Technology for providing bonus symbol collection for skill-based games in a gaming system is disclosed. An electronic gaming machine (EGM) may collect one or more upgrade symbols generated from an outcome of a primary game funded by one or more wagers such that the one or more upgrade symbols are categorized according to a type of symbol for use in a skill-based bonus game. The skill-based bonus game may be accessed according to the one or more primary game outcomes. One or more upgrade symbols may be used to enhance player performance of one or more quantifiable skill-based inputs during the skill-based bonus game.