Casino Bonuses
| Provider | Netent |
| Reels | 5 |
| Rows | 6 |
| Paylines | Scatter Pays |
| Bonus Rounds | 1 |
| Bet Range | 0.20 - 200 |
| Volatility | Low |
| Max Win | 1,332x |
| Bonus Buy | Yes |
| RTP | 96.08% |
| Our Rating | 7.0 |
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Demo & Review
Demo & Review
Demo & Review
Demo & Review
Demo & Review
Demo & Review
Demo & Review
Demo & Review
Demo & Review
Demo & Review
Demo & Review
Demo & Review
Demo & Review
Demo & Review
Demo & Review
Demo & Review
Demo & Review
Demo & Review
Demo & Review
Demo & Review
Demo & Review
Demo & Review
Demo & Review
Demo & Review
Game Overview
It’s been some time coming, but NetEnt has finally released the third instalment of its popular Jack Hammer series. For context, the first title launched in 2011, and the sequel came out just a couple of years later, so we’ve had to wait a good decade for Jack Hammer 3: Diamond Affair. The term ‘better late than never’ springs to mind, but then again, if this latest release flops, most would probably wish it was never developed at all. That said, I’ve always been a fan of NetEnt, so I have total confidence they and their iconic Private Investigator have something bigger and better than ever lined up for us. The third slot in the series is a 5-reel, 6-row, and scatter pays slot with a 96.08% RTP and a max payout of 1,332x.
As you’d expect, there have been tweaks made throughout the series, and that has continued with the latest instalment. You’ll notice the mechanics have changed dramatically this time, as Jack Hammer 3 now utilises the Scatter Pays mechanic instead of the 25 and 99 paylines of the previous two releases. However, amazingly, the max win potential has decreased with each title, the original offered 3,000x, the second returned a maximum of 1,980x, and we’re now down at 1,332x. As for the features, the Sticky Win Respins return for the third time, albeit with a few tweaks, and there’s a brand new Jack Hammer feature that plays a part in both the base game and the returning free spins bonus by uPGrading symbols or adding symbol multipliers into the mix.
As you can see, NetEnt has brought back a few of the original aspects of the Jack Hammer series but made some interesting changes and/or additions. I think it’s about time you powered up the Jack Hammer 3: Diamond Affair demo slot below to see what you make of it.
Jack Hammer 3 Slot Theme, Stakes, Pays & Symbols
Over on our free NetEnt slots page, Jack Hammer has previously tackled the evil Dr. Wüten and rescued esteemed singer Pearl from the clutches of the evil Don Crabby and his gang of goons, and now he has a new case to solve involving a diamond heist. It sounds like he has his work cut out, but I guess that comes with the territory for any fictional crime fighter. Speaking of which, trying to think of other detective-themed slots left me bamboozled for a while, although I know there have been a few based on Sherlock Holmes, 221 Baker Street being one and the iSoftbet slot Sherlock Holmes Megaways being another, both of which are worth a quick look if the detective genre of slot games are titles you enjoy playing.
The next port of call in this review is the paytable, and the first thing that stands out is that all five high paying symbols have the same top payout values. The Red Lady, Pink Lady, Thugs, Police Dog, and Police Officer all pay 100x the stake for a 30+ combination. There is a slight variation throughout the low-pays, with the Diamonds topping the rest with a max return of 50x. The Lipstick, Revolver, Dog Bowl, and Pinned Picture make up the remaining symbols and pay up to 45x, 40x, 35x, and 30x, respectively.
NetEnt has ensured players of all budgets can try out Jack Hammer 3 for real money, with dozens of entry points available between the minimum stake of €0.20 and the maximum price per play of €200.
Jack Hammer 3 Slot Base Game
NetEnt has gone for a complete overhaul of the base mechanics this time around by utilising a scatter pays mechanic across a 5×6 reel matrix with the paylines of the last two releases now gone. Wins will come your way when 8 or more matching symbols land anywhere across the reels, but when this happens, the features below could further increase what you win.
Sticky Wins
A constant fixture throughout the previous two Jack Hammer slots, the Sticky Win Feature returns for the latest instalment and, once again, respins all non-winning positions on a winning spin. By that, I mean all winning combinations lock in place and everything is spun for a second time. If combos are improved, the process repeats.
There has been a slight adjustment to this feature in Jack Hammer 3, and it will now also trigger when three or more Free Spins Bonus symbols land on the reels. They will lock in place, giving you a chance to add further instances of the scatter, potentially triggering the main bonus. Finally, the feature also continues if the Jack Hammer symbol lands to trigger the below Jack Hammer feature.
Jack Hammer
Alongside the new reel mechanic, the Jack Hammer feature is what separates this title from its predecessors. If the Jack Hammer symbol lands during a Sticky Win Respin during the base game or free spins bonus, he will upgrade low-value winning symbols or add a progressive multiplier to high-value winning symbols.
- Low Value Winning Symbols: The Jack Hammer will convert the symbols involved in a low-value winning combo into the symbol above it in the paytable. In the case of multiple winning combos on the reels, all symbols will transform into the same instance of the highest low-pay symbol.
- High Value Winning Symbols: If the winning combination involves high-value symbols, a Mysterious Multiplier position is unlocked above the reels. The number of symbols in the win is added to that progression meter. At least 8 symbols are needed to unlock 2x, 3x, and 4x multipliers, while that increases to 20 to increase the multiplier in 1x increments afterwards.
Jack Hammer 3 Slot Bonus Features
Like the two previous Jack Hammer slots, there’s just one bonus game, and again, it’s a free spins bonus. You’ll need to land 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 free spin scatter symbols to receive 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, and 20 free spins, respectively.
Free Spins Feature
There’s not much to say about the free spins bonus, as you’re essentially just getting free base game spins. The Sticky Win and Jack Hammer features play their part, while you can retrigger the free spins bonus from within. The only difference that can occur is if the Mysterious Multipliers were in play on the triggering spin – they will continue where they left off during the bonus.
Bonus Buy
If you’d rather jump straight into the free spins action above and avoid the base game altogether, you have the option of purchasing a spin via the bonus buy option that guarantees at least five scatter symbols. This will set you back 75x your current spin bet.
Pros
- It's a great mix of old and new.
- Top class presentation from NetEnt, as always.
Cons
- The max win has decreased for the second time in a row.
Jack Hammer 3 Slot Review Final Thoughts
It may have been a long time coming, but I think NetEnt has done another stellar job here. The max win has dropped again, but the low to medium variance of these slots and the more frequent wins tend to ensure the maximum potential is not as important. I really enjoyed the new features, but I also appreciate NetEnt keeping a lot of what made the other two titles so successful.
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