Book of Shadows is a ‘Book of’ slot with a proper dark streak and a handy twist: you can expand the play area before you spin. Pick three, four, or five rows to shape the risk, then chase Free Spins where a Golden symbol expands to full reels for the big hits. It’s extreme volatility, so pace your bankroll.
last updated 11 May 2026
Book of Shadows Pokie Review
Horror-Themed
Fantasy-Themed
Graveyard-Themed
Quick Facts
RTP
96.0%
Volatility
High
Provider
Nolimit City
Min Bet
AU$0.10
Max Bet
AU$100
Max Win
30,338x
Free spins
Bonus game
Wild symbol
Scatter Symbol
Multiplier
Symbol Stacked
Jackpot Game
Slot reels
5
Slot lines
20 fixed paylines
Release Date
2018
Page contents
- Game Overview
- Game Features & Mechanics
- Technical Specifications
- Paytable & Symbol Values
- Graphics, Animations & Sound Design
- Game Gallery
- Book of Shadows on Mobile Devices and Other Platforms
- How Does Book of Shadows Compare to Similar Pokies?
- About Nolimit City - The Developer Behind the Game
- Final Verdict
- Last Pokie Reviews
- Frequently Asked Questions
Game Overview
Book of Shadows is Nolimit City’s horror-leaning take on the Book formula, released on 20 August 2020. It runs on a 5-reel layout where you choose the height: 3, 4, or 5 rows, which also shifts the paylines to 10, 15, or 20. The standard RTP is listed at 96.01%, but the game can be configured with a lower 94.09% version, so it’s worth checking the info area before you commit. Volatility is labelled as extremely high, and the max payout is 30,338x your stake, so this is a bonus-chaser, not a steady dripper. Your main goal is simple: land the Book symbols to trigger Free Spins, then hope the Golden expanding symbol lines up with the right reels for a full-screen style hit.
Game Features & Mechanics
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Shadow Rows
Before you even spin, you choose the grid height: three, four, or five rows. More rows mean more paylines and a higher total bet, so you’re literally dialling up the risk.
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Lucky Locks
After a base spin, you can pay to lock selected reels and respin the rest. It’s basically a “hold and nudge” moment for chasing Books or better line-ups.
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Free Spins with Golden Expands
Hit three or more Book symbols to trigger Free Spins. A “Golden” symbol is chosen to expand to full reels, and you get one redraw if the first pick feels useless.
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Gamble Options
Wins can be gambled on a simple double-or-nothing, and there’s also a “gamble to bonus” route that can throw you straight into Free Spins instead of just boosting cash.
Technical Specifications
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Volatility Level
Nolimit City labels Book of Shadows as a high-volatility slot. That’s a warning label, not a brag: expect lean patches, with most of the serious upside locked behind the bonus.
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RTP Explained
The game runs on a dual RTP setup. The sheet lists 96.01% as the main setting, with alternative configurations, such as 94.09% and 90.15%.
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Bet Range
The minimum bet you can place is $0.10, the default one is $1, and the maximum you can wager is $100 (or $200 on “Boosted Bet” when available).
Paytable & Symbol Values
Book of Shadows runs classic left-to-right paylines, and you can play it as a 10-, 15-, or 20-line pokie, depending on how many rows you unlock. Low pays are the red card royals: 10, J, Q, K, A. The premiums lean into the creepy vibe: an eyeball in a vial, a moth, a goat skull, a purple cat, and the goth witch. This is the key quirk: you only need two premium symbols on a payline to get paid, while the royals generally need three.
Special Symbols
Book (Wild + Scatter)
The Book is doing double duty: it substitutes for regular symbols to complete line wins, and it’s also the Scatter that triggers Free Spins when three or more land anywhere on the reels.
Golden Expanding Symbol
In Free Spins, one regular symbol is selected as the “Golden” symbol. When it lands, it expands to fill its reel after win evaluation, and expanded reels don’t need to be adjacent.
Graphics, Animations & Sound Design
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Graphics
Book of Shadows sticks to the classic “book” layout, but dresses it in proper gothic theatre: candlelit stone, dusty tomes, and symbols that look hand-inked rather than glossy. It’s dark without being muddy, so you can still read the reels quickly.
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Animations
Most spins stay crisp and minimal, which is exactly what you want in an extreme-volatility slot. The bigger moments are saved for the Book landing, row selection, and the Free Spins reveal - when the Golden symbol gets chosen and the reel expands kick in.
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Sound Design
The soundtrack leans eerie instead of loud: low drones, ritual-style stings, and a sharper audio cue when the Book appears. It keeps the tension up during dry patches, and it makes the bonus trigger feel like a real “event” rather than a random pop-up.
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Visual Feel & Interactivity
The best interactive touch is Shadow Rows, because you’re making a call before every session: play it safer on fewer rows or pay more for extra lines. Then Lucky Locks adds a second decision point, letting you chase a better setup without turning the game into a puzzle.
Game Gallery
Book of Shadows on Mobile Devices and Other Platforms
Book of Shadows runs smoothly on most modern devices because the interface stays clean and the animations aren’t overloaded. The main thing to watch is how often you’re changing Shadow Rows and using Lucky Locks - those extra clicks can feel fiddly on a small screen if you’re rushing. If you’re playing for longer sessions, we’d treat this one like a “slow burn” slot: keep the bet comfortable, use landscape mode on mobile, and don’t rely on unstable Wi-Fi when you’re deep in Free Spins and the Golden expands start doing its thing.
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Android
Android play is usually straightforward in a casino app or browser. Use landscape mode, so the row selector and buttons don’t feel cramped, especially when swapping grid sizes mid-session.
