Gerard's Gambit (Play'n Go) Slot Review

Gerard’s Gambit: Slot Overview

Over the last few years we have seen all kinds of online slot games. We have seen branded ones, where it’s all about a specific band or movie. But of course we have also seen many normal ones, that were pretty generic. But do you ever recall seeing an educational slot game? Well, apparently now there is one, Play’n Go introduces us to Gerard’s Gambit.

Playing Board

Gerard’s Gambit is a 3-reel slot with 1 row and 1 payline. At least that’s what it is in the beginning. You will be on a journey through 10 stages, with every stage adding something new. At the end of your journey you’ll be looking at a 5 reel slot with 3 rows and 10 set paylines. Bet sizes range from 0.05€ to 100€ (or equivalent), but may vary depending on where you play.

Winning Symbols

In Gerard’s Gambit you will come across 10 different winning symbols. Since every stage has different winning symbols and payouts, depending on the layout of the stage, we will sporadically cover the payouts of the symbols, as it would be too confusing to list them for every stage.

First you will find 5 lower paying symbols on the bottom end. These symbols are represented by Royals, which are classic winning symbols from 10 to A, netting you up to 4 times your bet size for a full line.

On the higher end you will find various tools and artifacts, that you will find on your journey, as well as the old Gerard himself. These symbols will pay you up to 30 times your bet size for a full line, depending on your stage.

Gerard’s Gambit: Special Symbols and Stats

Although not every stage in Gerard’s Gambit will feature special symbols, we will cover all of them here in short.

Scatter Symbols

There are actually two different scatter symbols you will come across on your journey. The first one will be the treasure chest scatter. This one is portrayed by, you guessed it, a treasure chest. Depending on your layout, 1, 2 or 3 of them in the same spin will trigger a pick feature. Here you will be able to choose one treasure chest and get a money prize.

The other scatter symbol is an ancient disk. This one will grant you free spins. Just like the treasure chest, depending on your current stage, 1, 2 or 3 of them are needed in the same spin in order to trigger the feature. During this feature, all wild symbols will become sticky on their positions for the remainder of the feature.

Wild Symbols

Talking about wild symbols, these will be portrayed by either an Aztec mask, a Medusa mask, an Elephant mask or an Anubis mask, depending on your current stage and location. They will always substitute for any winning symbols except scatter symbols. Wild symbols are crucial to trigger the respins feature, in which wild symbols will become sticky for the remainder of the respins.

Stats

Gerard’s Gambit comes with a base RTP of 96.20%. The max win potential is rather low with 3,000 times your bet size. However, Play’n Go have not been very precise with their declarations, as your chances of getting the max win are somewhere over 100 million spins. The game was rated with a 5 out of 10 volatility by Play’n Go themselves, making Gerard’s Gambit a game with a rather medium volatility.

Gerard’s Gambit: Stages

Since Gerard’s Gambit is a very special game with many stages, we will cover every stage together with their respective symbols and features. Every stage has its own objective, which you will need to complete in order to advance to the next one.

Stage 1: Prologue

In the prologue you will only have 3 reels with 1 row, as well as only 2 different winning symbols. This stage does not have any features nor special symbols.

Stage 2: Egypt

Stage 2 will be the same like stage 1 in terms of layout. One new low paying symbol will be added, as well as our first special symbol, the wild symbol. From this stage onward, every stage will have the respins feature.

Special Symbols: Wilds

Features: Respins

Stage 3: Mexico

In Mexico, the playing board will change its layout for the first time. You will now have a 3-reel 2-rows setup with 2 different paylines. Additionally, a new premium symbol, the necklace, is added. This symbol will pay you 5 times your bet size per full line.

Special Symbols: Wilds

Features: Respins

Stage 4: Greece

Greece will have the same layout like the stage before. One new lower paying symbol is added, the Q, which will net you 2 times your bet size for a full line. Beginning from this stage, landing an additional wild symbol during respins will give you another respin on top.

