3 Cursed Chests: Hold & Win Is Not Your Average Pirate Slot

Hacksaw Gaming has taken the 3 Pots format and done something genuinely interesting with it. 3 Cursed Chests: Hold & Win is not another slot where three bonus triggers lead to variations of the same mechanic. Each chest here opens a completely different door: sticky coins, wild multipliers, or a free spins launcher depending on which one activates. Anne Bonny, the real historical pirate queen, stands beside the reels and watches it all unfold from the deck of The Red Revenge. Released on 28 May 2026, this is a medium-volatility release that keeps things grounded while still packing enough bonus variety to stay interesting across a long session.

Game Overview

• Provider: Hacksaw Gaming
• Release date: 28 May 2026
• Grid: 5×3 (5 reels, 3 rows)
• Paylines: 17 fixed
• RTP: 96.30% (operator variants: 94.37%, 92.30%, 86.29%)
• Volatility: Medium (3/5)
• Max win: 2,500x
• Bet range: €0.10 to €100
• Feature Buy: Yes (four options available)

Theme and Design

The pirate theme leans atmospheric rather than cartoonish. The playing grid sits on a weathered treasure map, surrounded by the planks and ropes of The Red Revenge. Anne Bonny stands to the left of the reels, watching every spin with the kind of quiet menace that suits a cursed treasure story. Above the grid, three glowing chests in green, red, and blue sit dormant until a matching Pot symbol charges them.

Hacksaw has given this one a bold, slightly anime-influenced art style. It stands out from the genre’s typical skull-and-crossbones palette. The soundtrack earns its place too, with creaking timber, seagulls, and a score that shifts tone whenever a chest activates.

Gameplay and Mechanics

The 5×3 grid runs on 17 fixed paylines, which is a more traditional layout than many Hacksaw releases. Wins form from left to right with three or more matching symbols on a payline. High-value symbols include the compass, pirate, tankard, and parrot, while card royals fill the lower end of the paytable. Wild symbols appear exclusively during the Green Chest bonus and substitute for all standard pay symbols.

The chest system sits at the centre of everything. Green, Red, and Blue Pot symbols land on the reels and charge the chest with the matching colour. When a chest charges on a spin, it has a random chance of activating after all base game wins are settled. Only one chest can activate per spin, so each spin has a clear outcome rather than layered triggers happening simultaneously.

Features and Bonus Rounds

Green Chest: Cursed Wilds Respin

The Green Chest triggers a single respin where the grid fills with a random spread of Wild and Wild Multiplier symbols. Multiplier values range from 2x to 100x. When multiple multipliers land at once, they combine, so the Green Chest can produce strong payouts even though it is the simplest of the three bonuses.

Red Chest: Cursed Coins Bonus

This is the Hold & Win round. Three refilling lives are awarded, each representing a free spin. Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Diamond Coin symbols can land and stick to the grid until the round ends. Every Coin that lands resets all lives back to three. The bonus ends when lives run out or no grid positions remain. All Coins pay as cash multiples of the bet, with the Red Chest capable of delivering up to 1,000x in a single sequence.

Blue Chest: Cursed FS Respin and Free Spins

The Blue Chest triggers a respin where only Dead symbols and FS symbols can land. Landing at least seven FS symbols sends players to the Treasure Cove free spins game. Landing six FS symbols and one FS Upgrade symbol instead unlocks the Ghostly Gallows bonus.

Treasure Cove

Treasure Cove awards between 7 and 15 free spins. During this mode, every third Pot that lands is guaranteed to activate its matching chest, producing more consistent bonus triggers than the base game.

Ghostly Gallows

Ghostly Gallows also runs for 7 to 15 free spins, but the trigger guarantee is stronger. Every Pot symbol that lands during this mode is guaranteed to activate its matching chest. This is the higher-ceiling bonus of the two, and the one players are chasing when they land the FS Upgrade symbol.

RTP, Volatility and Win Potential

The default RTP sits at 96.30%, which is solid for the category. Medium volatility at 3/5 means the base game stays active without extended dry spells, and the chest bonuses fire with enough regularity to keep momentum going. The 2,500x max win is on the lower end by Hacksaw standards. This is a slot built for steadier session play rather than chasing a life-changing single hit. The Feature Buy gives four entry points into the bonus rounds, which is useful for players who want direct access to the Ghostly Gallows mode without waiting through base game spins.

Who This Slot Is For

3 Cursed Chests: Hold & Win works well for players who enjoy variety without complexity. The three independent bonus paths keep things from feeling repetitive, and medium volatility means the session rarely goes cold for long. Players who enjoy Hold & Win mechanics will be drawn to the Red Chest, while those who prefer wilds and multipliers will enjoy the Green Chest more. The 2,500x ceiling makes this a poor fit for high-roller bonus chasers, but a comfortable choice for players who prefer engagement over extreme variance.

Final Thoughts

Hacksaw Gaming has used the 3 Pots framework as a starting point and built something with more range than the format usually delivers. Three separate bonus paths, each operating independently, give 3 Cursed Chests: Hold & Win a structure that stays fresh across longer sessions. The pirate setting is well-executed, Anne Bonny makes for a compelling protagonist, and the medium volatility keeps things moving without burning through bankrolls. It will not suit players chasing Hacksaw’s higher-ceiling titles, but for those who want variety, atmosphere, and a Hold & Win mechanic that actually sits within a broader bonus ecosystem, this delivers.