Focus On: Hacksaw Gaming

Despite only having launched back in 2018, Hacksaw Gaming has garnered the plaudits as well amassing an impressive collection of prizes and trophies. We thought we’d take a closer look and explore exactly what it is that’s helped this developer achieve legendary status in just a few short years.

Introduction

Hacksaw promises “disruptive gaming” and has a library of more than 120 games spread across more than 20 regulated international markets and 300 separate partners. Considering Hacksaw's relative 'youth' these are impressive stats!

A self-described “premium supplier of slots, scratchcards and instant win games", Hacksaw Gaming boldly boasts “stunning graphics and the best music in the industry”. In support of these claims, Hacksaw’s games have made it onto some of the top casino sites in the UK, and they seem to do very well at awards ceremonies too! EGR B2B 2023 Awards Slot Supplier Rising Star is one of their most impressive accolades.

Hacksaw is not a hack company; it doesn’t simply reproduce successful themes and mechanics that have performed well for other developers. Instead, it focuses on innovation and puts a great deal of work into building immersive and engaging slots. It's this originality, as well as their mobile-friendly approach and eye for darker themes that makes Hacksaw Gaming special.

A brief timeline

• Hacksaw Gaming formed in September 2018, in Malta.
• In 2019, Hacksaw released their first Pocketz slot, making their mobile-first stance clear. This same year, Hacksaw received its first prize at the SiGMA Awards for Best Startup. 
• Over the next couple of years, Hacksaw formed a couple of strategic partnerships with the likes of Relax Gaming and Microgaming’s Quickfire. The company quickly earned licences and branched out into other territories.
• Hacksaw games are now available the world over at 300+ online slot sites.

Developer highlights

Versatility meets innovation at Hacksaw with this talented team creating quite a stir, and it’s not just their slots that stand out from the crowd either.

Awards galore!

There’s no need to take our word for it when it comes to the greatness of Hacksaw Gaming. In just a few short years, these guys have accrued an impressive collection of awards. Here are just a few of the prestigious titles they’ve been awarded:

• 2019 SiGMA Award for Best Startup
• GamblingNews Slot of the Month January 2023: RIP City
• Kongebonus Awards 2023 Best Game Developer
• Kongebonus Awards 2023 Best Sequel Slot: Chaos Crew 2
• EGR B2B 2023 Awards Slot Supplier Rising Star

Mature themes

All slot games are for grown-ups, but some of us get a bit tired of the bubbly lightheartedness often found when scrolling through casino libraries. Hacksaw Gaming may have dabbled in the lighthearted, but many of its stand-out slots have a slightly darker side. Fans of games with grimy themes are sure to find the perfect match with this developer.

Mobile-first

All of Hacksaw Gaming’s offerings are fully mobile-optimised, thanks to its HTML5-based software. Every game in its library was designed to run just as well on a small screen as on a bigger one. This mobile-first approach is a core principle for Hacksaw Gaming. It's an ethos that's been at the heart of the company since it was founded. It also serves to give Hacksaw’s titles a sleek, modern feel. 

Scratchcards

We’re obviously a slots-centric site, but variety is the spice of life! For fans who occasionally venture into the realm of scratchcards and instant win games, Hacksaw Gaming might be a familiar name. As with its slots, Hacksaw has won multiple awards for its impressive library of scratchcards, which currently features more than 40 mobile-friendly titles and instant win prizes worth up to €1 million.

Impressive output

Without compromising on the quality of their output, Hacksaw Gaming has produced an eye-watering number of games considering that they’ve only been around for a few years. This is good news for players because it means that, if you’re a Hacksaw fan, you won’t have to wait forever for new releases!

Stand-out soundtracks

Claiming to have the “best music in the industry” is a big call. Hacksaw Gaming makes this statement loud and proud on its homepage. A brag of this proportions should always be treated with healthy scepticism, but, believe it or not, Hacksaw’s games certainly live up to the claim. The soundscapes that accompany their titles are rich and non-generic, contributing to the theme and the immersive quality of the overall experience. Audiophiles take note!

Landmark games

There are always a few titles that define a developer, and these are generally a great place to start if you’re new to a particular game developer. 

Stick ‘Em

Hacksaw Gaming’s seminal release was Stick ‘Em, which came out in 2019, soon after the developer signed its deal with Relax Gaming. With this game, the Hacksaw team showed the world, right out of the gate, that they were worth watching. It also indicated that they weren’t afraid of straying from the mainstream. 

Stick ‘Em is a medium volatility, five-reel title with 1,024 paylines and a max payout of 2,084x the stake. This is an eccentric little game, which theme-wise, is virtually impossible to describe. Stick ‘Em’s bonus features include sticky symbols, free spins, and a bonus game that employs a wheel of fortune format. This one is definitely worth a few spins, particularly because it gives you a glimpse of Hacksaw Gaming’s origins.

Name:

Stick 'Em

Developer:

Hacksaw Gaming

RTP:

96.10%

Max payout:

2,084x stake

Volatility:

Medium

Reels:

5

Win lines:

1,024

Theme:

WTF

Release date:

19th Sep 2019

Play Stick 'Em here:

Chaos Crew

Undoubtedly one of Hacksaw Gaming’s biggest successes is the aptly-named Chaos Crew, a crazy ‘WTF’ slot that was released in 2020. With quirky characters, high volatility and adrenaline-pumping gameplay, Chaos Crew is not for the faint of heart! Expect a bombardment of wilds, multipliers and free spins.

