Keep'Em Slot Review: A Charming Forest Adventure with Cash Prizes
Welcome back to the whimsical forest with Hacksaw Gaming's lovable mascot, Canny the Can! This time, in the Keep 'Em slot, he's brought along his lifelong feathered friend, Bob the Bird, for another adorable adventure. Released in early 2024, this game builds on the beloved "Canny" series with a charming retro-cartoon style that long-time Hacksaw fans adore, but introduces fresh mechanics centered around collecting cash prizes.
Keep 'Em has captured players' attention by blending its lighthearted, friendly theme with genuinely engaging and potentially lucrative gameplay. It's a slot that proves you don't need dark themes or high-stakes drama to offer a thrilling experience with a maximum win potential of 10,000x your bet. Let's head into the enchanted forest and see what secrets and treasures Canny and Bob have in store for us.
Keep'Em Slot: Core Specifications at a Glance
Before we explore the gameplay, here’s a quick reference table for the slot's key technical details.
Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
Game Developer | Hacksaw Gaming |
Release Date | May 2, 2024 |
Layout & Reels | 6 Reels, 5 Rows |
Ways to Win | 15,625 |
RTP (Return to Player) | 96.27% (Highest configuration). Also available in 94.25%, 92.27%, and 88.29% versions. |
Volatility | Medium (3 out of 5) |
Maximum Win | 10,000x your stake |
Minimum / Maximum Bet | $0.10 / $100 |
Bonus Features | Cash Prize Symbols, Respins, Three Free Spin Bonus Games, Bonus Buy |
Gameplay Mechanics: Cash'Em, Get'Em, Keep'Em
The action in Keep 'Em takes place on a sizable 6x5 grid, where wins are formed by landing 3 to 6 matching symbols on consecutive reels from the left, across 15,625 possible ways. The pay symbols are a mix of classic card suits (J-A) and thematic high-paying icons like a skull, a snake, a lightning bolt, and Bob the Bird himself, who is the most valuable.
The true heart of the game, however, lies in its trio of specially named mechanics:
Cash'Em: These are cash prize symbols that land on the reels, displaying a value from 1x to 1,000x your bet. They don't form part of regular paylines but are collected for instant prizes.
Get'Em: This is the "collector" symbol. When a Get'Em symbol lands on the same spin as at least one Cash'Em symbol, it collects the values of all visible cash prizes and adds them to your win. If multiple Get'Em symbols land, each one collects all cash prizes once, multiplying your reward.
Keep'Em: Reels 3 and 4 are designated as the special Keep'Em reels. If a Get'Em symbol, FS (Free Spins) Scatter, or a Cash'Em prize lands on either of these two middle reels, it triggers a respins feature. The triggering symbol locks in place, and you are awarded 3 respins. Any new special symbols that land during these respins also lock, and the respin counter can be reset by landing special Heart symbols.
Bonus Features & Free Spins Rounds
The forest adventure gets even more exciting with not one, not two, but three distinct free spins bonus games, each triggered by landing a different number of FS Scatter symbols.
1. Keep'Em Comin' Bonus
Trigger: Land 3 FS Scatter symbols.
Award: 10 free spins.
Features: The main attraction here is an increased chance of landing Get'Em symbols, FS Scatters, and Cash prizes. It's a great round for generating lots of collection action. Landing 3 or 4 more FS symbols during the bonus awards an extra 4 or 6 spins, respectively.
2. Keep Your Friends Close… Bonus
Trigger: Land 4 FS Scatter symbols.
Award: 10 free spins.
Features: This round introduces a "sticky" mechanic. Any Cash'Em prizes that land remain on the grid until they are collected by a Get'Em symbol. A major highlight is that if you manage to fill an entire row or reel with cash symbols, they will be automatically collected, even without a Get'Em symbol present. This can lead to massive, screen-filling wins.
3. Keep Your Canny Closer! Bonus
Trigger: Land 5 FS Scatter symbols.
Award: 10 free spins.
Features: This elite round uses the same sticky cash mechanics as "Keep Your Friends Close…" but adds a powerful guarantee: every single spin will see at least 3 Cash prizes and 1 Get'Em symbol land on the grid. This creates relentless collection opportunities and is the most direct path to the game's biggest wins.
Bonus Buy Options
For players in regions where it's permitted, Keep 'Em offers several Feature Buy options:
BonusHunt FeatureSpins (3x bet): Each spin is 5 times more likely to trigger a bonus game.
