Wicked Grin looks like something pulled from a forgotten black-and-white cartoon. Its grinning central character, Boney Bill, brings an unsettling twist to the cheerful fruit machines of the past, while expanding reels and coin multipliers give the game a distinctly modern identity.
Released by Hacksaw Gaming on 8 October 2026, Wicked Grin combines old-fashioned animation with two different bonus features. We take a closer look at the game’s presentation and mechanics, with slot expert Roger invited to share his impressions.
First impressions
First impressions — what caught your attention when you first opened Wicked Grin?
The visual style is probably the first thing you notice. Rather than following the usual approach of colourful fantasy graphics, Hacksaw Gaming has gone for an old black-and-white cartoon aesthetic. Boney Bill looks amusing at first, but there is something quite unsettling about that enormous grin.
What interests me is the contrast between the presentation and the mechanics. The symbols look like something from an old fruit machine, but underneath that exterior you have a 5×5 Scatter Pays game with cascading wins and expanding reels. It is a much more complicated slot than the visuals initially suggest.
Check our Wicked Grin slot review here!
Atmosphere and presentation
Wicked Grin takes inspiration from early cartoons. Does that style work for a modern slot?
I think the concept works because Hacksaw Gaming has committed to it throughout the game. The exaggerated expressions, monochrome background and old-fashioned cartoon effects all belong to the same world.
There are plenty of slots with impressive graphics, but fewer that have such a recognisable visual identity. You could see a screenshot of Wicked Grin without the title and probably recognise it immediately.
Does the presentation contribute anything beyond making the game look different?
The expanding reels are a good example. When a Wicked Grin symbol reaches the bottom row, the entire reel transforms into Coins and Multipliers. That creates a very noticeable change on the screen.
The visual design helps you understand when something important is happening. Regular fruit symbols are fairly straightforward, while the special symbols are much more prominent. It is an effective way of combining the old cartoon theme with the more complicated mechanics.
Mechanics and gameplay depth
How does Wicked Grin differ from a conventional fruit-machine slot?
The biggest difference is the Scatter Pays system. You need six or more matching symbols anywhere on the 5×5 grid, rather than following fixed paylines.
There are also cascading wins, which remove winning symbols and replace them with new ones. That means a single spin can produce several consecutive combinations.
But the main attraction is clearly the Wicked Grin symbols. They can expand entire reels into Coins and Multipliers, which makes their positioning particularly important.
What makes the Super Wicked Grin symbol interesting?
The regular Wicked Grin already has the ability to transform a reel, but the Super version can also activate Wicked Grin symbols on neighbouring reels.
That creates the possibility of several reels expanding during the same spin. Once you have multiple Coins and Multipliers interacting, the outcome can change considerably.
It is a mechanic that gives the game more depth than simply waiting for matching symbols.
Do the Coin and Multiplier mechanics offer something different?
What stands out is that the location of the multipliers matters. They can affect Coins above them and qualifying Coins on neighbouring reels, so the value is not determined by one symbol alone.
You can have a reasonably valuable Coin, but its final contribution depends on what appears around it. That interaction is central to how Wicked Grin works.
Read our Wicked Grin slot review for a detailed breakdown of the game.
Bonus features
Wicked Grin has two bonus rounds. How do Stash N Stack and Coin Craze differ?
Stash N Stack is built around multipliers above each reel. As Wicked Grin symbols expand, those multipliers can increase, potentially making later Coins more valuable.
Coin Craze works differently. Instead of concentrating on growing reel multipliers, it uses Coin Collectors that accumulate values throughout the feature.
Both bonuses use the same underlying expanding-symbol mechanics, but they develop in different ways. One focuses on improving the value of future Coins, while the other builds an accumulated prize.
Which bonus mechanic would you be most interested in testing?
I would be particularly interested in seeing how Coin Craze develops across a full bonus round. The Collector mechanic gives you something measurable building throughout the feature.
Stash N Stack is also interesting because a reel can become more valuable as its multiplier increases. The two modes create different situations, even though both depend on favourable symbol combinations.
Volatility and player profile
Hacksaw Gaming rates Wicked Grin as medium volatility. Does that surprise you?
A little, because Hacksaw Gaming is associated with several extremely volatile releases. Wicked Grin is officially rated 3 out of 5, which puts it in the medium category.
That does not mean every session will be consistent. The most substantial payouts still depend on getting the right combinations of Coins, Multipliers and expanding symbols.
It is important to distinguish the game’s official volatility classification from what somebody might experience during a short session.
Who do you think Wicked Grin will appeal to?
I think the unusual cartoon presentation will appeal to people who enjoy slots with a strong theme. There is also enough going on mechanically for players who like understanding how different features interact.
On the other hand, anyone looking for a very simple three-reel fruit machine might find the Coin and Multiplier system more complicated than expected.
Comparison with other Hacksaw slots
How does Wicked Grin compare with other darker releases from Hacksaw Gaming?
Hacksaw has released several games with unsettling characters and darker themes, including Rotten and The Crypt. Wicked Grin approaches that territory differently.
Rather than relying on horror imagery, it borrows from early cartoon animation. Boney Bill looks playful and sinister at the same time, which gives the game a different personality.
The expanding reel system also provides a clear mechanical identity. It is not simply another dark-themed slot with a different set of symbols.
Immersion and criticism
A lot of players chase “dark fantasy” slots because they feel more immersive. Does this one deliver on immersion?
Yes, it delivers strongly on immersion. The atmosphere, animations and mechanics all work together to keep players engaged. Because features can activate une
Is there anything about Wicked Grin that you would criticise?
One possible drawback is how dependent the more substantial payouts are on the special symbols. Ordinary Scatter Pays combinations can produce wins, but the main feature system is where much of the game’s potential sits.
The mechanics also require a little attention. Understanding how Coins and Multipliers interact across neighbouring reels is more complicated than understanding a conventional slot.
And although the black-and-white presentation is distinctive, it will not appeal to everybody. Some players will prefer brighter games with a more modern visual style.
xpectedly during regular gameplay, the slot constantly creates anticipation.
That unpredictability is important because it keeps players emotionally invested in the next spin. Combined with the darker presentation style, it becomes very easy to lose yourself in the gameplay for long periods.
If you had to criticize one aspect of the slot, what would it be?
My biggest criticism would probably be that some of the core features do not trigger often enough during the base game itself. You see them much more regularly once you reach the bonus rounds, but during normal gameplay there can sometimes be slightly too much waiting between the most exciting moments.
That said, the bonus features do compensate for it quite heavily once they finally arrive.
Roger’s verdict
Finally, what is your overall assessment of Wicked Grin?
Wicked Grin has a recognisable identity, and that is one of its biggest strengths. The early-cartoon presentation is unusual, while the expanding symbols and two bonus modes provide more mechanical variety than the simple fruit-machine appearance might suggest.
I particularly like the idea of neighbouring reels interacting through the Super Wicked Grin mechanic. It gives the special symbols a purpose beyond their individual values.
The game will not suit everybody, especially those who prefer simpler slots, but it is an interesting addition to Hacksaw Gaming’s catalogue.