Smoking Dragon

Smoking Dragon Slot Review

Stirred from a long slumber, the Smoking Dragon once again rules the heavens. Pipe in hand, he exhales great plumes that decide whether daylight prevails or darkness takes hold. From first light to nightfall, the balance of the world rests in his command.

Rooted in Asian folklore, the theme draws on familiar cultural motifs, making Smoking Dragon yet another inspiring release from Hacksaw Gaming. The bold, cartoon animations give the game its character, with the Smoking Dragon himself positioned just outside the reel set in a deliberate act that keeps the focus firmly on the central figure.

Following the introduction of the Hackways mechanic in Toshi Ways Club, Hacksaw Gaming begins the new year with another fresh take on a familiar concept, unveiling the Row Cascade mechanic. While it shares similarities with the traditional Avalanche Feature, this new mechanic carries a clear Hacksaw twist, refining the idea into something that feels distinctly their own.

Known for its consistent release schedule, among other things, Hacksaw Gaming continues its methodical approach here, with Smoking Dragon as their first release of 2026.

From a statistical standpoint, this game is built around a low volatility score, meaning wins land more frequently but typically in smaller increments. A solid 96.30% RTP supports this statistic, as does the 10,000x max win potential, which keeps long-term upside firmly in play…

Base Game & Features

Smoking Dragon is a 5-reel, 4-row video slot with 1,024 ways to win. Paytable symbols trigger winning payouts when 3, 4, or 5 identical symbols land on adjoining reels, starting from reel 1.

The Tiger is the highest-paying symbol, followed by the Rabbit, Ram, Pig, & Lion. Other symbols include A, K, Q, J, & 10 card suits, which act as the game’s low-paying symbols. After a spin, each winning combination awards a fixed payout between 0.1x and 1.5x your bet.

Additionally, Red & Yellow Dragon symbols act as Wilds on the reels, substituting for all symbols when completing a winning combination.

Row Cascade

Each time a winning combination occurs in a spin, all symbols on the bottom row are removed from the reels, causing all remaining symbols to move down one row position. New symbols will drop in from above to fill all empty spaces on the top row.

Another Row Cascade triggers when the same win is present on the reels, the same win continues to grow, or new winning combinations are created. When no further wins occur, the Row Cascade will end.

Wilds

When a Wild or Epic Wild symbol hits, it will reveal a random Additive Multiplier between 2x and 100x your bet. Each Wild/Epic Wild that participates in a winning combination will multiply the current win by its value.

Epic Wilds, as part of a Row Cascade, will have their Multipliers doubled for each row they move downwards. If more than one Wild or Epic Wild is part of the same winning combination, their Multipliers will add together before being applied to the win.

Dragon Eggs

When 3 Dragon Eggs land in the same spin, an Instant Cash Prize of 500x your bet is awarded. After the win is awarded, each Dragon Egg will become inactive until the Row Cascade mechanic removes them from the reels. Please note that no more than 3 Dragon Eggs can land in the same spin.

Smoking Dragon: Free Spins

The Puff of Luck Bonus is triggered when 3 FS Scatters land in the base game, awarding 10 Free Spins.

In this mode, each spin maintains the same base game mechanics, with an increased chance of landing Wilds, Epic Wilds, & Dragon Egg symbols. Landing 2 or 3 FS Scatters awards an additional +2 and +4 Free Spins, respectively.

Smoldering Riches

Alternatively, landing 4 FS Scatters anywhere in the base game triggers the Smoldering Riches Bonus, awarding 10 Free Spins.

Again, this bonus continues to utilise the mechanics from the Puff of Luck Bonus. In addition, a special Multiplier Bar is added just outside the reel set, starting at x1, which indicates the lowest possible Multiplier for all Wild & Epic Wild symbols in view.

Each time 10 Row Cascades occur, the Multiplier Bar will increase by 1 Level until it reaches the maximum level, after which, it cannot increase any further. Landing 2 or 3 FS Scatters awards an additional +2 and +4 Free Spins, respectively.

Fire and Fortune

The hidden bonus, Fire and Fortune, is guaranteed when 5 FS Scatters land in the same spin, awarding 10 Free Spins.

Again, this bonus retains the same mechanics from the base game & Smoldering Riches Bonus. Furthermore, this version guarantees 1 winning combination & a single Wild/Epic Wild on every spin, with the progressive Multiplier Bar starting at x5.

Featurespins & Bonus Buy

Players can purchase any of the following Bonus Buy options:

• Bonushunt Featurespins: Each spin is 5 times more likely to trigger a Free Spins mode for 3x your bet
• Flaming Hot Featurespins: Guarantees at least 1 Wild & 1 Dragon Egg symbol on the reels for 50x your bet
• Puff of Luck: Awards 10 Free Spins and an increased chance of landing Wild/Epic Wild symbols for 80x your bet
• Smoldering Riches: Awards 10 Free Spins & a Multiplier Bar for 200x your bet

In a surprising turn of events, Hacksaw Gaming has enabled players to access the hidden bonus, Fire and Fortune, where a guaranteed win & a Wild/Epic Wild is awarded on every spin for 1,000x your bet.

Smoking Dragon has a maximum win potential 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

Smoking Dragon is a confident & refined start to the new year for Hacksaw Gaming, signalling an innovative expansion of their portfolio. Behind its colourful exterior & cartoon animations, the game gives no clues away as to what we can expect, but that subtle approach quickly reveals a strength rather than a lack of ambition.

The warm Eastern-inspired theme, clean visuals, & calming soundscapes make for inviting gameplay, while the introduction of the Row Cascade mechanic adds a fresh layer without overcomplicating the experience.

This mechanic allows wins to continuously trigger winning payouts until they are removed from the bottom row. In addition, Hacksaw Gaming’s familiar Multiplier features return, but this time, they are reinforced by Epic Wilds that significantly enhance the game’s potential.

These, combined with the Row Cascade mechanic, make each spin feel more extended & dynamic, with repeated hits from the same symbols building momentum on the reels. Furthermore, the longevity of spins gives players ample chances to land the 3 Dragon Eggs needed to win the Instant Prize of 500x your bet.

In classic Hacksaw fashion, Smoking Dragon delivers 3 distinct Free Spins modes, each more desirable than the last, with the Hidden Bonus standing out as the most lucrative of them all. This tiered structure gives each mode a clear sense of progression, rewarding players who reach the most volatile feature.

Typically, the Bonus Buy options only grant access to the first 2 Free Spins modes, leaving the Hidden Bonus to be triggered naturally in the base game…until now. Players can enter directly into the Fire and Fortune Bonus for a hefty 1,000x their bet.

While it is a significant investment, this mode comes with certain assurances, including a guaranteed win, at least 1 Wild or Epic Wild, & a starting Multiplier of x5 applied to every spin.

From a statistical standpoint, Smoking Dragon offers a lower volatility profile, which has a knock-on effect on how the game behaves. Each session tends to deliver returns more frequently, making your bankroll last longer, essentially.

Despite the game’s impressive 10,000x win potential, the value of paytable symbols has been toned down. This places greater importance on Wilds, Multipliers, & Free Spins modes to unlock the game’s true potential.

*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 the game is available for real play.

Smoking Dragon FAQs