| Provider | Lightning Box Games |
|---|---|
| RTP | 95.49% - Compare RTPs |
| Volatility | High |
| Reels | 5 |
| Paylines | 1,024 |
| Bet Range | £0.50 - £350.00 |
| Features | Wilds, Scatters, Bonus Rounds |
Five Pirates Slot Review
Five Pirates is a pirate-themed slot from Lightning Box Games built around a Hold n Spin mechanic that sets it apart from the standard free spins formula most pirate slots lean on. Released in 2017, it remains one of the Australian studio's most distinctive titles - the bonus structure rewards patience and gives you a genuine decision point rather than just watching reels spin automatically.
This review covers everything you need to know before playing: the core stats, how the two-stage bonus works, what the wild-only reels mean in practice, and who the game suits best.
Five Pirates at a Glance
- Provider: Lightning Box Games
- Release date: 2017
- Reels / Rows: 5 x 4
- Ways to win: 1,024
- RTP: 95.49%
- Volatility: High
- Max win: 2,000x stake
- Bet range: £0.50 - £350 per spin
- Bonus features: Hold n Spin, Barrel Bonus, free spins with multipliers
The 1,024-ways layout replaces fixed paylines with a system where matching symbols on adjacent reels from left to right count as wins, regardless of position within the reel. That structure combined with wild-only reels 2 and 4 creates a game where wild hits are frequent but strategically significant - they determine whether a spin has any real potential or not.
Theme and Symbols
Five Pirates goes for a cartoonish take on the classic pirate theme - bright colours, exaggerated character designs, and a tropical setting. The five pirates of the title are the main cast: five distinct characters, each with their own visual personality, that appear across the reels as the mid-to-high value symbols. Lower value icons use the usual card suit designs dressed up in nautical style.
Reels 2 and 4 are reserved exclusively for the pirate wild symbol. That wild substitutes for all other symbols and the placement means almost every spin has at least one or two wild positions in the grid. The wench character serves as the scatter and is the key to the Hold n Spin feature - she only lands on reels 1, 3, and 5.
The visual design is not the most polished Lightning Box has produced, but the character work gives the game some personality. The animations when the Hold n Spin triggers are clear and readable, which matters when you are tracking which reels are locked and what position you are in the bonus sequence.
How the Ways System Works
Five Pirates uses a 1,024-ways engine on a 5x4 grid. Wins pay when matching symbols appear on consecutive reels starting from reel 1, and the number of ways a symbol appears on each reel multiplies together to produce the total ways for that combination. A symbol appearing on all four rows of each of five consecutive reels creates 4x4x4x4x4 = 1,024 possible winning paths.
Because reels 2 and 4 contain only wild symbols, those positions are always contributing to winning combinations when any symbol appears on reels 1, 3, and 5. This raises the frequency of base game wins compared to a standard 1,024-ways game without locked-reel wilds. The trade-off is that the top-end volatility remains high - the big returns come from the bonus, not from base game accumulation.
Bonus Features
Hold n Spin
The Hold n Spin is triggered when two, three, or four wench scatter symbols land on reels 1, 3, and 5. Each wench that lands locks her reel in place while the other reels respin freely. The aim is to lock all three scatter reels - collecting two scatters locks two reels, giving you a respin to try for the third on reel 5.
If you enter the Hold n Spin with two locked reels, you have one respin to land a wench on the remaining scatter reel. Three locked wenches from the initial spin skips the respin entirely and takes you straight to the Barrel Bonus. Four scatters, if they appear (which requires four of the three scatter-eligible reels - not possible in standard configuration), would also progress you immediately.
The Hold n Spin creates a tension the base game lacks - a near-miss where two wenches land and reel 5 is tantalizingly close is a genuinely engaging moment rather than a passive one. When the third wench lands on the respin, the payoff feels earned.
Barrel Bonus
With all three scatter reels locked, the Barrel Bonus activates as a second-level pick feature. Five barrels are presented on screen, and you choose one at a time. Each barrel reveals either a prize and a stop indicator, or a green arrow directing you to continue selecting.
