Backseat Gaming

About Backseat Gaming

Backseat Gaming is a fresh face in the online casino scene, founded in 2022 and based in Malta. Though still young, the studio has already made waves in the iGaming space thanks to a sharp vision and a focused, high-performing team. The company was founded by a small but experienced group of developers who came together with a mission:

To transform the iGaming industry with simplicity and excitement, one game at a time

Rather than overcomplicating slot design, Backseat Gaming aims to keep things clean, fast, and fun. Their entire philosophy rests on three core pillars:

• Innovation – constantly exploring new mechanics and concepts

• Quality – delivering a polished experience with every game

• Fun – never losing sight of entertainment value

Technology & development

What sets Backseat Gaming apart from many indie slot studios is its use of artificial intelligence in the development process. This technology helps speed up production, automate testing, and maintain a high bar for visual quality and game balancing. It’s not just about making more games – it’s about making better ones.

According to the team, this tech-driven approach is part of a larger goal:

To become one of the top game providers in the industry within the next 3–5 years.

So far, that plan is off to a strong start.

Why Malta?

Choosing Malta as a home base wasn’t random. Malta is one of the world’s most established hubs for regulated online gambling and casino game development. For Backseat Gaming, it gives them access to the right talent, licensing authorities, and operator networks to grow fast and stay compliant in regulated markets.

Fast growth & Early impact

Even by the end of 2023, Backseat Gaming had already carved out a reputation among slot players and casino streamers. With a lean team – estimated between 11 and 50 employees – the studio managed to punch far above its weight class.

One industry write-up described Backseat as:

“A small but highly experienced team focused on player experience.”

And that focus shows. Whether you’re spinning through a Roman battlefield or zipping around a cartoon world with mouse twins, Backseat’s games share a few signature traits:

• Visually striking artwork and animations

• Simple, smooth gameplay that’s mobile-friendly

• Surprising features and bonus mechanics that keep things exciting

Partnership with Hacksaw Gaming and OpenRGS

One key factor in Backseat Gaming’s rapid ascent has been its close partnership with established provider Hacksaw Gaming. Shortly after its founding, Backseat Gaming became one of the inaugural studios to join Hacksaw’s OpenRGS (Open Remote Gaming Server) program in mid-2023. In fact, Hacksaw Gaming introduced the OpenRGS platform by launching with Backseat Gaming as its first partner studio. This partnership effectively made Backseat a “sibling studio” of Hacksaw Gaming, , allowing the newcomer to design and develop its own games while leveraging Hacksaw’s robust distribution network and technical infrastructure. “The company was founded in 2022 in Malta, and it has already become popular among the fans, partly because of integrating the famous Hacksaw Gaming’s OpenRGS platform,” reported one industry news outlet​. By building its games on Hacksaw’s remote game server, Backseat instantly gained access to hundreds of online casinos and markets worldwide, dramatically accelerating its reach. (Hacksaw noted that content from its OpenRGS partners went live with over 1,000 casino partners in multiple major markets within the first year.)

In terms of style and philosophy, Backseat Gaming and Hacksaw Gaming share a complementary approach. Hacksaw is known for edgy, innovative slot designs, and Backseat’s games slot right into this mold with high-volatility math models, quirky themes, and inventive bonus features. A Hacksaw Gaming announcement introducing one collaborative title captured the synergy: “With the edge of Hacksaw Gaming, and the lively features of Backseat Gaming, we bring you our newest OpenRGS collaboration!”. Both companies prioritize mobile-friendly design and quick gameplay bursts tailored to modern audiences. Backseat’s slots often include features reminiscent of Hacksaw’s own hits – for example, special FeatureSpins modes (ante bets that boost bonus chances) and sizeable maximum payout caps (frequently 10,000x+ the bet), which appeal to thrill-seeking players.

The partnership has been mutually beneficial. From Backseat’s perspective, working with Hacksaw provided invaluable guidance and technology during its crucial first year. “Over the past year, we’ve learned and grown immensely as Backseat Gaming, yet we feel we’ve only just begun. Collaborating with Hacksaw has been an absolute pleasure, and we are thrilled about the amazing games in the coming year,” the Backseat Gaming team remarked on the first anniversary of their partnership. Hacksaw, meanwhile, expanded its content portfolio through fresh ideas from Backseat. The OpenRGS initiative allowed Hacksaw to publish third-party games alongside its own, enriching the offerings for operators. By the end of 2023, Backseat Gaming had successfully released five titles via the OpenRGS program, with an “ambitious roadmap for 2024” to follow. As more studios join OpenRGS, Backseat remains one of its flagship partners, often cited as a case study in how a small studio can punch above its weight with the right collaboration.

