Book of Dead
Book of Dead Game Demo


Book of Dead Slot Review
Play’n GO’s “Book of Dead” slot, released in 2016, is a classic in the realm of online slots, drawing players into an Ancient Egyptian setting. While the theme is common, this game stands out due to its high volatility, substantial potential payouts, and its focus on a compelling Free Spins feature with a twist. The game features a standard 5×3 reel layout with 10 adjustable paylines. It has a notable main character, Rich Wilde.
Diving into the Bonus Features and Special Mechanics
“Book of Dead” offers a focused set of bonus features, with the Free Spins round being the primary attraction. This round is triggered by landing three or more Book symbols (which function as both Scatters and Wilds) anywhere on the reels. This immediately awards 10 free spins, but not before introducing the game’s most distinctive element – the Special Expanding Symbol.
Before the Free Spins commence, a regular symbol is randomly selected to become the Special Expanding Symbol for the duration of the round. What sets this mechanic apart is its ability to amplify wins. After the initial payout of regular winning combinations, if enough Special Expanding Symbols are present to form a win, they expand to cover their entire respective reels. For clarity, those players who may not understand some details of the unique bonus features should launch the demo version of the slot and refer to the in-game help section by clicking the “(i)” button.
What’s more, these symbols do not need to be adjacent to create winning combinations. They can appear anywhere on an active payline and still contribute to a win, significantly increasing the potential for substantial payouts. Landing three or more Scatter symbols during this round will grant an additional 10 free spins, effectively retriggering the feature and prolonging the excitement. Also note, The Book symbol will pay as scatter in any position: x2 (for 3 symbols), x20 (for 4 symbols), x200 (for 5 symbols).
Thematic Presentation and Slot Aesthetics
“Book of Dead” immerses players in a world of Ancient Egyptian mythology. The reels are set against a backdrop of a grand, golden temple, complete with towering pillars and hieroglyphics. The symbols are vibrant and detailed.
The audio design in “Book of Dead” complements the visuals with an evocative soundtrack. A mystical Egyptian melody plays throughout, intensifying during the Free Spins round. Winning combinations are punctuated by satisfying sounds, but one sound is quite annoying – it sounds during the falling of the 3 scatter symbols. The visual effects during big wins and feature triggers are particularly noteworthy, featuring animated gold coins and flashes of light that enhance the excitement of hitting significant payouts.
Gameplay Mechanics and Symbol Interactions
“Book of Dead” employs a straightforward yet engaging gameplay mechanic, centered around a 5×3 reel structure and 10 adjustable paylines. High-paying symbols, like Rich Wilde, the Pharaoh, Anubis, and Horus, are richly detailed and evoke the Egyptian theme. Meanwhile, the lower-paying symbols are represented by stylized playing card values (10, J, Q, K, A), each rendered with subtle thematic touches.
The Book symbol acts as both the Wild and Scatter, offering a great opportunity to land a win, or activate the bonus round. The Gamble feature offers an optional post-win opportunity to increase your payout. It allows to double or quadruple winnings by correctly guessing the color or suit of a hidden card. The game allows selecting 5 or 10 paylines, but I don’t recommend doing this – always keep 10 paylines active. The Auto Play feature is quite functional. I liked the ability to adjust the auto play function depending on the balance and the amount of winnings, which allows, for example, to set the auto play to stop after triggering the bonus game. The player can control the speed of the reels and make it so that they stop almost instantly with a second click of the spin button, which is quite a useful feature.
The theoretical maximum win of 5,000 times the stake is achieved by filling all reel positions with the Rich Wilde symbol. Landing five Rich Wilde symbols on a single payline offers a substantial payout of 500 times the total stake. The Pharaoh symbol follows in value, offering 200 times the total stake for five on a payline. Anubis and Horus symbols are equally valuable, each providing 75 times the total stake for a set of five. For the lower-paying symbols (10, J, Q, K, A), the payouts range from 5 to 15 times the total stake for five-of-a-kind combinations. These cards can be a good win if one of them is chosen as a special symbol and lands during the bonus round.
Volatility and Payout Dynamics
“Book of Dead” is characterized by its high volatility. This means that while wins may be less frequent compared to lower volatility slots, they have the potential to be significantly larger. This makes the game particularly appealing to experienced players who are comfortable with the inherent risk-reward dynamics of high-variance slots.
Players who want to familiarize themselves with the features should run the Book of Dead demo version.
“Book of Dead” offers an adjustable betting range, allowing players to wager from as little as 0.01 per line (0.10 total with all lines active) up to 10 per line (100 total). It should also be noted that “Book of Dead” by Play’n Go has RTP (Return to Player) ranges. This feature means that casinos can adjust the RTP according to their preferences, with potential ranges varying significantly. For “Book of Dead,” the RTP can be set at 96.21%, 94.25%, 91.25%, 87.25%, or 84.18%. This variation highlights the importance for players to check the specific RTP at their chosen casino.
While “Book of Dead” has drawn comparisons to other “Book of” slots, particularly in its mechanics, it maintains its distinct appeal through its refined presentation and the excitement generated by its Special Expanding Symbol feature. Although the design and bonus features are borrowed. Play’n GO often takes existing popular mechanics and refines them, and “Book of Dead” is a prime example of this approach. The game’s enduring popularity among seasoned players speaks to its quality and the thrill it delivers. I have not seen any new features in this slot, it is quite conservative and will suit players who love classic slots.
Maximum Win Statistics for Book of Dead (2016-2025)
The Book of Dead slot, developed by Play’n GO and released in January 2016, has consistently maintained its popularity among players due to its high volatility and potential for substantial payouts. Let’s examine the maximum win statistics for this iconic game from its launch through 2025.
The Book of Dead slot has consistently offered a maximum win potential of 5,000x the bet since its release. This translates to a theoretical maximum payout of $250,000 when playing at the highest stake of $50 per spin.
Recorded Wins
While the theoretical maximum remains constant, actual recorded wins can vary:
- The highest monetary win tracked by independent data aggregators as of 2025 is €26,979.50 [1].
- This recorded win, while impressive, falls short of the slot’s full potential, indicating that the maximum 5,000x multiplier is a rare occurrence.
Win Frequency
The high volatility of Book of Dead means that significant wins are infrequent but potentially substantial:
- On average, it takes approximately 1 in 174 spins to trigger the bonus feature.
- The RTP (Return to Player) has remained steady at 96.21% since the game’s launch, slightly above the industry average.
When compared to its sequels in the Rich Wilde series, Book of Dead has maintained competitive maximum win potential:
- Rich Wilde and the Shield of Athena: RTP of 96.2%
- Rich Wilde and the Amulet of Dead: RTP of 96.29%
These figures demonstrate that while newer titles have been released, Book of Dead has retained its appeal with a balanced risk-reward profile.
In conclusion, the Book of Dead slot has maintained a consistent maximum win potential of 5,000x the bet from 2016 to 2025. While recorded wins have not reached this theoretical maximum, the game’s enduring popularity suggests that players continue to be drawn by the prospect of substantial payouts, despite the high volatility and infrequent big wins.
Citations:
[1] https://slottracker.com/play-n-go/book-of-dead/
Author: Vlad Hvalov