Circle of Life (Hacksaw Gaming) – Slot Review
Circle of Life creates an atmospheric and mystical experience, anchored in the natural cycle of birth, growth, decay, and rebirth. Its 5-reel, 4-row layout is complemented by a sparse, somber visual design. The backdrop often features brooding landscapes and ancient stone structures, establishing a sense of elemental mystery that runs throughout the game.
At the heart of the slot is the symbolic Tree of Life. Unlike a typical wild or feature symbol, it remains on the reels after triggering a win, expanding upward and evolving into a full Tree of Life. This interactive growth mechanic can lead to the Circle of Life multiplier feature, and visually represents the game’s core themes of transformation and renewal.
Despite its dark and moody appearance, the game’s tone is more metaphysical than macabre. Circle of Life focuses on nature’s cycles and the concept of rebirth rather than fear or finality. The muted palette—dominated by black, white, and soft tones—combined with its symbolic elements and evolving features, gives the slot an enigmatic, almost magical quality rather than one rooted in horror.
Circle of Life is played on a 5-reel, 4-row grid and features 14 fixed paylines. This high-volatility slot offers an RTP of 96.33% and a maximum win of 15,000x your stake. Bets range from £0.10 to £50.
Circle Of Life Symbols & Pay Table
The game includes 12 symbols in total. Five low-paying symbols—9, 10, Q, K, and A—form the base paytable, while the premium symbols consist of Turnips, Suns, Snakes, Hands Holding Apples, and a Feathered Sun. Two special symbols also appear: the Tree symbol and the Scatter symbol. The highest-paying symbol is the Feathered Sun, which, along with the Wild, awards 5x for five across a payline.
Circle Of Life Features & Mechanics
Tree of Life Feature
When a Tree symbol lands, it acts as a Wild and substitutes for all regular symbols while displaying a multiplier value. If it forms part of a winning combination, the win is multiplied by the Tree symbol’s value. When multiple Trees contribute to the same win, their values are added together before being applied. Tree multipliers can be 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, 6x, 7x, 8x, 9x, 10x, 25x, 50x, or 100x.
After a Tree symbol helps create a win, it triggers a Respin and expands upward by one row, becoming a Tree of Life. The Tree of Life sticks to the grid while the remaining positions respin. Respins continue as long as new wins are formed involving the Tree of Life or any other Tree symbols. With each Respin, the Tree of Life grows upward until it reaches the top of the reel. Once fully expanded, it is removed on the following Respin or spin.
Circle of Life
When a Tree of Life reaches the top of its reel, the Circle of Life feature activates before the grid settles. This feature spins through various multiplier values or a Skull. If it stops on a multiplier, that value is combined with the Tree of Life’s current multiplier—either by adding or multiplying it, depending on which category it falls into. Additive multipliers include 2x, 3x, 5x, 10x, 25x, and 100x, while the multiplicative option is x2. The feature continues until the Skull appears, ending the sequence. Once resolved, wins involving the enhanced Tree of Life are paid, a new Respin triggers, and the Tree of Life is removed.
Spreading FS Symbols
Free Spins are awarded when three or more FS scatter symbols land simultaneously. Each FS symbol expands to cover its entire reel after any wins are paid. Every position covered displays a value—+1, +2, or +3—and the total number of free spins is the sum of all revealed values. There is also a chance that some positions transform into Upgrade symbols, which can elevate the bonus round to a higher tier.
Landing 3 expanding FS symbols with 1 Upgrade symbol grants an upgrade to the Eternal Bonus, while 3 expanding FS symbols with 2 Upgrade symbols or 4 expanding FS symbols with 1 Upgrade symbol award the Rebirth Bonus.
Origin Bonus
This bonus is triggered by landing three expanding FS Scatter symbols in the base game. The mechanics of the base game remain active, but Tree of Life symbols become sticky on the next free spin and remain in place as long as they continue forming wins. Fully expanded Trees of Life are removed on the following spin. Respins do not occur in this bonus. Additional expanding FS symbols award between +4 and +12 extra spins. The Origin Bonus can be purchased for 100x your stake.
Eternal Bonus
Triggered by landing four expanding FS Scatter symbols, the Eternal Bonus includes all features from the Origin Bonus. In addition, whenever a Circle of Life activates on a reel, that reel becomes permanently active for the remainder of the bonus. An active reel guarantees a Tree symbol on every spin unless one is already present. This feature may also be purchased for 300x your stake, and additional expanding FS symbols again grant +4 to +12 extra spins.
Rebirth Bonus (Hidden Epic Bonus)
The Rebirth Bonus is the highest tier and is awarded by landing five expanding FS Scatter symbols. It maintains the mechanics of the Eternal Bonus, but reels 2 and 4 begin the feature already active. Expanding FS symbols cannot appear during this bonus.
Conclusion
Circle of Life is a compelling demonstration of Hacksaw Gaming’s ability to blend innovative mechanics with atmospheric, theme-driven design. The evolving Tree of Life, expanding multipliers, and layered bonus structure work together to create a slot that feels both dynamic and meaningful, with every spin carrying the potential for momentum and transformation. While its high volatility and complex features may appeal most to experienced players, the game’s mystical aesthetic and unique progression system offer something distinctly memorable. With a maximum win of 15,000x and a theme rooted in natural cycles and rebirth, Circle of Life stands out as one of Hacksaw’s more thoughtful and immersive releases—rewarding patience, engagement, and a willingness to embrace the unknown. Be sure to try out this game on launch and check out our exclusive casino offers.