Introduction to Wicked Grin
Wicked Grin is a casino slot from Hacksaw Gaming with a fun mix of charm and grit. Hacksaw Gaming follows the success of games Pray for Six and Six Six Six with another dark and playful addition to its unusual cartoon portfolio. This time, we meet Boney Bill, a mischievous-looking skeleton standing beside the 5x5 game grid and set of easy-to-navigate visuals. Wicked Grin takes a more straightforward approach than some recent Hacksaw Gaming games, both in design and gameplay. Here, we get a scatter pays mechanic combined with Wicked Grin Symbols, which can expand and transform entire reels into Coin or Multiplier Symbols, creating solid win potential whenever they’re triggered. We would need additional Base Game features to regard this release as one of the studio’s strongest, but it delivers a quality slot experience with an interesting twist.
Theme, Gameplay, & Payouts
Wicked Grin is a video slot by Hacksaw Gaming that features 5 reels and 5 rows. Due to the scatter pays mechanic, this game has no regular pay lines; wins are created by landing 6 or more of the same symbol type anywhere on the reels. You can select bet sizes ranging from 0.1 to 100, with a default RTP of 96.27%. However, operators can also choose to use 94.32%, 92.28%, or 86.28%. This game has medium volatility and offers potential wins of up to 10,000X your bet.
The game’s design is based on a dark retro cartoon theme, starring Boney Bill, who looks like a horror version of Micky Mouse. The game blends gritty visuals with a fun vibe and an easy-to-navigate layout. The 5x5 game grid is in the middle of the screen and if you want to boost the gaming experience for a cost, activate the Feature Buy button on the left. All other buttons, including the Spin and Bet Size, can be found below the reels. You can play Wicked Grin on all mobile devices, desktops, and notepads. You create a winning combination by landing 6 or more of the same symbol type anywhere on the reels, which activates the Cascade.
The lower-paying symbols are clubs, diamonds, hearts, and spades. Landing 17+ of the same symbol type pays 25X. The higher-paying symbols are grapes, watermelon, golden bell, cherry, and 7. Landing 17+ of the same symbol type pays between 50X and 100X.
The game’s Scatter Symbols are a red or golden coin with the text “FS”. When at least one Scatter (red) or a Super Scatter (golden) is located on the bottom row, each Scatter Symbol expands across the reel positions that represent a certain number of Free Spins. The Scatter and Super Scatter can have values of +1, +2, or +3. The total number of Free spins awarded is determined by adding up all the numbers each Scatter or Super Scatter covers.
The Expanding Wicked Grin Symbol is a skeleton symbol, and whenever it drops down to the bottom row, it will expand after all wins are paid, then transform all symbols on that reel into Coins or Multipliers. The Epic Expanded Wicked Grin is golden and triggers any other Wicked Grin symbols on the grid to expand from their current positions. The Coin Symbols can land as bronze, silver, gold, and diamonds, with values ranging from 1X to 500X the bet. The Multiplier Symbol is a purple “X” with a multiplier value up to 10X. Let’s find out what kind of features this game has to offer.
Special Features & Slot Mechanics
What is the max win in the slot of Wicked Grin?
The max win is 10,000X the bet.
What features are available in the slot of Wicked Grin?
The features of this slot game are Expanding Wicked Grin Coins, Spreading Scatter Symbols, Stash N Stack, Coin Craze, and Feature Buys.
Expanding Wicked Grid Coins
This feature can be triggered by a Wicked Grin or Epic Wicked Grin symbol landing on the bottom row. After all wins from the spin have been paid, the symbol expands to fill the entire reel. The expanded symbols then transform all symbols on that reel into Coins or a Multiplier. Only one type of Wicked Grin symbol can land on a reel at a time.
When an Epic Wicked Grin symbol expands, it triggers any other Wicked Grin symbols on the grid to expand from their current positions. This means that multiple reels can expand and transform their symbols into Coins or Multipliers.
Bronze Coin = 1X, 2X, 3X or 4X the bet.
Silver Coin = 5X, 6X, 7X, 8X or 9X the bet.
Gold Coin = 10X, 20X, 30X, 40X or 50X the bet.
Diamond Coin = 100X, 150X, 250X or 500X the bet.
Multiplier = Values of 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X, 10X or 20X. When a Multiplier is revealed, its value is added to the value of all Coins above it and to Coins on adjacent reels in rows above the Multiplier. If more than one Multiplier is revealed, their values are added to the Coins one at a time. Multipliers cannot appear on the top row.
