts
Hacksaw ditched the standard card royals for low-value symbols and instead has used alphabets A, G, E, R, and T in their place. All of these icons provide the same payout, which is 0.10 to 25x the stake for landing a cluster of 5 to +25 matching symbols in the same spin. On the other hand, the high-pay symbols are composed of a quirky ensemble featuring leaves, dead birds, skulls, snakes, and thumbs-up. But since these are premium symbols, their payouts span between 100x to 200x the stake for hitting a cluster of +25 identical symbols.
A basic wild logo represents the Wild symbol. Wilds substitute for all paying symbols. Also, there are FS scatters in the game that can help you trigger the free spins bonus feature.
Features and Bonuses
Even though Stack ‘Em is not laden with features, the extravagant use of multipliers during the base game and in free spins might benefit you in bagging huge wins.
Cluster Wins
Whenever a winning combination occurs, all non-winning symbols are removed from the grid, and the winning symbols drop down to the bottom. A new set of symbols falls from above, and if another win emerges, the process gets repeated. Apart from this, multipliers unlock at the bottom of the reels. The multiplier value remains equivalent to the number of winning symbols in a cluster. Note that multipliers are reset with the following spin.
Free Spins
Hitting 3 FS scatters in the base game triggers the Free Spins feature with 5 initial free spins. The number of free spins is displayed as heart icons above the reels. A win multiplier also comes into action during the bonus feature. Whenever you get a winning cluster during free spins, the win multiplier progressively increases by the number of winning symbols in the cluster. For instance, if your win consists of 6 matching symbols, the total win multiplier will increase by 6x.
Also, you can get special symbols during free spins:
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X symbol - If the 'X' symbol connects with a winning symbol, it multiplies the total win with the current win multiplier above the reels.
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'?' symbol - The question mark symbol can provide one of the following outcomes:
-Add 2 to 5 extra free spins
-Add values up to 50 to the total win multiplier
-Multiply the total win multiplier by x2 to x5
Buy Bonus
If you wish to proceed straight into the bonus game, you can do so using the bonus buy option. The cost to trigger 5 free spins via the purchase feature is 129x the stake. It’s important to note that the buy feature might not be available in some jurisdictions.
About the Game Provider
Hacksaw Gaming kickstarted its igaming journey by making online scratchcards. However, it didn’t take long for the game provider to realize their potential in building online slots. Right now, the company is widely recognized for creating exceptional slot games. The USP of Hacksaw Gaming slots is their unique visual elements and impressive game features. The game provider has already added over 60 titles to its slots portfolio, which is noteworthy given Hacksaw has only started its journey in 2017.
The company recently penetrated the U.S. igaming market and is also faring well in Europe. The game provider already has over 300 partners and is operating in more than 20 regulated markets. To add to its trustworthiness, Hacksaw Gaming has acquired licenses from reputed authorities like the Malta Gaming Authority and the UK Gambling Commission.