The prizes are a combination of free spins and multipliers. The outcomes range from a smaller number of free spins with a higher multiplier to a larger number of free spins with a lower multiplier. Reported prize brackets include:
- 15 free spins with a multiplier up to 5x
- 10 free spins with a multiplier up to 7x
- 7 free spins with a multiplier up to 10x
- 5 free spins with a multiplier up to 15x
The multiplier applies to all wins during the free spins, and the wild-only reels 2 and 4 remain active throughout. That means base free spin wins are already boosted by wild frequency before the multiplier is applied on top. The combination of multiplied wins and wild-locked reels is where the game's max win potential lives.
Base Game Experience
The 1,024-ways engine with permanent wilds on reels 2 and 4 keeps the base game alive between bonus triggers. Wins occur with reasonable regularity compared to more traditional high-volatility slots - the wild structure means you rarely go long stretches without any return, even if most of those returns are modest. The real variance sits in the size distribution rather than the frequency.
The bet range from £0.50 to £350 per spin covers most player types. The lower end is accessible for casual sessions and for players who want to experience the Hold n Spin mechanic without significant exposure. Higher stakes are available for those targeting the multiplied free spins potential.
Autoplay is available with configurable stop conditions, and the game runs in HTML5 across desktop and mobile without any download requirement.
Mobile Performance
Five Pirates translates well to mobile. The 5x4 grid is compact enough to render cleanly on standard phone screens in both orientations, and the character symbols are large enough to read without zooming. The Hold n Spin animations scale correctly, which keeps the bonus sequence readable on smaller displays.
Load times are fast, and the interface controls are sized appropriately for touchscreen use. Lightning Box built the game in the HTML5 era, so mobile was part of the design from the outset rather than a retrofit.
Volatility and Player Suitability
High volatility with a two-stage bonus means Five Pirates rewards session length over short runs. The Hold n Spin trigger frequency is reasonable, but reaching the Barrel Bonus requires successfully completing the Hold n Spin sequence - you can trigger the feature and still not reach the free spins if the respin does not deliver the third scatter.
Players who prefer frequent small wins will find the base game more engaging than most high-volatility slots thanks to the wild-reel structure, but the overall profile is still oriented toward bonus hunting. The 95.49% RTP is fair for its class, sitting above the 95% mark that separates the better-value slots from the lower end of the market.
The interactive element of the Barrel Bonus pick game adds variety for players who find passive free spin rounds repetitive. If you like slots where something other than a scatter count determines your bonus outcome, Five Pirates gives you a moment of choice that affects the shape of your free spins rather than just the total number.
Verdict
Five Pirates earns its reputation as one of Lightning Box's better titles. The Hold n Spin mechanic creates a more involving bonus trigger than the three-scatter-anywhere system used by most competitors, and the Barrel Bonus adds a genuine decision layer that changes the character of the free spins you receive.
The wild-only reels keep the base game from becoming a waiting room between bonus rounds, and the 1,024-ways engine means the grid contributes wins from multiple angles simultaneously when symbols align. It is not the most visually sophisticated game on any lobby, but the mechanics are well thought through and the two-stage bonus delivers the kind of escalating tension that keeps sessions interesting.
For players who enjoy pirate-themed slots with a structured bonus sequence rather than a simple free spins trigger, Five Pirates is a strong choice. Check the Lightning Box Games page for other titles from the same studio if this style of play appeals to you.
Where to Play Five Pirates
We're currently updating our casino list for Five Pirates. In the meantime, browse our full casino reviews or check out current free spins offers.
Five Pirates RTP and Variance
Five Pirates has an RTP of 95.49%, which is around the industry average. See our highest RTP slots for the best returning games. High volatility means wins come less often but tend to be significantly larger. Explore our high volatility slots guide.
At the minimum bet of £0.50 per spin, a £10 deposit gives you 20 spins with a statistical expected return of £9.55. Read our slot betting strategy guide for tips on managing your bankroll.
More Lightning Box Games Slots
If you enjoy Five Pirates, try these other Lightning Box Games games available at the same casinos.