Dubbed the first cascade game from the award-winning NetEnt software provider, Gonzo’s Quest has been taking players on an adventure since its release in 2011. The slot hosts a standard 5×3 grid with 20 paylines, and despite having been on the market for 13 years already, it’s packed with bonus features. The Avalanche Reels feature forms the basis of its mechanics and can multiply your wins by 5x if you string them together, leading to a max win of 2,500x the bet.
Linking five grey masks will get you the max win of 2,500x the bet, which at the max bet of $50 translates to $125,000.
Thanks to its wide popularity, almost every legit real-money casino hosts this NetEnt standout, but not everything in Gonzo’s Quest is sunshine and rainbows, so let’s check out both the pros and cons.
It was the Avalanche feature or the cascading mechanics that made Gonzo’s Quest the hottest slot in online casinos and a true fan favorite. In fact, alongside Starburst, the title remains one of the best NetEnt slots ever released. It now boasts several sequels and even a live game show version.
The bet limit of only $0.20 makes Gonzo’s Quest a very beginner-friendly slot, while even high-rollers can take advantage of the max $50 bet. On the other hand, the max win of 2,500x the bet is a bit limiting, especially when you compare the payouts with those of jackpot slots, so a jackpot feature in its own right would have been a perfect addition.
Gonzo’s Quest RTP of 95.97% is about NetEnt’s average, but it’s the game’s medium to high variance that is a real treat. With 41.1% hit frequency, you can expect a win almost every 2.5 rounds, so Gonzo’s Quest just might be the perfect slot for clearing wagering requirements on casino bonuses.
Before spinning the reels, it’s important to adjust your bet size by selecting the coin value and bet level. This determines your total bet per spin. There are 10 bet levels you can choose from, while the coin’s value goes from $0.01 to $0.50, which effectively puts the betting range between $0.20 to $50 per spin.
Click the Spin button to start the game, and watch as the reels spin and winning combinations form. The Avalanche Reels allow winning symbols to disappear and new ones to fall into place, potentially creating consecutive wins with a single spin.
To trigger the Free Falls feature, you need to land three (or more) scatter symbols, and you’ll get 10 free spins. Don’t worry — the Avalanche feature remains active during Free Falls with increasing multipliers to potentially create consecutive wins up to 15x.
Since Gonzo’s Quest is considered to be one of NetEnt’s most beloved slot games, you know there must be a reason behind it. The slot follows an Aztec or Inca-themed story with plenty of adventure and dark and gold-filled imagery in the backdrop.
Although the slot appears relatively simple in terms of audiovisuals, Gonzo’s Quest slot machine is very engaging thanks to the carefully crafted elements and sound effects. The sound effects are surprisingly detailed and compelling, adding a dash of energy to the whole mysterious Aztec theme.
Once you start playing, you’ll be introduced to the Spanish conquistador Gonzalo Pizarro on his search for El Dorado — the lost city of gold. The year is 1541, and our Gonzo gets shipwrecked on the Peruvian coast, where he steals a treasure map and begins his journey into the unknown. The storytelling is very detailed, and you get to know Gonzo and his reasons for this exciting adventure as part of the intro of the slot.
There’s nothing about the game’s visual appeal that we didn’t like, especially considering that it was released in 2011. The slot Gonzo’s Quest has quick and swift gameplay that allows players to seamlessly enjoy the game without any glitches that might take away from the adventure.
What we like the most is that Gonzo follows your every move – the game has him located on the left of the grid, where he observes and follows you along on the journey.
On top of that, the animations appear in 3D, which adds to the story; however, it’s worth noting that the symbols fall a bit too fast on the grid when the Autoplay feature is enabled. It takes away from the whole experience sometimes but doesn’t ruin it.
When playing Gonzo’s Quest slot online, we suggest you wear headphones for the ultimate experience. Not only are the symbols animated and sound-enhanced, but you can also hear wild birds and jungle-like sounds in the background.
The same goes when playing on mobile — the game is 100% mobile-friendly thanks to the HMTL5 technology behind it and the audiovisuals are superb on all Android and iOS devices.
To play Gonzo’s Quest, you need to know a bit more about the game’s symbols so you know what to expect. Not surprisingly, they are all Aztec-inspired, so there are many faces or masks etched on stone depicting the rich history of the Incas.
