Book of Dead Slot Review: RTP, Features and Gameplay
Book of Dead is one of the most popular online slots developed by Play’n GO. In this review, we cover the slot’s gameplay, symbols, bonus features, and the famous expanding symbol mechanic. You will also learn about the RTP, volatility level, betting limits, and maximum win potential of this classic adventure-themed slot.
Book of Dead is one of the most recognizable online slots developed by Play’n GO. Since its release, the game has gained massive popularity among players thanks to its simple mechanics, adventure theme, and high volatility gameplay. Inspired by ancient Egyptian exploration stories, the slot follows an adventurer searching for hidden treasures among temples, artifacts, and mysterious relics. Despite its relatively straightforward design, the game remains one of the most played slots in many online casinos.
In this review, we take a closer look at how the Book of Dead slot works, including its gameplay mechanics, symbols, bonus features, RTP, volatility, and maximum win potential. If you want to understand the broader mechanics behind online slot machines, this overview will help explain how the game operates before deciding whether it is the right slot for your playing style.
Book of Dead Slot Overview
Book of Dead is a video slot developed by Play’n GO, released in 2016. The game uses a classic 5-reel, 3-row layout with 10 fixed paylines and a betting range designed to fit both low-stake and higher-stake players. It is best known for its high volatility profile and the expanding symbol mechanic that appears during free spins, which is the main driver behind larger win potential.
The theme is built around an ancient Egypt adventure setting. You play alongside an explorer character searching for hidden treasures, with symbols representing artifacts, scarabs, and card ranks. The visuals are intentionally simple and “retro slot” in style, which keeps the focus on fast spins and the bonus feature rather than complex extra modes.
As a slot machine, Book of Dead is straightforward: it does not rely on multiple bonus rounds or complicated features. Instead, it combines a familiar payline structure with a strong free spins mechanic, making it easy to understand while still offering the kind of variance many players look for in classic high volatility slots.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Provider | Play’n GO |
| Release Date | 2016 |
| Slot Type | Video slot |
| Reels | 5 |
| Rows | 3 |
| Paylines | 10 fixed paylines |
| RTP | 96.21% |
| Volatility | High |
| Maximum Win | 5000x bet (up to 250,000 coins) |
- Classic 5x3 slot machine with fixed paylines
- High volatility gameplay with swingy results
- Free spins feature with an expanding symbol
- Ancient Egypt adventure theme from Play’n GO
Gameplay and Mechanics
Book of Dead uses a classic video slot structure with five reels and three rows, forming a total of ten fixed paylines. Winning combinations are created by landing matching symbols from left to right across these paylines. Because the lines are fixed, every spin always activates all paylines, which keeps the gameplay simple and predictable for players.
The slot is designed to be easy to understand even for beginners. Players choose their bet size, spin the reels, and hope to land matching symbols or trigger the free spins feature. While the mechanics themselves are straightforward, the high volatility means wins may appear less frequently but can be significantly larger when the bonus feature is triggered.
Like many Play’n GO titles, the game emphasizes fast-paced gameplay without unnecessary complexity. There are no cascading reels or multiple bonus rounds — the entire gameplay experience revolves around the core spin mechanic and the powerful expanding symbol feature during free spins.
How the Gameplay Works:
- Select your bet amount using the stake controls.
- Spin the reels to land matching symbols across the paylines.
- Winning combinations must appear from left to right.
- Three or more scatter symbols trigger the free spins feature.
- During free spins, one random symbol becomes the expanding symbol.
Symbols and Paytable
The slot uses ten symbols in total, including two special symbols and eight regular paying icons. The highest payouts come from the adventure-themed premium symbols, while the card symbols appear more frequently on the reels and provide smaller but consistent wins.
Understanding the paytable is important because the value of each symbol varies significantly. Premium symbols can generate large wins when five matching icons appear on a payline, while lower-value card symbols mainly serve to keep the gameplay active between bonus rounds.
