Drill the Thrill review
NowNow Gaming · July 27, 2026
Drill the Thrill is another attempt to breathe life into the increasingly crowded mining slot genre, though despite a few interesting ideas, it struggles to leave a lasting impression. Developed by Hacksaw partner NowNow Gaming, the game combines expanding reels, coin collection mechanics, jackpots, and a Hold & Win feature into a package that feels immediately familiar if you've spent any time playing modern online slots.
The base game starts on a compact 3-4-4-4-3 layout, but much of the action revolves around the Silver Drill symbol. When it lands, the middle reels expand dramatically, increasing the number of ways to win while introducing coin and jackpot symbols onto the reels. This expansion mechanic creates some anticipation, particularly when the reels stretch to their maximum size, but it never feels especially original given how many recent releases have used similar concepts.
The real target is the Golden Drill. Landing it after the Silver Drill transforms the feature into a Hold & Win style bonus where coin and jackpot symbols lock in place while players chase additional values across the expanded grid. The setup is simple enough, and the possibility of collecting jackpots up to 2,500x the stake gives the feature some purpose, though the overall flow feels heavily inspired by dozens of existing games rather than bringing anything new to the table.
Free spins are available through the Blast Zone Bonus, awarding just five spins with the Silver Drill guaranteed on every round. While this ensures the reels are always expanded, the feature often feels surprisingly brief. Five spins disappear quickly, and without retriggers available, there isn't much opportunity for the feature to build momentum before it ends.
From a technical standpoint, the game sits in a respectable position. RTP is 96.32%, volatility is medium, and the max win reaches 10,000x the bet. Those numbers are solid enough, but they are unlikely to turn heads in a market filled with games offering bigger jackpots, more aggressive volatility, or more elaborate bonus structures.
The mining theme itself is executed competently. The mine tunnels, lanterns, gemstones and cheerful miner mascot create a polished presentation, but the setting never develops much personality beyond that. It's another trip underground searching for treasure, and after years of similar releases, that's becoming a harder sell unless the mechanics do something genuinely memorable.
Ultimately, Drill the Thrill feels like a game assembled from proven components rather than a game built around a strong central idea. The expanding reels add some variety, the Hold & Win feature does its job, and the maths are perfectly acceptable, but very little sticks in the memory once the session is over. There is nothing fundamentally wrong with it, yet there is also very little here that makes it stand out from the countless mining, collector, and Hold & Win slots already competing for attention.
The base game starts on a compact 3-4-4-4-3 layout, but much of the action revolves around the Silver Drill symbol. When it lands, the middle reels expand dramatically, increasing the number of ways to win while introducing coin and jackpot symbols onto the reels. This expansion mechanic creates some anticipation, particularly when the reels stretch to their maximum size, but it never feels especially original given how many recent releases have used similar concepts.
The real target is the Golden Drill. Landing it after the Silver Drill transforms the feature into a Hold & Win style bonus where coin and jackpot symbols lock in place while players chase additional values across the expanded grid. The setup is simple enough, and the possibility of collecting jackpots up to 2,500x the stake gives the feature some purpose, though the overall flow feels heavily inspired by dozens of existing games rather than bringing anything new to the table.
Free spins are available through the Blast Zone Bonus, awarding just five spins with the Silver Drill guaranteed on every round. While this ensures the reels are always expanded, the feature often feels surprisingly brief. Five spins disappear quickly, and without retriggers available, there isn't much opportunity for the feature to build momentum before it ends.
From a technical standpoint, the game sits in a respectable position. RTP is 96.32%, volatility is medium, and the max win reaches 10,000x the bet. Those numbers are solid enough, but they are unlikely to turn heads in a market filled with games offering bigger jackpots, more aggressive volatility, or more elaborate bonus structures.
The mining theme itself is executed competently. The mine tunnels, lanterns, gemstones and cheerful miner mascot create a polished presentation, but the setting never develops much personality beyond that. It's another trip underground searching for treasure, and after years of similar releases, that's becoming a harder sell unless the mechanics do something genuinely memorable.
Ultimately, Drill the Thrill feels like a game assembled from proven components rather than a game built around a strong central idea. The expanding reels add some variety, the Hold & Win feature does its job, and the maths are perfectly acceptable, but very little sticks in the memory once the session is over. There is nothing fundamentally wrong with it, yet there is also very little here that makes it stand out from the countless mining, collector, and Hold & Win slots already competing for attention.
