Reel Gems
Back in November 2010, the Reel Gems slot was released by Microgaming so it is quite a few years old now. However, it still holds up quite well especially as it has features that you can find in more modern Microgaming slots. It is quite simplistic in nature and as the title implies it is a slot built around a theme of gemstones, bringing it in line with other wealth-related games such as Gold.
Reel Gems by Microgaming is a typical 5-reel slot with 243 possible winning combinations. This is a very frequently used format and you will find similar features too in the likes of Dragon Dance as an example. This is because it uses one of their unique features which is that you can re-spin individual reels at a cost. This online slot also has a scatter symbol that can activate a free spins bonus round. There is also a wild symbol that can substitute for all other symbols apart from the scatter symbol. The Reel gems slot offers a top jackpot prize of £60,000.
How to play Reel Gems Video Slot
When this online slot has loaded you will see it is designed to give off a sense of luxury with its blue silky backdrop along with areas of gold and dark coloured reels to make the gems and other symbols stand out. You also have the name of this slot at the top as a gem encrusted logo with further diamonds all scattered around.
The game, like many other online slots, includes some standard card type symbols, these being 9,10, J, Q, K and A. You then have 5 different coloured gemstones and the game logo acts as the wild substitution symbol but only appears on reels 2 and 4. Finally, there is the scatter symbol which is in the shape of a gold ring with 3 diamonds. Land at least 3 of these to activate the free spins bonus round.
Before starting your play on Reel Gems, make sure you set your cost per spin and that this is at a level you are comfortable with. Using the + and – buttons at the bottom of the game screen under the first reel, you can set the coin size at 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 25p or 50p. There is also a coin button so you can decide how many of the coins you wish to bet at a time. This can be anything from 1 to 10. There is then an automatic x25 added to your wager. Adjusting these options will allow you to set the cost per spin to as little as 25p (1x1x25) up to a maximum of £125.
To start playing Reel Gems you just need to select the oblong purple shaped button on the bottom far right of the game screen marked ‘Spin’. There is also an ‘Auto Play’ button but you first need to select the ‘expert’ mode across the very bottom bar on the game screen. This will make the button appear. Clicking the AutoPlay feature allows you to have the game spin the reels automatically. You can set the number of spins from 5 up to 100. You also have a bet max button which will spin the reels at the maximum cost per spin based on your current coin level.
The base game will see you winning as long as a matching symbol appears in concurrent reels from left to right. This can include a wild symbol to create a win. The unique feature of this video slot is being able to re-spin individual reels to try to complete a win. Be aware though that this feature does not work if you use the Auto Play facility. However, on spinning the reels manually, after each spin, you will see underneath each reel a cost to re-spin that one reel. If for example, you landed 2 diamond gems in reels 1 and 2 you could just keep re-spinning reel 3 in the hope of landing a third diamond. You could then just re-spin reel 4 and then reel 5 until you have 5 of a kind.
The biggest cash prizes are won during the free spins bonus round. This is activated by landing 3, 4 or 5 scatter symbols. You will then be awarded 15 free spins and during this bonus round, all wins are tripled. If you land at least 3 scatter symbols again during this feature, then the 15 free spins can be re-triggered. Once the free spins have completed you will be returned to the base game.
Reel Gems Video Slot Tips
On the bottom left-hand side of the game screen, you will see a button labeled ‘View Pays’. This will reveal 4 screens that give information about the game including the main features as discussed above. You can also view the coin payout levels for the number of matching symbols. These screens are useful and help familiarise you with the game and what you need to do to get the best wins possible.
If you are new to playing the Reel Gems video slot, then it would be worth your while to try out the game for free at one of our recommended online casinos. This facility allows you to learn how the game plays and see the features in action before parting with your hard earned cash. You can switch to real cash play at any time. If you would like to play Reel Gems for free then you can at Mr Green Casino and Betbright Casino.
Is Reel Gems the right video slot for you?
The Reel gems Slot by Microgaming has a theoretical RTP (return to player) of 96.52% giving a house edge of up to 3.48%. We tested the game over 100 spins at a £1 cost per spin and found that for an older game it was still quite enjoyable to play. The design may not be as modern as the newer Microgaming slots but the gameplay was just as good.
Wins came in quite frequently, however, we did notice that many of these were of a value lower than our cost per spin, so our balance did slowly deplete. The longest dry spell we had was 11 spins without a win but this was only once. It was certainly the free spins bonus round that brought in the much larger wins. Reel Gems played like a medium variance slot which is typical of many slots from this games developer. You will find this game suits you if you are looking for some big wins from a feature whilst having a reasonable length of gameplay from its base game and is one to consider if looking to meet the wagering requirements of a free casino bonus.
