Backseat Gaming

About Backseat Gaming

Winning Rookie of the Year at the SBC Europe in 2025 is not the kind of thing a slot studio does by accident.

Founded in Malta in 2022 and formally launching its first title in May 2023, Backseat Gaming made a strong impression almost immediately.

The studio made history before it had even released a single title. Backseat Gaming was the first external studio to join Hacksaw Gaming’s OpenRGS aggregation platform when it launched in 2023.

That relationship gave Backseat instant distribution reach and technical infrastructure, while letting the studio operate under its own distinct creative identity rather than as a subsidiary.

That identity is built around three guiding principles: Be Innovative, Be Stunning, and Be Fun.

Backseat is also refreshingly upfront about using AI in parts of its design and development process, handling repetitive production tasks so the creative team can focus on what actually makes a game worth playing.

Best Backseat Gaming Slots

Backseat Gaming’s catalogue has grown quickly, now sitting at over 30 titles, with themes spanning pirates, Greek and Norse mythology, sci-fi, fantasy, and everything in between

Lord Venom, the studio’s debut title from May 2023, remains one of its standout releases. Set in a dense jungle on a 5×5 grid, it uses Mystery Jungle Bush symbols and Golden Egg collection to build a persistent global multiplier reaching 200x, with a 15,000x max win and 96.20% RTP.

Commander of Tridents followed with an underwater Poseidon theme and the same 15,000x ceiling, while Sleepy Grandpa brought a completely different energy, a medium-volatility farm slot where a wandering Grandpa builds a global multiplier across the bonus round.

The Bonanza series has since become a recurring theme, spanning Barrel Bonanza, Pirate Bonanza, Roman Bonanza, and Pirate Bonanza 2, each carrying distinct mechanics despite the shared naming. Space Zoo, Shadow Strike, and newer titles like Fireborn and Home of Thor round out a catalogue that deliberately avoids settling into one aesthetic lane.

Backseat Gaming Mechanics and Features

Backseat Gaming has built a handful of signature mechanics that show up across the catalogue in different forms:

• Expanding Grids – Layouts that grow as the bonus round progresses, such as Shadow Strike’s shift from a 5×4 to a 5×6 grid
• Pay Anywhere – A cluster-style payout structure paired with cascading wins and growing multipliers
• Persistent Multipliers – Multipliers that build across an entire bonus round rather than resetting between spins
• Mystery Symbol Reveals – Symbols that flip or transform to reveal matching icons

Across the range, hit frequencies vary between roughly 25% and 49% depending on the title, giving operators and players a genuinely varied spread of pacing.

Backseat Gaming Licensing and Reach

Backseat Gaming distributes exclusively through Hacksaw’s OpenRGS platform, giving the studio’s catalogue reach across Hacksaw’s established global operator network and regulated markets without needing to build that infrastructure independently.

RTPs across the catalogue sit primarily around 96%, volatility ranges from medium through high with no low-volatility titles in the range.

The studio maintained a release pace of close to one title per month through 2024, with that steady schedule staying consistent throughout 2026 and beyond. Every game built in HTML5 and fully optimised across desktop and mobile.

“Backseat Gaming have done something pretty impressive for a studio this age and the catalogue has genuinely improved with every release. A studio with real momentum behind it.” Mark, Content Editor

“I have been keeping an eye on Backseat since Lord Venom dropped and they keep delivering. Sleepy Grandpa sounds like a joke but it’s genuinely one of the most satisfying free spins rounds going.” Aisley L., Fruity Slots Streamer

FAQs about Backseat Gaming

• When was Backseat Gaming founded?

  Backseat Gaming was founded in Malta in 2022, formally launching its first title, Lord Venom, in May 2023. Despite being relatively new, the studio won Rookie of the Year at SBC Europe in 2025.
• Where can I play Backseat Gaming slots?

  Backseat Gaming distributes exclusively through Hacksaw Gaming’s OpenRGS platform, giving its catalogue reach across Hacksaw’s established global operator network.
• How many slots have Backseat Gaming released?

  Backseat Gaming’s catalogue has grown to over 30 titles in just a few years, with the studio maintaining a steady schedule of one to two new releases per month.
• What are Backseat Gaming’s slots like in terms of RTP and volatility?

  RTPs across the catalogue sit primarily around 96%, with volatility ranging from medium through high and no low-volatility titles currently in the range.