Book of Dead is one of those pokies you don’t really “discover” — it finds you. Play’n GO launched it in 2016, and it’s still a favourite for players who want classic reels, clear rules, and a bonus round that can actually swing a session. You’ve got 5 reels, 10 fixed paylines, and one headline feature: free spins with a randomly chosen expanding symbol.
last updated 25 May 2026
Rich Wilde and the Book of Dead Pokie Review
Egyptian-Themed
Ancient-Themed
Adventure-Themed
Quick Facts
RTP
96.2%
Volatility
High
Provider
Play'n GO
Min Bet
AU$0.10
Max Bet
AU$100
Max Win
5,000x
Free spins
Bonus game
Wild symbol
Scatter Symbol
Multiplier
Symbol Stacked
Jackpot Game
Slot reels
5
Slot lines
10 fixed paylines
Release Date
2016
Page contents
- Game Overview
- Game Features & Mechanics
- Technical Specifications
- Paytable & Symbol Values
- Graphics, Animations & Sound Design
- Game Gallery
- Book of Dead on Mobile Devices and Other Platforms
- How Does Book of Dead Compare to Similar Pokies?
- About Play'n GO – The Developer Behind the Game
- Final Verdict
- Last Pokie Reviews
- Frequently Asked Questions
Game Overview
Book of Dead drops you into an Egyptian tomb with Rich Wilde — Play’n GO’s adventure hero — hunting treasure behind a classic 5x3 reel set. Wins pay left to right across 10 fixed paylines, and the base game keeps the spin cycle fast and familiar. The tension is all about the Book: it can help as a wild, but you’re really watching for three or more to trigger free spins. In the bonus, one regular symbol becomes the Expanding Symbol for the whole round. When it hits in a winning line, it can fill the reel and create chunky multi-line payouts. It’s built for bonus hunters who like simple rules, high volatility swings, and that classic ‘three scatters away’ feeling for most players.
Game Features & Mechanics
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10 Fixed Paylines
All 10 paylines are always active, and wins pay left to right. No toggles, no changing line counts — just choose a stake and spin.
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Wild Substitution
The Book substitutes for all standard symbols, helping complete combinations. It won’t replace itself as a scatter, but it does make line wins more achievable.
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Free Spins Trigger
Land 3+ Book symbols anywhere to trigger Free Spins. You don’t need them on a payline, which keeps the feature chase straightforward.
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Expanding Symbol Feature
At the start of Free Spins, one regular symbol is randomly selected as the Expanding Symbol. When it forms a win, it can expand to fill its reel and boost payouts.
Technical Specifications
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Volatility Level
High volatility means longer dry spells and fewer “medium” wins. When it pays, it tends to do it in bursts — usually in the free spins round.
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RTP Explained
The most commonly published RTP is 96.21%, but Book of Dead can exist in different RTP configurations depending on the operator. Check the in-game info panel for your version.
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Bet Range
Minimum stake is commonly around $0.10 per spin, while maximum stakes vary by casino (often $50, sometimes higher). Confirm your limits before you ramp up.
Paytable & Symbol Values
Book of Dead keeps the symbols simple: five low-paying card ranks, four premium themed icons, and the Book. The low symbols are 10, J, Q, K, and A. They’re there for frequent smaller hits and to give the Book Wild something to connect.
The premium symbols are:
- Scarab
- Anubis
- Pharaoh
- Rich Wilde
Wins are formed on 10 fixed paylines from left to right. Premium symbols pay more as you land 3, 4, or 5 of a kind, and Rich Wilde is the top regular payer. In real play, the base game is mostly about holding your bankroll steady until the free spins arrive — because the expanding mechanic is what can turn premium symbols into proper multi-line payouts.
Special Symbols
Book of Dead (Wild + Scatter)
The Book is both wild and scatter. In the base game, it substitutes for other symbols to complete wins. Land 3+ Books anywhere to trigger Free Spins, which is the main source of big win potential.
Expanding Symbol (Free Spins Feature)
In Free Spins, one regular symbol (not the Book) is randomly chosen as the Expanding Symbol for that round. When it lands as part of a win, it can expand to fill its reel, creating more payline hits at once.
Graphics, Animations & Sound Design
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Graphics
Sandstone columns, hieroglyphs, torchlight colours — it nails that pulp “raiding the tomb” feel without making the reels hard to read. It’s clean, not cluttered.
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Animations
The Book flip and reel expansions are the main visual moments. Everything else stays snappy, so the pace feels old-school: spin, win, repeat.
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Sound Design
A tense, looping soundtrack sits under the spins, and the Book landing has a distinctive cue that genuinely builds anticipation. It’s simple, but it works.
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Visual Feel & Interactivity
Controls are straightforward, paylines are easy to follow, and nothing is hidden behind extra menus. It’s a pokie you can play casually without losing track of what happened.
