Controlled return to player in a skill-based wagering game

A method for providing a wagering game on an electronic gaming system, comprising the steps of:

• providing an active play area and an inactive display position as part of the wagering game;
• the active play area including a matrix of display positions for displaying a plurality of active symbols;
• the inactive display position for displaying an inactive symbol, the inactive symbol being configured to replace an active symbol of the plurality of active symbols in the active play area in response to a player input;
• selecting, by a game controller, the plurality of active symbols for display as part of the wagering game;
• displaying the plurality of active symbols on the active play area;
• determining a target win range for the wagering game that, over time and in aggregate with outcomes of other wagering games provided by the electronic gaming system, contributes to satisfying a configured return-to-player (RTP) of the electronic gaming system;
• selecting, by the game controller, the inactive symbol to display in the inactive display position as part of the wagering game by (i) determining potential outcomes for each possible replacement of the displayed plurality of active symbols by the inactive symbol, and (ii) ensuring the determined potential outcomes satisfy the target win range;
• displaying, by the game controller, the selected inactive symbol in the inactive display position;
• receiving the player input as part of the wagering game, the player input indicating which displayed active symbol is to be replaced by the inactive symbol;
• replacing the indicated active symbol in the active play area with the inactive symbol in response to the player input, resulting in an altered active play area;
• and
• evaluating, by the game controller, an outcome of the wagering game based on the altered active play area.