Hacksaw's DuelRows Twist: What Buried By Night Changes

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-10-01

Hacksaw Gaming just dropped a new slot called Buried by Night, and it's not just another Western-themed game with a fresh coat of paint. This one takes the studio's signature VS mechanic and flips it sideways—literally. If you've played Hacksaw titles before, you know they love their wild multipliers. But here, they're doing something different. ### The Horizontal Shift That Matters In most Hacksaw slots, when a VS symbol lands, it expands vertically. Think of it like a totem pole growing taller. But in Buried by Night, that expansion goes horizontal instead. So when a VS symbol hits on reels 2, 3, or 4, it stretches across the row, turning into a DuelRows symbol. Then a duel happens, and the winner slaps its multiplier—anywhere from x2 to x100—onto the entire symbol. Why does this matter? Because it changes how wins stack up across the grid. Instead of building height, you're building width. That might not sound like a huge deal, but for a studio that's built a reputation on recognizable mechanics, it's a smart way to keep things fresh without alienating loyal players. ### Big Win Potential and High Volatility Buried by Night comes with a max win of 15,000x your bet. That's not pocket change. And you can hit that ceiling in any game mode, which adds a nice layer of flexibility. This puts the slot squarely in the high-volatility category—exactly where Hacksaw's VS titles usually live. If you're the kind of player who likes a bit of a thrill ride, this one's built for you. Just don't expect a gentle stroll through the prairie. It's more like a gallop through a dust storm. ### A Western Tradition Continues Hacksaw first went West back in 2021 with Wanted Dead or a Wild. Since then, they've returned to the frontier a few times—Bullets and Bounty and Duel at Dawn come to mind. Buried by Night fits right into that lineup, reinforcing a Western strand that runs through their catalog. But here's the thing: it's not just about the theme. It's about how Hacksaw builds families of games. They take a core idea, tweak it, and release it in a new skin. That's not lazy—it's strategic. Players know what they're getting, but they also get a fresh twist. ### Feature Buys and Bonus Hunting Like many Hacksaw releases, Buried by Night leans into feature buys. You can trigger BonusHunt FeatureSpins for 2x your bet, which makes hitting a bonus three times more likely. And if you're feeling lucky, you can buy the two main bonus rounds outright. This approach isn't for everyone. Some players prefer to grind it out organically. But for those who like to jump straight into the action, it's a welcome option. > "Hacksaw continues to build out defined mechanical and thematic families instead of chasing one-off concepts." That quote sums up their strategy pretty well. They're not trying to reinvent the wheel every time. They're refining it. ### What This Means for Future Releases By reworking the VS engine instead of retiring it, Hacksaw signals that they're in it for the long haul. Expect more iterations on this mechanic down the line. Maybe next time they'll go diagonal? Who knows. But for now, Buried by Night offers a solid mix of familiarity and novelty. If you're a fan of Hacksaw's previous VS slots, this one's worth a spin. Just remember: high volatility means high risk. Play responsibly, and don't chase losses. And if you're new to Hacksaw, this might be a good entry point. The Western theme is approachable, the mechanics are engaging, and the max win is hefty enough to dream about.