Introduction to Gemstone Jam
Gemstone Jam is a casino slot from Yggdrasil that aims to bring back classic formulas in a modern style. We seem to hear that sentence quite often, as many studios try to encapsulate that nostalgic, old-school feeling that many old games used to give. To that end, we have to say that Gemstone Jam definitely has a gameplay loop like the old classics, featuring very simple features such as Wild Prizes and Nudges. Coupled with a modern, shiny-looking game where everything has been run through a refinement tool, and you get Gemstone Jam. The game doesn’t come with any fancy Bonus Games or Cash Collection mechanics, as it all boils down to paylines, with the previously mentioned Wilds being the main star of the show, both helping to create more paylines, as well as having their own special prizes, which is also the only way to be able to hit the max win of 10,000X the bet.
Try out Yggdrasil’s attempt at creating Las Vegas, in the form of a classic slot game with some modern tones and big Wild Prizes. If you want to try out the game, then don’t miss out on the Gemstone Jame demo.
Theme, Gameplay & Payouts
Gemstone Jam is a video slot from Yggdrasil with 3 Reels, 3 Rows, and 9 Paylines. You can choose between making a Min.bet of 0.1 and a Max.bet of 10. Gemstone Jam comes with a low RTP of 94%, a hit frequency of 30%, and high volatility, where wins can feel explosive, but might not pay out as much as expected, with only one way to reach the max win of 10,000X the bet.
The game, like many other Las Vegas-themed games, is set on a stage, with the playing grid as the main attraction, a lady standing to its right, and the paytable to its left. As you spin, you’ll hear the audience cheer for wins and boo on long streaks of not hitting anything, with an upbeat pop soundtrack. You can play the game on most mobiles, desktops, and notepads.
The paying symbols are split into three types, with the lowest-paying symbol being the Cherries, which can form a win by landing 1, 2, or 3 of them, paying out between 0.5X and 3X the bet. The medium-paying symbols are the BARs, which come in 3 variants that can be mixed to form a win, paying out between 1.5X and 15X the bet. The higher-paying symbol is the 7s, which will pay out 30X by landing a win of 3 of the same symbols. The Special Symbols are the Wild Symbols, which also come with their own paylines, but more on that in the next section.
Special Features & Mechanics
What is the max win in the slot Gemstone Jam?
You can win up to 10,000X the bet.
What features are available in the slot Gemstone Jam?
The features are Wild Symbols, Wild Prizes, and Nudge.
Wild Symbols
Wild Symbols help form winning combinations by being able to substitute for all symbols. Wins with Wilds will also get a Multiplier, as if 1 Wild is part of a winning combination, it will receive a 2X Multiplier, and if there are 2 Wilds, you will get a 4X Multiplier.
Wild Prizes
Creating wins with only Wilds will award you with special grand prizes, depending on the Wild Payline that was created.
3 Wilds on one Payline = Awards 2,500X the bet.
6 Wilds on two Paylines = Awards 5,000X the bet.
5 Wild Symbols on full board = Awards 10,000X the bet.
Nudge
After a spin, there is a chance for the nudge feature to activate, giving reels a chance to move up or down by one position to help form wins.
Final Thoughts on Gemstone Jam
Modern releases that aim to polish up old-school formulas are beloved by many, especially those chasing the nostalgic vibes of classic games, many of which might not even be playable anymore. However, when it comes to these releases, there’s always the issue with balance, and how it is gonna feel to play in a modern environment, where themes, mechanics, and more, have evolved in ways many old-school slot lovers would never expect. Gemstone Jam finds itself in a bit of a weird position, as its theme is basically a rehash of a hundred games we’ve seen before, just now with a host and audience, and with a gameplay loop that was seen in every game a few decades ago. So, with that out of the way, let us get to the real meat and discuss the gameplay.
Starting with the stats, the game does come with a bit of a disappointing RTP of 94%, but with a good hit frequency of 30% and a solid max win of 10,000X the bet. However, even with a solid max win, there’s only one way to actually hit a win like that, and it’s through one of the very few features, which is the Wild Prizes. This was a common feature in older games and is usually seen in games following the classic formula. Today, we would say this is a bit of a coin flip, as it isn’t much different from a glorified payline, but it is for those who don’t want any extra fluff like bonus games or unique mechanics. This glorified payline feature has been reworked, evolved, and changed a hundred times over, and is even still present in some form in modern releases. Coupled with the many other old-school releases, this game, which solely relies on this one feature, is a bit underwhelming and easily forgettable. Its visuals might be shiny and have some very volatile Wild Prizes, but to us, it relies too heavily on nostalgia rather than being an actually engaging and fun experience.
Gemstone Jam is a slot all about old-school spins on a 3x3 playing grid filled with Wilds and Wild Prizes.
