Book of Dead

Book of Dead overview – a Play'n GO classic

The Book of Dead game was released in January 2016 and has since become one of the most iconic titles at online casinos – few slots can claim to have made an entire genre, the family of "book slots", world-famous. The protagonist is Rich Wilde, a daring adventurer searching the tomb chambers of ancient Egypt for the book of the dead.

The Book of Dead slot follows the classic 5×3 layout with 10 paylines, but its magic comes from the free spins, where a randomly chosen expanding symbol can cover entire reels.

Book of Dead can be found at practically every online casino and is one of the most common targets of welcome free spins offers.

Theme and design

The game takes you into the mystical world of ancient Egypt: the reels spin inside a sandstone temple, among hieroglyphs lit by torchlight. The symbols include Rich Wilde himself, the figures of Anubis and Osiris, the pharaoh mask, and stylised card symbols. The gold-and-ochre colour palette and the mysterious, oriental melodies capture the tomb-chamber atmosphere perfectly. Many players believe the slot's timeless look is one of the reasons it's still among the most played titles almost a decade on.

Gameplay and mechanics

Book of Dead runs on 5 reels, 3 rows and 10 adjustable paylines – a win requires at least two or three matching symbols from left to right on a line. The key symbol is the book, which is wild and scatter at once: it substitutes for every symbol, and three of them trigger 10 free spins. After every win, the gamble feature is available, letting you double your win by guessing the card colour or quadruple it by guessing the card face – but a wrong guess loses it all.

RTP and volatility

Book of Dead's default RTP is 96.21%, in line with the industry average. Play'n GO, however, offers operators several RTP versions, and some casinos may run a 94.25% or lower setting – you can check the exact figure in the game's info menu. Volatility is high (around 9/10), meaning the slot pays out less often, but the expanding-symbol bonus rounds can bring outstanding wins. It's a game for patient players with an adequate bankroll.

Jackpot – maximum win

Book of Dead is not a progressive jackpot slot: the maximum win is 5,000x your bet on a single spin. It's achieved when five Rich Wilde symbols land on one line – and in the free spins, if Rich Wilde is the expanding symbol, a single round can pay this amount on every line.

How to play the Book of Dead slot

Book of Dead is one of the easiest slots to learn, which makes it an ideal entry into real-money play – but it's worth doing a few rounds in the free Book of Dead demo first. The steps for real-money play:

1. Pick a reliable online casino from our toplist where the Book of Dead casino game is available – many sites give free spins specifically for this slot.
2. Register, complete verification and activate the welcome bonus.
3. Deposit funds using a payment method convenient for you.
4. Set the number of paylines (all 10 are recommended) and your bet between €0.01 and €100.
5. Spin and hunt for the books – three already trigger the bonus round.
6. After a win, you can choose to gamble it or withdraw the amount in the cashier.

For beginners we recommend skipping the gamble feature and using lower stakes.

Book of Dead symbols and payouts table

Book of Dead's payouts are calculated per line, with values expressed as multiples of the line bet. Rich Wilde is by far the most valuable symbol – even two of them pay – while the card symbols make up the lower tier.

Special features of Book of Dead

Book of Dead is a deliberately puritan slot: there are no cascades or purchasable bonuses; the experience is carried by two features polished to perfection – the dual-role book and the expanding symbol. It's exactly this simplicity that made it the benchmark of the genre.

Free spins with an expanding symbol

Three or more books trigger 10 free spins, and at the start of the round the game randomly selects an expanding symbol. If that symbol appears in sufficient numbers, it expands to cover the entire reel and pays like a scatter on all active lines. The bonus can be retriggered, so multiple sets of 10 spins are possible.

Gamble feature

After every win you can choose the gamble feature: guess the card colour to double, or the card face to quadruple your win. Successful guesses can be chained, but a single wrong decision loses the entire prize.

Book of Dead demo mode

The Book of Dead demo can be tried for free, with no registration or download, in the game window at the top of this page. The demo runs on a virtual balance, but the RTP, volatility and bonus mechanics exactly match the real-money version. It's worth using the demo to experience the rhythm at which bonus rounds arrive and how the expanding symbol works, before diving into the adventure with your own money.

Book of Dead on mobile devices

Book of Dead is built with HTML5 technology, so it can be played from the browser on iOS and Android smartphones and tablets without a separate Book of Dead app. The simple 5×3 layout looks especially good on small screens, and the controls are optimised for touch. The slot also appears in most casinos' mobile apps, where you can play with the same account, balance and bonuses as on your computer.

How to increase your chances in Book of Dead – tips for players

Book of Dead's results are decided by a random number generator, so a guaranteed winning strategy doesn't exist – but because of the high volatility, conscious bankroll management is especially important here. Experienced players keep the following in mind:

• Practise in the free Book of Dead demo before playing with real money.
• Always play with all 10 paylines – that way no book combination slips through.
• Choose a small bet to offset the big swings, and budget for at least 200 spins.
• Use the gamble feature in moderation, on small wins – keep the big ones.
• Check the RTP version and choose a casino offering the 96.21% setting.
• Hunt for Book of Dead free spins in casinos' welcome offers.

And remember: the treasures of the tomb chamber are about entertainment – only risk what you can afford.