Hacksaw Gaming’s Reign of Rome plunges players into the gritty heart of the Roman Empire, capturing its brutal glory through a slot experience that’s both visually intense and feature-packed. With a 5×5 layout and 19 fixed paylines, this online slot game revives the studio’s signature LootLines mechanic, adding layers of strategic depth through four types of Tribute symbols and three progressively powerful bonus rounds. Players can expect a medium-high volatility experience with a top payout potential of 15,000 times their stake. The return to player percentage (RTP) is 96.27%.

Thematically, Reign of Rome leans into the militaristic might of ancient Rome rather than its cultural elegance. The backdrop is a battlefield aesthetic—bold reds and greys dominate, and two legionaries frame the reels as if guarding the empire itself. It’s a visual setup reminiscent of Hacksaw Gaming’s more aggressive titles like Gladiator Legends and Wanted Dead or a Wild, setting the stage for a game that doesn’t just spin—it marches forward like a Roman campaign.

Tribute Symbols and LootLines Power Core Mechanics

Central to Reign of Rome is the LootLine system, a feature that activates when Tribute symbols align across a payline. These symbols serve as multipliers that interact in complex ways depending on their type and position.

Tribute symbols appear in four forms:

  • Adding Tribute Symbols, with multipliers ranging from 1x to 10x.
  • Revealing Adding Tribute Symbols, revealing larger fixed values between 15x and 500x.
  • Multiplying Tribute Symbols, offering multipliers between x2 and x5.
  • Revealing Multiplying Tribute Symbols, which can multiply values up to x25.

When a LootLine forms, the game combines these symbols from left to right. Adding symbols contribute directly to the total, while Multiplying symbols amplify the cumulative value—except when a multiplier appears in the leftmost reel, in which case it’s treated as an Adding value. For example, a sequence of x3, 4x, 1x, and x2 results in a final prize of (3+4+1) * 2 = 16x the stake.

This tribute system adds complexity and reward potential, especially since the game includes a cascading win mechanic that allows winning symbols to disappear and be replaced, potentially chaining wins in a single spin.

Three Bonus Rounds Bring Increasing Levels of Power

The game features three escalating bonus modes, each unlocked by landing a specific number of FS (Free Spin) scatter symbols.

  • Path to Power (3 FS Scatters) – This mode initiates 10 free spins with all the base game features intact, but with an increased frequency of high-value Tribute symbols. Additional spins can be earned—2 or 4 more for landing 2 or 3 FS symbols during the bonus.
  • This is Rome (4 FS Scatters) – This round includes everything from Path to Power but adds the LootBar feature. Here, any Tribute symbols that don’t contribute to a win—but appear in the same spin as winning Tribute symbols—are stored in one of five LootBar positions, corresponding to each reel. Once all five positions are filled, the stored values are awarded and the bar resets. Extra spins can again be triggered with 2 or 3 FS scatters.
  • Fight for Glory (5 FS Scatters) – The most powerful of all, Fight for Glory begins with each LootBar slot preloaded with a 20x multiplier. Throughout the 10 free spins, non-winning Tribute symbols add to these values. Unlike the previous mode, the values aren’t cleared after each payout—they accumulate throughout the round and are awarded in full at the end. This significantly boosts the chance of walking away with a massive prize. Like the other bonus rounds, this mode is re-triggerable by landing FS symbols.

Bonus Buy Options for Direct Access

For players eager to jump straight into the action, Reign of Rome offers five Bonus Buy features:

  • BonusHunt FeatureSpins (3x): Each spin becomes five times more likely to trigger a bonus.
  • Shield Wall FeatureSpins (50x): Guarantees three Tribute symbols, at least one of which is Revealing.
  • Spears Out FeatureSpins (50x): Ensures three Tribute symbols per spin, including at least one Revealing Tribute.
  • Path to Power (100x) and This is Rome (200x): Immediate access to the respective bonus modes.

These options cater to both cautious strategists and high-stakes thrill-seekers.