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iOS
On iPhones, taps are accurate, but the UI can feel tight if you play one-handed. Rotate to landscape and give yourself room before using Lucky Locks or adjusting stakes.
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Tablet
Tablets are the comfy option: bigger symbols, clearer Book landings, and less squinting when you’ve opened extra rows. If you enjoy tweaking Shadow Rows, the tablet makes it feel effortless.
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Desktop
Desktop is best for long sessions and clean visibility. You’ll track paylines and bonus progress more easily, and the row selection feels faster with a mouse than repeated thumb taps.
Optimal Gameplay Tips
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Use Stable Connection
EssentialA steady connection matters a lot when you’re buying respins with Lucky Locks or entering Free Spins. If your signal drops, you risk reloads and interruptions at the worst time.
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Landscape Mode Recommended
RecommendedLandscape gives you a clearer view of the expanded grids and reduces mis-taps on bet controls. It also makes the Lucky Locks choice screen feel less cramped.
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Audio Settings
OptionalIt’s best to keep sounds but make them low. The game uses distinct hints for Books and feature moments, and those little audio prompts help you stay alert during quieter stretches.
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Full Screen Mode
RecommendedFull screen cuts distractions and makes the darker visuals easier to read. It also helps you follow expanded reels cleanly during Free Spins when the Golden symbol starts paying off.
How Does Book of Shadows Compare to Similar Pokies?
Book of Shadows
Nolimit City
96.0%
High
0.10
Rise of Olympus
Play'n GO
96.5%
High
0.20
Bounty Hunt
Reel Play
95.5%
Low
0.01
Smile
Fuga Gaming
96.0%
Medium
0.20
Mental 2
Nolimit City
96.1%
High
0.20
About Nolimit City - The Developer Behind the Game
Nolimit City has never done “safe and steady”. Founded in 2014, with a Malta base and a strong Stockholm presence, the studio built its name on bold concepts and high-volatility slots. In 2022, Evolution acquired the brand, keeping its edgy catalog firmly in play.
Their formula is simple: strong themes, one clear “main event” bonus, and maths that can go properly wild. Book of Shadows shows that perfectly with Shadow Rows, Lucky Locks, and reel-expanding Golden symbols in Free Spins. Not here for slow grinders. This is for players who like a couple of real levers to pull - then let the volatility take over.
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Player-Controlled Grid
Shadow Rows changes the reel height and paylines before you spin, so you decide how aggressive the session feels.
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Feature-First Maths
Their games often centre on one defining bonus, and here it’s Free Spins with Golden expanding reels and retriggers.
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Unapologetic Volatility
Book of Shadows is rated Extreme, so it’s built for big swings rather than steady drip-feed wins.
Final Verdict
Why It’s Worth Playing
- Shadow Rows lets you choose three, four, or five rows, changing paylines and how hard you push your bankroll
- Lucky Locks gives you a paid respin option when you’re close to something meaningful, instead of just shrugging and re-spinning
- The Book doubles as Wild and Scatter, so it’s always relevant - both for wins and for triggering the feature
- Free Spins uses a Golden expanding symbol, with a redraw chance, which can turn one hit into full-reel pressure
- The max win of 30,338x is massive, so the ceiling is there if you land the right expand pattern at the right time
Things to Consider
- Extreme volatility means long quiet stretches are part of the deal, especially if Books refuse to show
- RTP can vary by casino configuration, so you need to check the info screen before you commit
- Unlocking more rows costs more per spin, so ‘more chances’ also means faster bankroll drain
Overall Rating
8.5
Bottom Line
Book of Shadows is for players who like their “Book of” games a bit meaner and a bit smarter. You’re not stuck with one fixed setup: you choose the row count up front, and you can use Lucky Locks to take a second swing when the reels tease you. The Book symbol doing double duty keeps the base game purposeful, but the real chase is Free Spins, because the Golden expanding symbol can fill reels and stack wins even when the expansions aren’t adjacent. Just keep it real: it’s rated as high volatility and RTP can differ by operator, so check the settings and stake like you’re planning for a rough night.
Last Pokie Reviews
Provider: Gamomat
RTP: 96.1%
Volatility: High
Release Date: 2020
Provider: Reel Play
RTP: 95.5%
Volatility: Low
Release Date: 2016
Provider: Novomatic
RTP: 95.7%
Volatility: High
Release Date: 2007
Provider: NextGen Gaming
RTP: 95.6%
Volatility: High
Release Date: 2017
Provider: Relax Gaming
RTP: 99.0%
Volatility: High
Release Date: 2021
Provider: Reel Play
RTP: 96.3%
Volatility: High
Release Date: 2020
Emergency Help
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the RTP of Book of Shadows?
Nolimit City lists a main RTP setting of 96.01%, but the game also has alternative RTPs. The exact RTP % depends on the casino’s selected model, so check it before playing it.
How do you trigger Free Spins in Book of Shadows?
Free Spins start when you land three or more Book symbols, which act as the Scatter. The number of spins can vary depending on how many Shadow Rows you play with, and retriggers are possible when Books land again.
What is Shadow Rows, and why does it matter?
Shadow Rows is the pre-spin option that changes the grid height. You can play with three, four, or five rows, which also changes the number of paylines and the total bet per spin.
What does the Golden symbol do in the bonus?
In Free Spins, one regular symbol is selected as the Golden expanding symbol. When it lands, it expands to cover its entire reel after wins are evaluated, and expanded reels don’t need to be adjacent.
What is the maximum win in Book of Shadows?
The top payout is listed at 30,338x your stake. That’s the ceiling, not the expectation, but it signals why the game is rated Extreme volatility and why big outcomes sit in the bonus.
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