In 2011, leading software provider NetEnt swung open the stone doors to the legendary city of Eldorado with the release of Gonzo’s Quest. This game quickly became a fan-favourite and one of NetEnt’s flagship titles, blending groundbreaking visuals, innovative mechanics, and a quirky conquistador searching for gold.
Gonzo, inspired by the real-life explorer Gonzalo Pizarro, embarks on a treasure hunt through the jungles of South America, and you’re along for the ride. This is your chance if you’ve ever wanted to hunt for gold without leaving your sofa.
About Gonzo’s Quest
Gonzo’s Quest is pure adventure. Set deep within the lush Amazon rainforest, the backdrop features ancient Incan stonework, with thick vines entwined around the reels, hinting at long-lost secrets waiting to be uncovered. Gonzo, the bumbling but loveable explorer, stands to the left of the reels, scratching his beard, performing little dances, and celebrating your wins with delightful charm. The soundtrack is a mix of tribal drums and distant jungle sounds, immersing you in the atmosphere of an ancient civilization on the brink of discovery.
Paytable
The symbols are carved stone masks and mystical faces, each designed with intricate detail. The lower-value symbols are the blue, green, and purple stone carvings. Higher-value symbols showcase golden and grey masks with more elaborate designs. The golden mask is the highest-paying symbol, awarding up to 125x the bet for a set of five. The stone ‘question mark’ serves as the Wild, substituting for any regular symbol to form winning combinations. In contrast, the Free Fall symbol, adorned with a golden mask and set on a stone tablet, unlocks the coveted Free Fall feature.
Gonzo’s Quest has a standard 5-reel, 3-row grid with 20 fixed paylines. Every spin feels like an excavation into ancient ruins. The slot is available on desktop and mobile devices from 20p to £50 per spin. The game operates with medium to high volatility, balancing steady rewards and the potential for significant payouts. The RTP sits at a reasonable 95.97%, offering fair chances for consistent wins. If Gonzo feels generous, the maximum win is capped at 37,500x the bet—a prize worthy of any explorer.
Gameplay and Features
At the time of launch, NetEnt introduced new, innovative mechanics into Gonzo’s Quest that made every spin an unpredictable expedition. The slot features the Avalanche mechanic, multipliers, and Free Fall.
Avalanche
Forget traditional spinning reels. In Gonzo’s Quest, symbols fall into place like a stone landslide. When a winning combination is formed, the victorious symbols shatter into dust, making way for new stones to tumble down. This chain reaction continues until no new winning combinations are created. Each consecutive Avalanche increases the multiplier, starting at 1x and climbing to 2x, 3x, and even 5x during the base game. The more wins you rack up in a single spin, the higher the rewards.
Gonzo’s Quest Free Fall
Triggering the Free Fall is like discovering the entrance to a hidden temple. The Free Fall triggers when three or more golden Free Fall symbols appear on consecutive reels from the left. Once unlocked, you’re awarded 10 Free Spins, essentially free spins but with a more adventurous name. During the Free Falls, the Avalanche multipliers are supercharged, starting at 3x and increasing to 6x, 9x, and a staggering 15x after consecutive wins. It’s the Free Fall where the slots’ winning potential comes to life. Additional Free Falls can be retriggered if more golden symbols land, extending your journey deeper into the treasure-laden ruins.
Wild Symbol
The stone question mark Wild acts as a substitute for all symbols except the Free Fall scatter, increasing your chances of landing winning combinations. It blends seamlessly into the ancient theme, like a forgotten relic waiting to reveal its power. The Wild is vital in creating continuous Avalanches, helping unlock those juicy multipliers.
Multipliers
Multipliers in Gonzo’s Quest are the driving force behind the big wins. During the base game, the Avalanche multipliers progress from 1x to 5x with each consecutive win. But the Free Fall feature ramps things up to ancient-legend status, starting at 3x and rising to 15x. Watching your winnings multiply as the stones crumble is like watching Gonzo strike gold with every pickaxe swing.
Conclusion
Gonzo’s Quest, developed by NetEnt, isn’t just a slot—it’s an adventure. With the innovative Avalanche feature, mood-setting visuals, and the unforgettable Gonzo cheering you on, this game revolutionised the online slot industry when it was first released and remains a classic to this day. Whether you’re chasing down Free Falls or watching multipliers climb higher than Gonzo’s spirits, this slot packs both fun and treasure in equal measure. For those brave enough to follow in Gonzo’s footsteps, the riches of Eldorado await.
