Dead Headz: Slot Overview
If bigger is better, then the ever-increasing family of studios orbiting software provider Hacksaw Gaming is a testament to the company’s influence in the iGaming world. The newest member of this creative constellation is Jinx Gaming, a studio so fresh it doesn’t yet have an official website. What it does have, however, is its debut release — Dead Headz, a zombie-infested online slot built on the Hacksaw OpenRGS platform and featuring the standout Shoot & Loot bonus mechanic. The undead are rising, and players on hawkplay can be the ones to send them back to their graves for rewards that reach up to 10,000x the bet.
Classic Horror Aesthetics
From the moment the reels load, Dead Headz pulls you into a monochromatic nightmare. The entire game has the grainy, eerie tone of a 1950s horror flick — dripping text, fog-shrouded gravestones, and an ominous full moon that casts long shadows across the reels. This black-and-white aesthetic sets the mood for players at hawkplay, creating a haunting contrast to the vibrant chaos of most modern slots.
Game Layout and Mechanics
The base game unfolds across a 5×5 grid with 19 paylines. Bets range from $0.10 to $100 per spin, making Dead Headz suitable for both cautious survivors and fearless high-rollers. The slot’s RTP peaks at 96.31%, and its 5/5 volatility rating ensures that every spin could swing between utter despair and thrilling fortune. For hawkplay users, this balance means sessions filled with tension, adrenaline, and the ever-present chance of a big score.
Symbol Values and Wild Multipliers
Low-paying symbols come in the form of 10–A card ranks, awarding between 1x–2x the bet for five of a kind. The undead themselves — grotesque zombie icons — serve as high-payers, rewarding up to 25x the stake. Wild symbols can appear on any reel and substitute for all paying symbols. When they form part of a win, they reveal random multipliers ranging from x2 to x20, and if multiple wilds join a win, their multipliers combine. Landing five wilds in a payline triggers an instant 100x payout, something that hawkplay fans will surely chase.
Shoot & Loot Waves: The Bonus Experience
Triggering the bonus feature transforms the 5×5 grid into a 3-reel, 6-row battlefield. Hitting 3, 4, or 5 scatter symbols awards free spins with an initial multiplier of x1, x5, or x10 on each reel. Here, the undead assault begins. Each wave fires a random number of bullets from a spinning gun cylinder — and each bullet can hit a zombie on the corresponding reel.
When zombies are shot, they reveal colored effects:
- Blue zombies add +1 to +20 to their reel’s counter.
- Green zombies add +1 to +20 to all reels.
- Orange zombies multiply their reel’s counter by x2 to x20.
- Red zombies multiply all reels by x2 to x20.
If a zombie reaches the front row — the player — the game ends. The total of all counters is then awarded. The mechanic feels more like an arcade survival shooter than a traditional slot, a design risk that pays off for hawkplay players who crave something different.
Feature Buy Option
For those unwilling to wait for random triggers, Dead Headz offers a Feature Buy option priced at 150x the bet. Instantly summoning the Shoot & Loot bonus, it gives players on hawkplay direct access to the action and the opportunity to test their luck in the zombie apocalypse without delay.
Graphics, Sound, and Atmosphere
Every pixel in Dead Headz works to deliver a chilling yet oddly nostalgic mood. The sound design — echoing gunfire, growls, and grim ambient tones — amplifies the tension. The minimal soundtrack feels like a reel-to-reel recording from a lost horror film. It’s immersive and atmospheric, though intentionally restrained to enhance the old movie illusion. hawkplay interface integration keeps the presentation seamless, allowing the slot’s cinematic flair to shine on both desktop and mobile screens.
Strategy and Payout Potential
While there’s no complex strategy — spins are still luck-based — players can improve their session longevity by managing stakes carefully and watching for high-multiplier wilds. The Shoot & Loot feature has the most potential, capable of rapidly snowballing into large totals when multipliers overlap. This high-risk, high-reward pattern aligns with hawkplay’s reputation for thrilling, volatile slots that deliver sudden bursts of adrenaline.
Verdict: Promising First Step for Jinx Gaming
Dead Headz is a strong debut that introduces Jinx Gaming as a studio worth watching. The base game may feel simplistic, but its free-spin transformation into an interactive zombie survival minigame shows serious creativity. Though it doesn’t revolutionize slot mechanics, it does carve a niche that blends nostalgia, tension, and fun.
For horror enthusiasts and thrill-seekers at hawkplay, Dead Headz offers a refreshing mix of cinematic style and explosive mechanics — proof that the undead still have life left in them.
