Book of Dead - Quick Overview
Book of Dead is a video slot developed by Play'n GO, released on January 14, 2016. It is set against an ancient Egyptian theme and follows the fictional explorer Rich Wilde on a tomb-raiding adventure. The game operates on a 5×3 grid with 10 adjustable paylines, a default RTP of 96.21%, high volatility, and a maximum win of 5,000x the stake. It remains one of the most widely distributed slots in the Play'n GO catalogue and is available at licensed online casinos across numerous regulated markets.
Slot Specifications
| Provider | Play'n GO |
| Release Date | January 14, 2016 |
| RTP | 96.21% (default); operator configurations of 94.25%, 91.25%, and 87.25% also exist |
| Volatility | High |
| Max Win | 5,000x stake |
| Min Bet | €0.10 per spin |
| Max Bet | €50 per spin |
| Reels x Rows | 5×3 |
| Paylines/Ways | 10 adjustable paylines (left to right) |
| Bonus Buy | No |
Game Mechanics and Features
Book of Dead uses a standard 5×3 reel grid with 10 adjustable paylines. Wins are formed by landing three or more matching symbols on an active payline from left to right. Players control the number of active paylines, coin value, and coins per line, with a total bet per spin ranging from €0.10 to €50. The game does not use Megaways, cascading reels, cluster pays, or any other non-standard win mechanic — all outcomes are resolved on a traditional fixed-reel structure.
The symbol set consists of nine distinct icons. High-value symbols are Egyptian-themed: Rich Wilde (the top-paying symbol at 5,000x for five of a kind), Pharaoh/Osiris (2,000x for five), Anubis, and the Falcon god Horus. Low-value symbols are the standard playing card ranks: Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and Ten, all styled to match the game's aesthetic. The ninth symbol — the Book of Dead — occupies a unique dual role.
- Wild Symbol: The Book of Dead symbol substitutes for all other symbols on the reels to help complete winning combinations on active paylines.
- Scatter Symbol: The Book of Dead symbol also acts as the scatter. It pays out regardless of payline position, and landing three or more anywhere on the reels triggers the free spins feature.
- Expanding Symbol (Free Spins only): One standard symbol is randomly selected before the free spins round begins. During the bonus, whenever that symbol appears and contributes to a win, it expands to cover the entire reel height. Expanded symbols do not need to be adjacent — they only need to land on reels covered by an active payline.
- Gamble Feature: After any winning spin in the base game, players may optionally enter a card-guessing round. Correctly guessing the card color doubles the win (2x); correctly guessing the suit quadruples it (4x). An incorrect guess forfeits the win amount. The feature can be played repeatedly on the same win.
Bonus Rounds and Free Spins
The sole bonus feature in Book of Dead is the free spins round, triggered by landing three or more Book of Dead scatter symbols anywhere on the five reels simultaneously. Three scatters also pay a scatter prize of 2x the total bet; four scatters pay 20x; five scatters pay 200x, in addition to awarding the free spins.
The feature awards 10 free spins. Before the round begins, the game randomly selects one of the standard symbols to serve as the Special Expanding Symbol for the entire duration of the bonus. During free spins, whenever the selected symbol appears and is part of a winning combination, it expands vertically to fill all three rows of its reel. Because expanded symbols only need to appear on the correct reels rather than be adjacent, a single expanded symbol landing across multiple reels can produce wins on all 10 paylines simultaneously — this is the primary mechanism behind the game's 5,000x maximum win potential.
The free spins feature can be retriggered. Landing three or more Book of Dead scatter symbols during the bonus round adds 10 additional free spins, with the same Special Expanding Symbol remaining active. There is no stated cap on the number of retriggers. Book of Dead does not include a Bonus Buy feature; the free spins round can only be entered through standard gameplay.
RTP and Volatility Analysis
The default RTP of Book of Dead is 96.21%, which represents the theoretical long-term return to players per unit wagered. Play'n GO certifies multiple RTP configurations for this title, and operators may deploy lower settings — verified configurations include 94.25%, 91.25%, and 87.25%. Players should check the in-game information panel at their specific casino to confirm which RTP version is active, as this directly affects expected long-term return. The 96.21% figure is not guaranteed to be the version running at any given operator.
Book of Dead is rated high volatility by Play'n GO. In practice, this means winning spins occur less frequently than in low or medium volatility titles, but individual wins — particularly those generated during the free spins feature with a strong expanding symbol — can be substantially larger. Community tracking data from SlotTracker recorded a hit rate of approximately 1 in every 3.8 spins and a bonus trigger frequency of approximately 1 in every 192 spins. Players should expect extended base-game sequences without significant wins, with the majority of the game's return concentrated in the free spins feature.
Where to Play Book of Dead
Book of Dead is available at licensed online casinos that carry the Play'n GO software portfolio. The game is distributed across regulated markets in Europe, Canada, New Zealand, and select US states where Play'n GO holds active licences. Availability varies by jurisdiction and individual operator. Before playing for real money, players should verify that the casino holds a valid licence from the relevant regulatory authority in their region and confirm the active RTP configuration in the game's information panel.
Book of Dead Demo Mode
A free demo version of Book of Dead is widely available through online casino sites and slot review platforms. The demo uses virtual credits and does not require a real-money deposit or account registration in most cases. All game mechanics — including the free spins feature, expanding symbol, and gamble feature — function identically in demo mode as in the real-money version. Demo play allows players to observe the expanding symbol mechanic and assess the game's volatility profile before committing funds.
Mobile Compatibility
Book of Dead is built on HTML5 technology, which means it runs natively in modern mobile browsers without requiring a separate download or app installation. The game is fully compatible with iOS and Android devices, and the interface scales automatically to fit different screen sizes and orientations. All features, including the free spins bonus and gamble feature, are accessible on mobile in the same form as on desktop.
Conclusion
Book of Dead by Play'n GO is a 5×3, 10-payline high volatility slot with a default RTP of 96.21% and a maximum win of 5,000x the stake. Its core mechanic — the randomly selected expanding symbol during free spins — remains the defining feature of the game and the primary driver of its win potential. The game does not include a Bonus Buy option, Megaways, cascading reels, or multipliers outside the scatter pay structure. It is suited to players who are comfortable with infrequent wins and extended dry spells in exchange for the possibility of large payouts during the free spins feature. Demo mode is broadly available for players who wish to evaluate the mechanics before playing with real money.
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