Through the Fire Slot Review

Introduction

Through the Fire by the collaboration of Hacksaw Gaming (via OpenRGS) and developer NowNow Gaming delivers a dark‑gothic fantasy clash between mankind and a beastly wolf. Set in a misty graveyard‑jungle hybrid, the art blends eerie graveyard undertones with stylised human warriors and a wolf antagonist. The standout mechanics centre on “battle” symbols turning icons into sticky wilds and building a persistent multiplier — giving this slot far more tactical flavour than a typical 5‑reel paylines game.

Game Features and Bonuses

• Layout: 5 reels × 5 rows with 19 fixed paylines.

• Special Symbols:

  • Wild Wolf symbol: substitutes for standard symbols and is created via the main feature.

  • Battle symbol: triggers the Wild Wolf Battle when a Man or Lady symbol is present.

  • Man/Lady symbols: higher‑value regular symbols that can transform into sticky wilds.

  • Scatter (Bonus symbol): triggers the free spins bonus (Inferno Hunt).

• Free Spins: Triggered with 3, 4 or 5 Scatter symbols awarding 10, 15 or 20 free spins respectively. During the free spins round the multiplier meter does not reset between spins. The bonus cannot be retriggered.

• Bonus Rounds / Mini‑Games:

  • Wild Wolf Battle: When a Battle symbol lands alongside at least one Man or Lady symbol, each of those human symbols “battles” the wolf. If a human loses, their symbol transforms into a Sticky Wild Wolf which locks in place for the rest of the sequence. A respin is triggered if at least one wild was created. New Man/Lady symbols landing may trigger new battles (and respins) until no new wilds are created.

• Unique Features:

  • A Multiplier Meter accumulates values from Sticky Wilds created during battles (multipliers can range up to x500 for Man symbols, x50 for Lady symbols) and then applies the collected multiplier to all wins in that respin sequence.

  • Feature Buy options: you can buy the Bonus (Inferno Hunt) or guarantee the Battle symbol to accelerate entry into major features.

  • Sticky wilds + continuous respins offer a chain‑reaction win mechanic, rather than simply one free spins round.

Game Statistics

• Release Date: November 18, 2025.

• Game Type: Video Slot (5×5 with paylines) by NowNow Gaming via Hacksaw Gaming’s platform.

• Reels and Paylines: 5 reels × 5 rows, 19 paylines.

• Max Win Potential: Up to ~10,000× your stake.

• RTP (Return to Player): 96.26% standard variant (with some jurisdictions listing a 94.26% variant).

• Volatility: High.

Gameplay Mechanics and Strategies

• Unique Mechanics: The core loop is built around the Wild Wolf Battle. Landing a Battle symbol alongside Man/Lady symbols triggers a battle; wolf wins = transformation into sticky wilds, then respins continue while sticky wilds remain locked. Each sticky wild might carry a random multiplier (1× up to 500× for a Man symbol, 1× up to 50× for a Lady). These multipliers are not applied immediately but collected into the multiplier meter, which then multiplies any payline wins. In the base game and the free spins round the multiplier meter persists (in free spins it won’t reset).

• In‑Game Dynamics: For example, you spin normally; a Battle symbol lands with three Lady symbols. Each Lady battles the wolf: if one or more are defeated, they turn into sticky wilds. A respin triggers, sticky wilds remain locked; if new Man/Lady symbols appear they too battle and possibly convert. Meanwhile multipliers get added to the meter. On payout, total wins are multiplied by the meter value for that sequence. In free spins you could accumulate multipliers over many spins, leading to large win potential though less frequent.

• Player Strategy: Because the slot is high volatility, patience is required. Focus on ensuring enough budget for the game to hit its key features. The Feature Buy options accelerate feature entry but cost 50× (or 100× for bonus buy) the stake — use only if bankroll allows and you prefer feature‑driven play. Given the multiplier meter persists and sticky wild chains are the primary win engine, aim to trigger the Battle symbol often — feature buy (or base game hits) that enable more sticky wilds = greater chance for huge multipliers. Casual spins may feel flat until the feature triggers. Because you can win up to 10,000× your bet in either base game or bonus, the strategy for high‑risk players is to ‘hunt’ those sticky wild chains via feature buys or high‑bet modes; for more conservative players, moderate bet size and enjoying the theme may suffice.

Comparison with Similar Slots

Comparing Through the Fire to other NowNow/Hacksaw titles:

• Compared to Chaos Crew 3 (Hacksaw Gaming) – Chaos Crew 3 uses super‑cascades and an “xSeries” multiplier mechanic with cluster pays, offering up to ~30,000× win potential. Thematic tone is gritty urban vengeance. Through the Fire shares the high‑win ambition and multiplier‑stacking design but uses a standard paylines grid (5×5, 19 lines) rather than cluster pays/cascades. Through the Fire’s advantage: the sticky wild + respin + meter mechanic feel more interactive and feature‑rich.

• Compared to The Wildwood Curse (Hacksaw Gaming) – The Wildwood Curse features an Atlas‑style high volatility fantasy forest theme, free spins with modifiers, and max win around 10,000×. Through the Fire has the similar max win and volatility, but introduces the ‘battle’ conversion mechanic and persistent meter which gives it a more dynamic feature loop. What makes Through the Fire more unique: the battle mechanic and multiplier meter that persists across respins and free spins.
  In short: Through the Fire stands out among its peers by combining sticky wilds, respins and a cumulative multiplier meter into both base and bonus play, rather than offering only passive free spins or cascades.

Conclusion

Through the Fire delivers a visually cohesive, high‑volatility video slot with deep features: sticky wilds born of in‑game battles, a multiplier meter that builds across respins, and significant win potential up to ~10,000× your bet. The strengths are its immersive theme, interactive mechanics and the ability for large casualties of wins when the features align. The drawbacks: the high volatility means many spins will feel quiet, the bonus cannot be retriggered, and some mechanics may feel derivative to experienced slot players. This game is best suited for risk‑takers and feature‑loving players who enjoy deep mechanics and are comfortable with the swings. Casual players wanting frequent small wins might find it less appealing.
If you appreciate gothic‑fantasy themes, battle‑driven mechanics and high stakes, Through the Fire is a strong pick.

Meta Description

“Through the Fire slot review – a gothic 5×5 high volatility slot from Hacksaw/NowNow featuring sticky wild battles, multiplier meter and up to 10,000× win potential.”