Extra Gems

First impressions

Right from the first spin, Extra Gems throws players into a world of ancient treasure, where every gem sparkles like it fell out of a lost Inca temple. The backdrop has that weathered stone look you’d expect from a game inspired by tribes and temples, with lush, colorful gems clustered across the six reels. There’s just enough detail in the art to keep it interesting, and the sound design stays out of the way—think soft tribal beats and the classic arcade pings when the reels land. The mood is cheerful but mysterious, a good fit for anyone who likes their slots with a side of lore. This slot comes from Platipus Gaming, a developer that’s built up a reputation for bold themes and creative reel layouts. Extra Gems fits that bill, showing off a bit of everything Platipus does best. It dropped in 2022 but doesn’t look dated; in fact, it feels right at home next to newer releases.

How Extra Gems plays

The first thing you notice is the grid. Six main reels, each with three symbols, and a bonus reel running horizontally across the top. This isn’t one of those old school fruit machines or a clone of a Megaways game—it’s got its own thing going. With up to 21,069 ways to win (thanks mostly to the split symbol mechanic, which I’ll get into later), it gives that feeling of ‘anything could happen’ every spin.

You can set your total bet anywhere from 1.00 to 100.00 per spin, depending on how adventurous you’re feeling. That range leans more toward casual or everyday players, but it leaves enough headroom if you like to wager big.

The official RTP is 95.01%. That’s a little under the 96% mark that most players are used to seeing, so take note there. The slot is also high volatility. That means the smaller wins don’t come very often, but every now and then, the reels line up for something far more exciting. That’s where the thrill is for a lot of players—especially folks who don’t mind stretches of quiet spins for the shot at a bigger payday.

There’s an autoplay function beneath the start button, which is handy for longer sessions, and a turbo option if you want to blitz through spins at full speed.

Getting into the bonus features

This is where Extra Gems really stands out. There’s a free spins mode, split symbols, and a progressive multiplier—pretty much everything a bonus hunter could want from a tribal slot.

For wilds, it’s the gold mask symbol. You’ll only find it on the top horizontal reel, but when it does land, it subs in for anything except the scatter. That can help finish off a payline you wouldn’t have hit otherwise.

The scatter is a blue gem that can show up anywhere. Land three, four, five or six of them to trigger 9, 15, 21, or 27 free spins. Every extra scatter during the round adds two more free spins—so it’s possible to chain them together for a long bonus round if the reels play along.

Once free spins are live, the multiplier mechanic kicks in. After each win, the multiplier bumps up by one, and it keeps climbing as long as you keep winning on consecutive spins. It resets after a losing spin, so there’s always that tension—will you keep hitting?

The split symbol feature is the wild card here. If a symbol lands on a vertical reel that matches what’s sitting directly above it on the horizontal reel, the bottom symbol splits in two. For wilds, it gets even better—they make the entire row split. That’s how you end up with those massive winning ways, and where Extra Gems gets its 21,069-way bragging rights.

What pays and what doesn’t

The paytable keeps things clear. High-paying symbols are—you guessed it—the fancier gems. The top payout is all about the green gem; line these up and you're looking at up to 500x your stake. Yellow gems and pink diamonds are next, rewarding less, but still worth chasing. On the lower end, you’ve got the four classic card suits: spade, heart, club, diamond. These won’t make you rich, but they fill out the reels nicely.

That wild gold mask looks great when it shows up, but just remember, it’s only ever on that top reel and doesn’t actually pay out on its own. Scatters don’t offer instant payouts either—they’re strictly there to unlock the free spins round. The special effects are minimal, but when a symbol splits, you’ll spot the animated pop that signals your chances just doubled. It’s a slick touch.

How to play Extra Gems slot

Even if you’re new to video slots, Extra Gems keeps it straightforward. Pick your bet size using the coin stack icon; hit the start button for one spin or use autoplay for a batch of hands-free spins. There’s a quick link to the paytable under the hamburger menu at the bottom left if you want all the details. As for the Extra Gems demo or Extra Gems free play, those are easy to find at many casinos—just load the game and give it a go without risking real cash. You’ll find all the same features, from free spins to splitting symbols.

Once you’re spinning, it’s all about lining up three or more of the same symbol left to right. Don’t get discouraged if nothing happens right away—high volatility means dry spells, but those bonus rounds and splits can land suddenly.

Similar games for comparison

Extra Gems does its own thing, but it lands somewhere between ancient civilization-themed slots like Gonzo’s Quest (for the vibe) and modern grid slots with tons of paylines like Bonanza or some Megaways titles. The split symbol mechanic is especially fun for players who liked the way cascading reels or expanding grids keep things interesting.

If the high variance puts you off, you might try something like Starburst for smoother, more frequent wins. But for anyone who wants that adrenaline of a sudden big hit, Extra Gems is in the right neighborhood.

Worth playing?

The main takeaway: Extra Gems slot isn’t for everyone, but it is a good pick for bonus fans and anyone who craves unpredictable spins. The split symbol action and rolling multipliers freshen up what could be ‘just another gem slot’. While its RTP is a bit below the norm and the minimum bet is higher than some super-low-stakes slots, the sheer number of ways to win and that tribal twist give it plenty of replay appeal.

Anyone who enjoyed Extra Gems may want to check out more Platipus releases or take a detour into similar bonus-heavy games packed with features. Want another adventure? Thor’s Hammer and Viking Voyage both push a strong theme and interesting bonus mechanics.