Cantastic FeatureSpins (40x bet): Each spin guarantees at least 1 Get'Em symbol and 1 Cash prize.
Direct Bonus Purchase: You can buy immediate entry into the "Keep 'Em Comin'" (100x bet) or "Keep Your Friends Close…" (200x bet) bonus rounds.
RTP, Volatility, and Maximum Win Analysis
Keep 'Em RTP: It's crucial to check which version you're playing. The game is offered in multiple Return to Player configurations. The most favorable for players is 96.27%, but casinos can also offer versions with 94.25%, 92.27%, or 88.29% RTP. Always verify this in the game's paytable before playing for real money.
Volatility: Keep 'Em is rated as a medium volatility (3/5) game. This means it aims to provide a balance between the frequency of wins and their size, offering a more steady session compared to Hacksaw's notoriously high-variance titles.
Maximum Win: The Keep 'Em max win is a substantial 10,000 times your total bet, and Hacksaw Gaming confirms this top prize is achievable in any game mode, including the base game.
Pros and Cons of Keep 'Em
Advantages:
Charming & Consistent Theme: The adorable Canny the Can series artwork and cheerful forest setting provide a cohesive and friendly experience.
Innovative Triple-Bonus System: Having three different free spins rounds with unique mechanics adds fantastic variety and replay value.
Engaging Core Mechanics: The "collect 'em up" gameplay with Cash'Em and Get'Em symbols is easy to understand and satisfying to trigger.
Solid Winning Potential: The 10,000x max win is a serious target, and the medium volatility makes the journey toward it more accessible.
Disadvantages:
Variable RTP: The existence of lower RTP versions means players must be vigilant about where they play to get the best value.
No Traditional Wilds: The game does not include a standard wild symbol, which some players might miss.
High-Variance Bonus Buys: The cost to purchase the top bonus rounds is steep (up to 200x your bet), representing a high-risk, high-reward gamble.
Helpful Tips for Players
Start with the Keep 'Em Demo: The best way to understand the flow of the game, the frequency of features, and the mechanics of the three bonus rounds is to play Keep 'Em for free in demo mode first. This risk-free practice is invaluable.
Prioritize High RTP Casinos: Before playing with real money, do a quick check. Load the game in real-money mode at your casino and look for the RTP in the paytable. Opting for a casino offering the 96.27% version gives you a significantly better mathematical edge in the long run.
Understand the Bonus Tiers: Remember that the 3, 4, and 5-scatter triggers lead to progressively stronger features. While landing 5 scatters is rare, knowing what each bonus offers helps you appreciate the potential of every spin.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the Keep 'Em RTP?
The highest theoretical RTP for Keep 'Em is 96.27%. However, other versions with 94.25%, 92.27%, and 88.29% RTP also exist in the market.
Can I play Keep 'Em for free?
Absolutely. A free Keep 'Em demo is available at this page. This allows you to play with virtual credits to learn the game without any financial risk.
How do I win the maximum 10,000x prize?
The maximum win in Keep 'Em of 10,000x your bet can be won in any game mode - base game, respins, or free spins. It typically requires collecting a large cluster of high-value Cash'Em prizes, especially during the enhanced bonus rounds.
Is Keep 'Em a high-volatility slot?
No, it is officially rated as a medium volatility game (3 out of 5 by Hacksaw). It's designed to offer a more balanced experience with a mix of smaller, more frequent wins and occasional larger payouts.
What are the best bonus features?
The "Keep Your Friends Close…" and "Keep Your Canny Closer!" bonuses are generally considered the most rewarding due to their sticky cash prize mechanics, with the latter guaranteeing cash and collector symbols every spin.
Final Verdict: A Keeper of a Slot
Keep 'Em successfully continues Hacksaw Gaming's Canny the Can series with a delightful and well-executed formula. It may share the familiar forest visuals with its predecessors like Stack 'Em and Drop 'Em, but its cash-collection gameplay is entirely its own and thoroughly engaging.
The triple-tiered bonus system is a standout success, providing clear goals and escalating excitement. While the medium volatility may not satisfy players seeking only the biggest, rarest jackpots, it makes Keep 'Em an excellent choice for a wider audience looking for entertaining sessions with legitimate 10,000x win potential.
If you enjoy slots with character, clear mechanics, and a rewarding collection-based hook, Keep 'Em is a charming adventure worth taking. Be sure to start your journey with the Keep 'Em free play demo to see if this friendly forest game is the right fit for you
