Lion Gems: Hold and Win (Playson) – Review & Demo Play

Lion Gems: Hold and Win - Game Overview

Lion Gems: Hold and Win sticks to a classic safari theme with polished audiovisuals and Playson’s cartoonish style. You get 5 reels, 4 rows and 30 paylines, paying left to right from the leftmost reel. Stakes start at €0.20 and go up to €100 per spin, so it suits most bankrolls. I found the interface clean and responsive across devices. It plays like a familiar Hold and Win entry, comfortable to pick up, with the core loop built around free spins and the respin bonus.

Symbols in Lion Gems: Hold and Win

There are 9 pay symbols split into 4 lows and 5 highs. The card ranks J, Q, K and A top out at 1.6x for five. Premiums are flamingos, boars, zebras, leopards, and rhinos. The set scales from 4x on flamingos to 6.4x on leopards, while rhinos lead the pack with 8x for five of a kind. Payouts start from 3-of-a-kind, and on a 5x4 grid the lines cover the board well without clutter.

Specials carry real weight. Lion Wilds substitute and also pay 8x for five. Tree Scatters award 2x, 10x, or 100x the stake for landing 3, 4, or 5 anywhere, which adds nice base game pops. Diamond Bonus symbols are key to the respin round and can land with values from 1x to 16x during that feature. The mix of steady low pays and punchy premiums keeps the flow consistent while you hunt for features.

Lion Gems: Hold and Win Symbols and Paytable

Symbol	Quantity	Payout
	Scatter
	5	x100
	4	x10
	3	x2
	Wild
	5	x8
	4	x2
	3	x0.6
	5	x8
	4	x2
	3	x0.6
	5	x6.4
	4	x1.6
	3	x0.4
	5	x5.6
	4	x1.2
	3	x0.4
	5	x4.8
	4	x1
	3	x0.4
	5	x4
	4	x0.8
	3	x0.4
	5	x1.6
	4	x0.4
	3	x0.2
	5	x1.6
	4	x0.4
	3	x0.2
	Bonus

Bonus Features in Lion Gems: Hold and Win

The game leans on three pillars: Lion Wilds, Tree Scatters, and Diamond Bonus symbols. Wilds do the standard substitute job and pay well at the top end. Scatters act as feature triggers and standalone payouts. Diamonds fuel the Hold and Win round. In practice, I found the base game a steady build towards either free spins or the respin grid, with occasional scatter pays keeping balance in check while waiting for the bigger swings.

Free Spins drop with 3 or more Tree Scatters and grant 8 spins. During the bonus, Lion Wilds become 2x Lion Wilds, doubling any line win they help form. Retriggers are available, handing out 8 extra spins for each fresh set of 3+ Scatters. The 2x Wilds are the driver here; lining a premium with a multiplier can flip the script fast, and that extra eight-spin top-up keeps the round from fizzling out too quickly.

Hold and Win triggers with 6+ Diamond Bonus symbols. You start on 3 respins; any new diamond resets the counter to 3 and sticks. Regular diamond values range from 1x to 16x. Jackpot Diamonds can land as Mini (20x), Minor (50x), or Major (150x). Mystery Diamonds convert to a random jackpot symbol when the feature ends. Fill all positions to land the Grand prize worth 3,000x your bet. It’s a straight, satisfying build-and-hold sequence.

Diamond Peak in Lion Gems: Hold and Win

Diamond Peak is a random event that can appear in the base game or during free spins. When it triggers, it launches the Hold and Win feature on the spot. I rate it as a welcome jolt, especially on quieter stretches, as it bypasses the usual six-diamond entry. It acts like a safety valve, adding a surprise entry to the respin grid without side quests or token collection, which fits the slot’s simple, well-known flow.

RTP, Volatility and Max Win in Lion Gems: Hold and Win

The volatility sits at medium-high, and the hit frequency is around 16%, so wins are not constant, yet features land often enough to keep momentum. The default RTP is 95.55%, and different configurations exist, so the figure can vary by venue. Bets span €0.20 to €100, giving room to adjust session length and risk. On paper the model is a familiar Playson Hold and Win setup, with measured base game taps and the occasional feature spike.

Top payout is capped at 3,000x your bet, achievable via a full-board finish in Hold and Win. That ceiling reads modest for the volatility, but the game gets its value from fixed jackpots and 2x Wilds in free spins rather than ultra-high peaks. I keep stakes steady to ride out variance and aim for the respin board or a retrigger run. If you like classic Hold and Win maths, this sits right in line with expectations.

The 200 Spins Lion Gems: Hold and Win Experience

Across 200 spins I saw the full cycle. Free spins landed early, twice within the first ten spins, both paying under €20. Nothing huge arrived later, yet small hits and scatter pays kept play going. The Hold and Win round showed a few times with regular diamonds and the odd jackpot symbol tease, but no board fill. The ride was a gentle rollercoaster rather than a surge. Even so, the slot felt tidy, and I left with a positive read.