Gems of Egypt Connecta Ways: Overview

Even if the visuals feel familiar, Boomerang Studios has taken a few risks you rarely see in the Egyptian-themed space. One is the unusual reel setup in Gems of Egypt, made even stranger by the studio’s own constantly changing Dynamic Reels feature.

Boomerang tends to focus on creating titles for the Asian market, which may explain the wide-eyed Manga Cleopatra that appears when you load the game. Cleopatra is usually portrayed as distant and regal; here she’s more leggy and chesty, with a bit of an Asuna Yuuki vibe. Still, it’s a slot game, not a lecture, so there’s no need to overthink it.

Once you’re in, the setting is unmistakable. The unusual, panpipes-shaped slot frame sits outside a temple or palace, watched over by two handsome Sphinx-like guardians. The backdrop is strong—familiar enough for Egypt fans to settle in, yet distinctive enough to make a bold first impression. In the top-left, the logo uses the Pricedown font lifted straight from Grand Theft Auto. After you notice it, it’s impossible to ignore.

With stakes from 25 p/c to $/€35 per spin, Gems of Egypt’s math model delivers a mix of decent and less impressive stats. One downside is the RTP of 95.6%, which could make some players hesitate. The medium-high volatility will likely suit those who prefer a tougher ride, though wins and bonuses show up more often than you might assume. Free spins, for instance, are theoretically hit once every 112 spins.

Boomerang has rolled out its Connecta Ways mechanic for determining wins. This isn’t new to us—Wild Joker Stacks used it too. While that game topped out at 99 Connecta Ways, Gems of Egypt can reach 961 ways to win when the reels are fully expanded. Connecta works by allowing winning symbols to land on any row, as long as they are adjacent and linked.

The symbol set also avoids the usual Egyptian slot staples. There are no card royals or gods, which can feel a bit unusual at first. At the low end are 4 different coloured stones—all paying the same—followed by four polished gems set in gold bands. Every symbol pays when at least three land, except the large diamond, which only requires two. If six diamonds connect, the payout is 10x the stake. The wild is the doe-eyed Cleopatra, appearing on reels 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. It has no payout by itself, but substitutes for all symbols except the scatter.

Gems of Egypt Connecta Ways: Features

Alongside the scatter-triggered bonus, sessions are kept lively by Dynamic Reels. Dynamic Reels run on every spin, with each reel expanding or contracting to a different height. Each reel will always be 1 symbol taller or shorter than the reel immediately to its left.

As shown in the screenshot, the reels each have different maximum heights, ranging from 2 to 10 from left to right. In several respects, Dynamic Reels resembles the shifting curtain mechanic WMS used in Spartacus Megaways, just on a smaller scale and with less irritation during the bonus round.

The bonus in Gems of Egypt is a set of free spins, triggered when 3 or more scarab scatter symbols appear. In addition to 8 free spins, players receive a payout of 5x, 20x, 75x, or 100x when 3, 4, 5, or 6 scarabs land.

Free spins don’t dramatically alter the gameplay, except that wilds become stacked on reels 2 to 6. Free spins can also be retriggered during the feature. Lastly, free spins may be randomly awarded on any paid spin without requiring scatters.

Gems of Egypt Connecta Ways: Verdict

This is Boomerang’s first attempt at the classic Egyptian theme, and they’ve managed to inject some genuine originality. Gems of Egypt won’t be for everyone, but credit is due for not simply copying Book of Ra. Egypt fans wanting something a little different in the desert heat may want to give it a go. Beyond that, it’s not essential playing, even with the new Dynamic Reels idea.

Dynamic Reels does add tension by changing every spin. At the same time, it can be more irritating for what it takes away than thrilling for what it offers. On the plus side, you’re not constantly teased by hidden symbols under reel covers like in some other games.

Every so often the reels open up, and the extra ways and symbol access can produce a satisfying hit. More often, you’ll be waiting for free spins to see that kind of board—helped along by stacked Cleopatra wilds. Free spins are also where you can realistically chase the game’s full potential of 4,818 times the stake. Another advantage is the fairly decent free spins frequency.

Overall, Gems of Egypt tends to miss more than it lands. Even so, Boomerang has delivered something different in an overcrowded Egyptian slot category, and that counts for something.