Gems Wild-Tiles Slot Machine

Everybody knows that precious stones are a sign of wealth. That’s why they appear in so many forms in so many casino games: any win that is made up of diamonds, for instance, can pretty much assume to be a big one. It’s not a particularly complex idea, but it’s an easy way to communicate the message that “you can win big” to players.

One game that specializes in these rocks is the IGT classic Gems Wild-Tiles. This specialty offering has long been a favorite of many gamblers thanks to its simplistic gameplay and fun rolling wins system which can keep the action going for a lot longer than you might expect. There’s also the added excitement of a bonus round that promises some huge rewards. It might all be luck-based, but for players who love slots, this is a machine that can offer the same feel with a slightly different gameplay bent.

Line Them up and Knock Them down

Gems Wild-Tiles is best described as a specialty game: that vague description that applies to titles that don’t fit into one of the main categories of casino gambling. Available today not only at brick-and-mortar casinos but also online at some social gaming sites, this machine has a lot in common with slots, but is formatted quite differently, making it a unique experience.

At the start of each round, players are asked to place a bet. Typically, the minimum is 40 units (in real money play, you’ll often see this as a penny slot), with higher bets also supported. Once you’ve picked the amount you want to play for, simply hit the start button and the action will begin.

The game is played over a five-by-five grid, with each position being filled in by a type of gem that falls into place at the start of each round. The object of the game is to match three or more of the same rocks in a row, either vertically or horizontally. Gems of various colors are available, including two types of rubies, two more emeralds, and the always alluring diamonds, which offer the biggest prizes of any of the normal symbols.

Once everything falls into place, any winning combinations will be noted, and prizes will be awarded based on the game’s pay table. While longer matches are definitely worth more money, they aren’t always the best for you in the long run. That’s because of a special rule that turns the middle symbol of any three-of-a-kind match into a wild, which can then combine with any of the other symbols to make more wins.

Here’s how that works. After your initial round of winnings, all the stones that took part in those combinations will disappear, and the remaining positions will fall towards the bottom of the screen – essentially, just imagine that gravity kicks in, leaving some empty spaces at the top of the layout while all the unsupported rocks fall down. Once this occurs, any new wins will be paid out, and the process continues again, with an increasing multiplier applied to all new wins. This can happen multiple times, only stopping when you no longer have any wins, or if you clear the entire screen, which will earn you a big additional bonus prize.

A Bountiful Bonus

One of our favorite parts about Gems Wild-Tiles is the second screen bonus round. This is triggered by a combination of factors, the first of which you can note at the start of each round you play. When the initial grid is being set up, some columns may have the word “bonus” behind them. If you manage to clear one or more of these columns, then you’ll trigger the special feature (if you clear two or more, the special round will award prizes at an increased multiplier).

Once you enter this feature, you’ll be presented with a mystery grid of 35 spaces, and be asked to pick one. When you do, you’ll uncover a particular gem, and then automatically uncover every other matching gem on the board. You’ll be paid by the stone, with each round of this bonus featuring an increasing value for each matching rock you find.

The game won’t go on forever, though. In each round, there is a minimum number of matches you need to make in order to keep the feature going. This starts easy, with a minimum of 2, but quickly increases. Once you fail to hit that number, you’ll still be awarded your prize money for that round, but you’ll then be returned back to the normal game.

Lots of Fun in a Simple Package

If you’re looking for a super complex game with lots of room for players to incorporate strategy, then Gems Wild-Tiles is definitely not for you. This is entirely a luck-based game, akin to a hybrid between slots and the instant win games that are popular at many online casino sites.

Even if that sort of game doesn’t normally appeal to you, however, you might find that this machine is an exception. Thanks to an engaging gameplay style that can lead to an avalanche of winnings, every play is legitimately exciting, even if the outcome is predetermined. If you like the theme, enjoy games that provide building tension, or just want to take a break from more intense action, this is definitely an option worth checking out.