Shadow Strike

Shadow Strike Casinos

Shadow Strike, a martial arts-themed slot from Hacksaw Gaming’s partner, Backseat Gaming, is a strikingly crafted game that invites you into a serene yet dangerous world where you’ll need to “strike or be stricken!” Whether you’ve honed your kung fu skills or not, this slot offers plenty of ways to land a hit, including three different bonus rounds and multiple feature buys. It’s a slot packed with action, suspense, and rewards, all set against a visually appealing backdrop.

Atmosphere and Design

The setting of Shadow Strike takes players to an exotic Asian location, where peaceful surroundings contrast with the high-octane gameplay. Gentle, traditional music plays in the background, while the gaming grid is framed within a structure that feels like a martial arts dojo, adding to the sense of calm before the storm. You’re surrounded by nature, giving the game a meditative vibe—perfect for practicing your martial arts moves. But don’t be fooled by the peaceful ambiance; the game packs enough features and excitement to ensure Shadow Strike is anything but quiet.

Shadow Strike: How does it play?

The action unfolds on a 5-reel grid, but there’s a twist. For much of the time, the top two rows are locked, with only the main 4-row grid active. These two outer rows are Ninja Reels, and while they might not be unlocked from the start, they play a key role in the game’s special features—more on that later.

The game has 14 paylines, and bets range from 10 cents to $/€100 per spin, catering to both casual players and high rollers. With medium-high volatility (rated 4.5 out of 5), you can expect a nice balance of risks and rewards as you spin.

Symbols and Payouts

As you’d expect from a martial arts-themed slot, the symbols are packed with weapons and warriors:

• Low pay symbols: These include 4 types of martial arts weapons, offering payouts of 2 to 5 times the bet for landing 5 on a payline.
• High pay symbols: These feature 4 different warriors, and if you hit 5 of the same warrior, you’ll pocket 7.5 to 20 times your stake.
• Wilds: The wild symbols can land on any reel and substitute for all regular paying symbols. If you manage to line up 5 wilds, you’ll be rewarded with a payout of 20 times your stake.

Shadow Strike: Slot Features

The Ninja Reels add a unique dynamic to the game. Although they start out locked, unlocking them is key to triggering some of the game’s most exciting features. There are three bonus rounds that can be activated in Shadow Strike, each offering different ways to boost your chances of winning big. Plus, if you’re feeling impatient, the game has five different feature buys that allow you to jump straight into the action.

Shadow Strike really cranks up the action with an impressive array of features, and it all starts with the Ninja Reels, which bring some powerful bonuses into play. Let’s break down these features to see how they work and how you can leverage them for big wins.

Ninja Reels

Located above and below the main 4-row grid, these Ninja Reels are typically locked at the start of each spin, but can be unlocked by landing any of the 3 different bonus symbols on the main grid. When unlocked, these reels can deliver wilds, MultiSplit symbols, and +FS symbols (for extra free spins). However, they also contain non-paying “dead” symbols, which won’t do much for your balance.

Wild Symbol

When a wild lands on a Ninja Reel, it creates a matching wild on the corresponding reel in the main grid. These wilds not only substitute for other symbols but can also come with multipliers ranging from x2 to x50, making for some hefty win potential. Even better, if multiple wilds contribute to the same win, their multipliers are added together before being applied, making a massive payout a real possibility.

MultiSplit Symbol

The MultiSplit symbol shows up only on the Ninja Reels, and it packs a punch. MultiSplits multiply the values of wilds on the corresponding reel, boosting their multiplier to as much as x50. If a MultiSplit hits a wild without a multiplier, it assigns its own multiplier value to that wild, potentially turning a basic win into a high-value one.

Mysteries of the Dojo Bonus Game

This bonus is triggered by landing 3, 4, or 5 Dojo Bonus scatters, which rewards you with 10, 12, or 14 free spins. Here’s where the action ramps up: both Ninja Reels remain unlocked throughout the feature, and wild symbols that land on the main grid become sticky, staying in place for the duration of the free spins. On top of that, landing a +FS symbol adds 1-3 extra free spins, extending your free spin frenzy.

Secrets of the Scroll Bonus Game

Triggered by landing 3, 4, or 5 Scroll scatters, this bonus also gives you 10, 12, or 14 free spins, with both Ninja Reels unlocked for the entirety. However, in this bonus, wilds on the main grid expand to cover the entire reel, making it easier to land those big wins. As with the Dojo feature, +FS symbols add 1-3 free spins to keep the action going.

Wisdom of the Koi Bonus Game

This is the most complex of the bunch, triggered by landing 3 Koi scatters. The game plays out in two phases:

• Collection Phase: Here, you start with 3 lives, and only wilds, multipliers, or MultiSplits can land. If a new symbol lands, your lives reset, but after 3 non-winning spins, the phase ends. The multipliers on the Ninja Reels above the grid increase when you land multiplier symbols on the corresponding reels below.
• Payout Phase: After collecting wilds, you’re given 3 final spins, during which the collected wilds land on the grid, carrying the multipliers collected in the previous phase. Any unlocked Ninja Reel positions reveal additional MultiSplits to boost your winnings even further.

Bonus Buy Options

For players who don’t want to wait for a bonus round, Shadow Strike offers five different feature buys, all with high volatility:

• BonusHunt FeatureSpins: For 2x the bet, each spin is 3x more likely to trigger a bonus game. (RTP 96.27%)
• Ninja Power FeatureSpins: For 50x the bet, 2-5 wilds are guaranteed on the top Ninja Reel, with at least 1 MultiSplit on the bottom. (RTP 96.31%)
• Mysteries of the Dojo Bonus Game: For 100x the bet, you get straight into this bonus. (RTP 96.34%)
• Secrets of the Scroll Bonus Game: For 150x the bet, this bonus becomes instantly accessible. (RTP 96.32%)
• Wisdom of the Koi Bonus Game: For 200x the bet, you’ll jump right into the action with this feature. (RTP 96.27%)

Shadow Strike: Slot Verdict

It’s clear these studios have a knack for riffing off each other’s ideas. They seem happy to share concepts and build off them. Take Shadow Strike’s Wisdom of the Koi bonus game—it feels like a nod to Alpha Eagle’s Eagle Link round. Both have this two-part structure, where the Collection Phase sets the stage for the Payout Phase. Collecting a stack of wilds and boosting reel multipliers in the first phase can really set you up for success, or, if it doesn’t go your way, you might feel the pain during the payout. With only 3 fixed spins in the Payout Phase, there’s little margin for error. But hey, even if the Koi round leaves you bruised, at least there’s the comfort of knowing that Shadow Strike’s 15,000x the bet max win can be hit in any game mode.

One thing’s for sure—Shadow Strike has a certain vibe of familiarity when it comes to its features. That said, Backseat Gaming added enough of their own flair to keep things fresh. The features have the potential to really pop, but at times, it does feel like Shadow Strike has as much Hacksaw DNA as Backseat Gaming’s, which isn’t a bad thing. More like a family resemblance, with each studio adding its own twist on a shared idea. Familiar, yet punchy, Shadow Strike fits right in with the action-packed lineup coming out of the Hacksaw family!