NetEnt might not dish out new slots in a prolific nature like other software providers such as Pragmatic Play or Relax Gaming, but when it does, the slots are usually bangers. Let’s not forget that NetEnt is one of the oldest iGaming companies still in existence, and it is responsible for many legendary slot titles and for developing popular reel mechanics such as Cluster Pays. Today, I’m reviewing the latest slot to come out off the factory line at NetEnt, and yes, it’s also a Cluster Pays slot. Gem Crush is a 6-reel, 8-row slot with a 96.10% RTP, a medium/high variance, and a 4,361x max win.
Once again, the Cluster Pays mechanic is accompanied by an Avalanche feature that removes winning symbols so that new ones can drop down, potentially creating further wins. Additionally, a multiplier beside the reels can trigger randomly to multiply payouts by up to 5x, and symbol upgrades can also occur. Those features also play a part in the free spins bonus. That bonus round offers a persistent progressive multiplier, symbol upgrades, and guaranteed colossal wild symbols.
Have I piqued your interest enough for you to want to learn more about this game? Then why not play the Gem Crush slot demo below to see if it’s a game you’d happily wager some real cash on later?
| Provider | Netent |
| Reels | 6 |
| Rows | 8 |
| Paylines | Cluster Pays |
| Bonus Rounds | 1 |
| Bet Range | 0.10 - 20 |
| Volatility | High |
| Max Win | 4,361x |
| Bonus Buy | Yes |
| RTP | 96.10% |
| Our Rating | 5.0 |
Gem Crush Casino Bonus
Gem Crush Slot Demo
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Gem Crush Slot Theme, Stakes, Pays & Symbols
I’ve always been a fan of Cluster Pays and Grid slots since NetEnt first developed the mechanic in 2016. The original Cluster Pays slot was Aloha! Cluster Pays, which would go on to be one of NetEnt’s most successful slot releases. Since then, other brands have released titles eerily similar to that title. For instance, check out Silverback Gaming’s Tiki Bonanza and Tropical Tiki from Pragmatic Play. Both offer striking similarities with NetEnt’s original release.
Anyhow, it’s NetEnt’s latest Cluster Pays slot we’re looking at today, and where better to start than with the symbol payouts? All the symbols are large or small gems of different colours. The larger symbols offer the bigger payouts, and the smaller gems offer the, yes, you guessed it, the smaller payouts. The large Orange Gem pays 80x the stake for clusters of 30+, whilst the Large Purple, Green, and Blue Gems reward payouts of 40x, 30x, and 25x, respectively. As for the lower pays, the smaller gems in those same colours will pay you 20x, 15x, 12x, and 10x, respectively, if 30 or more form part of a winning cluster. Keep an eye out for the “W” wild symbols, too, as when they land on the reels, they will substitute for all other regular symbols.
The betting range on Gems Crush presents plenty of possibilities for players, with the stakes on offer ranging between a minimum of €0.10 up to a maximum of €20.00 per spin.
Gem Crush Slot Base Game
Gem Crush is a Cluster Pays slot, so you will not have to study the paytable wondering what paylines you have to match your winning symbols. Instead, you’re paid when 5 or more matching symbols land adjacently anywhere on the reels. Plus, winning symbols disappear via the cascading reels mechanic, giving you the potential to win more times from just one paid spin.
Win Multiplier
Triggered randomly, a multiplier value to the side of the reels can apply its value to all wins on that spin. The multiplier can have 2x, 3x, 4x, or 5x values.
Rainbow Gem
If a Rainbow Gem symbol lands on the reels, it will randomly select one low-paying symbol to upgrade. It will remove all instances of that symbol and replace it with a higher-paying symbol.
Gem Crush Slot Bonus Features
There is a single bonus game on Gem Crush triggered once you land three or more scatter symbols anywhere in view during the base game.
Free Spins
When triggered, you receive 10 free spins of the reels. However, during these spins, there are four modifiers active.
- Progressive Multiplier: On every second spin, the win multiplier increases by 1x. It does not reset during spins and applies to all payouts.
- Colossal Wild Symbols: At least one 2×2 colossal wild symbol is guaranteed to land on each free spin.
- Symbol Transformations: During the free spins feature, the Rainbow Gem can upgrade up to four symbols. The transformations remain until the end of the free spins bonus.
- XStrike Feature: This feature can randomly increase the progressive multiplier by 1x.
Bonus Buy
If you’re playing from a jurisdiction where the feature buy button is active, you can buy the bonus game for a cost of 70x your current stake.
Pros
- High-quality aesthetics, as you’d expect from NetEnt.
- An interesting free spins bonus with several modifiers.
Cons
- Low value payouts.
Gem Crush Slot Review Final Thoughts
I’ve played most of NetEnt’s cluster pays slots, with many remaining among my favourites today. However, Gem Crush left me feeling pretty underwhelmed, and with some of the symbols paying such a low amount, it seems difficult to win anything remotely large on the game.
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