Book of Dead is an Egyptian-themed online slot developed by Play’n GO and released on January 14, 2016. The game follows the adventurous explorer Rich Wilde on a journey through ancient temples in search of hidden treasures.
Featuring five reels, three rows and ten fixed paylines, Book of Dead combines traditional slot gameplay with a free spins feature built around expanding symbols.
With a standard RTP of 96.21%, high volatility and a maximum advertised win of 5,000× the stake, Book of Dead remains one of Play’n GO’s most recognisable releases.
Theme and Visual Design
Book of Dead takes place inside an ancient Egyptian temple, surrounded by stone pillars, mysterious symbols and golden decorations.
The main character, Rich Wilde, is an adventurer inspired by classic treasure-hunting stories.
The game’s soundtrack and animations create an atmospheric setting, particularly when the free spins feature activates.
Symbols include traditional playing-card ranks alongside Egyptian-themed characters and objects.
The premium symbols feature a falcon, Anubis, a pharaoh and Rich Wilde himself.
The mysterious Book of Dead symbol acts as both the Wild and Scatter, making it the most important special symbol in the game.
Gameplay and Paylines
Book of Dead uses five reels, three rows and ten adjustable paylines.
Winning combinations are formed by landing matching symbols on consecutive reels, starting from the leftmost reel.
Most symbols require at least three matching symbols to create a win, while premium symbols can award payouts from two matching symbols.
The lower-paying symbols are the playing-card ranks 10, J, Q, K and A.
The higher-paying symbols are based on Egyptian mythology and the game’s main character.
Rich Wilde is the highest-paying regular symbol.
Landing five Rich Wilde symbols on a winning payline awards the game’s maximum advertised payout of 5,000× the stake.
The base game follows a relatively traditional structure, with most of the additional gameplay coming from the Wild and free spins features.
Book of Dead Wild Symbol
The Book of Dead symbol acts as a Wild, substituting for regular paying symbols to help complete winning combinations.
It also functions as the Scatter symbol.
Three or more Book symbols appearing anywhere on the reels trigger the free spins bonus.
The Book symbol can also award its own payouts when multiple copies appear.
Its dual function makes it central to both regular gameplay and bonus activation.
Free Spins Feature
The free spins bonus is the game’s main attraction.
Landing three or more Book of Dead Scatter symbols activates the feature and awards ten free spins.
The number of Scatters also determines an immediate payout.
| Scatter Symbols | Payout |
|---|---|
| 3 | 2× stake |
| 4 | 20× stake |
| 5 | 200× stake |
Before the free spins begin, one regular paying symbol is randomly selected as the special Expanding Symbol.
This symbol remains active throughout the bonus.
Additional free spins can be awarded by landing qualifying Scatter combinations during the feature.
The expanding symbol mechanic is responsible for much of the game’s largest theoretical payout potential.
Expanding Symbols
Expanding Symbols are the defining feature of Book of Dead.
At the beginning of the free spins bonus, one regular paying symbol is randomly selected.
Whenever enough copies of that symbol appear during a free spin, they expand vertically to cover their entire reels.
Unlike conventional paylines, the selected symbols do not need to appear on adjacent reels to activate the expansion.
Once expanded, the symbols are evaluated for winning combinations.
The value of the selected symbol has a significant impact on the bonus.
Lower-paying symbols may create more frequent smaller payouts, while premium symbols can produce substantially larger wins when the right combinations appear.
However, receiving a high-paying Expanding Symbol does not guarantee a profitable bonus.
The outcome still depends entirely on the symbols appearing during the free spins.
Gamble Feature
Book of Dead includes an optional Gamble feature after qualifying base-game wins.
Players can attempt to increase their payout by predicting the colour or suit of a playing card.
Correctly guessing the colour doubles the selected win, while correctly guessing the suit can quadruple it.
An incorrect prediction results in the loss of the amount being gambled.
This feature introduces additional risk and does not improve the underlying slot’s expected return.
Players can choose to collect their winnings instead of using the Gamble option.
RTP and Volatility
Book of Dead has a standard theoretical RTP of 96.21%.
However, Play’n GO offers several alternative RTP configurations.
| RTP Version | RTP |
|---|---|
| Standard | 96.21% |
| Alternative 1 | 94.25% |
| Alternative 2 | 91.25% |
| Alternative 3 | 87.25% |
| Alternative 4 | 84.18% |
The difference between the highest and lowest configurations is substantial.
Players should therefore check the active RTP within the game’s information menu before playing.
Book of Dead is classified as high volatility.
This means that larger payouts may occur infrequently, while individual sessions can experience considerable variation.
The free spins feature has a reported average frequency of approximately one in 174 spins.
However, this is a theoretical average rather than a guarantee that the bonus will activate within a particular number of spins.
Maximum Win and Betting Range
Book of Dead offers a maximum advertised payout of 5,000× the stake.
The highest potential payouts are associated with premium Expanding Symbols during the free spins feature.
The referenced game configuration supports stakes from 0.01 to 100 per spin.
Betting limits may differ depending on the casino, currency and game version.
Unlike many newer slots, Book of Dead does not include a Bonus Buy feature.
Players must trigger free spins through the regular gameplay mechanics.
Mobile Compatibility
Book of Dead is available on compatible desktop computers, smartphones and tablets.
Its traditional five-reel layout and straightforward interface work well on smaller screens.
The Egyptian-themed symbols, Wilds and Expanding Symbol animations remain easy to recognise.
The game does not require players to follow complicated multiplier systems or multiple bonus modes.
Availability and performance may vary depending on the casino platform and device.
Slotinia’s Verdict on Book of Dead
Book of Dead is one of Play’n GO’s most influential and recognisable slot releases.
Its greatest strength is the Expanding Symbol feature, which adds a distinctive mechanic to an otherwise traditional five-reel slot.
The Egyptian setting and Rich Wilde character give the game a memorable identity, while the straightforward rules make it relatively easy to understand.
However, the base game offers limited variation compared with modern slots featuring cascades, multipliers and multiple bonus modes.
The high volatility also means that significant payouts can be infrequent.
Another important consideration is the wide range of available RTP configurations, particularly the lower versions offered by some operators.
Overall, Book of Dead remains a strong example of a classic bonus-focused slot.
Its combination of Egyptian adventure, traditional paylines and expanding symbols has helped establish a formula that continues to influence online slot design.
Responsible Gambling
Book of Dead is a high-volatility game of chance involving financial risk.
Its RTP, bonus frequency and maximum advertised payout do not guarantee any particular outcome.
The Gamble feature introduces additional risk by allowing players to wager winnings that have already been awarded.
Players should verify the active RTP, understand the rules and establish a budget before playing.
Gambling should always be treated as entertainment rather than a source of income.
