Wagering game with incremental unlocking of content

A method of conducting a wagering game for a human player, the wagering game including a game sequence in which the player provides an input and a wagering game outcome is determined, the method comprising the acts of:

• receiving, via an input device, a wager to play the wagering game;
• displaying, on one or more display devices, a base game and a secondary game, the base game providing a trigger that provides an opportunity to play the secondary game, the secondary game including a plurality of decision points, each decision point requiring a selection of one of a plurality of paths;
• and
• using one or more processors to respond to the selection of the path at the one decision point and provide a next decision point for a subsequent selection of another path, a state of the secondary game remaining persistent during repeated plays of the base game so that selected paths in the secondary game are combined to provide non-linear unlocking condition of a bonus award,
• wherein the bonus award is invariably awarded after selection of a random number of paths.

A gaming system comprising:

• a credit detector adapted to detect a wager to play a wagering game;
• one or more displays adapted to display, in response to the wager, a base game and a secondary game, the base game providing a trigger that provides an opportunity to play the secondary game, the secondary game including a plurality of decision points, each decision point requiring a selection of one of a plurality of available options;
• and
• a controller operative to respond to the selection of the option at the one decision point and provide a next decision point for a subsequent selection of another option, a state of the secondary game remaining persistent during repeated plays of the base game so that selected options in the secondary game are combined to provide non-linear unlocking condition of a bonus award,
• wherein the bonus award is invariably awarded after selection of a random number of options.