Life and Death: Slot Overview
Among the many Yin and Yang dichotomies—light/dark, day/night, happiness/sorrow—few are as profound as the contrast between life and death. One moment, we bask in sunlight and the joys of existence; the next, well, that remains one of life’s greatest mysteries. While we contemplate the unknown, why not explore Hacksaw Gaming’s latest slot, Life and Death? This eerie, thought-provoking game is infused with Wild Multiplier symbols, Wild Reels, and the ever-ominous presence of the Four Horsemen.
Hacksaw Gaming has taken a strikingly minimalistic approach to the visual design of Life and Death, using a predominantly black-and-white aesthetic with splashes of color—blue, red, yellow, and green—reserved for the wild symbols and their connected reels. The decision to strip away color might symbolize dreamlike monochrome visions, the somber tone of the afterlife, or simply serve as a way to emphasize the significance of wilds. Regardless of the reason, the result is visually powerful, evoking the feeling of stepping into a Gothic Cathedral, where every detail is rich with mystery and meaning, inviting players to explore its dark yet mesmerizing world.
Despite having only 19 paylines, Life and Death features a surprisingly large gaming grid, consisting of 6 reels with 5 rows each. Players can adjust their stakes within Hacksaw Gaming’s standard betting range of $0.10 to $/€100 per spin, and for those looking to skip straight to the action, four bonus buy options are available.
With a volatility rating of 4 out of 5, Life and Death is a highly volatile slot, capable of delivering big swings. Among its four RTP configurations, the highest available is 96.36%, making it the most favorable option for long-term play.
Symbols & Payouts
The game features a monochrome set of symbols, divided into low-paying and high-paying categories:
- Low-paying symbols: 10, J, Q, K, A in a simple black-and-white design.
- High-paying symbols: Five esoteric, mysterious icons, also in monochrome, aligning with the game’s dark aesthetic.
Payout Structure
- A 6-of-a-kind (6OAK) win with royal symbols pays between 3x and 10x the bet.
- A 6OAK win with high-paying symbols awards 15x to 50x the bet.
With its striking, somber visuals, high volatility, and rewarding symbol payouts, Life and Death delivers an intense, atmospheric slot experience that invites players to embrace the unknown.
Life and Death: Features & Bonus Games
The core mechanics of Life and Death revolve around Wild Multipliers and Expanding Wild Reels, accompanied by two high-impact bonus games—Devastation and Reckoning—as well as Bonus Buy options for players who prefer to jump straight into the action.
Wild Multipliers & Expanding Wild Reels
The game features four Wild Multiplier symbols, each substituting for all regular pay symbols. When a Wild Multiplier contributes to a win, it multiplies the payout by its displayed value. These Wild Multipliers can appear on reels 2 to 5, and each reel is linked to a specific Horseman of the Apocalypse, with different multiplier ranges:
| Horseman | Color | Linked to Reel | Possible Multipliers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pestilence | Blue | Reel 2 | x2, x3, x4 |
| War | Red | Reel 3 | x5, x6, x7, x8, x9 |
| Famine | Yellow | Reel 4 | x10, x15, x20, x25 |
| Death | Green | Reel 5 | x30, x40, x50, x75, x100, x200 |
Expanding Wild Reels
- If a Wild Multiplier lands on its linked reel and can form part of a win, it expands into a full Wild Reel, retaining its original multiplier value.
- Wild Reel multipliers are additive, meaning if multiple Wild Reels are part of the same win, their multipliers are combined.
- Any Wild Multiplier can land on reels 2-5, not just their designated reels, though they only expand when landing on their connected reel.
Devastation Bonus Game
- Triggered by landing 3 FS scatters in the base game, awarding 10 free spins.
- Gameplay remains the same as the base game, but the chance of landing Wild Multipliers is increased.
- Additional scatters during free spins grant:
- 2 extra spins for 2 FS scatters.
- 4 extra spins for 3 FS scatters.
Reckoning Bonus Game
- Triggered by landing 4 FS scatters in the base game, awarding 10 free spins.
- Retains all mechanics of the base game and Devastation bonus but introduces Death Reels.
- How Death Reels Work:
- When a Wild Multiplier lands on its connected reel, that reel becomes a Death Reel.
- Once activated, a Death Reel guarantees its corresponding Wild Multiplier will always expand into a full Wild Reel, regardless of which of the four central reels it lands on, as long as it is part of a win.
- Additional scatters during free spins grant:
- 2 extra spins for 2 FS scatters.
- 4 extra spins for 3 FS scatters.
Bonus Buy Options
For players who want to bypass the base game and head straight into the feature-packed action, the game offers multiple Bonus Buy options:
| Bonus Buy Feature | Cost (Multiplier of Bet) | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| BonusHunt FeatureSpins | 3x | Each spin is 5x more likely to trigger a bonus game. |
| Four Horsemen FeatureSpins | 60x | Each spin guarantees at least 3 Wild Multipliers (Scatters do not appear). |
| Devastation Bonus | 100x | Instantly triggers the Devastation Bonus Game with 10 free spins. |
| Reckoning Bonus | 200x | Instantly triggers the Reckoning Bonus Game with 10 free spins. |
With its high-risk, high-reward volatility, expanding Wild Multipliers, and progressive Death Reels, Life and Death delivers a dark, intense slot experience that pushes players to embrace the unknown in pursuit of massive wins.
Life and Death: Slot Verdict
It’s remarkable to think that just a few years ago, Hacksaw Gaming was best known for scratch cards and quirky slots like Om Nom (2019). Now, they’re diving into philosophical themes that have intrigued humanity since we first started walking upright and questioning existence. For Hacksaw Gaming fans, there’s little doubt that Life and Death is worth a spin—it’s another dark, brooding slot infused with existential overtones and high-stakes gameplay.
Visually, the game echoes past Hacksaw releases, such as SixSixSix or Itero, as well as other darkly themed slots like Big Time Gaming’s Wild Flower or Lil’ Devil. The black-and-white aesthetic, life vs. death themes, and angelic vs. demonic symbolism all contribute to its moody, immersive atmosphere.
From a mechanical standpoint, expanding wild symbols with multipliers aren’t exactly a groundbreaking concept, but Hacksaw Gaming has added a unique twist—each Wild Multiplier must land on its specific reel to expand. This design choice may feel frustrating when wilds land on the “wrong” reels, but it also introduces an added layer of suspense and tension. The Reckoning bonus, in particular, maximizes these expansion opportunities, making it a more appealing choice than the Devastation bonus, which functions as a slightly enhanced base game. Regardless of the mode, Life and Death’s 15,000x max win cap ensures massive potential across all phases of gameplay.
Hacksaw Gaming has proven itself one of the top studios when it comes to spreading, expanding, and multiplying wild mechanics, and Life and Death is another testament to that expertise. While it doesn’t rely on finesse or revolutionary mechanics, its dark, thought-provoking presentation and well-executed high-risk gameplay make it a compelling choice for Hacksaw fans and volatility chasers alike.