Dark Spiral

Dark Spiral Slot Review

The warped mirrors in the art room were never meant to be uncovered. When the dusty sheet was finally pulled away, the faces staring back didn’t belong to them anymore. Flesh sagged & slipped, soft and peeling from bone. Eyes drifted, wet, & restless, while the reflections grinned wide, stretching until their smiles split – no matter where the girls moved, the eyes in the mirror followed.

And it didn’t stop there. The tormenting stares bled into every reflective material, even the curve of a spoon. Now every blink feels wrong. Lashes seal shut with every press, while something beneath still twitches & watches. The girls scream from inside, as their reflections stay outside, smiling.

Dark Spiral from Hacksaw Gaming alters the tone from the light-hearted worlds of Zeus Ze Zecond and Hot Ross into a chilling, horror-themed experience, where even a glance at your own reflection can have deadly consequences. Horror fans may recognise certain movie influences, such as Mirrors and Oculus, both of which explore the unsettling dangers of looking too closely in the mirror, with a heart-pounding supernatural element.

While Print Studios’ Dreadworks and Darkness still stand out as the most terrifying horror slots we’ve encountered, Hacksaw Gaming are no stranger to playing with darker themes. Their ability to move between light & dark comes as no surprise, and we continue to believe their darker portfolio far outweighs their light & fluffy releases. With that in mind, we’re more than willing to stare terror in the face for this one…

Base Game & Features

Dark Spiral is a highly volatile, 6-reel, 4-row video slot with up to 331,776 ways to win. Paytable symbols create winning combinations when 3, 4, 5, or 6 land across adjoining reels, starting from reel 1.

The Red Eye is the highest-paying symbol, followed by the Yellow, Purple, Green, & Blue Character icons. Other symbols include A, K, Q, J, & 10 card suits, which serve as the game’s low-paying symbols. Once a win is confirmed, a fixed payout between 0.2x and 3x your bet is awarded.

Additionally, Wild symbols appear on all reels throughout each session, substituting for all symbols as part of a winning combination. Finally, FS Scatters trigger multiple Free Spins modes when at least 3 appear in the same spin.

Summoning Symbols

During gameplay, whenever a Summoning symbol hits, it will appear in sizes 1×2, 1×3, or 1×4. Once in view, they each reveal a stack of identical paytable symbols or Wilds. The size of the Summoning symbol determines the number of stacked symbols per one:

• 1×2 Summoning symbol: Reveals 3-6 stacked symbols
• 1×3 Summoning symbol: Reveals 5-9 stacked symbols
• 1×4 Summoning symbol: Reveals between 6 and 12 stacked symbols

If a Wild symbol lands directly above or below a Summoning symbol, it will increase in size by expanding over the Wild symbol once the reels settle. When a Summoning symbol is part of a win, it will lock into position while others are removed via the Avalanche Feature.

Each winning Summoning symbol will generate a new paytable symbol after all wins are paid out. When there are no further wins, all symbols, including Summoning symbols, are removed from the reels for the next spin. Please note that Summoning symbols can only appear on reels 2, 3, 4, or 5.

Dark Spiral: Free Spins

Triggering the Shattered, Twisted, or Tortured Bonus requires 3, 4, & 5 FS Scatters to land in the same spin, awarding 10 Free Spins and the following attributes:

• Shattered: This mode maintains the same mechanics as found in the base game, with an increased chance of landing Summoning symbols.
• Twisted: Again, this mode continues to use the same mechanics found in the Shattered Bonus. In addition, all Summoning symbols that appear will remain on the reels until the end of the feature.
• Tortured: Following the same mechanics from the 2 previous modes, this session guarantees 2 Summoning symbols on the first spin.

In all 3 Bonus modes, landing 2 or 3 FS Scatters awards an additional +2 and +4 Free Spins, respectively.

Featurespins & Bonus Buy

Players may purchase any of the following Featurespins & Bonus Buy options:

• Bonushunt Featurespins: Each spin is 5 times more likely to trigger a Free Spins mode for 3x your bet per spin
• Summon the Featurespins: Each spin guarantees at least 2 Summoning symbols for 100x your bet
• Shattered: Awards 10 Free Spins and an increased chance of landing Summoning symbols for 100x your bet
• Twisted: Awards 10 Free Spins with sticky Summoning symbols & a chance to trigger the Hidden Bonus for 200x your bet

Dark Spiral has a maximum win capacity of 10,000x your bet. If a single session exceeds this, the player returns to the base game with the qualifying amount.

Our Honest Verdict

While you certainly don’t want any lingering curse from those mirrors to follow you, there’s something about Dark Spiral that makes it hard to look away. Whether it’s the unsettling horror theme, the striking visuals & soundscapes, or simply the fact that it’s a Hacksaw Gaming release, we find ourselves deeply captivated and drawn to it.

In terms of gameplay, much of Dark Spiral’s appeal lies with the Summoning symbols, which not only expand the number of ways to win but also increase the overall potential of each spin.

While this function isn’t a direct match to the Flash Frames in Toshi Ways Club, it definitely delivers a very similar energy. Thanks to the 331,776 ways to win available here, this system creates plenty of room for larger winning combinations in addition to smaller, more frequent ones.

In true Hacksaw fashion, Dark Spiral offers multiple Free Spins modes, with 3 distinct variations available. One of these is classified as a Hidden Bonus, which requires a great deal of persistence & additional FS Scatters to unlock. Once in, however, 2 Summoning symbols are guaranteed in the first spin, setting the bar high for future spins.

All in all, Dark Spiral is a daring addition to Hacksaw’s portfolio, offering rewarding features and a sizable 10,000x max win potential. This game rewards those who are brave enough to face its terrifying theme and ominous gameplay.

*The images found in this slot review are currently from Demo Play. On average, our reviews are written prior to the initial release date and before real play is available.

Dark Spiral FAQs

• How do Summoning symbols work in Dark Spiral?

  Summoning symbols reveal matching symbols, which advance the number of ways to win in a single spin, up to a maximum of 331,776.
• How many Free Spins modes are available in Dark Spiral?

  Dark Spiral has 3 distinct Free Spins modes, one listed as a Hidden Bonus. All 3 modes require 3+ FS Scatters to land in the same base game spin, awarding 10 Free Spins, respectively.
• What is the max win potential in Dark Spiral?

  This game offers a generous max win potential worth up to 10,000x your bet. Thanks to the advanced number of ways to win, this figure feels more achievable throughout each session.
• Why is it harder to achieve the Tortured Bonus in Dark Spiral?

  The hidden bonus, Tortured, is harder to achieve due to its advanced mechanics and high volatility nature. Once active, 2 Summoning symbols are guaranteed to land in the first spin, setting the bar high for future spins and bigger payout potential.