Forest Fortune Slot Review
Hacksaw Gaming has built a solid reputation for creating slots that balance visual appeal with compelling mechanics. Forest Fortune, released in March 2021, demonstrates this philosophy perfectly. The game combines a serene forest aesthetic with a robust cluster-pays system and substantial win potential that appeals to experienced players willing to embrace the game’s high-volatility approach. This is no gentle woodland stroll—it’s a high-stakes adventure designed for players chasing substantial payouts.
Base Game & Features
Forest Fortune operates on a 5×5 grid using the cluster pays mechanic, where wins form when 5 or more matching symbols connect horizontally or vertically. This departure from traditional paylines creates a more dynamic win structure. The betting range spans from £0.20 to £100 per spin, accommodating both conservative players and high-stakes enthusiasts.
Wind Wild
The Wind Wild feature activates when wild symbols land on the reels. Once triggered, the wind mechanic spreads wilds in a random direction, with the spread distance matching the number of wild symbols currently in play. A full grid of wind wilds delivers a solid 1,000x stake payout, providing meaningful base game uplift.
The game’s symbol set features the ladybug as the highest-paying symbol, supported by coloured beetles (blue, orange, green, and yellow), with lower-paying fruit symbols rounding out the paytable. The butterfly acts as the scatter, which we’ll cover in the bonus section. The overall aesthetic is genuinely pleasant—clusters of insects flutter their wings whilst wind blows leaves across the grid, creating a serene yet engaging visual experience that doesn’t compromise on clarity.
Bonus Features & Free Spins
The bonus round is where Forest Fortune truly separates itself from simpler slot offerings. Landing 3 or more butterfly scatter symbols triggers the free spins feature—a mechanically rich bonus experience that differentiates from base gameplay.
Free Spins Mechanics
Players begin with 3 free spins. The unique aspect: each spin resets the counter back to 3 if a win lands, but ends after 3 consecutive non-winning spins. This creates an engaging dynamic where you’re constantly chasing that next win to extend the round. Each reel displays multiplier values that vary from spin to spin, building anticipation.
Butterfly Multipliers
Forest Fortune employs two distinct butterfly multiplier types during free spins:
- Blue Butterflies add multiplier values (+1, +2, +5, +10, +25, +50, or +100) to the reel multiplier
- Green Butterflies multiply the reel value directly (×2, ×3, ×5, ×10, ×25, or ×50)
This dual system creates substantial variation. Under ideal circumstances with both multiplier types aligning, wins can escalate significantly. However, community feedback indicates that poor multiplier distributions can lead to disappointing bonus rounds—an honest trade-off of the high-volatility design.
Bumblebee Progress Mechanic & 3 Million Jackpot
A distinctive feature is the bumblebee progress bar running above each reel. Landing bee symbols fills these progress bars (3 bees required per reel, 15 total across the grid). When all reels reach maximum, the game triggers a fixed 3 million EUR/GBP jackpot. This adds another layer of chase potential, though the completion requirements mean most players won’t see this feature regularly.
Bonus Buy Feature
For those seeking direct access to the feature-rich bonus round, the bonus buy option allows purchasing free spins for 100x your current stake. When activated, the RTP increases to 95% (compared to the base 94.6%), though player experience suggests the feature may not deliver equivalent value for most players—results from community testing indicate losses in approximately 9 of 10 purchase attempts. This is an important caveat: availability of bonus buy doesn’t guarantee profitability. It’s best viewed as a premium engagement tool rather than a path to quick returns. Additionally, bonus buy isn’t available to UK players due to UKGC regulations.
Our Honest Verdict
Overall Rating: 7.5/10
Forest Fortune is a genuinely appealing high-volatility offering that delivers on the promise of substantial win potential alongside refined visual presentation. Hacksaw Gaming have created something quite special here—the bonus mechanics are complex and engaging, the 10,000x maximum win cap is legitimate (supported by the multiplier system), and the fixed 3 million jackpot adds a unique chase element. The forest aesthetic genuinely resonates, with pleasant animations and uncluttered design that works beautifully on mobile.
However, the high volatility approach means this slot isn’t for everyone. With a hit frequency of only 30.44%, base game spins can feel long and challenging. The RTP of 94.6% sits below industry average, though it does improve to 95% with bonus buy activation—but as noted, that feature hasn’t proven particularly profitable for most players. The bonus round itself can deliver spectacular wins under the right multiplier conditions, but equally can disappoint when the wrong multiplier combinations land.
Forest Fortune suits experienced players with adequate bankroll who enjoy chasing big multipliers and aren’t bothered by extended dry spells between wins. The game demands patience and discipline. Casual or budget-conscious players will find the volatility frustrating—you’ll likely experience long sessions without triggering the bonus, and when you do, results vary wildly. That’s the nature of high-volatility design, and Hacksaw have committed to it fully here. If you thrive on that tension and appreciate sophisticated bonus mechanics combined with polished presentation, Forest Fortune will reward your patience.
