Hotline (NetEnt)

Review

Fasten your seatbelt and step on the gas, we’re taking a spin back to the 80s in this action-packed 5-reel, 3-row, 30 fixed-line video slot, featuring Expanding Wilds, Re-spins, Free Spins, and a jackpot of 60 000 coins.

A golden sunset sets the scene for this retro gaming experience, where two detectives are in hot pursuit of a beautiful and mysterious jewelry thief who knows how to handle a gun … and a sports car!

There is no doubt this game draws its inspiration from a famous TV series that ran for five seasons from 1984 to 1989. Fans of the show will notice striking similarities between the original crime-fighting duo and the game’s heroes. The design team has delivered a nostalgic and fun-filled 80s throwback, complete with flashy cars, neon lights, brick cellphones, Italian suits, and a fantastic New Wave soundtrack.

The standout feature in this game is a unique multi-level betting feature appropriately named the Hotline Bonus Bet. A Hotline is basically an active row that runs across the top, middle or bottom of the reels, and this special row has the potential to trigger Expanding Wilds and Re-spins. As you enter the game, you will notice that the middle row is the default active Hotline (as indicated by the yellow frame and glowing button).

If a Wild Symbol lands on a Hotline, it will expand to fill the entire reel. Once the result of the Expanded Wild has been established (win or non-win), you are also awarded one Re-spin with the Expanded Wild held in position.

One Hotline must always be active; however, for an additional wager, players can activate 2 or 3 Hotlines to increase your chances of triggering Expanding Wilds and Re-spins. It’s also interesting to note the Return to Player (RTP) changes with the number of active Hotlines:

• One active Hotline (default base bet) – 15 coins per bet level, 96.13% RTP
• Two active Hotlines – 30 coins per bet level, 96.70% RTP
• Three active Hotlines – 45 coins per bet level, 97.04% RTP

The betting mechanism allows players to choose 1- 10 bet levels and coin values range from 0.01 to 1. This offers players a wide range of betting options, with a minimum bet of 0.15 coins (with one active Hotline) and a maximum bet of 450 coins (with three active Hotlines).

3 Sunset Scatter Symbols appearing anywhere on reels 1, 3 and 5 will trigger 7 Free Spins, and your active Hotlines will be carried through to this feature. More about Free Spins later!

Game Symbols

The high-end symbols are represented by the three main characters. The low-end symbols are the priceless jewelry pieces.

The maximum win values for 5 symbols on a winning payline are as follows:

• Character 1 - 200x Coin Value
• Character 2 - 120x Coin Value
• Character 3 - 80x Coin Value
• Jewel 1 - 30x Coin Value
• Jewel 2 - 25x Coin Value
• Jewel 3 - 20x Coin Value

The Car Chase Wild Symbol will substitute for all symbols (except the Scatter) and will help to complete winning combinations. If a Wild Symbol lands on an active Hotline, it expands to fill the entire reel.

The Sunset Scatter symbol has no payout value, but landing 3 anywhere on reels 1, 3, and 5 will activate the Free Spins Bonus.

Free Spins

As mentioned previously, 3 Sunset Scatter Symbols appearing anywhere on reels 1, 3 and 5 in the base game will trigger 7 Free Spins. As the scene changes from day to night, we notice the selected / active Hotlines are carried through to the Free Spins Bonus. If a Wild Symbol lands on an active Hotline, it expands to fill the entire reel and remains locked in place until the end of the Free Spins Bonus. If you are lucky enough to secure Expanded Wilds early in the Free Spins Bonus, you could be in for some HOT cash payouts.

What is the jackpot (max win)?

The maximum win potential is 60 000 coins, or 2000 coins on a single line (30 lines) when played at a maximum bet of 450 coins per spin. Remember the Bonus Bet Feature influences the RTP and volatility of the game. Activating more than one Hotline increases your total bet. The higher the Bonus Bet, the higher the RTP and volatility of the game.

Where can I play?

You can play this game online slot for real money at one of our listed and trusted casinos.

You also have the option of practicing for free right here.

This game is available in multiple languages on all devices, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, and desktops. The game is optimized to load quickly and plays seamlessly across Android, iOS, and Windows devices.

Verdict

This is a sassy and fun-filled retrospective that pays tribute to the popular 80s TV series. The graphics and animations are well-considered, the intro video is fantastic, and we really like synthwave background music.

It took quite some time and effort (over 200 spins) before we triggered the Free Spins Bonus in our play session. Although only 7 Free Spins are awarded, there is some decent win potential, thanks to the Expanded Sticky wilds.

The Hotline Bonus Bet Feature allows you to play the game your way. For a higher wager, you can activate all three Hotlines and increase your chances of triggering Expanded Wilds and Re-spins. The volatility and RTP of the game change slightly, depending on your level of Bonus Bet.

The convoluted combination of Coin Value, Bet Level and active Hotlines can be confusing, so be sure to keep an eye on the BET value just below the spin button to ensure you are happy with your final bet amount.