Firehouse Hounds Slot Machine

Firehouse Hounds offers a 5x3 playing field with 30 fixed paylines. Alongside two bonuses. One of the bonuses can, at random, transform the first, fifth, or both reels completely Wild at any given point, while the other is a regular free spins bonus with a light element of click and choose.

They say dogs are a man's best friend, but we wouldn't have expected them to have reached such heights as to start saving the city from fires. We have to admit, when we first booted this game up, we were sceptical. The dogs have quite stiff animations, the symbols aren't that varied, and the features were relatively simplistic.

As we already mentioned, the visuals did not win us over. For starters, it seems to use an older version of IGT's standard user interface, and it's very difficult to get your bearings on where what is. Some key things, like spins and options are obvious, but others are hidden at the top of the screen, seemingly completely detached from the menus at the bottom which sometimes show the same information as the ones on top.

The symbols are alright. The bad side of things is the number seven, repeated five times with different skins thrown on top of it, which screams laziness. On the other hand, you have quite a few firefighter things, such as their iconic axes, hoses, lunchboxes, hats, and so on. Wilds can replace any symbol except the Scatter, and simply exist as yellow letters reading Wild on top of a purple background, while Scatters are a red alarm bell hanging on a brick wall, ready to ring and alert the firefighters at a moment's notice that their help is needed in the city.

The free spins bonus is activated by collecting three Scatters, which rewards 30x the coin value and between four to six free spins. How many turns you get is dependent on a random choice between three different fire poles, so picking one will grant four, five or six free spins, while the other two are discarded. The real strength of the free spins is in the ability to re-trigger the feature, as you can keep winning free spins up to 200 extra turns, which is the hard cap. In addition, during free spins, both the first and fifth reel are constantly fully Wild at all times.

None of the special features really stand out to us. The randomness of having the first, fifth, or both reels turned Wild at any given point during normal gameplay is nice, but the fact it's guaranteed during free spins makes it that much better. Firehouse Hounds also pays both left to right or right to left, which is a neat little detail.

The title offers a 96.06% RTP with a jackpot of 2,000x your wager. It won't be winning any awards, but it is a decent slot to play if you don't mind the slightly outdated graphics.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the RTP of Firehouse Hounds slots?

Firehouse Hounds by IGT has an RTP of 96.06%, which is above average for an online video slot. The jackpot stands at 2,000x the wager. The game's most valuable feature is the re-triggerable Free Spins with permanently Wild first and fifth reels, which can accumulate up to 200 total free spins from a single activation.

Can I play Firehouse Hounds for real money slots?

Yes, Firehouse Hounds is available as a real money slots game at online casinos carrying IGT titles. With a 96.06% RTP, both-ways-pay functionality, and a free spins feature that can deliver up to 200 re-triggered spins with fully Wild reels, it offers solid real money value despite its dated visual presentation.

How does the Firehouse Hounds Free Spins feature work?

Free Spins in Firehouse Hounds are triggered by landing 3 alarm bell Scatter symbols. Players then pick from three fire poles to determine how many free spins are awarded – 4, 5, or 6. During Free Spins, both the first and fifth reels are permanently fully Wild throughout the entire feature. The round can be re-triggered, with free spins accumulating up to a hard cap of 200 total turns.

What is the random Wild reels bonus in Firehouse Hounds?

Firehouse Hounds features a randomly triggered bonus during the base game that can transform the first reel, the fifth reel, or both reels simultaneously into fully Wild columns. This guaranteed Wild reel feature can activate on any base game spin regardless of the current outcome, providing a meaningful boost to win potential whenever it fires. During Free Spins, both Wild reels are always active without needing to trigger randomly.

Does Firehouse Hounds pay both ways?

Yes, Firehouse Hounds pays winning combinations from both left to right and right to left across its 30 fixed paylines. This both-ways-pay feature effectively doubles the winning opportunities on each spin, as a combination starting from the leftmost reel and one starting from the rightmost reel can both award payouts simultaneously if matching symbols connect from either direction.

How many paylines does Firehouse Hounds have?

Firehouse Hounds is a 5-reel, 3-row slot with 30 fixed paylines, developed by IGT. The paylines are fixed and cannot be reduced. The game's both-ways-pay mechanic means that all 30 lines pay in both directions, giving an effective 60 ways to form winning combinations. The jackpot of 2,000x the wager is the highest single-spin payout available outside the re-triggerable Free Spins feature.