Portfolio growth and notable releases

Although Backseat Gaming only launched in 2022, its output has been impressive. By early 2024, the studio had already released around six slot games, and that momentum only picked up heading into 2025.

Within the first year of partnering with Hacksaw’s OpenRGS platform, Backseat launched seven titles, starting with their debut slot Lord Venom in May 2023. One of their biggest early successes came with the jungle-themed Barrel Bonanza, released in March 2024. The game became a breakout hit, breaking internal OpenRGS performance records and introducing Backseat to a global player base.

By late 2024, industry databases tracked 15–20 Backseat Gaming titles live across various casinos. The portfolio is a great reflection of their creative range, covering different genres and mechanics:

• BladeMaster – a fantasy-themed slot with sword combat and a huge 13,000x win potential

• Sleepy Grandpa – a quirky, lighthearted game where a snoozing farmer digs up multipliers

• Pirate Bonanza – bomb-style mechanics meet high-seas adventure

• Space Zoo – combines cute alien animals with playful bonus features

• Crystal Robot – a sci-fi slot featuring futuristic visuals and dynamic wilds

• The Cursed King – ventures into ancient Egypt with rich aesthetics

• Old Gun – Western shootout vibes with quickfire bonus rounds

Each release brings something new to the table, whether it’s unique bonus rounds, animated characters, or high-volatility math models designed for big hits. Despite the genre variety, one thing stays consistent – Backseat’s commitment to feature-rich gameplay and polished design.

Thanks to their ongoing integration with Hacksaw Gaming, all of Backseat’s slots are fully licensed under Hacksaw’s existing certifications. That includes approvals from the Malta Gaming Authority and the UK Gambling Commission, which has allowed Backseat to enter regulated markets far faster than most startups.

In 2023 alone, Hacksaw entered five new regulated jurisdictions, and Backseat’s games were part of every single expansion. This licensing bridge helped them appear on major online casinos and crypto platforms alike, often tagged under the Hacksaw OpenRGS label.

They’ve also benefitted from early-access exposure on streaming-friendly platforms like Stake, where games like Shadow Strike and Infernus were featured and streamed by popular casino creators – building hype across social media and community channels.

In short, Backseat’s output isn’t just fast – it’s diverse, polished, and globally accessible, with a growing fan base across both traditional and crypto casino audiences.

Development approach and future plans

Backseat Gaming’s development approach is characterized by agility and tech-forward thinking. The mention of AI technology in its mission statement is not just buzzwords – insiders suggest the team uses AI-based tools for aspects like asset creation (art and animation) and game balancing simulations, which help speed up production without a large staff. This has enabled Backseat to release new titles nearly every month, a pace comparable to far bigger studios. Despite the rapid output, the company stresses a commitment to quality control and responsible gaming. Each game goes through rigorous testing (often in partnership with Hacksaw’s QA process) to ensure fairness and stability before release. All titles support multiple RTP configurations to meet various jurisdictional requirements, and carry responsible-gambling messaging (e.g., “Please Gamble Responsibly” notices) in line with industry standards.

Looking ahead, Backseat Gaming shows no signs of slowing down. The company’s leaders have openly stated their goal of becoming a top-tier slot provider within a few years, and the roadmap of upcoming content reflects that ambition. In 2024, Backseat expanded its creative horizons – for instance, branching into more sequels and series (a follow-up Pirate Bonanza 2 is slated for 2025, and another Roman-themed title Gladius: Death or Glory is in the works). They are also likely to continue leveraging Hacksaw’s OpenRGS, though one can anticipate Backseat pursuing its own direct licenses once it grows larger. “We are dedicated to becoming one of the leading providers in the industry within the next 3-5 years,” the team proclaims, a statement that underlines an aggressive growth mindset. This will possibly involve scaling up the team, forging new operator partnerships, and incorporating cutting-edge tech (perhaps more AI or even VR elements) into future games.

In terms of industry positioning, Backseat Gaming has quickly built a reputation as a creative boutique studio to watch. Its partnership with Hacksaw Gaming gives it a strong foundation, but Backseat has proven it can stand out through its game design prowess. As an analysis by VegasSlotsOnline summarized, Backseat’s focus on exploring new mechanics “to keep things feeling fresh” is a major strength, If the company continues to deliver on that ethos – providing slot players with novel experiences and entertaining themes – it may well achieve the recognition it seeks. For now, Backseat Gaming’s journey from a fledgling startup to a producer of popular slots like Barrel Bonanza and Super Twins shows how a mix of innovation, the right alliances, and a little bit of backseat driving can steer a new studio toward success in the competitive world of iGaming.

Top 6 highest max win games by Backseat Gaming