Hacksaw Gaming is taking a different route with Supernova Galaxy Orbs, a space-themed slot that trades some of the studio’s more unconventional ideas for a familiar combination of classic symbols, Hold & Win gameplay and jackpot features.
Despite its futuristic setting, the game has a distinctly retro feel. Instead of astronauts and elaborate cosmic imagery, the reels feature traditional fruit, bells and card symbols, while the main action revolves around coloured Orbs and collectible prizes.
A classic slot format with a space twist
Supernova Galaxy Orbs uses five reels and 26 paylines, with a medium-volatility profile and a preferred RTP of 96.23%.
Bets range from €/$0.10 to €/$200 per spin.
The regular symbols include card values from 10 to A alongside cherries, oranges, grapes, watermelons and bells. Wilds can appear on any reel and substitute for the regular symbols, while five Wilds across a payline award 10x the bet.
The game’s biggest potential, however, comes from its bonus mechanics.
Red Orbs turn the game into a Hold & Win
Landing a Red Orb starts a Hold & Win round with three spins.
During the feature, the reels are limited to Red Orbs, Coins, Jackpot symbols and Dead spaces. Any new Red Orb, Coin or Jackpot symbol that lands becomes locked in place and resets the spin counter to three.
The Coins come in four levels:
- Bronze: 0.2x–2x
- Silver: 3x–10x
- Gold: 15x–50x
- Diamond: 100x–1,000x
Jackpot symbols reveal their values when the feature ends. They can award a 10x Mini, 50x Major, 500x Mega or 5,000x Max Win.
The Red Orbs then activate and collect the values of the Coins and Jackpots on the grid. Up to three Red Orbs can be present at once, although only one can land during a single spin.
Blue Orbs add collecting potential to the base game
Red Orbs aren’t the only way to collect prizes.
Blue Orbs can also appear and gather the values of Coin and Jackpot symbols on the reels after regular wins have been settled.
Up to three Blue Orbs can land simultaneously, although the game does not allow Red and Blue Orbs to appear together.
This gives the base game an additional collecting mechanic while keeping the main Hold & Win feature reserved for Red Orb triggers.
Free Spins increase the chance of Orbs
The Sphere Factor feature provides another route into the game’s bonus content.
Three, four or five Scatters award 10, 15 or 20 Free Spins, respectively.
During Sphere Factor, Red Orbs have an increased chance of appearing, while the minimum Coin value rises to 1x the bet.
The feature can also be extended when additional Scatters land. Two, three, four or five Scatters during Free Spins award another 3, 5, 7 or 10 spins.
The Free Spins therefore work mainly as a way of increasing access to the game’s Orb and Hold & Win mechanics rather than introducing an entirely separate gameplay system.
Several ways to buy into the action
Hacksaw Gaming has also included multiple feature-buy options.
BonusHunt FeatureSpins cost 2x the bet and increase the chance of triggering a bonus, while Cosmic FeatureSpins, priced at 75x, guarantee a Red Orb and start a Hold & Win with Coin values of at least 1x.
For players looking for a more substantial bonus round, Galactic FeatureSpins cost 500x the bet and guarantee between one and five Blue Orbs, with the remaining positions filled by Coins worth at least 1x or Jackpot symbols.
The Sphere Factor round can also be purchased directly for 65x the bet.
A different side of Hacksaw Gaming
Supernova Galaxy Orbs is an interesting departure for Hacksaw Gaming.
The studio is better known for highly stylised themes and more experimental mechanics, while this release leans much more heavily into the established Hold & Win formula.
That doesn’t necessarily make the game less appealing. Its combination of Red and Blue Orbs, collectible Coins, multiple jackpots and the Sphere Factor Free Spins gives players plenty to interact with, even if the underlying structure is more familiar.
The 5,000x maximum win is also relatively restrained compared with some of Hacksaw Gaming’s more aggressive releases, but it fits the game’s traditional jackpot-focused design.
Ultimately, Supernova Galaxy Orbs feels like Hacksaw Gaming deliberately stepping outside its usual comfort zone. The result is a more conventional slot that blends retro fruit-machine aesthetics with a space setting and the supplier’s own take on Hold & Win gameplay.
Source: Bigwinboard / Hacksaw Gaming