Name: Gempops
Item: Gempops
Rating: 7.2
Author: Patrick Owen

Casino Bonuses

Provider	AvatarUX
Reels	5
Rows	4
Paylines	32,768
Bonus Rounds	1
Bet Range	0.20 - 100
Volatility	High
Max Win	4,500x
Bonus Buy	Yes
RTP	96.00%
Our Rating	7.2

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Game Overview

While AvatarUX remains a relatively new slot development company, it has progressed so quickly that labelling it a rising star in the iGaming industry is almost insulting. Only a few up-and-coming studios can start knocking out innovative new mechanics so early after establishment, with most playing it safe by utilising commonly used mechanics developed elsewhere.

That’s not the case for AvatarUX, a developer with several trademarked mechanics to its name. You only have to look at GemPops Xpops Popscode, the slot I’ll review today, as further evidence, with two new mechanics making their debut: Popscades and Xpops. As for the rest of the main stats, this 5-reel, 3-8-row has up to 32,768 Ways-to-Win offers a 96% RTP and could net you up to 20,000x the stake!

Feature-wise, this slot offers a variable height mechanic, ensuring reels can spin in between 3 and 8 symbols in height, expanding reels, reel multipliers, a Popscade mechanic, and the new Xpops. That is before you even consider wild symbols, free spins, a free spins gamble feature, and Ante Bet and Buy Bonus options. Sound too good to be true? Then find out for yourself by opening the Gempops Xpops Popscade slot demo below. Just make sure you read the rest of this review first!

Gempops Slot Theme, Stakes, Pays & Symbols

GemPops paytable

The only lacklustre aspect of GemPops Xpops Popscade is the gem theme. However, who cares when AvatarUX has again ploughed many mechanics and features into this slot? If you enjoy what AvatarUX regularly serves up, I highly recommend you check out other top titles, including Kitty POPpins, Zombie aPOPalypse, and HipHopPop.

Before I break down everything that’s going on in GemPops Xpops Popscade, I’ll first give you the standard symbol payouts. The Red Gem is the most lucrative, with a 5x stake payout for a five symbol combination. The Orange and Purple Gems follow both paying 1.5x, respectively, with the Green and Blue Gems then completing the premium section of the paytable and both awarding 1.25x for a full line of five. The low-paying symbols are represented by the industry standard royal symbols, with the Ace and King sharing pays of 0.75X, the Queen and Jack paying 0.6x, and finally, the Ten paying 0.5x for a winning combo of five.

AvatarUX offers a comprehensive bet selection across its catalogue of slots, which is again present in GemPops. Players can choose from a minimum of €0.20 a spin up to a maximum of €100, with countless options to choose from between this range, making the game accessible to those with all sized budgets.

Gempops Slot Base Game

If you’re looking for a traditional reel mechanic, look away now. The GemPops Xpops Popscade base game offers a ton of mechanics. Bear with me as I take you through them all. First, the slot uses a variable reel height mechanic that delivers reels between 3 and 8 symbols in height, meaning a different amount of ways to win will be present on every spin. Players will create and be awarded a win when at least three matching symbols land on consecutive reels. Wins can pay from left to right and right to left.

Popscade

The new Popscade mechanic is AvatarUX’s take on cascading reels. Winning symbols disappear from the reels, so fresh ones can drop into play and potentially create further wins. However, with Popscades, the reels involved in the winning combinations also extend by one position after every cascade.

Reel Multipliers

Another feature of the reel mechanics offered on the GemPops Xpops Popscade slot is the reel multipliers. At the start of a spin, a random multiplier value is added to each reel at the top. Each symbol win on a reel increases that multiplier by 1x. If a reel is at maximum height, those multiplier increases carry over to an unlocked reel instead.

Xpops

Triggered randomly, between 1 and 4 symbols can Pop. This results in new symbols dropping into play.

Ante Bet

To double your chance of triggering the free spins bonus, you can activate the Ante Bet at a cost of 25% on top of your current bet.

Gempops Slot Bonus Features

GemPops free spins feature

Landing 3, 4, or 5 bonus symbols anywhere in view will trigger the free spins mode. There are three modes that can be activated:

3 bonus symbols: 5 free spins and x1 multiplier.
4 bonus symbols: 8 free spins and x3 multiplier.
5 bonus symbols: 12 free spins and x5 multiplier.

Feature Gamble

Before the bonus feature starts, you can opt to gamble for more free spins. You have a 48.7% chance to win an additional 8 free spins and then a 48.1% chance to win another 12. Just note if you lose at any point, you lose all spins won from the base game.

Free Spins

During the free spins, the reels can now extend up to 8 symbol positions in height. Reel multipliers in the free spins work differently, too. When a reel is unlocked to full size, the multiplier above is transferred to the global multiplier. Another feature of the free spins round is the Bomb symbols. When you land 3 or more, the symbols unlock their reels to the full height and activate the reel multipliers.

Bonus Buy

Players who reside in a jurisdiction where the bonus buy button is active can choose from the standard bonus for a cost of 75x your stake or the max bonus with 12 spins and a 5x multiplier for 300x.

Pros

Two new innovative game mechanics.

Cons

With so much going on, it might seem confusing at first.

Gempops Slot Review Final Thoughts

Opinions differ, so I know plenty of you prefer to play traditional slots with familiar mechanics and features. I, on the other hand, love it when I see innovative new mechanics and features coming onto the scene. With GemPops Xpops Popscade, AvatarUX has once again proved it can deliver high-quality, innovative slots packed with new mechanics. Try it out; you will not regret it!

7.2

Good

Game Types:
Cascading Reels

Author Bio

Article by Patrick Owen

8 Years Slots Playing Experience

About Patrick Owen

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