Diamonds Up (Red Tiger Gaming) Slot Review

Diamonds Up: Slot Overview 

Diamonds Up, released by Red Tiger on March 13, 2025, is a throwback to the fruit machine classics with a modern twist built around a symbol upgrade mechanic. On the surface, it’s easy to mistake Diamonds Up for just another retro-style fruit slot. However, beneath the generic exterior lies a compelling progression system that leverages Diamond Wilds to climb a symbol upgrade ladder, enhancing payout potential the deeper players dive. 

Played on a 5-reel, 3-row grid with 25 paylines, Diamonds Up is a high volatility slot with a maximum win of 20,000x, a respectable RTP of 95.69%, and a bet range from €0.10 to €4 per spin. It’s a budget-friendly game that doesn’t skimp on top-end potential. The gameplay loop includes a unique 30-spin cycle mechanic, during which symbols can be permanently upgraded—culminating in potential full-screen premium wins. 

If you can look past the kitschy fruit-themed presentation, Diamonds Up offers an engaging, structured slot experience with a progression mechanic rarely seen in this genre.

Design and Graphics 

Diamonds Up leans heavily on old-school visuals, offering a bright and cheerful—but undeniably generic—look. Set against a blue-to-purple gradient background, the game sports familiar symbols like cherries, plums, oranges, bells, watermelons, BARs, and 7s, all presented with a glossy sheen. There’s also a classic diamond-shaped Wild and a blue Scatter gem, which fits the retro vibe while teasing modern features.A significant visual element is the upgrade ladder displayed to the right of the reels. It tracks progress across 30 spins and indicates which symbols are due for upgrades—a clever way to give the player visual feedback and a sense of progression. 

During the free spins mode, the background switches to a vibrant pink-purple theme, and the visuals receive a small bump in energy. But overall, Diamonds Up keeps things simple, clearly prioritizing function and familiarity over cutting-edge aesthetics.

Gameplay Mechanics 

At its core, Diamonds Up plays like a traditional 5×3 slot with 25 fixed paylines, where wins are formed by landing matching symbols from left to right, starting on the first reel. But Red Tiger has layered in a unique progression feature that dramatically alters the pacing and payout possibilities. 

The most notable mechanic is the Symbol Upgrade Ladder: 

Spins run in cycles of 30, tracked by a visible counter beside the reels. 

During this cycle, landing Diamond Wilds fills steps on the ladder. 

Each ladder level has 3 steps. Filling a level upgrades all instances of the current symbol to the next higher-paying one in the hierarchy. 

Once the 30-spin cycle ends, the ladder resets—but progress made during free spins transfers back to the base game. 

This system creates a natural escalation where the more you play, the more lucrative the reel set can become—transforming low-paying symbols into medium or even high-paying ones over time.

Sound and Music 

Diamonds Up doesn’t break any ground in the audio department, but it complements its aesthetic adequately. The soundtrack is upbeat and chirpy, reminiscent of arcade or pub-style slots, reinforcing the fruit machine theme. Simple chimes signal wins, while spins are accompanied by soft whirrs and the satisfying clink of landing diamonds or upgraded symbols. 

During free spins, the music gains a bit more energy, adding a light sense of urgency. Still, the audio design remains intentionally minimalist, never overpowering the screen. While it may lack cinematic flair, it fits the game’s classic roots and casual tone.

Bonus Features 

While Diamonds Up may look simple at first, its features introduce a satisfying complexity.Symbol Upgrade Ladder

This is the central innovation of Diamonds Up: 

Active throughout both base game and bonus rounds. 

Landing a Diamond Wild symbol fills one segment of the ladder. 

Each upgrade tier transforms all lower-value symbols currently on the reels into the symbol corresponding to the completed tier. 

The goal is to reach the top of the ladder by landing enough Diamond Wilds across 30 spins. 

A full screen of top-tier symbols (like 7s) can lead to payouts of up to 1,000x the stake per spin. 

The ladder’s design turns the game into a longer-term strategy slot. Each Diamond Wild matters—not just for the current spin, but for improving future ones. 

Free Spins

Triggered by landing 3, 4, or 5 Scatter symbols, which award 9, 12, or 20 free spins, respectively. In free spins: 

The symbol ladder remains active. 

Diamond Wilds continue to upgrade symbols. 

The ladder does not reset at the end of the bonus. 

Free spins can be retriggered, and the base game state is restored afterward. 

This mode is where the game’s real payout potential emerges. If you enter free spins with several upgrade levels already completed, the reels may already be heavily stacked with mid- or high-paying symbols, enhancing every win. 

Feature Buy

Rare for a Red Tiger slot, Diamonds Up offers a Feature Buy menu:Players can buy their way into free spins at five price points depending on how many ladder levels are filled: 

Level 2 filled – 20x the bet 

Level 3 filled – 120x the bet 

Level 4 filled – 200x the bet 

Level 5 filled – 800x the bet 

This gives players direct access to more potent starting conditions, useful for those chasing the elusive 20,000x max win without grinding through the entire 30-spin cycle.

Betting Options and Payouts 

Diamonds Up is designed to be accessible. With a minimum bet of €0.10 and a maximum of €4, the game is geared more toward casual players than high rollers. However, the high volatility and max win of 20,000x will still attract risk-takers willing to ride the volatility wave. 

Payout Structure: 

Low-paying symbols: Cherries, plums, oranges, and grapes. 

Mid symbols: Watermelons, bells, BARs. 

High-paying symbols: Horseshoes and sevens. 

Top payouts: 5-of-a-kind premium symbols can pay 40x your stake. 

Diamond Wilds land on reels 2–4 and substitute for all regular paying symbols. 

Scatter symbols trigger free spins and pay up to 100x the stake for 5 on a line. 

The slot’s main payout strength is in mass symbol upgrades and full-screen conversions triggered by smart ladder progression.

Conclusion 

Diamonds Up is a pleasant surprise disguised as a generic fruit slot. It starts slow and visually bland, but once you understand the Symbol Upgrade Ladder and experience the interplay of progression mechanics and free spins, the game reveals its strategic depth. The 30-spin cycle mechanic makes every spin matter, and the carry-over progression between base game and bonus rounds is a smart touch. 

The 20,000x max win may seem out of reach, but theoretically possible with full-screen top symbols at the highest ladder level. Add to that the affordable stake range, 25 paylines, and the optional Feature Buy, and you’ve got a slot that caters to both grind-based progression fans and high-impact thrill seekers. 

If you’re not into fruit machines, Diamonds Up might not initially grab you—but if you’re looking for a cleverly layered progression-based slot with long-term potential, this could be the hidden gem you were searching for.