Circle of Life (Hacksaw Gaming) Slot Review

Circle of Life: Slot Overview

Circle of Life is a high-volatility video slot developed by Hacksaw Gaming, released on 2026-01-15. This game serves as a sequel to Life and Death, drawing on mystical forest lore and mythological symbolism from various cultures and religions. The central theme revolves around the Tree of Life, symbolizing growth, continuity, interconnectedness, and links between heaven, earth, and the underworld. It features a black-and-white aesthetic guarded by two spooky spirits in hoods, creating a less doomsday-oriented atmosphere compared to its predecessor. Gameplay centers on a 5-reel, 4-row grid with 14 fixed paylines, where wins form by landing three or more matching symbols from left to right starting on the first reel. Special mechanics include expanding Wild Tree symbols with multipliers, respins, and multiple free spins bonuses triggered by Spreading FS Symbols. The slot targets experienced players seeking high-risk, high-reward experiences with potential for massive payouts up to 15,000x the bet, blending innovative features like the Tree of Life expansion and Circle of Life wheel with strategic depth in bonus selection.

Design and Graphics

Circle of Life employs a striking black-and-white visual style, consistent with its predecessor Life and Death, to evoke mystery and mysticism without the overt apocalyptic tone. The background showcases a prominent big tree on the left side in front of a glowing sun, setting a ethereal forest scene. The five dark reels occupy the central screen area, framed by two animated hands gently moving up and down. Perched on each hand is a faceless woman in a dress, adding subtle motion and an otherworldly presence that enhances immersion. Symbols maintain the monochromatic palette: low-paying card royals (10, J, Q, K, A) appear as simple, shadowed icons, while premium symbols include a heart-shaped root vegetable, a sun, a snake coiled around an eye, an apple, and a face encircled by wings, each rendered with intricate line art for thematic cohesion.The Wild Tree symbol stands out with its branching design, expanding dynamically during features. Animations are fluid and purposeful—the Tree expands upward smoothly during respins, and the Circle of Life wheel spins with tension-building effects. Overall, the aesthetic is polished and atmospheric, optimized for desktop, tablet, and mobile devices, prioritizing clarity and thematic depth over vibrant colors. Sound design complements the visuals with ambient, mystical tones that intensify during expansions and bonus triggers, creating a cohesive, high-quality presentation suitable for an international audience.

Gameplay Mechanics

Circle of Life operates on a 5×4 reel configuration with 14 fixed paylines, where winning combinations must consist of three or more identical symbols aligning left to right, beginning on the leftmost reel. Bets range from €0.10 to €50 per spin, accommodating casual and high-stakes players alike. The base game flows straightforwardly: spins initiate with standard symbol landings, payouts calculated based on the paytable, and all wins evaluated simultaneously. Low-paying symbols (10, J, Q, K, A) deliver 1x the bet for five-of-a-kind combinations, forming the foundation for frequent smaller wins. Premium symbols—a heart-shaped root vegetable (2x for five), sun (3x), snake around an eye (4x), apple (4.5x), and winged face (5x)—offer higher rewards, encouraging pursuit of full-line hits.

The standout mechanic is the Tree of Life Symbols, embodied by the Wild Tree. This symbol substitutes for all others except FS Scatters and reveals a random multiplier from 2x to 100x upon landing. If involved in a win, it triggers a respin, expands upward into a Tree of Life, and applies its multiplier (or summed values from multiple Trees) to the payout. During the respin, expanded Trees remain sticky and continue growing toward the top row with subsequent wins; reaching the top locks it in place until the next non-winning spin. This cascading expansion introduces volatility and excitement, as persistent wins build taller Trees with escalating potential. FS Scatter symbols, when landing three or more, expand to cover their entire reel, revealing +1, +2, or +3 spin values that sum to award free spins; some positions may upgrade to higher bonus tiers. The base game lacks traditional tumbles or additional modifiers beyond these, maintaining a focused rhythm punctuated by Tree-triggered respins. Hit frequency data is unavailable, but the high volatility ensures infrequent but potentially explosive outcomes, with smooth performance across devices.

Bonus Features

Circle of Life boasts a layered suite of bonus features centered on the Tree mechanic and escalating free spins modes, providing depth and replayability.The Tree of Life expansion, triggered by Wild Trees in winning combos, initiates respins where the Tree grows upward, sticks, and multiplies wins by its value (2x-100x, additive for multiples). Fully expanded Trees reaching the top row trigger the Circle of Life feature: a wheel spins during the respin, awarding either an additive multiplier (2x-100x, added to the Tree’s total) or a multiplicative x2 (applied to the current total). Additive or multiplicative hits chain until a Skull lands, finalizing the multiplier and removing the Tree.

Free spins activate via three or more Spreading FS Symbols, which expand reel-wide to display +1, +2, or +3 values (totaling the award) and potential Upgrade symbols directing to specific bonuses. The three tiers are:

– **Origin Bonus Game** (3 FS Symbols): Sticky Tree of Life symbols persist until no win involves them; fully expanded Trees clear before respins (disabled here). Additional FS Symbols grant +4 to +12 extra spins.

– **Eternal Bonus Game** (4 FS Symbols): Mirrors Origin but activates reels upon Circle of Life triggers, guaranteeing Tree symbols on those reels each spin (unless filled). Extra spins: +4 to +12.

– **Rebirth Hidden Epic Bonus** (5 FS Symbols): Like Eternal, but starts with reels 2 and 4 activated; no further FS Symbols appear, capping extensions.

Feature Buy options accelerate access:Bonus Hunt (5x bet, 5x FS chance), Tree Symbols (70x bet, ≥2 Trees), Origin (100x bet, ≥10 spins with Trees), Eternal (300x bet, ≥15 spins with Trees).

These interconnected mechanics—respins feeding expansions, wheels boosting multipliers, and tiered FS with reel activations—create dynamic sessions where base-game Trees seed bonus potential, culminating in high-multiplier chains.

Betting Options and Payouts

Circle of Life supports a flexible betting range of €0.10 to €50 per spin, appealing to low-rollers and high-stakes enthusiasts. The RTP stands at an above-average 96.33%, with high volatility dictating infrequent but substantial payouts. The maximum win caps at 15,000x the bet, achievable through multiplier chains in features like Circle of Life and top-tier bonuses. Payouts behave aggressively: base-game wins cluster around low-paying royals for steady play, while premiums and Tree multipliers (up to 100x) drive mid-sized hits. Bonuses amplify this, with sticky expansions and wheel additives/multipliers enabling exponential growth—e.g., chained Circle of Life outcomes can balloon totals rapidly. No hit frequency, bonus frequency, or max win probability data is provided, but the structure favors patient players during extended FS with activated reels. Overall, payouts reward feature depth over constant action, aligning with high-volatility profiles.

Conclusion

Circle of Life excels in its innovative Tree of Life mechanic, delivering unpredictable expansions, respins, and multiplier wheels that integrate seamlessly with tiered free spins bonuses, fostering high-volatility thrills and a 15,000x max win potential. The black-and-white design and mythological theme provide a unique, immersive aesthetic, while Feature Buy options enhance accessibility. Strengths include the intuitive yet deep gameplay, sticky Trees in bonuses, and escalating reel activations in higher tiers, making it more approachable than its predecessor. Weaknesses encompass the high volatility’s dry spells and lack of tumble mechanics, potentially testing shorter sessions. Players can test the slot risk-free using the built-in demo available on this page. This Hacksaw Gaming release offers a balanced, engaging high-risk option for those pursuing mythic-scale payouts amid mystical visuals.