Book of Dead slot cover
Play'n GO · The Book Genre Original

Book of Dead: Slot Review

Ten paylines, one book, one expanding symbol: the slot that launched a thousand 'book of' clones and still outdraws them all.

ProviderPlay'n GO
Released2016
RTP96.21% default (variants exist)
VolatilityHigh
Grid5x3 · 10 lines
Max Win5,000x bet
Bonus10 free spins, expanding symbol

Rules and Game Grid

Book of Dead is the archetype: 5 reels, 3 rows, 10 paylines, an explorer named Rich Wilde, and a golden book that is simultaneously wild and scatter. Base game wins are rare and meaningful; the design's entire promise is the free spins round with its expanding symbol.

Everything about the game is deliberate minimalism — one mechanic, executed perfectly, copied by hundreds of successors that rarely improve on it.

Symbols and Payouts

Rich Wilde tops the paytable at 5,000x for five of a kind on a line in the right conditions; the pharaoh, Anubis and Horus follow, with card ranks below. The book substitutes for all symbols and three or more anywhere trigger the bonus.

RTP and Volatility

Default 96.21% RTP, high volatility — and a warning: this game exists in multiple RTP configurations down to the low 90s, and casinos choose which to run. The paytable shows the live figure. Book of Dead's variance is front-loaded into the bonus; a session without free spins is a quiet, expensive walk through the tomb.

Bets and Bankroll Fit

Line-based betting makes stakes flexible from about $0.10. High variance argues for 200 spins of runway and no bet escalations after losses — the bonus owes you nothing, ever.

Bonus Features and Free Spins

Three books award 10 free spins and the game randomly selects the special expanding symbol. During the round, that symbol pays scatter-style — adjacency not required — and expands to cover whole reels when a win exists. A premium symbol with a full expansion is the 5,000x dream; a card rank with kind expansions still pays well. Retriggers add 10 more spins with no stated limit, which is where the famous marathon bonuses come from.

Where to Play and Demo Mode

Book of Dead is in virtually every casino lobby on earth, including 1win (see the slots guide). Try the demo free on our demo page, and compare the Egyptian alternatives in the best slots ranking.

Ready to Spin — the Smart Way

Learn the game in free demo mode first. If you play for real, claim the bonus only after reading its terms — and set your limits before the first spin.

18+Gamble responsibly. Bonuses carry wagering requirements — read the full terms.

FAQ: Book of Dead

What is the RTP of Book of Dead?

96.21% in the default configuration — but Play'n GO ships multiple RTP variants, and many casinos run lower ones. Always open the in-game paytable to see which version you are playing.

How do free spins work in Book of Dead?

Three or more book symbols award 10 free spins. Before the round, one symbol is randomly chosen as the special expanding symbol: it pays on any positions (no adjacency needed) and expands to fill reels when a win is possible.

What is the max win in Book of Dead?

5,000x your bet — a full screen of Rich Wilde symbols during free spins. High volatility means most bonuses pay far less; the cap is a ceiling, not an expectation.

Is Book of Dead the same as Legacy of Dead?

Legacy of Dead is Play'n GO's follow-up with retriggerable multi-symbol expansion; Book of Dead is the 2016 original with one expanding symbol. Same engine, different tuning — both are in most casino lobbies.

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