Game Gallery
Book of Dead on Mobile Devices and Other Platforms
Book of Dead is a good mobile pokie because it doesn’t ask much from your screen: 10 fixed lines, clear symbols, and no complex side features. The reels stay legible on phones, and on tablets, it feels especially comfortable. The only “gotcha” is behavioural, not technical: high volatility plus mobile convenience can tempt you into chasing the bonus. Keep your stake at a level you can repeat for a while without stress.
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Android
Smooth in-browser on modern Android phones. Landscape mode gives you a cleaner look at paylines and reduces mis-taps on stake controls.
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iOS
Runs well on iPhone and iPad browsers. On smaller screens, landscape makes payline highlights easier to track during multi-line wins.
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Tablet
Best all-round experience: big reels, easy controls, and free spins expansions look great without feeling cramped.
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Desktop
Ideal for longer sessions and careful bankroll tracking. Everything’s larger, and it’s easier to manage autoplay and stake settings.
Optimal Gameplay Tips
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Use Stable Connection
EssentialFree spins can move fast when expansions hit. A stable connection helps avoid reloads right when the feature is doing its job.
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Landscape Mode Recommended
RecommendedOn phones, landscape makes the reels easier to read and keeps payline animations clearer. It also helps prevent accidental stake changes.
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Audio Settings
OptionalThe audio cue for the Book is part of the fun. Keep it on if you like immersion, or lower it if the tension makes you play too aggressively.
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Full Screen Mode
RecommendedFull screen cuts distractions and makes the payline display cleaner. It’s a small tweak that helps you play more deliberately.
How Does Book of Dead Compare to Similar Pokies?
Book of Dead
Play'n GO
96.2%
High
0.10
Temple Tumble Megaways
Relax Gaming
96.2%
High
0.20
Mermaid’s Treasure Trove
Pragmatic Play
96.5%
High
0.20
Gonzo's Quest Megaways
NetEnt
95.8%
High
0.20
Mental 2
Nolimit City
96.1%
High
0.20
About Play'n GO – The Developer Behind the Game
Play’n GO is one of the big names in iGaming, known for slots that feel polished on both desktop and mobile. Founded in 2005, the studio supplies games to regulated operators across dozens of jurisdictions worldwide and has a portfolio of 400+ titles. They’re also regulation-first: Play’n GO’s Malta entity is licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority, and they’re licensed in Great Britain by the Gambling Commission, which is part of why you see their games across reputable casinos. They’re the team behind heavy hitters like Book of Dead, Reactoonz, and Moon Princess, and they’re strong on original IP rather than recycled themes.
On the creative side, they build ‘series’ and recognisable characters (Rich Wilde is the poster child), plus soundtracks that add tension instead of noise. In short: they keep the interface clean, the feature set focused, and the maths consistent with the kind of volatility they’re aiming for.
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Mobile-First DNA
Play’n GO treats mobile as a primary platform. Their slots scale neatly, stay readable, and keep controls user-friendly — which matters for real-money play.
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Iconic Characters
They build repeat characters and series that players follow. Rich Wilde is the obvious example, appearing across multiple adventure-themed pokies.
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Focused Mechanics
Even with high volatility, the gameplay stays straightforward. The best titles centre on one core feature that genuinely decides the session.
Final Verdict
Why It’s Worth Playing
- Classic rules: fast spins, clear paylines, no clutter
- The Book works as both wild and scatter, keeping the feature chase simple
- Expanding free spins can deliver proper multi-line hits
- High volatility suits bonus hunters who can handle quiet stretches
- 5,000x max win gives the bonus real bite
Things to Consider
- High volatility means bankroll discipline matters
- RTP can vary by casino, so check your exact version in-game
- The base game is intentionally plain and feature-light
Overall Rating
9.2
Bottom Line
We rate Book of Dead because it does one thing extremely well: it builds tension around a clean free spins feature, then gives you a genuine shot at a session-changing hit when expansions land. When the chosen Expanding Symbol is a premium and it fills multiple reels, the game can flip fast. Just treat it like a bonus-chasing classic, keep your stake sensible, and don’t chase losses because the book teased you. If you like straightforward pokies with a big, simple bonus, this is still one of the best.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Book of Dead a high volatility pokie?
Yes. It’s widely classed as high volatility, so the base game can run quietly, and the free spins round is where the bigger payouts tend to appear.
What triggers the free spins bonus?
Land three or more Book symbols anywhere on the reels. The Book is the scatter, so any position counts — you don’t need it on a payline.
Does the Book symbol act as a wild?
It does. In the base game, the Book substitutes for other standard symbols to help complete paylines, and it also triggers free spins as the scatter.
How does the expanding symbol work?
At the start of free spins, one regular symbol is chosen at random (excluding the Book). When it forms a win, it can expand to fill the reel and boost payline payouts.
What RTP should I expect?
You’ll often see 96.21% published, but some casinos use different RTP settings. Always confirm the RTP inside the game’s information panel on your chosen site.
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