Pirate Chest: Hold and Win (Playson) – Review & Demo Play

Pirate Chest: Hold and Win Review

I’ve put plenty of time into Pirate Chest: Hold and Win, and it sticks to Playson’s proven mix of 5 reels, 4 rows and 25 paylines. The pirate theme lands well, helped by clean visuals and a soundtrack that sets the voyage. Under the hood you get medium-high volatility, a top payout of 3,589x, and a four-tier jackpot system. The headline extras are a coin-collect mechanic, classic Hold and Win respins, and an eight-spin free games round that can retrigger.

Pirate Chest: Hold and Win Symbols & Payouts

Low pays run from J to A, paying up to 2x for five. High pays are the anchor, compass, parrot, and monkey, with the monkey topping the table at 20x for five of a kind. Wilds show as the pirate captain and substitute for all standard symbols; five wilds on a line also pay 20x. The ship acts as the scatter and is your ticket to free spins. The payline scheme is fixed at 25 lines paying left to right across the 5x4 grid.

Bonus coins land with cash values, and special mystery coins can flip into Mini, Minor, or Major jackpot symbols during the respin round. Typical coin values span 1x to 15x per symbol, while the jackpots come in at 20x, 50x, and 100x. Keep an eye on a distinct collect symbol tied to a Kraken motif as well, as that is the piece that tots up visible coin values in one swoop when it lands together with at least one coin.

Pirate Chest: Hold and Win Symbols and Paytable

Symbol	Quantity	Payout
	Scatter
	3	x2
	Wild
	5	x20
	4	x10
	3	x1
	5	x20
	4	x10
	3	x1
	5	x12
	4	x4
	3	x0.8
	5	x10
	4	x3
	3	x0.6
	5	x6
	4	x2
	3	x0.4
	5	x2
	4	x0.8
	3	x0.4
	5	x2
	4	x0.8
	3	x0.4
	5	x2
	4	x0.8
	3	x0.2
	5	x2
	4	x0.8
	3	x0.2
	Collect, Special
	Special

Game Features in Pirate Chest: Hold and Win

That Kraken collect symbol sits on reel 3 in the base game and free spins, and it can land on any reel during Hold and Win. When it hits alongside coins, it gathers their values for an instant payout. A random Treasure Chest can also open in the base or free spins, dropping extra coins onto the grid. This can be enough to trigger the respin bonus on the spot, which is a nice touch and adds a splash of surprise to otherwise steady spins.

The Hold and Win bonus starts with six or more coins, or five plus the collect symbol. You begin with three respins; any new coin resets the counter. Coins lock, totals add at the end, and special mystery coins can award the Mini, Minor, or Major jackpots. Fill every position and you bank the Grand worth 3,000x. During this mode, the collect symbol can appear anywhere, which helps sweep up extra coin values as you chase a full grid.

Free spins arrive via three ship scatters on reels 1, 3, and 5, awarding eight plays with retriggers available. The reels are tuned to show more coins and the collect symbol, so you see the respin feature more often from free spins than in base play. That pairing keeps the pace brisk without overcomplicating things. In practice, I’ve found the game flows between free spins triggers, chest drops, and respins in a way that keeps sessions lively.

Money and Maths in Pirate Chest: Hold and Win

On the numbers, Pirate Chest: Hold and Win lists a 95.66% RTP, medium-high volatility, and a hit frequency of 15.46%. Stakes range from 0.20 to 100, suiting cautious spins and bolder shots alike. The absolute ceiling sits at 3,589x, with the Grand jackpot fixed at 3,000x. It’s not a record chaser, but the package feels balanced for Hold and Win sessions. I tend to treat it as a steady grind with bursts when the coins and collect pieces line up.

Pirate Chest: Hold and Win Graphics & Sound

Presentation carries that classic Playson feel. You’re playing on a wooden 5x4 frame against a shoreline, with a weathered pirate vessel in view. Symbols are bright and readable, ranging from parrots and monkeys to anchors and compasses, while the captain and ship take the wild and scatter roles. The audio leans on sea shanty vibes, which fits the theme. It all looks clean on mobile, with the 2D art holding up well across smaller screens.

I like how the animations add motion without clutter. Coin hits gleam, the chest event lands with a flourish, and respins keep the board focused on the prize. It’s not flashy for the sake of it, yet it sets the mood and makes long sessions easy. If you’ve spun a few Playson titles, you’ll recognise the styling at once. That familiarity helps, letting the mechanics do the talking while the pirate fantasy frames the action.