Gonzo's Quest vs Gonzo's Quest Megaways

Gonzo's Quest vs Gonzo's Quest Megaways: the core difference

Gonzo's Quest was one of the slots that made falling symbols mainstream. Instead of spinning, its stone blocks drop into place, and winning blocks crumble so new ones can fall. NetEnt called this the Avalanche. Gonzo's Quest Megaways, released in 2020, keeps the explorer, the stone faces and the Avalanche, but swaps the fixed 5×3 grid and 20 paylines for six reels whose heights change on every spin.

That swap is what moves the game from medium to medium–high volatility and the cap from 2,500x to 21,000x. It also costs a fraction more in RTP: 95.77% on the default setting against the original's 95.97%. So the remake is not an upgrade in any simple sense. It is a different risk profile wearing the same costume.

Gonzo's Quest and Gonzo's Quest Megaways specifications

The words 'default version' matter. Red Tiger supplies the Megaways game at more than one RTP, so the help screen at your casino might show a lower figure than 95.77%. Our guide on reading slot RTP in the UK explains how to spot this.

How the avalanche works in the original Gonzo's Quest slot

The Avalanche is NetEnt's version of cascading reels, and in Gonzo's Quest it is tied to a rising multiplier. Every consecutive win in a chain moves the multiplier up a step, so the third or fourth avalanche in a row pays more than the first.

1. Set your stake across the 20 paylines.
2. Stone blocks fall into the 5×3 grid; the RNG has already decided the layout.
3. Any payline win is paid at the current multiplier, which starts at its lowest step.
4. The winning blocks crumble, the blocks above fall, and new ones drop into the gaps.
5. If the new layout wins again, the multiplier moves up one step and the win is paid.
6. The chain ends at the first avalanche with no win, and the multiplier resets for the next spin.

Three Free Fall symbols on a payline start the Free Falls round, where the same avalanche ladder applies but each step is worth more. The exact multiplier values for the base game and the round are set out in the help screen.

What Megaways adds: from 20 paylines to 117,649 ways

Megaways is a random reel modifier. On each spin, each of the six reels shows between two and seven symbols, and the number of ways to win is the product of those six numbers. Any matching symbols on adjacent reels from the left pay, regardless of row.

More ways do not mean more value per spin: the stake is the same whatever the reel heights, and paytable values are set so the long-run return still lands on the published RTP. What changes is variation. Tall reels can carry several copies of one symbol, so a lucky spin multiplies ways quickly, especially in a long avalanche chain.

Why Red Tiger, not NetEnt, made the Megaways version

Megaways was created by Big Time Gaming, which licenses it to other studios. Red Tiger's licence was reported in October 2018 by Gambling Insider's report on BTG licensing the mechanic (opens in a new tab). NetEnt bought Red Tiger in September 2019, and both studios have been owned by Evolution since December 2020. Evolution now owns Big Time Gaming as well. That family tree explains why a NetEnt classic was remade by a sister studio rather than by NetEnt directly.

Our Megaways history page traces the mechanic from Big Time Gaming's early titles, and notes that sources disagree on exactly when the first Megaways game appeared.

Gonzo's Quest RTP vs Megaways RTP: cost per 100 spins

Both games sit a little under 96%, a figure many players treat as a rough benchmark. Our page on what counts as a good RTP explains why that benchmark is only a starting point.

The original is cheaper by 20p per £100 staked at the default settings. In a real session that gap is tiny beside normal swings, and the remake's higher volatility makes its sessions spread further from the average in both directions.

Gonzo's Quest max win vs Gonzo's Quest Megaways max win

These are ceilings that stop a round once reached, not expected results. The Commission's online slots stake limit guidance (opens in a new tab) explains how casinos apply the £5 and £2 limits by age. Our max win glossary entry explains how caps work.

Medium vs medium–high volatility: what changes in a session

The original's fixed 20 lines put a limit on how many combinations one spin can produce, so its outcomes are bunched more tightly. The Megaways version can range from 64 ways to 117,649 ways in consecutive spins, so outcomes spread out. A session on the remake is more likely to include long quiet stretches and also more likely to contain an occasional large result.

• Gonzo's Quest: medium volatility, avalanche chains of modest length are the main source of returns.
• Gonzo's Quest Megaways: medium–high volatility, big returns need tall reels and long chains together.
• In either game, an unbroken run of avalanches is uncommon; nothing about previous spins makes one more likely.

For a broader view, see our page on medium volatility slot machines.

Gonzo's Quest 2 and other relatives

NetEnt returned to the series with Gonzo's Quest 2 in 2025. It runs on six reels with up to 262,144 ways, is rated high volatility and lists a 15,825x max win. Its headline RTP is 96.06%, but 94.15% and 92.13% versions also exist, so checking the help screen is especially important. If you like the Megaways mechanic, Bonanza Megaways vs Extra Chilli Megaways compares two titles from the studio that created it.

UK rules that shape both Gonzo's Quest games

Since 31 October 2021, the Commission's responsible product design standard (opens in a new tab) has applied to online slots in Great Britain. Avalanche chains still play out in full, but the overall game cycle can't be quicker than 2.5 seconds, and you can't skip or speed it up.

• No autoplay, no turbo and no slam-stop.
• No celebration of a return equal to or less than your stake.
• No feature buy for Free Falls in versions supplied to Great Britain.
• Stake per spin capped at £5 for players aged 25 and over and £2 for those aged 18 to 24.

Avalanche and Megaways myths

Our guide to slot machine myths covers more of these.

Which Gonzo's Quest slot to choose

More side-by-side reviews live on the compare hub.

Where to play Gonzo's Quest and Gonzo's Quest Megaways in the UK

Both titles are widely distributed, but search each casino's lobby to confirm, as game lists change. Coral gives new players aged 18+ 100 free spins (10p each, selected games, accept within 48 hours, use within 7 days, no wagering on winnings) after a deposit and £10 bet on slots, with certain payment methods excluded. Ladbrokes offers 50 free spins a day for 10 days (up to 500, 10p each, no wagering) after you play £10 on slots. One operator runs both brands, so read the terms on eligibility.

PlayOJO's 80 no-wagering spins are played on Big Bass Bonanza, not Gonzo's Quest, after a first deposit of at least £10 (18+, UK excluding Northern Ireland). Terms apply. For free, confidential help with gambling at any time, GamCare (opens in a new tab) runs the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133.

18+. Gambling should be entertainment that costs money, not a way to make it. Decide a budget before you play: plan a slot budget. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.