Slot Overview: Book of Dead by Play'n GO
Play’n GO’s Book of Dead, the title says it all… To anyone who has ever heard of an online casino this game is familiar. A title that constantly gets to the top of ratings, is in numerous casino promotions and has had quite a few imitators.
This Book of Dead slot review is here to cut through the noise however and deliver an honest and in depth look at the game, including its RTP, volatility when hitting certain features and what a player can expect when playing.
We’re going to find out just how this one slot has stood the test of time and kept high-rollers as well as one spin wonders going back for more. We’ll also take a look at the Book of Dead Play'n GO, a creation of its developer, and how it stands up in their impressive catalogue – and where to play Play'n GO slot demo versions as well as real money models.
From Rich Wilde to Hidden TreasuresKeeping that big game in mind for now, we’ll take a step back just 10 years from when the explorer decided to visit Egypt.
Book of Dead Details, RTP, Payout & Volatility
Taking the Most Important Plunge Okay, here's the brass tacks—those "key" numbers that every slots player should strive to know.
Book of Dead has an RTP of 96.21%, which is somewhere in the middle with regard to online slots. However, be aware that there are some casinos who do provide slightly lower-paying versions, so always double-check before you start playing.
The volatility is high, that is to say wins do not necessarily flow but when they come, they are chunky. The top reward is 5000x your bet, which sounds damn good!
Betting options are fairly liberal, usually ranging from 0.1 to 500 credits (or the equivalent in another currency), allowing casual players and higher wagers. The 5-reel, 3-payline portico is a classic reel and line game structure.
You need to understand the volatility; that risk-reward. High volatility slots such as Book of Dead is not everyone’s cup of tea; it requires a lot of patience.
The pay mechanics are simple enough; you’ll want to line up the same symbols on a payline, going from left to right. Paylines are fixed, which means you always bet on all 10.
It is this trio of RTP, volatility and possible payout that makes Book of Dead so appealing. If you are feeling lucky, try the game for real money and make sure to proceed with caution due to the high volatility.
Theme, Audio & Symbols
The story behind Book of Dead is all about the explorer Rich Wilde, a character who’s pretty similar to Indiana Jones if you ask us, sailing their way through Egypt and uncovering secrets. The look in here is just fantastic, you are going to be playing with these highly detailed icons which represents Egyptian gods, Anubis, Osiris and Horus as well as one of the Tesutombo swords themselves.
The colors available are mainly comprised of golds, reds and blues which adds to the lush appeal. The animations of the game are exciting, especially when the player wins with ocean magic slots or any bonus features.
Also worth noting, is the music in this game which does a great job on setting up the ambiance of ancient Egypt. The sound effects are sharp and natural helping to enhance the immersion.
The visuals and sounds combine to make an engaging, fun environment. Think of a triumphant fanfare for when you win big, or the light chanting music that builds excitement in the free spin round. The symbols are beautifully crafted themselves; as we can see in screen-A (An artist impression) that stupid Jackal head of Anubis looks awesome.
Bonus Features
Complimenting that, and for most being a standout: a free spins bonus round has certainly increased the popularity of Book of Dead. This is activated when you land 3 or more of the Book of Dead scatter symbols anywhere on the reels.
To begin, you’ll get 10 free spins. Pre Free Spins, there will be a random symbol to turn into the expanding symbol. If you’re fortunate enough to land the CLEO II symbol on any of the five reels and at least two additional expanding symbols, you will be awarded some free spins.
If an expanding symbol appears during these free spins, then the column fills up with nothing but this particular pantheon’s symbol or queen. This can result in huge rewards if you happen to receive several expanding symbols during a single spin.
Additionally, during the free spins round if you land three or more Book of Dead symbols it re-triggers the bonus and gives you another 10 free spins. Book of Dead does not have a bonus buy feature.
The expanding symbol feature is what it’s all about and this a very exciting bonus round which can see multiple reels filling up with the expanding symbol – therefore the chance of some big wins are definitely not just pie in the sky.
I would get the free spins bonus hit at around every 100-150 spins or so but of course that's very dependant on a slot with such high variance as this. The expanding symbol, when it was released, boosted the chance for serious wins by more than 50x of my bet – every time.
Mobile Experience
If a player can’t play a game on their phone, there’s little chance they’re going to give it much attention and slots are no different in this respect. Fortunately, the Book of Dead slot has been fully integrated to be mobile-compatible.
The game scales to various screen sizes and has responsive, touch-friendly controls that feel natural. The graphics and sound are identical to their desktop or live casino counterpart - meaning there’s no trade-off here that you wouldn’t expect already.
If you're on a phone or tablet, Book of Dead will play perfectly on your mobile device. The interface is simple and unobtrusive which allows you to focus on playing the game, even if your screen is a little small.
The experience was as good on my mobile device as it would have been on a desktop, and I didn’t catch any difference in performance or features. For a thumb, you only need from the thumb to to adjust bets.
You can see from the second screenshot B (Mock-up mobile gameplay screenshot), how great the games colourful graphics really look on a phone.
Pros & Cons
Book of Dead is by no means a perfect slot, but it has some strengths too. Arguably, the greatest advantage is a maximum payout of 5000x bet that will certainly appeal to those chasing a significant win.
Also of note is the free spins bonus round, which features expanding symbols and has the potential to provide some huge wins. Beautifully designed and haunting sound really brings the game's atmosphere to life.
The bet levels are also quite broad, so players with any budget can enjoy it. On the other hand, high variance could put off certain players, as it means that those wins might come very few and far between.
The lack of a bonus buy feature might also not work in favour for some players, who are used to buying straight into the bonus round. Also it could be that the slot is getting old, it is still good but its mechanics are no longer groundbreaking and can feel a bit “retro” compared to newer slots.
But for some, the danger is part of the attraction. The simplicity of the game can also be seen as both a pro and a con.
It’s easy to learn and play, but it doesn’t have layers of complexity and variety that a certain subset of players seeks.
Our Verdict
To sum up, Book of Dead is definitely an older slot, the amount of time you can enjoy playing it while undergoing bestslotowithbonus X on your bonus is sky-high. With its high volatility and the chance of landing huge wins, it will appeal to players who want a fun and potential profitable gaming experience.
There is no denying that the free spins bonus round featuring expanding symbol mechanic adds some excitement to Gate of Ra, while its great looking graphics and atmospheric sound effects create added appeal too.
It’s not for everyone with it being so highly volatile and mechanics that have since been surpassed, but the Book of Dead still remains popular due to its easy-to-understand gameplay and uberjackpot ability. It really is a classic, and the very fact that you can still play it today says much about its quality and enjoyment.
If you like high-variance slots and an Egyptian theme, we’d heartily recommend the Book of Dead. Check out the Play’n GO slot demo options on offer at numerous online casinos to get acquainted with how it works, ahead of playing for real money on Book of Dead. Play responsibly and never play with more than you can afford to lose.
Play Responsibly
Gambling can be addictive and can result in financial difficulties. Gambling should be done responsibly and only with money that you can afford to lose.
Impose limits for yourself in time and money to gamble. Never chase your losses.
If you think that you may have a gambling problem please contact www.begambleaware.org. Organizations such as the National Council on Problem Gambling (www.ncpgambling.org) and Gamblers Anonymous (www.gamblersanonymous.org) offer support and guidance.
Keep in mind gambling is just for fun and not a way to make money. Keep in mind that gambling is not a game for kids under the age of 18 (or the legal gambling age in your jurisdiction).
Check the gambling risks and gamble responsibly.