Gem Pops Slot

Base Game & Features

Gem Pops is a 5-reel Video Slot, playable from £.€0.20 per spin, up to a maximum bet size of £.€100 per spin. Between these are a range of betting options, suitable to each player and their specific budgets.

Gem Pops features 5 High-paying and 6 Low-paying symbols, with the highest-paying producing wins of up to 5x your bet for a full 5-line winning combination. Low-paying symbols are standard A, K, Q, J, 10, and 9.

Wins are created when 3, 4, or 5 matching symbols land from left to right or right to left, starting from the leftmost and rightmost reels. Gem Pops features up to 32,767 ways to win.

When a win occurs on the reels, all winning symbols are replaced with new ones, causing the reels to expand. Symbols will cascade from the top via the Popscade Feature, instead of appearing on winning positions in previous Pop titles. During the base game, each spin will generate a random reel height.

Gem Pops has a theoretical RTP of 95.99%, a High Volatility rating, and a max win cap of 10,000x your bet. AvatarUX has also included lower RTP variants of 94.05% and 85.95%, as well as a hit rate of 25%.

Reel Multipliers

Above each of the 5 reels are individual Reel Multipliers starting at x1. Each time a win occurs, the corresponding reel multiplier will increase by +x1.

In the base game, when a reel reaches maximum height (7 symbols), the reel multiplier is applied to wins which occur on the fully unlocked reel.

During Free Spins, when a reel reaches maximum height (8 symbols), the reel multiplier is transferred and added to the Global Multiplier. The global multiplier is applied to all future wins during this time.

Xpops

High and Low-paying symbols can pop randomly during any spin in the base game, ranging from 1-4.

Xpress

• Ante Bet – Doubles your chances of entering Free Spins (1.25x your bet)
• Gamble Wheel – Gamble for up to 16 Free Spins (75x your bet)
• Buy Bonus – Awards 5 Free Spins and a x1 Multiplier (75x your bet)
• Buy Bonus Max – Awards 12 Free Spins and a x5 Multiplier (300x your bet)

Free Spins

Landing 3, 4, or 4 Scatters in the base game triggers the Free Spins round. There are 3 Free Spins modes available:

• 3 Scatters – Awards 5 Free Spins and a x1 Multiplier.
• 4 Scatters – Awards 8 Free Spins and a x3 Multiplier.
• 5 Scatters – Awards 12 Free Spins and a x5 Multiplier.

Gamble Wheel

Before entering Free Spins, you’ll have the opportunity to increase your starting number of Free Spins for more (up to 12) via the Gamble Wheel. Please note, this is not a free gamble and will cost 75x your bet to activate.

Winning the gamble will award the next available Free Spins amount, however, losing the gamble will send you back to the base game empty-handed.

• Gamble 1 win probability – 48.7% (Gold 1%)
• Gamble 2 win probability – 48.1% (Gold 1%)

Special Bomb Symbol

During Free Spins, you can claim up to +3 Free Spins when a special Bomb symbol lands in view. The special Bomb symbol instantly unlocks the reel it landed on to its full height (8 symbols), activating the Reel Multiplier.

Pros and Cons of Gem Pops

Pros:

• Up to 32,767 ways to win.
• Max win cap of 10,000x your bet.
• Range of betting options.
• New Xpops and Popscade mechanics.
• Reel heights adjust with each spin.

Cons:

• The Gamble Wheel is not free to players.
• RTP of 95.99%.

Similar Slots to Gem Pops

• WitchyPoppins (AvatarUX)
• HipHopPop (AvatarUX)
• LolliPop (AvatarUX)

Conclusion

AvatarUX has opened the door to new functions and mechanics in their latest release, Gem Pops, but did it live up to our expectations? Although equipped with Xpops and Popscade mechanics, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, with its striking similarities to the entire PopWins collection.

The Popscade mechanic is another term for a glorified Cascade feature, where symbols drop in from above the reels instead of on winning positions as in previous titles. This, combined with the Xpops mechanic makes for some light-hearted and entertaining gameplay.

Another interesting twist in Gem Pops is the interchangeable reel heights with each base game spin. In previous titles, you had to grind your way to the maximum reel heights by landing consecutive wins, which we quickly realised was easier said than done.

The good news is there’s a Gamble Wheel in Gem Pops, but the bad news is that it costs 75x your bet to play. If you’re a loyal player of the PopWins series, you’ll know that most gamble rounds are free in previous titles, but not this time. Because it’s considered a Bonus Buy option, players in the UK will not be able to participate.