Lava Gold plays on a 5x5 grid where wins are formed by clusters of 5 or more matching symbols. When a winning cluster occurs, those symbols vanish from the screen, allowing new ones to drop into the empty positions. This mechanic allows for potential chain reactions of wins during the base game. The symbols feature various dinosaurs and prehistoric flora set against a volcanic island backdrop.

The bonus round is triggered by filling the lava meter with winning clusters of every symbol in a specific order. During free spins, the central column is filled with identical symbols to guarantee a win on every spin. Each free spin also applies a progressive multiplier that increases up to 10x.