Rad Maxx

Rad Maxx Feature Breakdown

Feature Name	Description	Trigger / How it Works
Pay Direction Arrows	A system allowing wins from 4 directions: left-to-right, right-to-left, top-to-bottom, and bottom-to-top.	The left-to-right arrow is always active. Others are activated by Wild Plus symbols.
Crazy Cat Symbols	Wilds that carry multipliers ranging from x2 to x20. Multiple Cat values multiply each other.	Land on any reel and participate in a winning combination.
Wild Plus Symbols	Special symbols that activate 1-3 additional Pay Direction Arrows for the current spin.	Land anywhere on the grid in the base game or bonus rounds.
Mad Maxx Bonus	10 Free Spins with an increased chance of landing Wild Plus symbols. Crazy Cats become sticky.	Land 3 FS Scatter symbols.
Maxximice Bonus	10 Free Spins with sticky Crazy Cats and a guaranteed Wild Plus symbol on every spin.	Land 4 FS Scatter symbols.
To The Maxx Bonus	10 Free Spins where all four Pay Direction Arrows are permanently active. Crazy Cats are sticky.	Land 5 FS Scatter symbols. Not available via Bonus Buy.
Bonus Buy	Options to purchase direct entry into bonus modes or activate special spins.	Click the “Buy Bonus” button. Options include Mad Maxx (100x) and Maxximice (200x).

What is the Rad Maxx 360 Wins Mechanic?

The Rad Maxx 360 Wins mechanic is an innovative system where winning combinations are evaluated from multiple directions, not just left-to-right. Using Pay Direction Arrows located outside the grid, wins can also be calculated right-to-left, top-to-bottom, and bottom-to-top, fundamentally changing how you view the game board.

The entire gameplay loop of this Animal-themed slot revolves around this core concept. While the standard left-to-right pay direction is always active, the real potential is unlocked when you start activating the other three. This transforms the 5×5 grid from a one-way street into a chaotic four-way intersection where wins can collide from anywhere. It forces you to watch the entire grid on every spin, as a winning line could start from the bottom right corner just as easily as the top left.

The Role of Pay Direction Arrows

Four large arrows frame the grid—left, right, top, and bottom—and these dictate the active win directions for each spin. The left arrow, representing the standard left-to-right payout, is perpetually active. The other three—right, top, and bottom—are dormant by default and light up in a flash of neon green when activated.

When multiple arrows are active, the game checks for wins across all indicated directions on its 76 paylines. For instance, if both the left and right arrows are active, a line of three mouse symbols on the center row would pay out as a left-to-right win and a right-to-left win. This multi-directional evaluation is the engine that drives the action.

How Wild Plus Symbols Unlock the Grid

Wild Plus symbols are the key to activating the grid's full potential. These are special green cross symbols that, upon landing, immediately activate between one and three of the dormant Pay Direction Arrows. The moment a Wild Plus lands, you'll see the corresponding arrows light up before any win calculations occur.

This activation only lasts for the current spin; the arrows reset to just the standard left-to-right direction on the next paid spin. The entire dynamic of the base game becomes a hunt for these Wild Plus symbols, as they are the catalyst for turning a standard spin into a multi-directional payout event. This mechanic is a far cry from the gameplay in simpler Classic slots.

Vlad Hvalov's Expert Take:
“Honestly, the Wild Plus symbol is the heart of the base game. When playing the Rad Maxx demo, your entire focus shifts. You're not just looking for winning lines anymore. You're scanning for that green cross, because you know it's the trigger for total chaos. A single Wild Plus can be the difference between a dead spin and a four-way payout.”

Decoding the Symbols: From Scraps to Multipliers

The paytable in Rad Maxx is a mix of street-level grime and high-value characters. The lower end is occupied by graffiti-style 10-A card royals, which all pay 2x the bet for a five-of-a-kind win. The premium symbols tell the story of a back-alley scuffle: a chewed apple core, a slice of pizza, fish bones, and Maxx the mouse himself. These pay from 5x to 10x the bet for a full line.

The game's wild symbols, which include the Crazy Cat and Wild Plus, substitute for any paying symbol and are valued at 10x for a five-symbol combination. The real power, however, doesn't come from their base value but from their ability to multiply wins and alter the game grid.

Crazy Cat Multipliers: Your Key to Big Wins

The Crazy Cat symbol is a wild multiplier that can land with values of x2, x3, x4, x5, x6, x7, x8, x9, x10, x15, or x20. When a Crazy Cat is part of a winning line, its multiplier is applied to the payout. The mechanic's true strength is revealed when more than one Crazy Cat contributes to the same win.

Unlike games with additive multipliers, such as some seen in the Pragmatic Play portfolio, Rad Maxx multiplies the values of the Crazy Cat symbols together before applying them to the win. For example, a winning line with an x3 and x5 Cat doesn't result in an x8 multiplier. Instead, the values are combined to create a formidable x15 multiplier. This exponential scaling is the primary tool for achieving wins that approach the game's 12,500x maximum potential, especially within the bonus rounds where these symbols become sticky.

How Do the Rad Maxx Bonus Rounds Work?

Rad Maxx offers three distinct free spins bonus games, triggered by landing 3, 4, or 5 FS scatter symbols. Each tier builds upon the last, escalating the intensity and win potential by layering on more powerful features. Landing 2 or 3 additional FS symbols during any bonus round awards +2 or +4 extra spins, respectively.

