Gem Crush (NetEnt) – Review & Demo Play

The Gem Crush Slot Game

I dropped into Gem Crush from NetEnt and found a calming, mystical setting wrapped round a 6x8 grid. Waterfalls sit either side, leaves drift down, and the stones bob gently, which suits a chilled session. It’s a cluster pays slot, so wins land when 5 or more matching symbols connect up or down, left or right, then the avalanche clears them and drops fresh gems. Stakes start at 0.10 and go up to 20 per paid drop, with a buy feature available.

Symbols and Payouts in Gem Crush

There are 8 regulars and 3 specials. The lows are Blue, Green, Purple, and Orange gems. The highs are the same colours but framed in stone. Clusters of 5–7 pay 0.1–0.6x, while 30+ can reach 10–80x the bet, so big groups matter. The Golden W is the wild that substitutes to complete or improve clusters, the Bonus Scatter triggers free spins, and the Rainbow Gem marks one symbol type to upgrade during the current spin.

The paytable spells out every cluster step, and payouts follow stake times the listed value. Because wins use the avalanche system, a single paid drop can chain several cluster outcomes if refills keep connecting. High clusters of framed gems are where the stronger hits sit, though in practice I saw plenty of small-to-mid clusters rolling through while waiting for a board that lined up upgrades or a healthy multiplier.

Gem Crush Symbols and Paytable

Symbol	Quantity	Payout
	Wild
	30+	x80
	25+	x40
	20+	x20
	12+	x2.5
	8+	x1.2
	5+	x0.6
	30+	x40
	25+	x20
	20+	x10
	12+	x1.2
	8+	x0.6
	5+	x0.4
	30+	x30
	25+	x15
	20+	x8
	12+	x1
	8+	x0.5
	5+	x0.3
	30+	x25
	25+	x12
	20+	x6
	12+	x0.8
	8+	x0.4
	5+	x0.2
	30+	x20
	25+	x10
	20+	x5
	12+	x0.6
	8+	x0.3
	5+	x0.1
	30+	x15
	25+	x8
	20+	x4
	12+	x0.5
	8+	x0.3
	5+	x0.1
	30+	x12
	25+	x6
	20+	x3
	12+	x0.4
	8+	x0.2
	5+	x0.1
	30+	x10
	25+	x5
	20+	x2.5
	12+	x0.3
	8+	x0.2
	5+	x0.1

Gem Crush Slot Bonus Features

Avalanche is always on, clearing wins and refilling from above in one sequence. A random multiplier can appear next to the grid and apply to all wins at x2, x3, x4, or x5. When the Rainbow Gem lands, it upgrades a marked symbol type for that spin, helping clusters combine into better groups. In free spins, up to four Rainbow Gems can show across the feature to keep upgrades in play.

Three scatters award 10 free spins. During the round, the win multiplier starts at 1x and increases by +1 on every second spin and does not reset within the feature. A 2x2 Colossal Wild lands on each free spin to guarantee a connection, and symbol transformations that occur stick until the round ends. There’s also XStrike, which adds +1 to the multiplier each time it triggers, nudging returns when the board cooperates.

If patience isn’t your style, the Bonus Buy costs 70x the stake and takes you straight to the free spins. I used it when the base game felt sleepy and found the fixed 2x2 wild plus the non-resetting multiplier did the heavy lifting. Even so, the game’s rhythm leans more to steady flows than wild swings, so sessions hinge on stacking upgrades with a live multiplier rather than chasing a single blowout spin.

How to Win at Gem Crush Slot

Wins form in clusters of 5+ matching symbols connected horizontally or vertically, so you want space for avalanches to open lanes and merge groups. I keep bets between 0.10 and 0.40 while testing boards, then step up if the multipliers and upgrades start showing. Autoplay helps grind for scatters, though I prefer manual control when a random multiplier is live. The 2x2 wild in free spins is reliable, so buying the feature can be sensible if base action feels slow.

Gem Crush Slot RTP & Volatility

The default RTP is listed at 96.10%, rising to 96.13% when you buy the bonus. Alternative settings exist at some sites, such as 94.17% and 88.14%. Volatility sits in the medium range, with a listed hit frequency around 27.97%, so you’ll see regular connections but still need feature synergy for standout returns. The max win caps at 4,361.4x, which is fine for the profile, though not a jaw-dropper by modern standards.

From my sessions, the bigger swings came when a random multiplier lined up with mid-to-large clusters, or when free spins stacked upgrades early and the progressive multiplier ticked up. Without those, results felt modest. If you prefer a gentler curve with layered modifiers instead of wild variance, this math model sits in a comfortable pocket where upgrades, a 2x2 wild, and a growing multiplier carry the payout story.

The Final Thoughts on Gem Crush

I like the calming vibe, but the grid feels small and the base game can doze unless the random multiplier fires or a Rainbow Gem lands. Free spins are the best part: a 2x2 wild every spin, transformations that last, and a multiplier that climbs without resetting. The ceiling of 4,361.4x fits a medium slot, and I’d call this a steady, mystic escape rather than a white-knuckle ride. When it wakes up, it can still put on a tidy show.