Gems of Serengeti (Pragmatic Play) Slot Review

Gems of Serengeti: Slot Overview

Gems of Serengeti is a video slot developed by Pragmatic Play, released on 2022-11-17. The game draws its theme from the vast Serengeti plains in east-central Africa, a 30,000 square kilometer region known in the Maasai language as “endless plains,” featuring wildlife and hidden gems. It employs a classic 5-reel, 4-row setup with 20 fixed paylines, where wins form by landing three or more matching symbols on adjacent reels starting from the left. Designed for players who enjoy high-volatility slots with straightforward mechanics focused on collecting gem symbols through respins and free spins, it appeals to fans of African savanna adventures and Hold & Win-style features. Bets range from €0.20 to €100, supporting play across desktops, mobiles, and tablets.

Design and Graphics

The visual aesthetic captures the majestic Serengeti landscape with a backdrop of acacia trees dotting an open grassy field, framed by distant high mountains, evoking a sense of vast, mysterious plains. The 5×4 reel grid integrates seamlessly into this environment, with smooth animations on wins and feature triggers. Symbols are richly detailed: low-paying royals (J, Q, K, A) in metallic hues pay 5x to 7.5x the bet for five of a kind; higher-paying icons include a vulture (10x), leopard (15x), lion (20x), native woman (25x), and native man (37.5x) for five matching. The golden mask serves as the Wild, substituting for others except scatters and respin symbols, while the drum acts as the Scatter. Respin symbols appear as colorful gems, adding a treasure-hunt flair. Overall, the design is polished and immersive, with high-quality graphics optimized for all devices, though animations remain subtle without excessive flair.

Gameplay Mechanics

Gems of Serengeti features a 5-reel, 4-row grid with 20 fixed paylines. Wins occur when three or more identical symbols land on adjacent reels from left to right. The base game flows straightforwardly: players select coin values and lines (fixed at 20), spin, and watch for combinations. The Wild golden mask appears on all reels, substituting for all standard symbols except the drum Scatter and gem respin symbols, while paying 5x, 15x, or 50x the bet for three, four, or five respectively. Low pays (J, Q, K, A) offer modest returns, while premiums (vulture to native man) provide higher rewards up to 37.5x. Gem respin symbols can land anytime, triggering the Respin feature with five or more. The Scatter drum on reels 1, 3, and 5 unlocks Free Spins. Gameplay emphasizes building towards feature activation, with high volatility leading to infrequent but potentially large payouts.

Bonus Features

The slot offers three key features: Wild, Respin, and Free Spins.

The Wild golden mask substitutes for all symbols except Scatter and respin gems, appearing on any reel and paying up to 50x for five.

The Respin activates with five or more gem symbols anywhere, granting three respins. Triggering gems lock in place; new gems reset respins to three. Spins continue until no respins remain or all 20 positions fill. Payouts are awarded based on total gems collected, as shown below:

The Free Spins triggers with three Scatter drums on reels 1, 3, and 5, awarding 10 spins without retriggers. Gems landing here collect in a meter to the right; five to 19 trigger the above Respin with standard payouts, while 20+ award instant wins directly:

Regular wins from paying symbols can occur alongside collections in Free Spins.

Betting Options and Payouts

Bets range from €0.20 to €100 per spin, accommodating low to high rollers. The default RTP is 96.40%, with operator-configurable options at 95.35% or 94.36%. Volatility is high, favoring infrequent large wins. The max win caps at 4000x the bet, achievable via 27 gems in Free Spins. Payouts scale progressively in features: base game premiums up to 37.5x, Wild up to 50x, Respin up to 500x (20 gems), and Free Spins collections up to 4000x. Hit frequency and bonus frequency data are unavailable, but mechanics emphasize gem accumulation for peak payouts.

Conclusion

Gems of Serengeti excels in its evocative Serengeti theme and crisp visuals, paired with simple yet effective Respin and Free Spins mechanics that build tension through gem collection. Strengths include a solid default RTP 96.40%, generous premium pays, and a clear path to the 4000x max win in free spins, enhanced by sticky gems and escalating multipliers. Weaknesses lie in the generic Hold & Win structure, lack of retriggers or advanced modifiers, and a max win lower than some Pragmatic Play peers. It suits players favoring high-volatility chases over complexity. Players can test the slot risk-free using the built-in demo available on this page. Overall, a competent African adventure for gem hunters, though not groundbreaking.