Gates of Etherea - Review, Demo Play, Payout, Free Spins & Bonuses

Introduction 

This Lucksome slot has evidently been given a lot of thought and attention when it comes to its design and theme. Laid out on an unusual 3-4-5-4-3 grid with a potential 720 paylines, this online slot appears set in a science-fiction fantasy universe involving 2 celestial guardians who hold the power to award free spins. An interesting ‘gate’ feature is the key to accessing this, along with receiving additional wilds using the design to refresh some classic slot features. 

If this has caught your attention as it did ours, check out the free slot version above and read on for our full Gates of Etherea slot review.

Theme, Graphics & Soundtrack 

Many online slot games draw on pre-existing themes and stories to inform their designs. Lucksome have gone one step further with this game by creating their own miniature fantasy world complete with mysterious guardians and a magical portal. 

Taking inspiration from a curious combination of Egyptian and Roman cultures as well as classic sci-fi, we’re presented with Roman helmets alongside scarabs and jewels that fill the reels, which are watched over by 2 angel-sphinx crossover creatures called guardians. 

The free spins round is given an innovative twist by appearing once you have ‘charged’ the guardians, who gradually open their eyes. This is achieved by accumulating portal scatters that swirl with stars when they land on the reels. It is a captivating design with superb animations and artwork that kept us playing during our slot review just for the look of it.

For another slot with a real attention to design detail, take a look at the Tombstone RIP free slot. Just be warned of its remarkably dark, graphic content.

Gates of Etherea RTP and Variance

Lucksome gives this slot an RTP of 96.05%, but it can appear with ranges from as low as 94%. Always check before you play and try as a free slot first. This game has high variance, having been given 9/10 for volatility by the developer, so expect long waits between prizes and a good deal of risk.

How to Play Gates of Etherea

While it may be an unusual layout, it's easy to get started with this online slot.

1. Your balance and bet level are displayed in the bottom left.
2. Click the coin stack to choose your bet level.
3. For paytable and game rules, click either the ? in the top right or the $ symbol accompanied by 3 lines.
4. For a single spin, use the lucky horseshoe on the right to spin.
5. Autoplay spins can be activated using the small wheel in the bottom right, but be warned that this has no win or loss limit settings so you must keep track of these yourself.
6. Always play online slot games responsibly, even as a free slot, by setting a budget and sticking to it throughout gameplay, stopping as soon as it is no longer fun.

Min & Max Bets + Top Wins 

Bets start from minimum 0.25 and go to maximum of 200.00. The largest single win available is x5000 for x19 portal scatters completely covering the reels. 

Max-win 5,000x

Volatility High

Top RTP 94.00%

Gates of Etherea Bonus Features 

These are familiar bonus features done in an interesting style that works well with the innovative theming.

Wilds and Charged Wilds

The W symbol is wild and can substitute for any other paying symbol except the portal scatters. These can quite often appear stacked on reel 3 to increase winning chances. Every now and then, the wild will be ‘charged’, which means it will activate the portal. An active portal can randomly add wilds to the reels and continues for up to 3 spins after having been charged.

Portal Scatters and Free Spins

These star-filled circles are both the highest-paying symbols in the game and the key to the free spins round. They pay out wherever they land for x7 or more. When they create a win, they ‘charge’ the guardians by gradually opening their eyes. Repeat this at least 3 times to see the guardians’ eyes open and win 12 free spins.

During free spins, the portal remains charged so extra wilds can land throughout. Charged wilds during this round can appear with a multiplier that applies to wins they form. Find another 10 portal scatters to retrigger another 12 free spins. 

Gates of Etherea Review Our Verdict 

Our slot review found that despite core gameplay mechanics being relatively routine, the imaginative design set in its own fantasy world has been used to great effect to give some new life to well-known bonus features. As this is a highly volatile slot, we recommend trying it as a free slot to enjoy the design for its own sake.