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18 April 2024 
Gonzo’s Gold Slot Review 2021
Gonzo’s Gold from NetEnt continues the long-running adventures of a beloved character within the slot world. Gonzo’s Quest stands out as one of the golden oldies, and Gonzo’s Quest Megaways still continues to impress today. Gonzo was so popular infact, that he even managed to wrangle himself a live Game Show with Gonzo’s Treasure Hunt.
It was naive at best to think that the adventures of Gonzo would conclude there, but we’re glad it didn’t! Gonzo’s Gold looks to be a little different from what we’re used to so far, with a cluster pays mechanic to shake things up a bit.
Join us in this Gonzo’s Gold Slot Review as we explore the latest exploits of Gonzo.
Gonzo’s Gold Theme
The theme for Gonzo’s Gold is a little low-key when compared to others in the series. Dense forestry and an air of mystery met us in previous slots where we joined Gonzo on his search for El Dorado, but this time a simple temple background greets us instead.
There’s definitely still that treasure hunter vibe, but it’s fair to say that Gonzo’s Gold isn’t quite as decorated as Gonzo’s Quest Megaways.
Gonzo’s Gold: Betting and Symbols
Gonzo’s Gold has a wide variety of betting options which makes it very inclusive for anyone looking to embark on another adventure with Gonzo. The lowest betting option here is £/€0.10 per spin, and the highest option is £/€200 per spin. There are many different options in between the two, so there’s definitely something for everyone here.
The highest paying symbol is of course, Gonzo. Following on from Gonzo is the Purple, Blue and Green ancient statues, and low paying symbols are Ace, King, Queen, Jack and 10. There’s also a Temple Symbol, which doubles up as a Scatter and a Wild symbol.
Gonzo’s Gold: The Base Game and Features
Gonzo’s Gold is a 5×5 Cluster Pays Slot. To connect a win, you’ll need at least 3 of any high paying symbol or 4 of any low paying symbol to connect horizontally and/or vertically.
It’s strange to see a Gonzo Slot in a Cluster Pays format, but we certainly think it works. Opinions on this type of gameplay seem to be fiercly divided at times. Some people can’t stand Cluster Pays slots, and if you’re one of them people then you might be disappointed with what NetEnt have done with Gonzo this time around.
When it comes to win potential, a quick look of the paytable tells us all that we need to know about the formidable capabilities of Gonzo’s Gold. Lots of clusters of high paying symbols equate to absolutely massive wins, but you’ll want Free Spins if you’re to see it.
In the Base Game you may get lucky with a decent sized cluster here and there, but the excitement seems to be lacking a bit. It could be that we’re attuned now to cluster pays slots with modifiers to shake things up, and Gonzo’s Gold doesn’t have any of that. Instead of meters and power-ups and modifiers, Gonzo’s Gold Free Spins is simply triggered by Scatter Symbols.
Gonzo’s Gold Free Spins
3 or more Scatter Symbols appearing anywhere on the reels triggers 10 Free Spins and a bonus win depending on how many Scatters you landed.
- 3 Scatters – 2x Bet
- 4 Scatters – 20x Bet
- 5 Scatters – 200x Bet
Before the round starts, you’ll be asked to choose a symbol to act as an expanding symbol for the remainder of the round. Could it be that Gonzo’s Gold is cluster pays meets book style gameplay?
When you’ve chosen the symbol, the round will commence. Two of more adjacent Expanding Symbols will expand to cover the entire row or reel, and the win is then calculated on the size of the cluster.
Gonzo’s Gold: Our Verdict
To be honest, we were a little disappointed with Gonzo’s Gold. It feels like NetEnt fancied a crack at a Cluster Pays slot and they just stuck Gonzo’s face on it to benefit from his popularity.
The problem is the standard set by others when it comes to this sort of slot. When we think Cluster Pays slots, we think of Reactoonz, Elemento, Wild Frames and Honey Rush. We’re just not sure that Cluster Pays slots work without the sort of features seen in aforementioned slots.
Grid Slots may be a popular choice, and book style slots may be even bigger, but does that make putting them together a great idea? Maybe, for some at least. To give it credit where it’s due, Gonzo’s Gold is certainly capable of inducing a fair amount of excitement at times in the bonus when things start expanding all over the place, but apart from that, it’s a bit dull.
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