Special Symbols
| Symbol | Description |
|---|---|
| Explorer (Wild) | The main character symbol acts as a Wild and substitutes for all regular symbols to help complete winning combinations across active paylines. It also has its own payouts and is the highest-paying symbol in the game. During free spins, the Explorer can also become the expanding symbol and fill an entire reel when it lands. |
| Book (Scatter) | The Book symbol functions as a Scatter and activates the bonus feature. Landing three or more Book symbols anywhere on the reels awards 10 free spins. At the start of the bonus round, the book randomly selects one symbol that becomes the expanding symbol. Whenever this symbol appears during free spins, it expands to cover the entire reel, greatly increasing win potential. Additional scatter symbols during the bonus round can retrigger the feature and award more free spins. |
Paytable (Symbol Payouts)
| Symbol | 2 Symbols | 3 Symbols | 4 Symbols | 5 Symbols |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Explorer (Wild) | 10 | 100 | 1000 | 5000 |
| Pharaoh | 5 | 40 | 400 | 2000 |
| Falcon | 5 | 30 | 100 | 750 |
| Anubis | 5 | 30 | 100 | 750 |
| A | - | 5 | 40 | 150 |
| K | - | 5 | 40 | 150 |
| Q, J, 10 | - | 5 | 25 | 100 |
Gamble Feature (Double or Nothing)
Book of Dead also includes a gamble feature that allows players to try doubling their winnings after a successful spin. Once a win is achieved, the player can choose to collect the payout immediately or activate the gamble game.
During the gamble round, a card is hidden on the screen and the player must guess either its color or its suit. Choosing the correct option multiplies the current win, while an incorrect guess results in losing the entire amount.
- Choose red or black for a 50% chance to double the win (x2)
- Choose a suit for a 25% chance to multiply the win by four (x4)
- The gamble feature can be used up to five times in a row
- The maximum gamble win is limited to 2500 coins
This optional feature adds an additional risk element to the game, allowing players to increase their winnings if they are willing to take the chance.
Bonus Features and Free Spins
The main feature in Book of Dead is the free spins bonus round, which is triggered by landing three or more Book scatter symbols anywhere on the reels. Once activated, the game awards 10 free spins. During this bonus round, one special mechanic dramatically increases the potential payouts.
At the start of the free spins feature, the game randomly selects one symbol to become the expanding symbol. Whenever this symbol appears on a reel during the bonus round, it expands to fill the entire reel. If multiple reels contain the expanding symbol, the potential win can increase significantly because all positions on those reels count as that symbol.
This expanding mechanic is what makes Book of Dead particularly volatile. A single successful free spin with several expanding reels can generate a very large payout compared to the base game. The feature can also retrigger if additional scatter symbols appear during the bonus round.
Key Free Spins Mechanics
- 3 scatter symbols trigger 10 free spins
- One random symbol becomes the expanding symbol
- Expanding symbols can cover an entire reel
- Additional scatters can retrigger the free spins feature
RTP, Volatility and Maximum Win
Book of Dead has an RTP (Return to Player) of approximately 96.21%, which is considered close to the industry average for online slots. RTP represents the theoretical percentage of wagered money that the game returns to players over a very long period of play.
The slot is classified as high volatility. This means wins may occur less frequently, but when they do happen, they can be significantly larger than in low-volatility games. High volatility slots are often preferred by players who are looking for bigger potential payouts rather than steady small wins.
Pros and Cons
Book of Dead is a classic high-volatility slot that attracts players with the possibility of large payouts and a straightforward game structure. The mechanics are easy to understand, but the gameplay can be quite unpredictable due to the slot’s volatility. Below are the main advantages and disadvantages players should consider before spinning the reels.
Pros
- Simple and intuitive gameplay with a classic 5-reel, 10-payline structure that is easy for beginners to learn.
- The expanding symbol feature during free spins can cover entire reels and create large winning combinations.
- High maximum win potential reaching up to 5000x the total bet.
- Free spins bonus with a randomly selected special symbol adds excitement and unpredictability.
- Developed by Play’n GO, a reputable provider known for stable and well-balanced slot mechanics.
Cons
- High volatility means long losing streaks can occur before a significant win appears.
- The game includes only one main bonus feature, which may feel repetitive during long sessions.
- No progressive jackpot or additional bonus rounds.
- Players looking for frequent small wins may find the gameplay too inconsistent.
