Studio Ghibli films are a rare kind of magic. They’re tender, imaginative, and deeply human. They capture the quiet beauty of everyday moments and pair them with sweeping, otherworldly adventures. Whether it’s the wonder of flight, the ache of growing up, or the courage to care deeply, each story is told with honesty and heart. Watching a Ghibli film feels like being reminded of something you didn’t realise you’d forgotten.

A little while ago, the Ghibli-fied trend swept the world, with people using AI to transform photos into something straight out of a Studio Ghibli film. While the craze has mostly died down, Hacksaw seems to be riding the tail end of it with its new Aiko and the Wind Spirit slot. And sure, maybe the slot was born from a slightly cynical marketing strategy, but its execution is a heartfelt love letter to Studio Ghibli that made me ridiculously happy. I usually wait until the end of a review to give my verdict, but the Aiko and the Wind Spirit slot earns one of my rare, and always confusing, eleven out of ten ratings!

Dear Studio Ghibli

The Aiko and the Wind Spirit slot features 14 fixed paylines spread across a 5-reel layout. Betting starts at just $0.10, with a maximum limit of $35. If you’re betting at the upper limit, you could win up to $350,000, thanks to the 10,000x maximum multiplier. The slot does, however, have very high volatility, meaning wins can be rare but potentially massive. The RTP is 96.29%.

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When a Spirit symbol lands on the grid, it expands upwards to the top of the reel, transforming into a Wild Spirit. Each Wild Spirit reveals a multiplier ranging from x2 to x100. These multipliers apply to all wins that include the expanded symbol. If more than one Wild Spirit contributes to the same win, their multipliers are added together before being applied. Spirit symbols will, however, only expand if doing so will complete at least one winning combination.

The Zephyr Crest symbol becomes active when at least one Wild Spirit and one Zephyr Crest symbol are present on the grid at the same time. Upon activation, the Zephyr Crest causes all Spirit symbols on the reels to expand, regardless of whether they are part of a win. All Wild Spirits are then nudged one reel to the left. During the respin, each Wild Spirit in view is assigned a new multiplier. 

The Spirited Spins bonus game is triggered by landing three FS scatter symbols during the base game, awarding 10 free spins. All mechanics from the base game carry over into this feature, with an increased chance of landing both Spirit and Zephyr Crest symbols. 

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Landing four FS scatters triggers the Whispering Winds bonus game, which also begins with 10 free spins. In addition to the features present in Spirited Spins, this round of free spins introduces a Memory multiplier above each reel, initially set to x0. When a Wild Spirit lands on a reel with a Memory value of x0, it reveals a multiplier that is both applied to the win and stored in the Memory. On subsequent spins, if a Wild Spirit lands on a reel where the Memory is x2 or higher, its new multiplier is combined with the stored one, and the total is applied to all wins involving that reel. 

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The hidden Midnight Magic bonus round is unlocked by landing five FS scatters in the base game, awarding 10 free spins. This mode retains all features of the Whispering Winds round and guarantees a minimum of two Wild Spirits on every spin.

Is the Aiko and the Wind Spirit slot perfect?

The Aiko and the Wind Spirit slot is a beautiful game. It gives When Marnie Was There, The Wind Rises, and Howl’s Moving Castle vibes. Its three unique locations are beautifully illustrated and brought to life with enchanting animation. Sure, the bonus features are a little stock standard for Hacksaw, but who cares? It’s perfect. An absolute must for any Studio Ghibli fan.

If you’re looking for a few other great Hacksaw slots to try out, I recommend 2 Wild 2 Die and Rise of Ymir.