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Gonzo's Quest

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Gonzo's Quest
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Rob Eddy

Content reviewer

Updated 02.12.2025
Reading time 5 min

Gonzo's Quest Review | Free Spins, RTP & Max Win

The Gonzo’s Quest slot was released in July 2011 by NetEnt provider. With a layout of 5-3 grid layout, this slot was one the first to use the Avalanche mechanic where winning symbols fall away and new ones drop in, allowing for multiple wins from a single spin.

With 96% RTP, high volatility, and the potential to win up to x2500 times your stake, this slot blends cinematic 3D visuals with engaging gameplay. 

Fully optimised for both desktop and mobile, it remains a favourite among online casino players.

RTP

96

Game provider

NetEnt

Release date

01/2013

Game type

Slot

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Game info

RTP

96

Release date

01/2013

Min bet

£0.20

Free spins

Yes

Variances

Gonzo's Quest Megaways

Layout

5x3

Game type

Slot

Game provider

NetEnt

Max bet

£5.00

Bonus rounds

Yes

Max win

x2500

Volatility

Medium

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Gonzo's Quest Review

NetEnt's Gonzo's Quest takes the players on an adventure-filled journey across the Peruvian jungles in search of the mythical city of El Dorado. Named after real Spanish conquistador Gonzalo Pizarro, the slot lives up to the times by providing history with breathtaking 3D visuals and an authentic ambience that continues to astonish players to this day, years after its release.

The game sets itself apart right from the get-go with its striking visual style. Instead of traditional spinning reels, Gonzo’s Quest uses stone blocks that tumble into place – a groundbreaking mechanic at the time of release. The charming Gonzo figure looms next to the reels, reacting to your big wins and doing silly Gonzo stuff sometimes to liven up the proceedings and keep things engaging.

The audio design does an impeccable job of keeping pace with the stunning visuals, punctuated by real-sounding tribal drums, an eerie jungle background, and rad sound effects when blocks burst on winning combinations.

Gonzo's Quest RTP, Volatility & More

This slot has an return to player rate of 96%, and a high volatility in slots. Here's other important information you need to know about this slot at a glance:

Gonzo's Quest gained its reputation as NetEnt's showpiece game and garnered many industry awards upon its launch. It set a record for being the first slot machine ever to be ported to Virtual Reality, and one can easily see how pioneering it was from the start.

Free Spins & Other Important Game Features

This slot offers several exciting features that keep gameplay fresh and potentially rewarding:

Free Falls (Free Spins)

The Free Falls feature is this slot's version of free spins. Landing three or more Free Fall symbols on a payline awards 10 free games. During this bonus round, you'll see Gonzo walk through a stone gateway toward the golden pyramid, signifying your entry into the special feature.

What makes Free Falls particularly exciting is the enhanced multiplier potential. While the base game offers multipliers up to 5x, the Free Falls feature increases this to a maximum of 15x, significantly boosting your winning potential. Additional Free Falls can be triggered by landing more scatter symbols during the bonus round, extending your free gameplay.

 

Printscreen of Gonzo´s Quest Free Fall Feature
Free Fall Feature

 

Wilds

The wild symbol can be used to replace all other symbols, including Free Fall symbols. This allows you to form cascading winning combinations all over the game’s 20 paylines, earning you a path to the Avalanche feature and boosting your multipliers

Avalanche Feature

Rather than traditional spinning reels, this game uses an Avalanche mechanism where symbols fall from above and stack on top of each other. When you form winning combinations, those symbols explode and disappear, allowing new symbols to fall into their place - potentially creating consecutive wins from a single spin.

This feature is enhanced by a progressive multiplier meter visible in the top-right corner of the screen. Each consecutive Avalanche within a single turn increases your multiplier:

  • 1st win: 1x multiplier

  • 2nd win: 2x multiplier

  • 3rd win: 3x multiplier

  • 4th win: 5x multiplier

During Free Falls, these multipliers increase to 3x, 6x, 9x, and 15x respectively.

 

Printscreen of Gonzo´s Quest Avalanche Multiplers Values
Avalanche Multipler Feature

 

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How to Play Gonzo's Quest

It is simple to begin playing Gonzo's Quest. It uses the normal bet level system of NetEnt where you select your bet level (1-5) and coin value to determine your total stake per spin. Therefore, bet level 1 with a £0.05 coin value is a £1 total bet.

