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

A computer-implemented method, comprising:

• providing a wager-based electronic gaming device (EGD), the EGD comprising at least one processor, memory, a display, an input interface and a source of random numbers, the at least one processor being configured to execute computer-readable instructions stored in the memory for at least:
• accepting money from a player via the input interface, and establishing an account balance using the received money;
• displaying, on the 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;
• enabling, for the gaming session, game play and wagers in a current stage of the plurality of stages of the wager-based game;
• accessing random numbers from the source of random numbers and determining, at least in part, outcomes of the wagers using the accessed random numbers;
• determining whether game play is progressing through the plurality of the stages of the wager-based game at a pace that is at least as quick as a predetermined pace;
• when the game play is determined to be progressing through the plurality of stages at a pace that is less quick than the predetermined pace, changing at least one of a Return-To-Player (RTP) of the wager-based game and a bonus for the current stage;
• and
• when the game play is determined to be progressing through the plurality of stages at a pace that is quicker than the predetermined pace, maintaining unchanged or increasing at least one of the Return-To-Player (RTP) of the wager-based game and the bonus for the current stage.