If there’s one master storyteller in the slot industry, it would be Play’n GO. The popular Swedish studio has brought us many exciting slots for real money with similar dynamics but widely different stories. Some are macabre, others are deeply rooted in folk and fairy tales, while others are completely new inventions. Such is the story of Gerard’s Gambit, an explorer’s slot by the studio that tells a great story while coming up with thrilling gameplay features.

The slot has all the makings of a Play’n GO release. It’s a medium variance game with an RTP of 96.2%, but get this – it has 1 to 10 paylines. You need to complete challenges across the 1-line, 3x3 grid to unlock the additional lines and open up new locations to explore.

Of course, this also expands the grid to a more standard format of 5x3. The slot tells the story of an explorer named Gerard and his gambit, which took him to the unusual spot he’s in. Each location you unlock represents a new level, so it’s not your typical Play’n GO slot game.

Gerard’s Gambit doesn’t look like your regular slot. There’s a 3x3 setup with 1 paylines at the beginning, but those will expand as you unlock new levels. Visually, the slot’s as impressive as it gets. Gerard’s model is nicely designed, having a rugged adventurer look and looking like a man that can overcome all odds.

While it does have that classic Play’n GO layout, the slot plays a bit unusually. You see challenges on the screen, which you must complete to unlock new features and unpack the grid. It’s an innovative new concept that’s also rewarding, and the fact that these features play to the slot’s story strengths makes it a must-try.

You can play the Gerard’s Gambit slot on all mobile devices running Android or iOS. It will adapt to any screen size and doesn’t require downloading an app, which is a big plus as anyone with an Internet connection on a mobile phone can play it.

Ready for the adventure? Choose a bet from the picker beneath the reels. You can go from $0.05 to $100 per spin. Hit the green Spin button when you’re ready, and let’s open up the grid.

Leveling up is not too challenging. The 1x3 grid, in the beginning, starts expanding if you accumulate 3 wins. Other challenges are introduced on the screen as the grid slowly unfolds. Each level takes you to a new location. High-paying symbols can deliver wins up to 20x for five, but you’ll need to open up the playing field for it. The top levels come at a 5x3 grid with five high and low-paying symbols each. Wilds only land when you reach the second level, completing or improving wins by substitution. They also pay a maximum of 50x for five.

Gerard’s wild ride will take you to 10 different locations, including Egypt, Greece, India, Mexico, and his mansion. Some of the levels, such as Egypt, are revisited several times but with new features. When it comes to the modifiers, they can be anything from Sticky Wilds to respins, and instant wins up to 100x the bet.

You can also choose to gamble your wins, with a limit of 500x the bet. A correct guess doubles your win, and you can only do this twice in a row.

If you’re looking for a bonus round in Gerard’s Gambit, forget all about it. It doesn’t come in the traditional way you’re used to seeing. The slot doesn’t have a distinct base game and Free Spins Round. Instead, it relies on catching higher levels and opening up new locations with all kinds of modifiers. 

For example, on level 2, you unlock Wilds. Heading to Mexico on level 3 adds Wild Sticky Respins. At the highest level 10 in Egypt, you get a Free Spins Round with Expanding Wilds and extra free spins bonuses per every Scatter that lands on the reels.

We won’t spoil the surprise of what comes in each round. This kind of gamification of unlocking features will get more common in the future, and we’re glad Play’n GO tried it in this slot. It’s the perfect setting.

The Gerard’s Gambit slot RTP is 96.2%, which is common for highly volatile Play’n GO slots, except that this one has the volatility set to medium, which is better for you. The maximum win you can hit is 3,000x the bet.

Gerard’s Gambit is a fun slot by Play’n GO that tells a great story while introducing new ways to win. The 1 paylines on startup doesn’t look impressive, but you will love the fact that the grid expands and paylines open up as you move forward.

In many ways, it has more with video games than it has with slots. Play’n GO is innovative in that way, giving us a slot we can’t stop playing at our selected online casino sites.