Book of Dead Slot Review — The King of Egyptian Slots
★★★★★ Rating: 4.8/5
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Provider | Play’n GO |
| RTP | 96.21% |
| Volatility | High |
| Reels x Rows | 5 x 3 |
| Paylines | 10 |
| Max Win | 5,000x stake |
| Min/Max Bet | 0.01 – 100 |
| Release Date | 2016 |
| Theme | Ancient Egypt, Exploration |
Overview
Book of Dead by Play’n GO is arguably the most iconic Egyptian-themed slot ever created. Released in 2016, it took the “Book of” formula pioneered by Novomatic’s Book of Ra and elevated it with superior graphics, smoother gameplay, and universal availability at online casinos. The game follows the adventurer Rich Wilde on his exploration of ancient Egyptian tombs in search of the legendary Book of the Dead.
Eight years after its release, Book of Dead remains the most-played Egyptian slot in the world and the go-to game for casino welcome bonus free spins. Its enduring popularity is a testament to its perfectly balanced design.
Gameplay & Features
Base Game
Book of Dead uses a classic 5×3 grid with 10 adjustable paylines. The Book symbol serves dual duty as both the Wild and the Scatter — a hallmark of “Book of” slots. In the base game, the Book substitutes for all other symbols to complete winning combinations. The gamble feature lets you risk wins on a card colour (2x) or suit (4x) prediction.
Free Spins
Landing 3, 4, or 5 Book symbols anywhere on the reels triggers 10 free spins (with scatter payouts of 2x, 20x, or 200x your total bet respectively). Before free spins begin, one symbol is randomly selected as the special expanding symbol. When this symbol appears on a reel during free spins, it expands to cover all three positions — regardless of whether it was originally part of a winning combination. This is where the magic happens: if the expanding symbol covers 3 or more reels, it creates massive payouts.
Retrigger
Landing 3+ Book symbols during free spins awards an additional 10 spins, with no limit on retriggers. A new expanding symbol is also selected, meaning you can have multiple expanding symbols active simultaneously.
Symbol Values
The highest-paying symbol is Rich Wilde himself, paying 5,000x your line bet for 5 across a payline. Other high-value symbols include Osiris (2,000x), Anubis (750x), the Eye of Horus (750x), and the Phoenix (400x). The Book of Dead (Wild/Scatter) pays 200x for 5 on a line. Low-value symbols are the classic A, K, Q, J, 10 playing card values.
Max Win Potential
The maximum theoretical win is 5,000x your total stake, achievable when Rich Wilde is selected as the expanding symbol and covers all 5 reels during free spins. While this is modest compared to some modern slots, the relatively high hit frequency of significant wins makes Book of Dead a well-balanced game.
Who Should Play Book of Dead?
- Fans of Egyptian-themed slots — this is the gold standard
- High-volatility players who enjoy chasing big free spin payouts
- Players using welcome bonuses — Book of Dead is one of the most commonly offered free spin slots
- Anyone who enjoyed Book of Ra Deluxe and wants a modern upgrade
Similar Slots
- Legacy of Dead — Play’n GO’s spiritual successor with multiple expanding symbols (RTP 96.58%)
- Book of Ra Deluxe — The original “Book of” slot by Novomatic (RTP 95.10%)
- Eye of Horus — Blueprint Gaming’s Egyptian classic with symbol upgrades (RTP 96.31%)
Our Verdict
Book of Dead has earned its place as the definitive Egyptian slot through a combination of elegant design, rewarding mechanics, and universal availability. The 96.21% RTP is competitive, the free spins feature delivers genuine excitement, and the game runs flawlessly on mobile. If you play one Egyptian slot in your lifetime, make it this one.
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