This is a 15-payline game based on a 5x5 grid with an RTP of 96.3% and a reasonable 10,000x max win. Chaos Crew was a bold statement that paved the way for some of Hacksaw Gaming’s biggest and best releases, and it’s still a great example of the mature but wild aesthetics that players can expect from their titles.

On a side note, Chaos Crew 2 is also well worth checking out. This sequel features one of Hacksaw Gaming’s biggest max wins (20,000x).

Name:

Chaos Crew

Developer:

Hacksaw Gaming

RTP:

96.30%

Max payout:

10,000x stake

Volatility:

High

Reels:

5

Win lines:

15

Theme:

WTF

Release date:

19th Sep 2020

Play Chaos Crew here:

Wanted Dead or a Wild

Wanted Dead or a Wild is Hacksaw Gaming’s contribution to the Western genre. This is a feature-heavy slot in which the player is tasked with rounding up a number of outlaws. You could be forgiven for thinking the Wild West theme is fairly exhausted, but this game still feels fresh thanks to Hacksaw’s ingenuity. 

Amongst the many features that contribute to the engaging gameplay are the Duel at Dawn free spins bonus round, a respin feature called Dead Man’s Hand, and The Great Train Robbery, a fun sticky wilds feature. This is a riveting and volatile slot that Hacksaw Gaming fans and newcomers alike should not to miss.

Name:

Wanted Dead or a Wild

Developer:

Hacksaw Gaming

RTP:

96.38%

Max payout:

12,500x stake

Volatility:

High

Reels:

5

Win lines:

15

Theme:

Wild West

Release date:

29th Sep 2021

Play Wanted Dead or a Wild here:

Alternative Games

For those who want to look outside the mainstream, Hacksaw is ideal. Here are a few left-field offerings.

Benny the Beer

Every bit as mad as it sounds, Benny the Beer features up to 100,000 paylines, with this figure changing over the course of the game. Don’t be fooled – this isn’t just a quirky theme. In fact, the theme is actually approached in a fairly low-key way, in favour of exciting, feature-filled gameplay. 

This is a medium volatility slot which keeps the wins and bonus rounds coming. Speaking of the bonuses, Benny the Beer employs the Stackways mechanic, which can help your wins to quickly ramp up, and can be found in a few of Hacksaw Gaming’s offerings. Remember, folks, drink responsibly and don’t combine slots with booze. Cheers!

Name:

Benny the Beer

Developer:

Hacksaw Gaming

RTP:

96.17%

Max payout:

10,000x stake

Volatility:

Medium

Reels:

5

Win lines:

100,000

Theme:

Adventure, WTF

Release date:

5th Oct 2023

Play Benny the Beer here:

Twisted Lab RotoGrid

Soon after its release, Twisted Lab RotoGrid was selected to feature in the Slot Gods Editor’s Picks list in the Best New Base Gameplay position (yet another prestigious feather in Hacksaw’s cap!). This game takes place in a mad scientist's lab, which has a sort of bio-luminescent quality to it – often a common characteristic of Hacksaw Gaming’s dark-edged designs. 

The base game mechanics are great fun thanks to the RotoGrid feature, which essentially rotates the whole grid and allows symbols to interact with one another in new ways. There are quite a few multipliers up for grabs, with a 15,000x max win, an RTP of 96.3%, and lots of great RotoGrid-related animations!

Name:

Twisted Lab RotoGrid

Developer:

Hacksaw Gaming

RTP:

96.30%

Max payout:

15,000x stake

Volatility:

High

Reels:

5

Win lines:

19

Theme:

Magic

Release date:

27th Jun 2024

Play Twisted Lab RotoGrid here:

Vending Machine

Hacksaw Gaming isn’t all about gritty grunginess and dark themes, and Vending Machine is proof of this. Quirky and cool, Vending Machine may seem simple – and not necessarily exciting – on the surface. However, persevere with it and you’ll be rewarded with vast quantities of free spins and multipliers. It’s an important entry into the Hacksaw oeuvre because of how unique it is, illustrating the impressive versatility of the company’s designers.

With a medium volatility level, a respectable 96.28% RTP and a 5,000x max win, Vending Machine might not sound too special on paper, but it’s well worth your time. Players who are feeling adventurous, and who fancy something a bit more chilled and lo-fi than your typical slot game should definitely have a few spins on this.

Name:

Vending Machine

Developer:

Hacksaw Gaming

RTP:

96.28%

Max payout:

5,000x stake

Volatility:

Medium

Reels:

5

Win lines:

35

Theme:

Retro

Release date:

13th Jul 2023

Play Vending Machine here:

Where to play

With 300+ partners and strong associations with other top developers, Hacksaw Gaming’s titles can be found on a number of casino sites. And remember, all slot sites listed on Slot Gods have been licensed by the Gambling Commission. Here are a few great places to start:

Summary

In short, there are many factors that have contributed to making Hacksaw Gaming such a runaway success. From its rapid development cycle and wide international reach to its innovative, high-end soundtracks, it’s safe to say that Hacksaw is fully deserving of its many awards.

As great as Hacksaw Gaming is, it’ll be interesting to see where they go from here, and whether they can maintain this rapid rate of growth while sustaining the high quality of their games. If history’s anything to go by, other developers should watch their backs!