Special Symbols: Wilds

Features: Respins

Stage 5: India

India will change your layout once again. You are now playing on 3 reels with 3 rows and 5 paylines. Two new symbols are added. One is the explorer’s book, paying you 2.4 times your bet size per full line. The other is the first scatter symbol, the treasure chest, granting you a pick feature if you land it on reel 2. This feature will always award you 20 times your bet size.

Special Symbols: Wilds, Scatters

Features: Respins, Pick Feature.

Stage 6: Egypt

Now we will start to revisit older locations. The second version of Egypt will have the same layout like India. A new low-paying symbol is added, the K, which will pay you 0.8 times your bet size per full line. In addition, the second scatter symbol is present, the ancient disk, which will grant you 5 free spins if you land it on reel 2.

Special Symbols: Wilds, Scatters

Features: Respins, Free Spins Feature

Stage 7: Mexico

On our second visit to Mexico, the layout of the playing board will change once again. The game will now consist of 4 reels with 3 rows and now 10 set paylines. Once again, a new premium symbol is added, the explorer’s backpack. This one will pay you 4 times your bet size for a full line. Scatter symbols are switching again, and you will need 2 treasure chests on reels 2 and 3 in order to get the pick feature. You can pick between two chests, which will award you either 20 times or 60 times your bet size. Additionally, you will now need 3 or more wild symbols in order to trigger the respin feature.

Special Symbols: Wilds, Scatters

Features: Respins, Pick Feature

Stage 8: Greece

The second trip to Greece will greet us with the same layout like in Mexico. Another low-paying symbol is added. This time it will be the A’s, clocking in at 1.6 times your bet size per full line. Scatters are once again switched, you will now need to land 2 ancient disks on reels 2 and 3 in order to trigger the free spins feature. But now you will be able to land scatter symbols in the feature, which will grant you +1 spin for any scatter landed.

Special Symbols: Wilds, Scatters

Features: Respins, Free Spins Feature

Stage 9: India

The second-to-last stage, India once again, will bring the final upgrade to our playing board. You will now play on 5 reels with 3 rows and 10 paylines. In addition, India will introduce the final winning symbol, the compass, paying 15 times your bet size per full line. Scatter symbols will be the treasure chests. 3 of them on reels 2, 3 and 4 in the same spin will once again allow you to pick one chest, for a chance on 20 times, 60 times or 100 times your bet size.

Special Symbols: Wilds, Scatters

Features: Respins, Pick Feature

Stage 10: Egypt

For the third and final time we will travel to Egypt. This time though, nothing major changes compared to the former stage. The only thing that changes is once again the scatter symbol, which will now of course be the ancient disk. Landing 3 of them in the same spin on reels 2, 3 and 4 will grant you 5 free spins. Any scatter during the feature will give you +1 spin. Wild symbols will expand on their reels during free spins.

Special Symbols: Wilds, Scatters

Features: Respins, Free Spins Feature

Gerard’s Gambit: Conclusion

Gerard’s Gambit is probably the first online slot game that calls itself „educational“. Would we agree on that? Not sure. We don’t really see the educational aspect of the game, other than to travel to a few different places in the world and maybe see what they are known for, historically. But even that would would just be the very tip of the iceberg.

But one thing is for sure, Gerard’s Gambit is definitely an interesting game. Of course, there have been games before that built up their playing boards under certain circumstances. But Gerard’s Gambit really feels like an adventure, where you need to complete quests in order to progress. Just with the difference that you don’t really have an influence on anything that happens. The objectives are rather simple though, so don’t expect tough tasks to complete.

Gerard’s Gambit is definitely a fun game, but it feels like Play’n Go have put way too much effort into it for a game that can „only“ pay 3,000 times your bet size. And the chances of reaching it are outrageous. So if you don’t care about detailed stats, Gerard’s Gambit will definitely be a lot of fun to you. But many experienced players will probably take a step back.