Hotline Slot Review

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Created by NetEnt in 2018, Hotline is a retro-styled online slot that aims to take us back to the 80s. It’s obvious that the developer drew inspiration from Miami Vice. It was a hit American TV show back that ran from 1984-1989. Fans of the show will notice a lot of similarities with the online slot. The game itself looks like a videogame as it has cool clips appearing as you play. NetEnt has managed to capture a feeling of speed, action and 80s nostalgia. The main protagonists are called Quinn and Rivera and they are based on Miami Vice’s crime-fighting duo Tubbs and Crockett.

Hotline comes with a standard 5×3 setup and 30 active paylines. However, NetEnt went with an extra gameplay feature in this title. It’s a bonus bet which we know as a hotline (hence the name of the slot). The concept behind this feature is very simple. The basic game has one active hotline (one row on the reels) and if a wild lands there, it will expand on the whole row. Additionally, some bonus features can be triggered in that row. However, players can activate more than one hotline and it will increase the amount that they have to bet.

The additional wagers will increase the possibility of winning Expanding Wilds, and Re-Spins. The RTP increases accordingly as well. It goes from 96.13% in the basic game to 97.04% for all three active hotlines. Players can win up to 2,800x the stake. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about this excellent slot title.

Graphics & Sounds

Even though Hotline has a retro vibe, the game was released in 2018 so the graphics are excellent. We can see the streets of Miami in the background with a hotel on the left side and the ocean across the street. The reels look like they have been put on a billboard with a flashing Hotline sign on the top. As we mentioned above, the game is remarkably similar to the hit show Miami Vice. The story is pretty much the same as well. We get a crime-fighting duo, Quinn and Rivera and they are trying to track down jewelry thieves in Miami. Players get to watch video clips throughout their gameplay, including an intro when you start the game. All of this is topped up by neon lights, flashy cars, Italian suits, and more.

However, there is one more thing that makes this title great. The Hotline slot has a fantastic New Wave soundtrack which goes in the background. If we listen closely, there are police sirens and radio chatter going on in the background as well. To make things better, there are sound effects that activate every time you click on a button. Getting wins and triggering bonus features also result in sound effects. Usually, loud and catchy tunes that make the gameplay even better.

Symbols

Hotline slot game doesn’t have a lot of symbols which makes the gameplay easier. None of them is actually low-paying symbols and that’s something players will love. First, we have a Ruby Crown, Sapphire Ring, and an Emerald Necklace. These are jewelry pieces and according to the story, they have been stolen by Kitty. She is one of the three protagonists in the title and is also the highest-paying symbol. Last but not least, we have Rivera and Quinn, the crime-fighting duo we mentioned in one of the previous sections. To get the highest payout from any symbol you need five of them on the reels.

However, that’s not all, as NetEnt added some bonus symbols as well. The Car Chase symbol is the wild and it will substitute for all symbols except the scatter. Additionally, the Sunset symbol is the scatter and just like the wild it doesn’t have a payout value. Nevertheless, if you land 3 of them, anywhere on reels 1, 3, and 5 will trigger the free spins bonus. Keep reading this review to learn more about the bonuses that can be found in the Hotline slot.

Hotline Bonus Features

The first thing we have to note is that the gameplay is a feature of its own. The Hotline bonus bet gives players a chance to win expanding wilds and re-spins. One bonus bet has to be active; however, for extra wagers, players can activate two or even all three of them. At 45 coins per bet level, all three hotlines will be active. In such a case, if you get a wild anywhere it can expand to cover every position on the reels. Additionally, if you play with all bonus bets active, the RTP of the game increases to its maximum of 97.04%. Lastly, we have the scatter which triggers free spins. It’s a whole bonus round where expanding wilds can also happen. Below, we will explain all these features in proper detail.

Expanding Wilds & Re-Spins

Wild symbols can appear anywhere on the reels during the regular gameplay. They will substitute for all symbols except the scatter. When a wild lands on an active hotline, the wild expands and covers the whole reel. When this happens, the expanding wild substitution will pay the highest possible winning combination on that line, according to the pay table.

Additionally, every time a wild expands and the payout is handled, the player receives a re-spin. So, whenever an expanded wild takes over the reel, re-spins are rewarded. The expanded wild will remain on the reels until the end of the re-spins. This happens when no new wild symbols land on an active hotline. However, if you play on the maximum bet and all hotlines are active, you can get into a cycle of never-ending re-spins. Keep in mind that the expanding wild happens during the Free Spins round as well.

Hotline Free Spins

The Sunset symbol is the scatter of the game and it doesn’t have a payout. However, getting 3 of these symbols that can appear anywhere on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th reel will trigger the free spins round. Players instantly receive 7 free spins. Additionally, players will notice that the background of the game will go from day to night. During the free spins round, if wild land on an active hotline, it will expand and fill the entire reel just like in the regular gameplay. If you play with 3 active hotlines and get a wild symbol, it can expand to cover the whole screen during the free spins feature. If this happens, the player can secure generous payouts.

The expanded will remain on the reels until the free spins round is over. Sadly, the free spins round can’t be re-triggered while it is active. Also, you can’t trigger the free spins round while the re-spins feature is active.

Conclusion

NetEnt has created an excellent game that takes us back to the ’80s. The graphics are outstanding even though the title maintains the retro vibe. Hotline looks like a video game as there are cutscenes happening during the gameplay. On top of that, the game comes with a unique bonus bet gameplay option. Players can set the number of active hotlines they want by increasing their wagers. At the highest bet, the game has an outstanding RTP of 97.04% which means wins are easy to come by and bonus features are triggered often.

Besides the obvious game mechanics, the title offers expanding wilds, re-spins, and a free spins round. The expanding wilds can happen at any time, even during the free spins round. In theory, the highest payout of the game is 2,800x the stake which is immense. However, the player would have to set his gameplay to 3 active hotlines and also trigger wilds with the first spin during the free spins feature. However, with a bit of luck, it’s possible to win $60,000 which is the maximum win Hotline. All in all, what we have here is an excellent title from NetEnt. We recommend it to both new and experienced players.