Joker Gems from ELK Studios: Slot Review - the vastness of space awaits!

This new release from Swedish game studio ELK Studios takes place deep inside a vast interstellar cloud of dust found in the depths of outer space that is commonly referred to as a Nebula. A smiling joker resides inside this Nebula and is on hand to hopefully help you land a big cash windfall in this online slot. Joker Gems is actually the first ever jackpot slot made by the company and features 3 fixed jackpots which players can win on any spin. Join us as we explore the Nebula looking for sparkling gems as well as seek out those hefty jackpot prizes along the way.

Joker Gems is played on a 5x5 grid that includes Respins, 3 Jackpots, and a Light Chaser feature.

Special Features

The first feature to mention is that this slot does not feature a conventional payline structure instead it incorporates a cluster pay system. This means that wins are created by forming a cluster of 3 or more identical symbols on the grid. The larger the cluster then the bigger the payout. Whenever you create a winning combination then you will receive a Free Respin giving you even more chances for the cluster to grow bigger. It is possible to keep triggering more Respins so long as matching symbols are added to the first cluster or until a new cluster is created.

There is no Wild symbol in this game but the highest paying symbol is the Female Joker. Make sure to keep a very close eye on this symbol as if you are lucky enough to get 16 or more Female Jokers on the grid then you will be awarded the top maximum payout of 700X your initial bet!

The Light Chaser feature is a randomly triggered event which can occur on any spin in the main game. Once activated, a Light Chaser will travel over the grid and proceed to stop on a random position and then award a cluster win of up to 5 matching symbols. This in turn also triggers a Respin to further increase your chances of landing a big cash prize.

Joker Gems has 3 fixed Jackpot prizes which are worth 10,000.00, 20,000.00, and 50,000.00 respectively. These Jackpots can be won on any spin and are based on 3 specific cluster patterns. For example, to win the biggest Jackpot, you'll need to fill the entire grid with the same symbol. The Jackpots are awarded independently of the bet level but playing with a higher stake increases your odds of winning one of the 3 Jackpots and there is no limit on how many times you can win them.

Theme, Graphics and Sound

The graphics are visually stunning as the game takes place inside the heart of a Nebula that’s filled with swirling colourful patterns and lots of space dust. It really does feel like taking a trip to the far reaches of the universe! Symbols are beautifully rendered and consist of a Female Joker, Bars, Lucky Sevens, as well as an assortment of different coloured sparkling Gems. The animations are crisp as symbols fly onto the grid leaving a trail of space dust in their wake and sparkle brightly when part of a winning combination.

The music is light techno, a bit hypnotic, and sounds quite futuristic. It fits in perfectly with the space theme of the game.

Win lines, Payouts and Jackpots

The game is played on a 5x5 grid, has a very reasonable RTP of 96.3%, and a maximum payout worth 700X your bet.

Below is a summary taken from the PayOut Table from the game. The amount won for each combination depends on the value of the bet when you spin the reels.

Bet Range: 0.20, 0.40, 0.80, 1.00, 2.00, 4.00, 8.00, 10.00, 20.00, 40.00, 80.00, 100.00

Based on a bet of 0.20:

• Joker Symbol: 3.00 for 3X, 4.00 for 4X..70.00 for 12X, 140.00 for 16X
• 7 Symbol: 2.00 for 3X, 2.40 for 4X..50.00 for 12X, 100.00 for 16X
• Bar Symbol: 1.20 for 3X, 1.60 for 4X..30.00 for 12X, 60.00 for 16X
• Red Gem Symbol: 0.40 for 3X, 0.60 for 4X..10.00 for 12X, 20.00 for 16X
• Blue Gem Symbol: 0.30 for 3X, 0.50 for 4X..7.00 for 12X, 14.00 for 16X
• Orange Gem Symbol: 0.20 for 3X, 0.30 for 4X..6.00 for 12X, 12.00 for 16X
• Green Gem Symbol: 0.20 for 3X, 0.30 for 4X..4.00 for 12X, 10.00 for 16X

Our Verdict on Joker Gems

Joker Gems is produced by ELK Studios and is a highly enjoyable journey into outer space! It is super fun to play and features eye-popping graphics with a wonderful accompanying soundtrack. Although it is quite low in terms of bonus features, there is still plenty of fun to be had here. I was able to form lots of cluster wins and land a few decent-sized payouts thanks to the excellent Respins feature with the Light Chaser bonus popping up from time to time to ensure you are rewarded a guaranteed win. It’s also fantastic that there are 3 fixed jackpots to aim for with the Gold Jackpot offering a top prize worth 1,200X your wager. When it comes to variance, I found this game to be quite High so don’t expect to land a big cash payout right at the very start. For slots with a similar cluster pay system, check out The Legend of Shangri-La: Cluster Pays and Aloha! Cluster Pays.

Seek out riches beyond your imagination in outer space when you play Joker Gems!