Here's a breakdown of the game's symbols and their values (per total stake at bet level 1):

  • Blue stone face: Highest-paying symbol - 125x your total stake for 5 on a payline

  • Green stone face: 50x your total stake for 5 on a payline

  • Yellow stone face: 25x your total stake for 5 on a payline

  • Purple stone face: 10x your total stake for 5 on a payline

  • Animal stone faces: Between 2.5x and 5x your total stake for 5 on a payline

The game controls are simple - simply place your bet, push the round button to spin manually, or set the autoplay feature for 10 to 1,000 spins automatically. You can go to the paytable anytime by clicking the 'i' icon in the bottom left corner.

How To Win At Gonzo's Quest

While Gonzo's Quest is a game of chance with no guaranteed ways of winning, there are several strategies that can be used to enhance your gameplay:

  1. Bankroll management: Gonzo's Quest is highly volatile and will have you experiencing dry spells without significant wins. Budget and stick to it.

  2. Know the variance: This slot doesn't pay out frequently, but when it does, they are large. Be patient.

  3. Use Free Play first: Try the Gonzo's Quest demo before playing with real money to get familiar with the game mechanics and volatility.

  4. Focus on enjoyment: Play for entertainment, not as a way to make money. The thrill of the adventure and Gonzo's antics should be the primary reason to play.

  5. Take advantage of casino bonuses: Look for casinos offering free spins or deposit bonuses specifically for Gonzo's Quest.

Where To Play Gonzo's Quest

This game is available at numerous online bookmakers casinos in the UK. Here are some top recommendations where you can enjoy this NetEnt classic with excellent user experience and security:

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Plus, most of these platforms have great welcome bonuses that you can put to use on Gonzo’s Quest meaning you’ll have more time to get lost in this thrilling adventure slot.

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Where Can I Find Gonzo's Quest Demo?

If you prefer to test the waters before sinking cold hard money, the Gonzo's Quest Demo is available. Online casinos have a free-play mode where you get to play everything without betting a penny. It's ideal for acclimatising to the game mechanics or simply going along with the quest without cost.

The Gonzo's Quest slot free play is particularly useful for practicing how unpredictable the game is, and for seeing how often the bonus features are activated.

Is There Another Version of This Slot?

The popularity of Gonzo's Quest has led to the development of variants, broadening the scope of the subject of this classic game. The biggest alternative is Gonzo's Quest Megaways, with the original theme and characters blended in with the Big Time Gaming feature of Megaways.

This variant provides a maximum of 117,649 winning combinations against 20 paylines of the base game, boosting chances of winnings.

In addition to maintaining the foundation Avalanche function and charming Gonzo persona, Megaways provides additional functions and increased potential for wins.

Other versions have been released over the years with updates to graphics, sound, and bonus features, but the original Gonzo's Quest remains a favourite among slot enthusiasts.

About The Mobile Experience

Gonzo's Quest has been optimised correctly for mobile play so that you can be part of the action at home or on the go. The game is smoothly played on Android and iOS devices, with the touch interface ensuring that easy bet adjusting and spinning reels are effortless.

NetEnt has ensured that all the visual charm and animations of the desktop version are preserved in the mobile experience. The game adapts seamlessly to different screen sizes, and the Avalanche feature is particularly satisfying on touchscreen devices. The controls have been thoughtfully redesigned for mobile play, making navigation intuitive even on smaller screens.

Why should you give this Inca culture-inspired slot a try?

Gonzo's Quest has endured for a good reason. This adventure-themed slot offers a fantastic mix of engaging gameplay, groundbreaking features, and huge win potential that continues to attract new and experienced players.

The groundbreaking Avalanche feature changed the slots world when it was released and remains captivating to this day. Gonzo's own charming personality adds character that other slots often lack, making each play session an adventure in its own right, as opposed to a simple exercise in wagering.

With its perfect combination of entertainment value and potential to win, Gonzo's Quest has become one of NetEnt's finest creations. Whether you're drawn in by the interactive theme, excited by the Free Falls bonus feature, or drawn to the high-variance action with its potential for high returns, this iconic slot has a little bit of something for every kind of player.

Try out this slot for a spin - either in free play mode or for real cash - and see for yourself why this quest has been a favourite among slot players globally for more than ten years.

Lucie Turner

Lucie is a content specialist with extensive expertise in the iGaming and Sports betting industries. With a strong background in PR and Marketing Communications, she excels at crafting engaging casino and slot reviews that resonate with players. Her exceptional proofreading and editing ensure content is both accurate and compelling. Lucie's talent for translating complex gaming concepts into accessible, search-optimised content has established her as a valuable professional in the competitive iGaming landscape.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The Gonzo's Quest RTP is right on the industry average for slots which is 96.00%.

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