Densho (Hacksaw Gaming) – Review & Demo Play

Densho - Slot Overview

Densho drops you into a Japanese-inspired watercolour scene with 5 reels, 4 rows, and 10 paylines. Stakes run from 0.10 to 100, with a top-tier RTP in the 96.33–96.40% band, though some markets offer 94.31%, 92.33%, or 88.34%. Volatility sits at 4/5, and the max win reaches 10,000x. The base game already carries the core mechanic, and the artwork shifts like ink on paper without getting in the way once you settle in. I found it clean, focused, and easy to read.

Symbols & Paytable in Densho

Four low-value Japanese characters pay 0.1x, 0.5x, or 2x for 3, 4, or 5 of a kind. Premiums step up: Crane and Bridge pay 1x, 3x, 10x; Owl pays 1.5x, 5x, 12x; Geisha pays 2x, 6x, 15x; Samurai delivers 3x, 10x, 20x for 3, 4, 5. The Mountains Wild substitutes and pays 20x for a five-line hit. Lines pay left to right, and you can connect more than one win per spin when the grid lines up.

Koi Fish Scatters trigger features when 3 or 4 land. The black bird Densho symbol is separate from the standard Wild; it can expand into a full Multiplier Reel when doing so would form a win. I like that pays feel fair on their own, then scale hard when multipliers land. With 10 fixed lines, small base nudges keep the balance ticking, and those bird hits are the moments that matter.

Densho Symbols and Paytable

Symbol	Quantity	Payout
	5	x20
	5	x20
	4	x10
	3	x3
	5	x15
	4	x6
	3	x2
	5	x12.5
	4	x5
	3	x1.5
	5	x10
	4	x3
	3	x1
	5	x10
	4	x3
	3	x1
	5	x2
	4	x0.5
	3	x0.1
	5	x2
	4	x0.5
	3	x0.1
	5	x2
	4	x0.5
	3	x0.1
	5	x2
	4	x0.5
	3	x0.1
	Scatter
	Wild

Bonus Features in Densho

Wild Multiplier Reels are the engine. A Densho symbol expands to a full reel only if that creates a win. Expanded reels are wild and carry a multiplier applied to any winning combo they touch; if more than one lands in the same win, values are added. Common Densho awards x2–x10. Rare Densho can show x5, x10, x15, x20, x25, or x50. Legendary Densho can land x10, x15, x20, x25, x50, or x100. Only one Densho per reel at a time.

Free Spins trigger with 3 Scatters for 10 spins. Progression trackers sit above each reel, showing the lowest Densho tier that can appear on that reel. Upgrade symbols raise a reel’s tracker level, and progress holds for the duration. I rate this build-up highly because it trims weaker birds away as you climb. Land 2 Scatters for +2 spins, or 3 Scatters for +4, which helps grind towards those higher multipliers.

Super Free Spins arrive with 4 Scatters and 10 spins, starting all trackers at level 2 so Common Densho is removed from the pool. That shortcut is where I’ve seen the grid heat up fastest. A Bonus Buy menu exists with four choices: 3x bet (5x chance to trigger), 50x (2+ Densho per spin), 100x (Free Spins), and 250x (Super Free Spins), each with top-tier RTPs around 96.33–96.37%, and very high volatility. Not available in the UK.

Bonus Buy Feature

BonusHunt FeatureSpins Each spin is 5 times more likely to trigger a bonus game.
Feature Cost:	x3 Bet
RTP:	96.35%
Volatility:	High
Densho FeatureSpins Each spin guarantees that at least 2 Densho symbols land.
Feature Cost:	x50 Bet
RTP:	96.34%
Volatility:	Extra
Free Spins Start the bonus game with progression trackers at level 1.
Feature Cost:	x100 Bet
RTP:	96.37%
Volatility:	Extra
Super Free Spins Start the bonus game with progression trackers at level 2.
Feature Cost:	x250 Bet
RTP:	96.33%
Volatility:	High

Densho RTP, Volatility & Max Win

On the best config, RTP sits at 96.33–96.40%. Some venues may offer 94.31%, 92.33%, or 88.34%, so I always check the info screen before I stake. Volatility is rated 4/5, with a hit frequency near 24%, which feels about right in practice: steady base taps with punctures when a bird lands. The 10,000x max win is possible in both base game and features, and I’ve seen a max-win hit rate quoted at roughly 1 in 12 million spins.

Densho Rules And Gameplay

Set your bet from 0.10 to 100 and spin. Wins land for 3 to 5 matching symbols on any of the 10 paylines from the leftmost reel. The standard Wild substitutes and pays on five-of-a-kind only. The Densho symbol is its own thing, expanding to a Multiplier Reel only when expansion completes a win. I keep autoplay modest here, as bird reels can swing a session quickly and it pays to track the flow.

Before I start, I check the paytable, RTP version, and hit rate in the menu, then tweak turbo or sound if needed. This slot pays on clean lines, so reading the grid at a glance is easy. When the progression trackers are in play, I focus on upgrades and reel coverage; the more reels pushed to higher tiers, the stronger the average bird. It’s a patient climb, but one good connect can sort the lot.

Review Summary And Verdict for Densho

The watercolour presentation stands out, and the gameplay sticks to what works: expanding multiplier wilds with additive values and a neat upgrade ladder in Free Spins. Super Free Spins starting at level 2 sharpen the experience, while the base game can still spike when two or three birds align. With medium-high volatility, adjustable RTPs, and a 10,000x ceiling, Densho hits that calm-but-deadly groove. I’ll keep it in rotation for the art and those bird reels that can change a session in a breath.