For Aztecs, gold wasn't limited to being a tradeable commodity with high value. These riches were more than earthly possessions as they were considered sacred metals linked to divinities. Since gold was also a part of royal adornment, one can understand the Aztec people’s fascination with this glittering metal. In the Gems Bonanza slot, we encounter gold and other valuable gems that allow players to bag something highly valuable, up to a stunning 10,000x the stake.
Theme, Design, and Audio
The game opens on a colossal grid of 8x8 size, hosting 64 symbols at a time. While we have seen Pragmatic Play experimenting with large grid layouts, this further expands the size. Instead of a typical grid, we encounter a large scroll or map over which symbols land. Behind the reel frame is a lost Aztec city with distinguishable architecture reminiscent of the long-lost civilization. Among other props are a dashboard to the left and a Gold Fever meter to the right, which we will discuss later in the features section.
A sort of tribal music runs in the background with naturalistic instruments giving a mystical vibe. The overall ambiance is somber, and the nighttime setting adds a layer of exotic and enigmatic appeal to the game.
Symbols and Payouts
The game has 7 paying gems of different shapes and colors. Their payout ranges between 50x to 1,000x the stake provided you land a cluster of 25+ matching symbols. To qualify for payouts, you must match symbols in vertical and/or horizontal directions. One needs a cluster of a minimum of 5 matching symbols for payouts.
The slot also has a wild symbol, which substitutes for other pay symbols and can help form multiple winning blocks in the same spin.
RTP, Volatility, and Paylines
Gems Bonanza RTP of 96.55% is among the highest scores from a Pragmatic slot. While still not the highest, the figure states that for every $100 wagered, players can expect to get $96.55 back in the long run. However, this is a theoretical value computed over millions of spins. So, in short gaming sessions, stats might vary significantly.
The volatility will be high for a game paying 10,000x the stake. And so it is the case with Gems Bonanza. Slots having high volatility do not pay frequently but offer better chances of landing bigger wins in a shorter duration.
Gems Bonanza does away with the traditional pay lines system. Instead, the slot employs cluster pays mechanics where landing a cluster of a minimum of 5 matching symbols triggers a payout.
Features and Bonuses
Gems Bonanza has many modifiers or features that can help you win significantly.
Tumble
Whenever a winning combination hits on the reels, winning symbols get removed, and the remaining symbols fall to the bottom. Meanwhile, the empty cells above are filled with new random symbols. If another winning cluster emerges, the tumbling process repeats.
Spin Features
On every spin, colored spots or marks might randomly appear in any position. If a winning combination hits on that position, a modifier triggers depending on the color of the marker:
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Nuclear (Blue Mark): After the current tumble sequence ends, this feature removes all symbols from the reels and lands a fresh set of symbols
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Wild Gem (Pink Mark): This feature randomly selects a symbol on the reels and converts all its instances into wild symbols.
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Square (Brown Mark): Randomly places blocks of 2x2 into random positions on the reels
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Colossal (Red Mark): randomly places blocks of 3x3, 4x4, or 5x5 into random positions on the reels.
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Lucky Wilds (Green Mark): Places 5 to 15 wild symbols in random positions on the reels
Gold Fever Progressive Feature
A portion of the Gold Fever meter fills each time you hit a tumble sequence. As the sequence continues, the meter keeps filling. And once the tumble sequence ends, the meter resets to zero. However, the Gold Fever Progressive feature gets triggered if you complete the symbol explosion of 114 symbols consecutively.
The Gold Fever feature has multiple levels, starting with Level 1. All the five modifiers are active on each level. The first level starts off with a multiplier of x2. After achieving the required number of symbols, the next level unlocks with a higher win multiplier.
The feature ends when all the levels are played out, or a player fails to collect sufficient symbols for the next round.
Buy Bonus
You can instantly trigger the Gold Fever feature by using the Buy Bonus feature and paying 100x the stake. Once in the feature, you will have to collect a select number of symbols to move to the next level:
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Level 2 requires 116 symbols
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Level 3 requires 121 symbols
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Level 4 requires 129 symbols
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Level 5 requires 138 symbols
About the Game Provider
Pragmatic Play stands out as a highly productive igaming brand, boasting a dynamic gaming portfolio that continues to evolve. While the company is well-known for its online slots, it has diversified into additional verticals such as bingo and sportsbook. Over the years, Pragmatic Play has earned numerous awards. Some of the best Pragmatic Play slots are easily accessible in many online and crypto casinos worldwide. Notably, the company holds licenses from the UK Gambling Commission and the Malta Gaming Authority, enhancing its reputation and credibility as a prominent game provider.