Gems of Adoria: Overview

NetEnt doesn’t give away much about what the inventive slot Gems of Adoria is really meant to be. Beyond the label “sci-fi fantasy,” it’s largely left to the player’s imagination. What is clear is that Gems of Adoria is an unusual release that highlights NetEnt’s new Real Time 3D graphics system. Visually, it’s impressive and unlike most slots you’ve likely played. With so many unfamiliar elements, Gems of Adoria is best understood hands-on, though we’ll try to translate the feel into words.

The standout element is the Real Time 3D setup, which presents the 5-reel, 3-row layout from a tilted perspective and rotates the camera through different angles. It has the clean, contemporary feel of something built in the Unity game engine—simple in design, but modern in presentation. Exactly where the action takes place is open to interpretation. The framed grid has an almost tribal styling, and when the camera shifts you can spot floating islands drifting in the background.

Backing up the enigmatic visuals is audio that could easily be mistaken for something lifted from a Daniel Deluxe record. The retro-wave tone paints a picture of a bleak future where humanity survives by perfecting ever more efficient algorithms to manage life. Or something along those lines. Either way, the soundtrack is strong, and the sound design pairs nicely with the bold, chunky symbols.

Available on desktop and mobile, with stakes from 10 p/c to $/€200 per spin, Gems of Adoria uses large symbols made up of 8 standard tiles split into 4 low pays and 4 high pays. Each is a vivid gem, while the premium symbols are marked out with metallic edging to separate them from the lower-value set.

To win, symbols must land in groups of three or more along one of the 15 fixed paylines, with five of a kind paying between 2.5x – 15x the stake. The returns are reasonable, but big upside isn’t really the point here; Gems of Adoria leans on frequent smaller hits to maintain momentum. In practice, that means a low-volatility math model delivering an RTP of 96.13% and a hit frequency of 22.1%. The overall pace is consistent but modest, with a handful of features to add variety to the base gameplay.

Gems of Adoria: Features

Wilds are used extensively in Gems of Adoria, so it makes sense to begin with them. The regular wild is a large red-and-gold “W” that resembles a flashy suitcase—like it’s shouting “notice me, I’m going places.” Its primary function is to substitute for any paying symbol to complete wins, and it can land anywhere on the reels to do so.

Wilds are also the key ingredient in the Striking Wilds feature. When it triggers, the camera shifts down toward the left to show the grid from another angle, and then 2 to 9 wild symbols are randomly dropped onto the reels. The Striking Wilds feature often produces stacked wilds, which can help squeeze out a few extra payouts.

Another random twist comes via the Flipping Symbols feature. It’s a bit awkward to explain, but the basic idea is that 2 – 5 symbols on a row are randomly chosen and then flipped either vertically or horizontally. The upside is that multiple flips can occur, with each flip potentially revealing a higher-paying outcome than the one before it. Think of someone doing a Rubik’s cube-style move on the grid, shuffling symbols around to create something better.

Finally, there’s the glowing orb scatter, which can land in any position. Landing 3, 4, or 5 on screen awards 10, 20, or 50 Free Spins respectively. Both Flipping Symbols and Striking Symbols can occur during Free Spins, although they don’t feel dramatically different from how they appear in the base game.

Gems of Adoria: Verdict

It’s undeniably unusual, and Gems of Adoria deserves credit for that. The Real Time 3D presentation is distinctive without being so extreme that it would automatically put people off—though the math model and limited potential will likely do that job on their own by narrowing the audience. If the numbers don’t appeal, the visuals and camera work won’t be enough to change your mind.

On the other hand, players who prefer a gentler session without huge swings may find the overall experience more appealing. For relaxed, low-intensity play in a calm setting, it can fit the bill, but if you’re hoping for more than that, you may end up feeling underwhelmed.

Could Gems of Adoria’s sleek presentation be a hint at where slots are heading? Possibly. The Real Time 3D effect is interesting and seems like something NetEnt will likely revisit soon. Since this is their first attempt, Gems of Adoria comes across as a showcase for the new visuals, with other parts of the game feeling less developed by comparison.

Chasing big wins and the excitement that comes with them is difficult in this quirky title. In fact, it’s close to impossible, as maximum wins were seen to be around 500 times the stake during testing. Also remember that NetEnt’s figures were generated from 140 billion simulated spins, so don’t expect Gems of Adoria to be lighting up highlight reels any time soon.

Ultimately, Gems of Adoria feels designed for switching off and drifting along in a fairly low-stress environment. Some players will enjoy that—like being carried to your destination in a driverless car. Others will want more control and the reward of a more hands-on experience. The new graphics system is interesting from an evolutionary angle, but beyond that, there isn’t a great deal to keep you satisfied after a handful of exploratory spins.