Gonzo’s Quest 2 Demo: NetEnt’s Iconic Slot Gets a Sequel in El Dorado

Despite the longstanding popularity of Gonzo’s Quest, which is still a firm casino favourite and regularly available as part of a free spins offer, fans have long been awaiting a direct sequel to the 2011 release. Well now NetEnt has responded with the release of Gonzo’s Quest 2: Return to El Dorado.

Launching in September 2025, this video slot takes all that was great about the first title — namely a unique theme, stunning features, and detailed graphics — and improves them. The game has an higher RTP of 96.06% and a huge 15,825x maximum win. This is on top of the extra features that have been included. 

In this review we will break down all the details so that you know exactly what to expect. We have also embedded the free Gonzo’s Quest 2 demo and suggested some great casinos that will let you play it for real money.

Gonzo’s Quest 2 Features

Looking back, the original Gonzo’s Quest does not compare favourably with modern slots purely from a features point of view. NetEnt kept things straightforward, even if this was a game that was considered groundbreaking at the time.

Still, with so much demand from players nowadays for an all-round entertaining experience, we can report that the Gonzo’s Quest 2 slot has much more depth.

Expanding Reels

One of the standout gameplay elements in Gonzo’s Quest 2 is the Expanding Reels feature. These come into play with every win, growing the play area by adding up to four extra rows; the base game has a 6×4 layout but you will notice the camera zoom out as the reels grow and Gonzo will appear further away!

These are linked closely to the Avalanche Wins (more details below) and can increase the paylines to a potential whopping 262,144.

Avalanche Wins

The Avalanche Feature is triggered when a win lands on the reels. This is a thrilling animation that transforms the play area and replaces winning symbols with new ones — potentially resulting in further wins. This also adds multipliers, starting at 1x and capped at 5x — this will reset when no further wins land. 

If you have not encountered these before then it is certainly worth a few spins of the Gonzo’s Quest 2 demo to see how it plays out — it really is quite logical.

Gonzo’s Quest 2 Themes and Symbols

As we mentioned, the Gonzo’s Quest 2 game builds on the original and keeps the theme grounded in the same world. The game’s full name is actually Gonzo’s Quest 2: Return to El Dorado. This is exactly what you see from the opening credits onwards — an ancient Aztec temple with plenty of appropriate symbols. 

You can expect a very similar offering to the original game, with Aztec face masks the most common. The red diamond and blue mask are the highest-paying and you can try to land up to six of each.

The slot theme itself sees the returning conquistador, Gonzo, and he appears to the left of the reels. NetEnt has breathed new life into the heroic main character and he has a host of new animations to accompany a winning spin, especially in free spins mode.

The game has two separate Wilds — Regular and Calamity. When Calamity is part of a win, it will add up to six new Wilds onto the reels which can create new combinations before the next Avalanche Feature begins.

Gonzo’s Quest 2 Free Spins and Bonus

Free spins in Gonzo’s Quest have also been upgraded. These are unlocked when you land 3, 4, 5 or 6 scatter symbols; these correspond to 10, 12, 15 and 20 free spins respectively. The free spins round can also award larger multipliers than the base game.

Importantly, Gonzo’s Quest 2 free spins are retriggerable and when the Avalanche Feature is triggered, the game area can expand up to eight rows.

Super Free Spins

You can also unlock Super Free Spins and it is one of the most potentially valuable Gonzo’s Quest 2 bonus features. These trigger when a colossal scatter symbol appears and the multiplier amount does not reset between spins — this means that the potential win amount can be huge if the Avalanche Feature keeps landing.

All in all, free spins are the main part of the Gonzo’s Quest 2 and also where you will see the most win potential. The maximum win is 15,825x, which is substantially higher than the first game.

Gonzo’s Quest 2 RTP and Volatility

We have already compared Gonzo’s Quest to Gonzo’s Quest 2 in terms of features and theme and it is fair to say that the sequel represents an upgrade in every way. That continues when you look at the volatility, which is higher, and the RTP, which is 96.06%.

We recommend that you try Gonzo’s Quest 2 demo free play to get a feel for it yourself, but this is likely to mean that wins will not appear that frequently, but when they do they will be larger.

How To Play Gonzo’s Quest 2

You can take a spin on Gonzo’s Quest 2 starting at €0.30 and this goes up to €30. In truth, this range is smaller than most new slots and you can usually stake for less than that. Still, it is a range of coin sizes that will appeal to most.

The soundtrack is minimalist and gives off an adventure movie-type vibe, while a whistle noise accompanies each spin. Both can get a little repetitive after a while and we are surprised by the basic nature of these — especially considering the detail that has gone into the rest of the game. Gonzo also makes grunting sounds occasionally, which does add to the immersiveness, and he will walk away from the reels when you enter the bonus round.

The “elevate” button showcases a host of bonus buy options in the game and, for a set amount, you can buy access to different bonus rounds. These are expensive so always ensure that you are playing to your budget and gamble responsibly.

Slotsia’s Review of Gonzo’s Quest 2

Given the amount of time from the first game, we knew it would take something special for a direct sequel to be released by NetEnt and Gonzo’s Quest 2: Return to El Dorado delivers. In every possible metric, it is an upgrade on the first game and from the moment you enter the slot it is clearly a more detailed experience.

Graphics aside, this is perhaps NetEnt’s best slot release since Starburst hit our screens in 2012. It has a nostalgic theme but also delivers when it comes to entertainment and the depth of features; free spins are especially well-made. The 96.06% RTP is also above average and the 15,825x maximum win is massive.

The only minor complaints that we have lie with the stake limits and the soundtrack in the base game, which could have been a little more creative. That said, there is clearly more than enough here for us to suggest that you try it at a recommended casino or in the Gonzo’s Quest 2 demo on this page.

Massive 15,825x max. win

Respects and builds on the original theme

Thrilling new features such as Avalanche Wins

Disappointing stake limits