Hacksaw Gaming plugs in something electric with Dr Zappo, an upcoming release scheduled for September 29, 2026. Built around a mad-scientist “Electric City” theme, it looks set to deliver the studio’s signature bold cartoon energy with a high-voltage twist. A quick caveat up front: there’s no demo available at the time of writing, so the feature details below are based on limited pre-launch information – we’ll update this review with confirmed specifics once the game goes live.
Basics
Dr Zappo runs on a 5×4 grid with 14 fixed paylines and carries a max win of 10,000x on a medium volatility rating (3/5). The supporting numbers make a strong first impression: an RTP of up to 96.31% (in its top configuration) and a notably high hit frequency of 45%, meaning a winning combination should land close to every other spin. That high hit rate fits the medium-variance billing well – expect frequent, ticking-over action punctuated by the bigger feature-driven wins. Stakes are listed at 0.10 to 100 per spin.
As is standard for Hacksaw, Dr Zappo ships in four RTP configurations: 96.31%, 94.36%, 92.31% and 86.22%. The 96.31% build is the one to seek out – the lower tiers, particularly the 86.22% version, are operator-selectable and materially worse value, so it’s worth checking which your casino is running before you play.
Wild EyeBall Symbols
The centrepiece mechanic appears to be the Wild EyeBall symbols. Based on pre-launch information, EyeBall symbols shoot across the grid and transform the symbols in their path into Wilds or Wild Multipliers, with Energy Fields able to bounce them off in new directions for less predictable coverage. Landing an EyeBall on an existing Wild is said to raise that Wild’s multiplier value, letting multiplier potential build across a spin. If accurate, it’s a lively, chaotic base-game mechanic with plenty of on-screen movement – the kind of “watch it ricochet” hook that plays well both in-session and on stream.
Free Spins and Bonus Games
Dr Zappo is expected to include a Free Spins feature, though the exact trigger and terms aren’t confirmed, alongside Scatter symbols. Beyond that, the game is reported to carry two bonus games plus a separate Hidden Epic Bonus – Hacksaw’s premium hidden feature that typically holds the heftiest win potential and, on the evidence of the studio’s other titles, is where the 10,000x top end most likely lives. A Bonus Buy option is also expected, giving direct entry to the feature round, though its price and mechanics are unconfirmed at this stage.
Early Verdict
On the strength of its spec sheet, Dr Zappo looks promising: a 96.31% top RTP, a high 45% hit frequency and a 10,000x ceiling make for an appealing medium-volatility profile, and the Wild EyeBall mechanic should give the base game real character. The theme execution is classic Hacksaw, and the two-bonus-plus-Hidden-Epic-Bonus structure points to strong replayability. We’ll firm up the rating once Dr Zappo launches and the demo is available.