Mad Maxx Bonus: The Entry-Level Heist

Triggered by 3 FS scatters, the Mad Maxx bonus awards 10 free spins. This round maintains the base game's mechanics but with a crucial enhancement: there is an increased chance of landing Wild Plus symbols to activate more pay directions. More importantly, any Crazy Cat multiplier wilds that land will stick in place for the remainder of the free spins. This creates the potential for building up a grid of powerful, persistent multipliers. It's a solid introduction to the game's bonus capabilities and can be purchased for 100x the bet.

Maxximice Bonus: Guaranteed Action

Landing 4 FS scatters triggers the Maxximice bonus with 10 free spins. This is a significant upgrade over the Mad Maxx round. It includes the sticky Crazy Cat multipliers, but adds a game-changing guarantee: a Wild Plus symbol is guaranteed to land on every single free spin.

This ensures that at least one additional pay direction will be active on every turn, dramatically increasing the frequency of multi-directional wins. You're no longer just hoping for a Wild Plus; you're anticipating it. This feature provides a much more consistent level of action and can be bought for 200x the bet.

To The Maxx: The Unbuyable Ultimate Prize

The pinnacle of Rad Maxx is the To The Maxx bonus game, activated by landing 5 FS scatters. This epic bonus grants 10 free spins where all four Pay Direction Arrows are permanently active for the entire feature. Wins are calculated left, right, up, and down on every spin, without needing to land a Wild Plus symbol.

Combined with the sticky Crazy Cat multipliers, this mode unleashes the slot's full power. The grid becomes a constant storm of potential wins from all sides. Due to its immense power, this feature cannot be purchased from the bonus buy menu, making it a rare and sought-after prize. This mechanic's volatility is reminiscent of the tense gameplay in Crime-themed slots.

Is the Rad Maxx Volatility Model a Contradiction?

The mathematical model of Rad Maxx presents an interesting case: a high volatility rating (4/5) paired with a high hit frequency of 40%. On the surface, this may seem contradictory, but it creates a specific and engaging gameplay rhythm perfect for exploring in the Rad Maxx free play mode.

The high hit frequency means you can expect winning combinations on approximately 2 out of every 5 spins. This provides a steady stream of smaller wins that keeps the session engaging and prevents the long dry spells often associated with highly volatile games. However, the high volatility rating accurately reflects the massive payout disparity. The vast majority of these frequent hits are low-value, serving to maintain your balance while you hunt for the game-changing combinations involving multiple Crazy Cat multipliers or a lucrative bonus round.

A Contrarian View: Is the High Hit Rate Just a Distraction?

While the 40% hit frequency provides constant action, there is another way to look at it. The frequent, small wins can create a false sense of progress, masking the game's true volatility. It's easy to watch your balance slowly dwindle from a thousand tiny cuts, as minor payouts fail to cover the cost of the spin.

This design makes the game feel less punishing than other high-volatility slots like Chaos Crew 3, but the underlying math is just as sharp. The real prize is locked behind the bonus features, and the high hit rate in the base game can sometimes serve as a distraction from the ultimate goal of landing those crucial scatter symbols.

Vlad Hvalov's Expert Take:
“I've seen this model before. It's clever. The high hit rate keeps you hooked, thinking you're doing well. But you need to be disciplined in the demo. Set a loss limit. The game wants you to chase, to believe the next big hit is just around the corner because the small ones keep coming. The real test is knowing when to stop or when to try the bonus buy.”

Rad Maxx vs. RIP City: What’s New in the Alley?

For fans of Hacksaw Gaming's 2023 hit RIP City, Rad Maxx feels like a reunion with old friends in a new setting. While it features the same beloved characters, Maxx and Ro$$, the gameplay is a radical departure. RIP City focused on expanding wild cat symbols and increasing reel heights. Rad Maxx scraps that entirely.

The central innovation here is the 360 Wins mechanic. This shifts the focus from vertical expansion to multi-directional attacks. The core tension is no longer about a single wild expanding but about activating the entire grid's potential. The sticky wild multipliers are a shared element, but their application within the 360 Wins system gives them a completely different feel. It’s a sequel in spirit and character, but a whole new beast in mechanics.

Rad Maxx's Gritty Aesthetics & Sound

The visual presentation of Rad Maxx is a standout feature. Its world is rendered almost entirely in black, white, and shades of grey, a signature style seen in other Hacksaw titles like Le Viking. This monochrome canvas makes the splashes of neon green and the bright yellows of the symbols pop with aggressive energy. It feels like an early 20th-century cartoon was vandalized with graffiti, creating a unique Retro yet modern vibe.

The sound design completes the package. A funky, slightly menacing beat drives the action, punctuated by the hiss of spray cans, the screech of cats, and the clatter of a gritty urban environment. When Maxx appears to celebrate a big win, the music swells, adding to the sense of anarchic fun. For players who appreciate a strong atmosphere, Rad Maxx delivers an experience that is both stylish and immersive, and you can find more games like this across our diverse library of slot themes.

My Final Thoughts on Rad Maxx

Rad Maxx is a superb slot. It’s a perfect example of what Hacksaw Gaming does best: combining a strong, memorable theme with truly innovative mechanics. The 360 Wins system isn't just a gimmick; it completely redefines how you interact with the grid and makes every spin feel unpredictable.

I think this is a game that is almost essential to try in demo mode first. Why? Because the interplay between the Pay Direction Arrows, the Wild Plus triggers, and the exponential Crazy Cat multipliers needs to be seen to be understood. The learning curve isn't steep, but the potential is vast. The high hit frequency keeps things from getting dull, while the ever-present chase for the multi-tiered bonus rounds provides that high-volatility thrill. I definitely recommend giving the Rad Maxx demo a spin. It’s a gritty, inventive, and genuinely fun cat-and-mouse game where you’re never quite sure which direction the next win will come from.

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