Eastern Emeralds Megaways Overview
Eastern Emeralds Megaways is Quickspin's Megaways rework of their 2018 Asian-themed slot Eastern Emeralds. Built on 5 reels with 2 to 7 rows per spin, the game offers between 32 and 16,807 ways to win. Multiplier wilds remain the centrepiece, while a four-option Free Spins picker gives players direct control over their risk-reward balance.
Compared to the studio's previous work on Big Bad Wolf Megaways, the design choice to skip cascading wins here feels like a missed opportunity. The Megaways engine adds variable ways but not the tumble mechanic most players associate with the format. Visually, the lush mountain scenery and tranquil spa-like soundtrack carry over from the original with only minor graphical upgrades.
Symbols and Paytable
Low-paying symbols are card royals from 10 through A, awarding 0.2x to 0.75x the bet for five of a kind. Premium symbols include golden coins, sycee ingots, a turtle, a koi fish, and a dragon head. Five premium symbols across the reels pay between 0.9x and 3x the stake, with the dragon sitting at the top.
What stands out here is the Wild. A green gem carrying a multiplier that matches its reel number: 2x on reel two, 3x on reel three, up to 5x on reel five. When multiple wilds land in the same winning combination, their multipliers are multiplied together. During Free Spins, those values climb to 8x per reel, creating a theoretical maximum wild multiplier of 1,680x from four wilds alone. A flaming phoenix acts as the scatter and can appear on all five reels.
Symbol Payouts
Free Spins and Bonus Features
Landing 3, 4 or 5 scatters triggers the Free Spins and presents four selectable options. Option 1 provides the most spins (15/30/60) but keeps wild multipliers at base-game levels (2x-5x). Option 4 slashes spins to 6/12/24 but boosts wilds to 5x-8x, with a maximum combined multiplier of 1,680x. Players who prefer fewer, heavier hits will lean towards option 4; those who want a longer ride pick option 1.
After selecting your profile, a Free Spins Gamble wheel appears if you triggered with 3 or 4 scatters. Two golden fish spin on a wheel; one doubles your spins, the other takes them all. It is a genuine 50/50 risk, and losing sends you straight back to the base game with nothing. Scatters do not appear during Free Spins, so retriggers are off the table entirely.
A Bonus Buy option lets you skip the wait for 90x the bet, guaranteeing a 3-scatter trigger. From there, the Gamble Wheel and Bonus Picker function as normal. The Bonus Buy RTP sits slightly higher at 96.29%, a small but relevant edge over the base game's 96.04%.
Bonus Buy Options
Land 3, 4 or 5 scatters to trigger free spins. Choose from four options trading spin count for higher wild multipliers. Up to 60 spins with 2x-5x wilds or 24 spins with 5x-8x wilds.
After triggering with 3 or 4 scatters, gamble on a 50/50 fish wheel to double your spins. Losing forfeits all spins. Not available with 5 scatters.
Purchase 3 scatter symbols for 90x bet, then access the Bonus Picker and optional Gamble Wheel. RTP for Bonus Buy is 96.29%.
Feature Cost: 90xRTP: 96.29%
RTP, Volatility and Max Win
Default RTP is 96.04%, which is average for a high-volatility Megaways slot. Be aware that lower RTP versions exist at 94.05% and 87.05%; always check the help file before playing. Volatility is rated high, so dry spells between significant hits are expected. Maximum win is capped at 17,422x the bet, which translates to over 1.7 million at the top stake of 100 credits.
I'm not entirely sold on the lack of cascading wins here. Many Megaways titles use tumble mechanics to build momentum within a single spin, and without them the variable reel heights feel somewhat underutilised. Still, the stacking wild multipliers provide a different kind of escalation that keeps the maths model interesting, especially if you pick the higher-multiplier free spins option.
