Gems Bonanza slot review (Pragmatic Play)

Gems Bonanza is an exciting and volatile Pragmatic Play grid slot with plenty of fireworks

Pragmatic Play must have thought: “whatever Play’n GO does, we can do just as well.”

For example, Play’n GO introduced the famous explorer Rich Wilde in its Book of Dead and many other Book of Ra-style slots. Pragmatic Play introduced John Hunter, another tough adventurer.

Play’n GO released one spectacular grid slot after another, and Pragmatic Play is on its way to do the same. After the somewhat modest Fruit Party slot, I can rightly say that this slot is a beauty!

It’s mainly thanks to the many features and spectacular and thrilling free spins, where you have up to 5 different levels.

Like most grid slots, the win potential is massive.

You can bag up to 10,000x with Gems Bonanza

In the most extreme situation, you can land the full million. But for that, you need to have the guts to stake the maximum of 100. And, last but not least, have all the luck of the world.

---

Software: Pragmatic Play

Number of paylines: 8×8 grid slot

RTP and variance: 96.51%, High variance

Maximum win: 10,000x the total bet

Betting range: $€0.20 – $€100

Bonus features: Gold Fever Progressive Feature, Buy a Bonus Feature

Casino Hipster verdict: HOT! Fascinating and thrilling grid slot thanks to the many features.

---

Gems Bonanza slot – Gameplay and Features

Gems Bonanza is a cluster pays slot with an 8×8 grid (64 symbols).

The aim is to spin clusters (adjacent and identical symbols) of at least 5 in size.

After a winning combo, the winning symbols disappear, and new symbols replace these. Besides, you get a free re-spin. It goes on as long as you continue to make winning clusters.

Pragmatic Play calls this the Tumbling Mechanism (cascading or avalanche mechanism).

There are 7 symbols (jewels), of which the Red one is the highest paying one. The Wilds are the gold-framed green emeralds.

Five spectacular boosters

If you look closely, you’ll spot special illuminated (lighted) round symbols with the following colours: Blue, Pink, Brown, Red and Green.

When the next 64 Jewels appear on the screen and have one or more winning clusters with inside one or more of these highlighted symbols, you activate one of the following 5 features (boosters):

• Via Blue: the Nuclear feature, where you get 64 new symbols with the following respin
• Via Pink: the Wild Gem feature, where you can convert a random symbol into Wilds
• Via Brown: the Squares feature, where various symbols become 2×2 in size
• Via Red: the Colossal symbol feature, where you get a symbol of 3×3 or 4×4 or even 5×5 in size
• Via Green: the Lucky Wilds feature, where you get 5 to 15 wilds.

With these boosters, it’s possible to land many consecutive winners and many extra respins.

But there is even more in the tank! Thanks to the Gold Fever Progressive Feature

How to get the Gold Fever Progressive Feature

If you manage to get consecutive winning clusters with (summed up) at least 114 symbols, you activate the Gold Fever Progressive Feature.

Alternatively, you buy these with the Buy Gold Fever, which is a Bonus Buy feature. It costs 100x the original bet.

Preferably 5 levels within the Gold Fever Progressive Feature

Now the excitement begins. You only get one spin, but I bet that you get many respins, as you’re guaranteed to get all 5 boosters (at least once). Moreover, all your winnings multiply by x2.

But if you manage to spin clusters with (summed up successively) at least 116 symbols, you progress to Level 2. It plays the same as Level 1, but now your winnings are multiplied by x4.

In the same way, you can make it to Level 3, Level 4 and even Level 5. In that case, your winnings multiply by x6, x8 and x10, respectively.

I guess I don’t need to explain that it can go sky-high with your balance when you progress to the higher levels!

Payout percentage (RTP)

The payout percentage of Gems Bonanza is an excellent 96.51%.

Gems Bonanza slot – high variance (volatility)

Pragmatic Play gives a score of 5 out of 5 for the variance. In short, the variance is very high.

Given the gameplay’s nature with the increasing multipliers in the 5 levels, I expect that wins above 1,000x are realistic.

Pros and Cons

Advantages:

• Stunning grid slot thanks to its boosters.
• Thrilling with the 5 levels within the Gold Fever Progressive Feature.
• Enormous win potential.

Disadvantages:

• The gem symbols are a bit boring.
• The gameplay goes very fast and might be overwhelming at first.
• It’s a risky slot.

So, who’ll like the slot? And who won’t?

Grid slot enthusiasts will like this one! I’m pleased with the many features and the increasing excitement with the 5 levels.

It would help if you were open to taking a risk. Your balance can evaporate in a whisker if you fail to land the massive win.

Relevant news