In Little Gem from Reel Kingdom you get a somewhat strange mix of gems and classic fruit machine symbols, and also gems and stars floating in the air above the grid. With a classic 3×3 grid and only 5 paylines, you can expect a pretty barebones gaming experience. Wilds that can expand will help you out, but the overall hit rate is only 1 in 20 spins, so be prepared for a mostly uneventful grind.
However, the game kind of explodes into a different mood when you finally reach the Hold & Spin bonus round, when you switch from no soundtrack to something that reminds us of the energetic and fast R&B sounds on “Pray” by Tina Cousins. The bonus round plays out in a somewhat unusual way for a hold-and-respin feature, and you can win up to 2,460 times your bet . Perhaps not overly exciting, but a good shelf filler if nothing else.
Little Gem Slot Features
The symbols pay out between 4 and 50 times your bet, with the diamond being the top symbol. The wild pays the same as the diamond, and it also intervenes for payout symbols to help complete wins. The wild also spreads vertically to fill the entire reel if this means a winning combination is created.
You can land gold and silver money symbols on the center reel only, and they have random values from 1 to 20 times your bet . You need 3 money symbols on the same spin to trigger the Hold & Spin bonus round, and the triggering symbols then become sticky when the other two reels are cleared.
You start with 4 responses and now only blanks or money symbols land on reels 1 and 3. All the money symbol values displayed are collected each time at least one new money symbol lands, and this includes the triggering sticky symbols. This also resets the number of responses to 4 each time. Special Diamond Money symbols can also appear on reels 1 and 3, with higher values ranging from 100x to 500x your bet . The feature ends when you run out of answers, and the total win is then awarded.
The Little Gem Slot Experience with 200 Spins
You’ll see mostly dead spins with a decent extended wild win in between, before we trigger the Hold & Spin feature at 1:13 in the 2:43 minute highlights video. You can see for yourself how we fared by clicking the “Play” button below.
Summary
A game like this could really use a turbo spin option, as the base game is boring and filled with mostly dead spins (1 out of 20 hits says it all). Being able to quickly plow through hundreds of spins to get to the Hold & Spin bonus round would have made a big difference, though it does trigger once every 157 spins on average, which is decent. Still, getting there is challenging, to say the least, without even a soundtrack to keep morale up.
Expanding wilds are hardly original, but they will be your lifeline to keep you afloat, and the hold & spin feature is admittedly a bit original. The mood is lifted by the optimistic soundtrack that suddenly kicks in, and collecting all the existing money symbol values for each new symbol that lands is pretty neat. However, it’s not quite enough to lift this game out of the mire of mediocrity, which only underscores its 2,460x potential.
Pros
Expanding wilds fill reels when it leads to a win
Hold & Spin with all values collected per spin.
Hold & Spin hit rate is 1 in 157 spins
Win up to 2,460 times your bet
Cons
Beware of adjustable RTP ranges
Very boring base game for dead energy
Little Gem Slot FAQs
What is the RTP of Little Gem?
Little Gem’s top-notch RTP of 96.7% is well above average. However, keep in mind that this version includes customizable RTP ranges.
How volatile is Little Gem?
This is a medium to high volatility rate from Reel Kingdom, scoring 4 out of 5 on the in-game volatility scale.
What is the biggest possible win?
You can win up to 2,460 times your stake in Little Gem, which is a medium potential for this type of volatility.
Is there a free spins mode in Little Gem?
Yes, you get the Hold & Spin bonus round, where all current money symbol values are collected for each new money symbol that lands. Only the 3 triggering money symbols on reel 2 are sticky, however, and you get 4 responses that reset for each new symbol.
Can I play Little Gem slot for free?
Yes, you can check out the free Little Gem demo game at the very top of this page (UK players must confirm age first). You will also find casinos up there that we have confirmed have this title.
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