Book of Dead
Book of Dead is an impressive game throughout, from the main game to the free spins. The theme is not too complex but is original enough to inspire an entire slot genre. The accepted stakes between €0.20 and €10 may lock out big spenders, but it features an impressive maximum win of 250,000 coins. The free spins pump up the excitement by making one regular icon an expanding symbol.
Book of Dead Slot Review
The ancient Egyptian theme is more explored than most, some may say by too many pokies. Such a vast option range makes it challenging for titles in the category to stand out. Book of Dead defies these odds by being original in its theme and math model. The pokie machine draws inspiration from the classic Novomatic slot Book of Ra. It follows the adventures of Play’n Go’s favourite explorer, Rich Wilde, as he digs deep into ancient temples and pyramids, seeking treasures valued up to 5,000x the bet. The theme comes to life in the visuals and in-built features, a potential reason why it has stood the test of time among Play’n Go’s most popular offerings. Book of Dead has inspired a ‘Book of’ slot style genre with tens of games built on the same framework.
Nice to know
| Launched | 14th January 2016 |
| RTP | 94.25% |
| Volatility | High |
| Software | Play’n Go |
| Features | Wild scatter, free spins, expanding symbol |
| Theme | Ancient Egyptian civilization |
| Paylines | 10 |
| Grid Layout | 5x3 |
| Min. bet/line | $0.20 |
| Max win | 5,000x the bet |
| Jackpot | N/A |
Positive points
- ✅ Inspired the ‘Book of’ style slots
- ✅ Pays up to 5,000x the bet
- ✅ Free spins play with one expanding character
Negative points
- ❌ The accepted stakes go up to €10
- ❌ The 94.25% RTP is slightly below average
Book of Dead – An Egyptian Expedition
Book of Dead slot machine plays with a standard layout of five reels with ten bet lines cutting across. The playtable sits at the entrance of what appears to be a tomb or underground temple of some sort lined with marble pillars on each side. All the gameplay action is reserved for the reels where players interact with Rich Wilde, ancient Egyptian deities and symbols, and the playing card characters A to 10. The experience is enhanced by spicy sound effects in the background with Middle Eastern influences.
Pokie Gameplay
Book of Dead online slot uses the same simple gameplay procedure featured in other pokies. The classic Play’n Go UI panel, which facilitates the process, lines the screen bottom with the following fields:
- COINS – the funds available for bet placement
- COIN VALUE – indicates that €0.20 is used per coin
- COINS – selects between one and five coins to go on each bet line
- LINES – adjusts the active paylines between one and ten
- BET MAX – Bets the highest stake of €10 automatically
- SPIN – plays the slot manually
- PAYTABLE – opens the information tab that explains payouts and bonus features
Every element of gameplay is similar in Book of Dead free and cash slots. The demo version is one of many titles listed on our portfolio that play with no account or deposit demands. The real money version is also available to play in our recommended Play’n Go gambling dens.
Symbol Wins
Book of Dead Slot uses ten bet lines to activate character payouts from left to right. The icons must be on sequential reels, and the selected bet determines their values. Each line awards the highest combo win only, and they can all activate in a single round. There are nine icons in the paytable for this purpose, starting with the poker face cards A to 10 decorated in gold to reflect the potential wealth in-store and pay for three to five. High-value characters are theme inspired, including Riche Wild, Pharaoh, Anubis, and a falcon, and they pay for as little as two icon-combos. Below are the winnings (€) of each symbol cluster:
| Symbol | Wins for Two | For Three | For Four | For Five |
| 10 | N/A | 5 | 25 | 100 |
| J | N/A | 5 | 25 | 100 |
| Q | N/A | 5 | 25 | 100 |
| K | N/A | 5 | 40 | 150 |
| A | N/A | 5 | 40 | 150 |
| Falcon | 5 | 30 | 100 | 750 |
| Anubis | 5 | 30 | 100 | 750 |
| Pharaoh | 5 | 40 | 400 | 2,000 |
| Rich Wilde | 10 | 100 | 1,000 | 5,000 |
These values are static and are multiplied by the line bet after being triggered.
Book of Dead Bonuses
The bonus features in Book of Dead Slot may seem generic now, but they were revolutionary at the time of its release. Also, they drive up the winning potential, breaking the monotony of symbol payouts in the base game. The featured bonuses include;
- Wild scatter
Book of Dead online slot features one more icon; a golden book decorated with a scarab beetle. Unlike most sets that designate the wild and scatter roles to unique symbols, this pokie uses one. As the wild, the book can play any other icon where a winning combo is possible. As the scatter, it can pay despite its grid position. Its payouts of 2x, 20x, and 200x for three, four, and five, respectively, are multiplied by the total stake.
- Gamble feature
Any win in the Book of Dead main game offers the chance to gamble for more. If you choose to gamble, a second screen appears with a hidden card. Selecting the right colour doubles the win while the correct suit quadruples it. Choosing wrong strips all the earned payouts and redirects back to the base game.
- Free spins
Three or more scatters also activate 10 Book of Dead free spins that play with the same wager as the triggering round. Before the freebies commence, the pokie selects any icon except the book wild and makes it an expanding symbol. Any instanced of the character expand to cover the entire column they are on to trigger more win lines. The free spins can pay up to 250,000 coins.
RTP and Volatility
Book of Dead Slot has its downside, one being a below-average RTP rate of 94.25%. The volatility is also high, making it a brutal combination for small spenders. However, the math model does match the decent payout potential of up to 5,000x the stake.
Closing Thoughts
Book of Dead is a display of Play’n Go’s mastery in slot development. The eye-catching graphics and simple yet rewarding bonus features create the perfect recipe to enjoy this pokie from start to finish. The betting limits may not be accommodating, only going up to €10, but it is still an enjoyable game with a good maximum win cap.
