Imagine a group of game developers relaxing after a challenging day, diving into a dark, underground setting where intense battles unfold in the shadowy depths of a basement. This scenario closely mirrors the essence of Hacksaw Gaming. Renowned for their unique VS-themed slot machines and beat 'em up games, fighter-pit.com their latest creation marks an exciting new chapter in their ongoing innovation. The recently released Fighter Pit immerses players in an epic clash between two opposing factions, with Fist symbols triggering wilds and multipliers across the reels. This game clearly draws inspiration from Hacksaw's earlier success, Fists of Destruction, released in 2024.


Fighter Pit takes inspiration from the golden age of arcade gaming, offering a sleek, retro-inspired look. The game grid is framed by buttons and a directional pad, evoking memories of classic console controllers. On each side of the screen, two fighters from the Green and Red teams are locked in battle. Players can select one of the fighter icons positioned above the grid to pick a side. However, this choice is purely cosmetic and does not influence the game mechanics.


Fighter Pit slot - base game


With a simple press of the spin button, the 5x4 reel layout comes to life, displaying 14 paylines that form winning combinations. To achieve a win, players need to land at least three matching OAK+ symbols. Bet sizes vary from a modest 10c to $/€100 per spin, offering a medium-high volatility experience. The game features a maximum RTP of 96.3%, giving players a chance to secure the highest payout across all modes.


The lower-value symbols are represented by metallic card ranks, ranging from 10 to Ace, each offering 2 times the stake for a five-of-a-kind combination. The higher-value symbols are four different fighter icons, each rewarding 5 to 10 times the stake for a five-of-a-kind match. Wild symbols can substitute for any regular symbol, and a full line of five wilds awards 10x the player's stake.


Fighter Pit: Slot Features


Fighter Pit slot - free spins


The action escalates with the Wild Fist Reels feature, which brings in multipliers, a Showdown bonus, an Ultimate Showdown round, and even the option to purchase bonus features.


Wild Fist Reels


When a Fist symbol lands on the reels, it expands into a Wild Fist Reel, stretching all the way to the top of the reel. These expanded Fist symbols only activate when they contribute to a winning combination. Wild Fist Reels can replace any regular symbol. Depending on the Fist symbol's color, it is associated with either the Red team or the Green team. When a Fist symbol lands on an opposing fighter or a wild symbol, a multiplier ranging from x2 to x200 is applied to the Wild Fist Reel, boosting all corresponding wins.


Showdown


When 3 FS scatters land in the base game, it triggers 10 free Showdown spins. While the core mechanics remain unchanged from the base game, the Red and Green teams now compete for Victory Points. Both teams start with a Victory Level of 3+, and each time a Fist symbol lands on an opposing fighter or a wild symbol, the attacking team earns +1 Victory Point. Once a team reaches 3 Victory Points, a respin is activated, alongside an Epic Drop and a +1 increase in the victorious team’s Victory Level. The number of Fist symbols during the Epic Drop depends on the current Victory Level: Level 3+ guarantees 3 Fists, Level 4+ ensures 4 Fists, and Level 5+ guarantees 5 Fists, all in the winning team’s color. Fists appearing during the Epic Drop do not affect the Victory Level. Additionally, landing 2 or 3 FS scatters grants extra +2 or +4 free spins, respectively.


Ultimate Showdown


When 4 FS scatters land in the base game, players unlock 10 Ultimate Showdown free spins. This round operates similarly to the Showdown feature, but both teams start with a Victory Level of 4+.


Bonus Buys


Players can choose to activate the BonusHunt FeatureSpins for 3x the bet, which increases the chances of triggering a bonus game by five times. The Throwing Punches FeatureSpins, priced at 50x, guarantees at least 3 Fist symbols on the reels, while Epic Drop FeatureSpins, costing 150x, ensure a minimum of 4 Fist symbols. The Showdown bonus can be triggered for 100x, and the Ultimate Showdown is available for 250x.


Fighter Pit slot - free spins


Fighter Pit: Slot Verdict


It's fascinating to observe how Hacksaw Gaming continually revisits and refines their previous works, a trend that has become especially evident in their recent releases. This isn’t a critique, but rather a recognition of their evolving design philosophy. The studio appears to be moving away from frequently introducing entirely new concepts, instead focusing on enhancing and building upon earlier ideas. Hacksaw's continued affection for wilds and multipliers is clear, and it's intriguing to see how these features continue to evolve in their newer titles. While Fighter Pit offers a strong gameplay experience, it doesn’t present any groundbreaking ideas compared to its predecessor, Fists of Destruction.


Visually, the game features a fresh set of faceless fighters set against a stylish, retro backdrop that enhances its overall charm. However, much like Fists of Destruction, some aspects—whether thrilling or somewhat underwhelming—remain the same. The Fist symbols are especially exciting when they appear lower on the reels, delivering powerful punches to the opposing fighters or wilds to trigger multipliers. On the other hand, landing a Fist symbol higher up on the reels can feel like a missed opportunity, although it still holds some value. This feature truly shines during the bonus round with the Epic Drop, where rewards grow more significant as the Victory Levels rise.


In summary, Fighter Pit provides players with the potential to win up to 10,000x their stake at any given time, thanks to expanding wilds and multipliers. With the right symbol combinations, it can match the excitement of the game that inspired it. However, one might wonder where this game fits within the broader scope of Hacksaw's offerings.