Gonzo's Quest at a Glance
- Developer
- NetEnt
- Release date
- 2011
- Grid
- 5 reels × 3 rows
- How wins are formed
- 20 fixed paylines
- Main mechanic
- Avalanche (cascading reels)
- RTP
- 95.97%
- Volatility
- Medium-high
- Maximum win
- Commonly published as 2,500x the stake
- Multipliers
- 1x, 2x, 3x, 5x in the base game; 3x, 6x, 9x, 15x in Free Falls
- Free Falls
- 3 Free Fall symbols on reels 1 to 3 award 10 Free Falls
- Bonus buy
- Not available in the original game
Figures are based on information published for the game. Always check the information screen of the version you are playing.
How Gonzo's Quest Works
Gonzo's Quest uses a five-by-three grid with 20 fixed paylines. Wins are formed by matching symbols along a payline from left to right, starting on the first reel.
The Avalanche Mechanic
Instead of spinning reels, stone blocks fall into the grid. When a win lands, the winning blocks crumble away and new blocks fall from above to fill the gaps. If the new blocks form another win, it is paid and the process repeats. A single paid spin can produce several wins in a row. NetEnt calls this mechanic Avalanche, and Gonzo's Quest is one of the games that made cascading reels popular. See Cascading Reels Explained.
Symbols
- Carved stone faces, such as a bird, a snake and an alligator, are the lower-paying symbols.
- Coloured masks in purple, gold, green and blue are the higher-paying symbols, with the blue mask paying the most.
- The wild is a stone with a question mark and substitutes for standard symbols. See Wild Symbols Explained.
- The Free Fall symbol is a golden scatter that triggers the Free Falls feature.
The game's paytable lists the exact values.
Bonus Features
Avalanche Multipliers
Every consecutive win in an Avalanche sequence increases a multiplier that applies to the next win:
| Win in sequence | Base game | Free Falls |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1x | 3x |
| 2nd | 2x | 6x |
| 3rd | 3x | 9x |
| 4th and later | 5x | 15x |
When an Avalanche produces no win, the sequence ends and the multiplier resets. Reaching the higher multipliers is uncommon, because it needs several wins in a row.
Free Falls
Landing three Free Fall symbols on the first three reels triggers 10 Free Falls, the game's version of free spins. During Free Falls, the Avalanche multipliers are three times higher, rising from 3x to a maximum of 15x. Landing three more Free Fall symbols during the feature awards 10 extra Free Falls.
RTP and Volatility
The published RTP is 95.97%, often rounded to 96%. Check the game's information screen to confirm the figure for the version you are playing. See Pokies RTP Explained.
Gonzo's Quest is generally rated medium-high volatility. Published statistics put its base-game hit frequency at around 41%, meaning roughly two in five spins produce a win of some size. In practice:
- Wins are fairly regular, but many are small
- Bigger wins depend on chains of Avalanches with rising multipliers
- Free Falls offer the highest multipliers and the biggest potential
See Slot Volatility Explained and RTP vs Actual Slot Results.
Maximum Win
The maximum win is commonly published as 2,500 times the stake, although some sources quote higher theoretical figures for Free Falls. Either way, wins of this size are extremely rare and should not be treated as a realistic goal.
Gameplay, Design and Mobile Play
Gonzo's Quest was groundbreaking when it launched, with a 3D animated main character, jungle scenery and the satisfying sound of crumbling stone. It still holds up well today, and its Avalanche mechanic is easy to follow. The game runs on desktop and mobile, and a free-play demo is widely available. See Demo Slots Explained.
A separate Megaways version of the game has also been released, with different reels, rules and figures. This review covers the original.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Easy-to-follow Avalanche mechanic
- Rising multipliers add excitement to every winning spin
- Free Falls triple the multipliers
- Iconic design and character
Cons
- Maximum win is modest compared with many newer games
- Higher multipliers require several wins in a row, which is uncommon
- Fixed 20 paylines limit how wins can form
- Many small wins are worth less than the stake
Who Might Like Gonzo's Quest?
Gonzo's Quest may appeal to players who enjoy classic online slots with a simple but distinctive feature, and who prefer a middle ground between steady wins and big potential. Players chasing very large multipliers may prefer newer games. Every spin is random, and the house edge applies throughout.
Similar Games
Bonanza Megawayscascading Reactions with an unlimited free spins multiplier
Starburstanother NetEnt classic with a simple respin feature
Sweet Bonanzaa modern tumbling game with multiplier bombsBrowse all titles in our Slot Game Reviews.
Playing Responsibly
Chains of Avalanche wins can make a session feel more successful than it really is. Keep an eye on your balance, and set a budget and time limit before you start. Our guides on setting gambling limits and recognising gambling harm explain practical steps, and Gambling Help Online offers free, confidential support 24/7 on 1800 858 858.
In Australia, it is illegal for companies to offer online casino games, including online pokies, to people in Australia under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001.
