Cursed Seas Slot Review
Cursed Seas from Hacksaw Gaming is a visually stunning pirate-themed slot that delivers high volatility gameplay with serious win potential. Released in April 2023, this 5×4 reel grid game combines atmospheric design with thrilling bonus features including the Dead Men Tell No Tales bonus and Sunken Treasure Free Spins. With a 96.22% RTP, a 12,500x maximum win, and multiplier-packed features, Cursed Seas appeals strongly to players seeking both visual immersion and substantial payouts.
Game Specifications
- Provider: Hacksaw Gaming
- Release Date: 27 April 2023
- RTP: 96.22% (alternatives: 94.24%, 92.21%, 88.38%)
- Volatility: High (4/5 rating)
- Grid Layout: 5×4 (26 paylines)
- Bet Range: £0.10 to £100
- Maximum Win: 12,500x stake
- Theme: Pirate / Cursed Seas
Base Game & Features
Cursed Seas immediately captures attention with its exceptional visual presentation. Hacksaw Gaming’s creative talents shine through meticulous detail that brings a ghost ship and its damned crew to chilling unlife. The dark pirate atmosphere is one of the studio’s most visually stunning achievements, creating a cinematic experience that few slots can match.
The base game operates on a 5×4 reel grid with 26 paylines. Low-paying symbols include anchors, compasses, flags, guns, and skulls (each worth 1-1.5x bet for five-of-a-kind), whilst coloured pirate characters serve as high-paying symbols (3-10x bet for five-of-a-kind). A wild symbol (treasure chest with W) substitutes for regular symbols on any spin.
Cursed Chests
The distinctive Cursed Chests feature creates multiplier areas across the reels with values ranging from 2x to 200x. These chests persist during free spins, accumulating throughout the feature for potentially massive win multipliers. When the pace quickens through landing multiple chests, the base game transforms from slower pacing into genuinely engaging gameplay.
Bonus Features
Sunken Treasure Free Spins
Landing 3 Lantern Scatter symbols awards 10 free spins. During the feature, hitting 2 additional scatters grants +2 spins, 3 scatters award +4, and 4 scatters award +6 additional spins. Whilst described as the least thrilling of the two free spins modes, the Sunken Treasure round can deliver a decent amount of win potential when it gets going, with Cursed Chests multipliers continuing to build throughout.
Dead Men Tell No Tales Bonus
Triggering 4 Lantern Scatters activates the Dead Men Tell No Tales bonus, where you’re awarded 3 lives. This feature offers far more fast-paced gameplay and a better soundtrack than the free spins modes. Cursed Skull symbols reveal multipliers between 1x and 500x, Tormented Skulls offer 2x to 25x, and Kraken symbols deliver 1x to 500x multipliers. The wins in this bonus stack up surprisingly quickly, making it the preferred feature for serious win potential. Cursed Areas that form in this round differentiate it from similar games like Chaos Crew, adding strategic depth to the multiplier-hunting experience.
Bonus Buy Options
Three bonus buy tiers are available for players seeking instant feature access. BonusHunt FeatureSpins costs 3x stake and increases bonus chances by 5x with a 96.21% RTP. Sunken Treasure FS costs 100x stake at 96.26% RTP, whilst the Dead Men Tell No Tales bonus buy costs 200x stake with 96.33% RTP. Please note: bonus buy options are not available in the UK due to UKGC regulations prohibiting features that encourage players to increase their stake.
Game Verdict
- Overall Rating: 4.2/5
- Best For: High-volatility enthusiasts, visual aesthetics lovers, experienced players seeking challenge
- Avoid If: You prefer frequent wins, low volatility, or casual play with limited bankroll
Cursed Seas is another Hacksaw Gaming classic combining recognisable elements with new features to keep gameplay fresh. The Dead Men Tell No Tales bonus round is genuinely thrilling, with Cursed Areas creating lucrative multiplier opportunities. Whilst the Sunken Treasure free spins round is somewhat less captivating than comparable Hacksaw titles like Hand of Anubis or Undead Fortune, the overall package delivers. Hacksaw Gaming never disappoints when it comes to the gameplay mechanics, and Cursed Seas reinforces why the studio remains a top-tier provider. The 96.22% RTP and 12,500x maximum win provide excellent value, though high volatility means rewards can be sporadic–requiring patience and a reasonable bankroll. The pirate theme stands out in the market thanks to meticulous artistic detail and dark atmospheric design. With good RTP, strong bonus features, and exceptional visual presentation, Cursed Seas earns its place as an excellent addition to the pirate slot fleet.
FAQs
-
What is the RTP of Cursed Seas slot?
The RTP of Cursed Seas is 96.22% at the primary level, though operators can adjust it to 94.24%, 92.21%, or 88.38% depending on the market. Bonus buy options also have slightly different RTPs: BonusHunt FeatureSpins at 96.21%, Sunken Treasure FS at 96.26%, and Dead Men Tell No Tales at 96.33%. -
What is the maximum win on Cursed Seas?
The maximum win on Cursed Seas is 12,500x your stake, which represents solid potential by any measure. Whilst theoretically possible, this maximum is extremely difficult to achieve in practice, with most documented wins falling in the hundreds range (800x+ recorded examples). -
How volatile is Cursed Seas slot?
Cursed Seas has high volatility, scoring 4 out of 5 on Hacksaw Gaming’s volatility scale. This indicates longer dry spells between wins but with larger win potential when bonuses do trigger. Be aware that volatility cannot be reliably predicted in short gaming sessions, and money can be lost quickly. -
What are the bonus features in Cursed Seas?
Cursed Seas features Cursed Chests that create multiplier areas (2x-200x), Sunken Treasure Free Spins triggered by 3 lantern scatters (10 free spins), and the Dead Men Tell No Tales bonus triggered by 4 lantern scatters. Cursed Chests remain active during all bonus rounds. The Dead Men Tell No Tales bonus is strongly favoured for win potential compared to Sunken Treasure free spins. -
Does Cursed Seas have a bonus buy feature?
Yes, Cursed Seas offers three bonus buy options: BonusHunt FeatureSpins at 3x stake (increases bonus chances by 5x with 96.21% RTP), Sunken Treasure FS at 100x stake (96.26% RTP), and Dead Men Tell No Tales at 200x stake (96.33% RTP). Bonus buy is available in some jurisdictions but not in the UK due to UKGC regulations. -
What is the bet range for Cursed Seas?
Cursed Seas allows minimum bets of £0.10 and maximum bets of £100, accommodating players across a range of budgets and bankroll sizes. -
How many paylines does Cursed Seas have?
Cursed Seas is a 5×4 reel grid with 26 paylines on which you can form winning combinations by matching symbols from the leftmost reel to the right. -
What symbols are in Cursed Seas?
Cursed Seas features pirate-themed symbols including anchors, compasses, flags, guns, and skulls as low-paying symbols (1-1.5x bet for 5-of-a-kind), whilst various coloured pirate characters offer bigger wins (3-10x bet) for five-of-a-kind combinations from left to right. The wild symbol (treasure chest with W) substitutes for regular symbols. The Cursed Chest (turquoise treasure chest) creates multiplier areas (2x-200x) during gameplay.
