Dwarven Gems Megaways by Iron Dog Studio uses a Megaways layout paired with tumbles, bomb-style features, and a bonus round that builds momentum through multipliers. As far as the theme and visuals go, it’s steampunk meets mining dwarves all the way.
As one would expect from online slots featuring Dwarves and gems, the setting is deep down underground. The wood framed grid is squeezed into a claustrophobic space with looming solid rock walls, cracking open in places to reveal glowing seams of precious stones. The grid is guarded by a dwarf miner to the left, and a table with a bottle of whisky, or the dwarven equivalent, to the right. Animations are straightforward, with symbols dropping into place and exploding with a satisfying burst of flame during tumbles. The dwarf character off to the side adds a bit of movement, occasionally stepping in to trigger features.
| Symbol | Payout for 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 of a kind |
|---|---|
| 10 | –, 0.10, 0.20, 0.30, 0.40 |
| J | –, 0.10, 0.20, 0.30, 0.40 |
| Q | –, 0.20, 0.30, 0.40, 0.50 |
| K | –, 0.20, 0.30, 0.40, 0.50 |
| A | –, 0.30, 0.40, 0.50, 0.60 |
| Lamp | –, 0.50, 0.70, 1.00, 1.20 |
| Hammer | –, 0.50, 0.70, 1.00, 1.20 |
| Yellow Dwarf | –, 1.00, 1.50, 2.00, 2.50 |
| Green Dwarf | –, 1.00, 1.50, 2.00, 3.00 |
| Purple Dwarf | –, 1.50, 2.00, 3.00, 4.00 |
| Red Dwarf | 1.00, 2.00, 3.00, 4.00, 5.00 |
The Dwarven Bomb feature starts when a bomb symbol lands on the top horizontal reel. It sticks in place as a wild, helping with wins during tumbles. When no more wins are formed, the bomb explodes, removing symbols across the grid. A dwarf then lobs more dynamite onto the grid, blowing up extra symbols and opening space for new ones to drop in.
Four scatter symbols trigger the bonus round, but to see how many spins it will last for, first players spin a wheel of fortune which will award 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or 11 free spins. During the spins, a multiplier kicks in, starting at x1 and going up by one with each winning tumble. Unlike most other Megaways games, this multiplier resets between spins.
Power Gems appear during free spins on the top reel. These act as wilds and can add extra wild symbols onto the main reels. In some cases, they also extend the bonus round by adding extra spins, which helps keep the feature moving.
If the final free spin produces a win, an extra spin is awarded. This continues as long as wins keep landing on the last spin, adding a small extension to the round when things line up.
No surprises here, the game runs on a six-reel Megaways setup, with each reel showing between two and seven symbols. A horizontal reel sits above the main grid. The tumble system keeps going as long as new wins appear, linking sequences together in a single spin. Wilds help complete combinations.
Dwarven Gems Megaways keeps things fairly straightforward in terms of structure, but adds enough moving parts to stop it feeling flat. Despite the cartoon style of the graphics, the mine setting still feels a bit oppressive, but that’s just our opinion so don’t be put off
The bomb feature is the main talking point, as it changes the grid in a noticeable way and breaks up the usual tumble flow. As far as I’m concerned, it’s a great pick for online casino games players who enjoy Megaways mechanics with a slightly heavier feel.