Skillfull regulated multi-level casino games and gaming machines configured to encourage exploration of game stages, scenarios, levels and areas

Abstract

A computer-implemented method may comprise providing a wager-based electronic gaming device (EGD) comprising at least one processor, memory, a display, an input interface and a money acceptor. The EGD may be configured to accept money from a player via the money acceptor and establish an account balance using the received money; display a game environment configured to enable the player to participate, via the input interface, in a gaming session of a wager-based game comprising a plurality of stages, and enable, for the gaming session, game play and wagers in a current stage of the plurality of stages of the wager-based game. It may then be determined that game play in the current stage has reached a current stage complete state in which all requirements necessary for transitioning game play from the current stage to a next or other stage of the plurality of stages have been met. Thereafter, it may be determined whether the game play transitions from the current stage to the next or other stage or remains at or returns to the current stage. When game play transitions from the current stage to the next or other stage of the plurality of stages, a Return-To-Player (RTP) of the wager-based game may be increased (or maintained the same) and when game play remains at or returns to the current stage after the current stage complete state is reached, the RTP of the wager-based game may at least temporarily be decreased or maintained unchanged.