There is no difference between playing the Gonzo’s Quest demo and the real-money version, so there are seven regular symbols that show masks in different colors.
| Symbol | x3 | x4 | x5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue | 3 | 10 | 50 |
| Orange | 4 | 15 | 75 |
| Yellow | 5 | 20 | 100 |
| Purple | 10 | 25 | 200 |
| Gold | 15 | 50 | 500 |
| Green | 20 | 100 | 1000 |
| Grey | 50 | 250 | 2500 |
There’s also a wildcard symbol represented by a question mark, which acts as a wild, replacing any other base symbol on the grid to form a winning combination.
Similarly, the golden scatter symbol can only appear on the first three reels, subsequently triggering the Free Fall feature as it lands one scatter on each of the reels.
Remember that the win multiplier increases with every new Avalanche, while only the highest win per bet line is paid out.
With a standard 20 paylines, Gonzo’s Quest NetEnt slot doesn’t really stand out here — the paylines aren’t adjustable, meaning the player must place a wager on each of the paylines. There’s nothing necessarily better or worse with fixed paylines; it’s just something players should be aware of.
The Gonzo’s Quest RTP is 95.97%, slightly below the typical 96% slot average. Within this RTP, 65.3% is allocated to the base game, while 30.4% is reserved for free spins.
Regarding hit frequency rates, players can expect a win rate of 41.1% (approximately 1 win in every 2.415 spins) during the base game and a 54.4% win rate (about 1 win in every 1.838 spins) during free spins.
Players can wager anywhere from $0.20 to $50.00 per spin by simply clicking or pressing the Level and/or Coin Value buttons.
Variance-wise, Gonzo’s Quest slot volatility is in the medium to high range. That means players must be a bit more patient when spinning the reels, as wins won’t come as often. However, the biggest win is a staggering 2,500x your bet, so when they come, they’ll be worth it.
Although not as feature-filled as Gonzo’s Quest Megaways, there’s still plenty to rave about in the original version. The game’s features work very well considering its age, and there’s much more than just free spins that keep the players on their toes.
There’s also the Autoplay mode for the Gonzo’s Quest game, which is available for up to 1,000 auto spins in some regions (excluding the UK). For added control, players can also set win and loss stop limits.
This Gonzo’s Quest bonus round, Free Falls, is triggered when you land 3 Scatters from left to right on reels 1, 2, and 3. Players are rewarded with 10 Free Falls, which essentially act as free spins. These spins utilize Avalanche Reels, similar to the base game, but with a notable distinction: the multipliers can reach up to 15x.
If you land 3 scatters on a single free spin, an additional set of 10 free spins is appended to your total. Plus, the chances of winning increase with each Avalanche:
The game’s increasing popularity served as a springboard for other Gonzo’s Quest slots online, like the game shows Gonzo’s Treasure Hunt Live and Gonzo’s Treasure Map Live, both from Evolution Gaming. However, the following slot sequels have stood out more:
There’s plenty to like about the upgraded Gonzo version, as Gonzo’s Quest Megaways offers a staggering max win of 20,000x and a few more features, like the Earthquake Remove Juniors. However, NetEnt and Red Tiger Gaming decided to keep the original mechanics and just up the grid to 6×7, with up to 117,649 paylines.
There’s another Gonzo adventure lurking with a few tweaks, like the 5×5 grid and a high win potential, thanks to the Free Spins feature. The max win rate is set at 6,500x, which makes things a bit simpler but still very exciting — something NetEnt is a master at.
Not sure how to play Gonzo’s Quest? Here are a couple of expert player tips that will help you navigate this thrilling adventure.
A good way to ensure you’re on the right path is to take advantage of everything the game has to offer. In this case, take advantage of the autoplay feature, but make sure you set win and loss limits to keep control of your gameplay.
Take advantage of the Free Falls feature by trying to trigger it with three scatters. Doing that will offer opportunities for a Gonzo’s Quest big win, thanks to its increasing multipliers.
Managing your bankroll effectively by starting with smaller bets and gradually increasing them to keep momentum works like a charm. Also, keep your eye out for Gonzo’s Quest bonus promotions to persevere through cycles of wins and losses.
To increase your chances of winning, familiarize yourself with the game’s mechanics, such as how the Avalanche Reels work and how wins are formed.
The Gonzo’s Quest slot is a classic that has been at the top of its category for 13 years. Its innovative gameplay features and captivating theme have contributed to this position. The slot’s Avalanche Reels and Free Falls features offer an engaging experience with many big win opportunities, especially with the potential for increasing multipliers.
While its RTP slightly falls below the industry average, it’s the dynamic gameplay and state-of-the-art graphics that make it a standout choice. Overall, it’s a well-designed slot for both casual players and true slot fans.
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