Spreading Scatter Feature
This feature can be triggered when at least one Scatter or Super Scatter Symbol lands on the bottom row. After all wins have been awarded, each Scatter Symbol expands across the entire reel it lands on. Every position covered by a Scatter Symbol or Super Scatter Symbol represents a certain number of Free Spins. The total number of Free Spins awarded is determined by adding together the values of all positions covered by the Scatter Symbols or Super Scatter Symbols.
Scatter Symbol = Can have a value of +1, +2, or +3 Free Spins.
Super Scatter Symbol = Can have a value of +1, +2, or +3 Free Spins.
Scatter Symbols and Super Scatter Symbols cannot appear on the grid at the same time. A maximum of two Scatter Symbols and Super Scatter Symbols can be present on the reels at the same time. Read more about the Bonus Game in the next section!
Stash N Stack
The Stash N Stack can be triggered via the Spreading Scatter Feature by landing at least 1 Expanding Scatter Symbol, awarding 5 to 30 Free Spins. You can retrigger the feature by landing additional expanding Scatter Symbols, granting between 5 and 30 additional Free Spins.
Here, we get the Base Game mechanics, but above each reel is a Stash with a multiplier starting at 1X. When a Wicked Grin Symbol expands, all Coin values on that reel are multiplied by the Multiplier in the Stash. The Stash Multiplier will then increase by +1X for the next Free Spin.
Coin Craze
The Coin Craze can be triggered via the Spreading Scatter Feature by landing at least 1 Expanding Super Scatter Symbol, awarding 5 to 30 Free Spins. You can retrigger the feature by landing additional Expanding Super Scatter Symbols, granting between 5 and 30 additional Free Spins.
Here, we get the Base Game mechanics, but above each reel is a Coin Collector starting at 1. When a Wicked Grin Symbol expands, all Coin values on that reel are collected in the Coin Collector until the end of the feature.
Whenever a Multiplier is revealed during an expansion, the Multiplier is applied to the Coin values and also multiplies the saved value in the Coin Collector on that reel and on the adjacent reels. When the feature ends, all Coin Collector values are added together and awarded.
Feature Buy
If you want to boost the gaming experience for a cost, you can use the Feature Buy options:
3X (BonusHunt FeatureSpins) = Each spin is 5 times more likely to trigger a Bonus Game. Played with high volatility and an RTP of 96.39%.
50X (Grinny FeatureSpins) = Each spin guarantees either the Wicked or Epic Wicked Grin Symbols on the reels. Played with high volatility and an RTP of 96.23%.
80X (Stach N Stack) = Activates Bonus Game. Played with high volatility and an RTP of 96.26%.
250X (Coin Craze) = Activates Bonus Game. Played with high volatility and an RTP of 96.28%.
Final Thoughts on Wicked Grin
Hacksaw Gaming brings a familiar design formula and continues the studio’s habit of blending dark themes with playful characters. This time, we are introduced to Boney Bill, who looks like a horror-inspired version of Mickey Mouse. His mischievous look gives the game plenty of personality and humor, making it less dark than, for example, Death Becomes You.
Wicked Grin combines straightforward gameplay with an interesting expanding mechanic. Starting with the Base Game, the scatter pays mechanic offers a familiar foundation, while Wicked Grin Symbols provide the excitement. It can land on the reels as a normal Wicked Grin or as an Epic Wicked Grin Symbol, expanding across reels and transforming symbols into Coins or Multipliers when they hit the bottom of the game grid. The Wicked Grin Symbols add an entertaining layer to the gameplay, and although it’s related to the reveal mechanics seen in the Le series, it stands on its own. While testing the game, we needed this feature to trigger for the game to peak. Without a Wicked Grin trigger, the Base Game feels too basic for our taste, lacking additional features to fill the void. So what about the Bonus Games? As usual, when it comes to Hacksaw Gaming, we get more than one Bonus Game. In both the Stack N Stash and Coin Craze, we created some big wins with the Coin Collector and Stash Multiplier, taking the game to another level.
Overall, Wicked Grin is an enjoyable and visually appealing release that combines Hacksaw Gaming’s familiar dark vibe with a cartoonish style. It may not offer the same depth as some of the provider’s strongest releases, but the Wicked Grin feature, varied Bonus Game mechanics, and cheeky presentation give it enough personality and innovation to stand out.
Wicked Grin is a slot with a dark cartoon theme and a cheeky vibe, with its expanding mechanic serving as the game’s main attraction.
