Book Of Dead

By Becky Mosley | Updated 22 May 2025

Book of Dead is Play’n GO’s most iconic slot — and one of the most played online slots of all time. Released on 14 January 2016, this ancient Egyptian adventure introduced players to Rich Wilde, a fearless explorer with a fondness for ancient tombs, treasure hunts, and conveniently expanding symbols. With its classic free spins bonus, high volatility, and clean 5×3 layout, this game became the blueprint for a whole genre of “Book of…” slots that followed.

It’s simple, it’s fast, and it’s packed with potential — with wins of up to 5,000x your total bet on a single spin. Whether you’re spinning for fun or chasing the top prize, Book of Dead slot is a high-risk, high-reward slot that still holds up nearly a decade after launch.

Book of Dead Slot Design

Book of Dead doesn’t try to overcomplicate things visually — and that’s part of its charm. The game is set deep inside an ancient Egyptian tomb, with glowing columns, golden walls, and a faint air of impending doom. The reels are bordered with gold and hieroglyphics, and the colour palette leans heavily into sand, scarabs, and pharaoh chic.

The symbols are classic Play’n GO: J to A royals, each styled with an ancient twist, and higher-value symbols that include Anubis, a pharaoh, a phoenix-like creature, and of course, Rich Wilde himself — the highest-paying symbol in the game. Land five Rich Wildes on a payline and you’ll hit the game’s max payout of 5,000x your bet.

Visually, it’s not flashy by modern standards, but it’s clean, fast-loading, and instantly recognisable. It looks exactly how an ancient Egyptian online slot should — and the subtle soundtrack adds just enough atmosphere without getting in the way.

Book of Dead Bonus Features

Book of Dead keeps it simple — and that’s exactly why it works. The gameplay revolves around one main bonus feature: a classic free spins round with a special expanding symbol. There are no random modifiers, no respins, no wheel gimmicks — just clean, high-volatility slot mechanics that still manage to hit the sweet spot.

To trigger the free spins bonus game, you’ll need to land three or more Book of Dead scatter symbols anywhere on the reels. This not only triggers ten free spins, but also pays out 2x, 20x or 200x your total bet for three, four, or five books respectively. The book symbol also acts as the wild, substituting for any other symbol to help form a winning combination.

Before the bonus starts, a special expanding symbol is randomly chosen. When it lands during free spins, it expands to fill the entire reel — but only if it can form a win on a payline. High-paying symbols like Rich Wilde only need two to trigger expansion, while lower-paying symbols require three or more.

It’s a simple mechanic, but it’s also what gives the slot its bite. Land the right symbol at the right time, and you could fill the entire screen — especially if the chosen symbol is Rich himself.

Gamble Feature

After any winning spin, you’ll have the option to trigger the Gamble feature — a simple but risky way to potentially double or even quadruple your win. You’ll be shown a facedown card and asked to guess the colour (for 2x) or the suit (for 4x). Get it right, and your payout is multiplied. Get it wrong, and you lose the lot.

You can gamble multiple times in a row, up to the game’s limit or until you bottle it. It’s entirely optional and has no impact on the bonus feature or RTP — but for players who like to live dangerously, it adds a quick hit of old-school slot machine risk to the mix.

Book of Dead RTP and Volatility

Book of Dead is a five-reel, three-row slot with 10 adjustable paylines. It’s a high volatility game with a max win of 5,000x your total bet, and an RTP that typically sits at 96.21% — though some casinos may offer alternate RTP versions, so it’s always worth checking before you play. You can spin from just 10p per go, with the maximum bet capped at £100. The game plays smoothly on desktop, tablet and mobile, and also offers autospin and left-hand mode options if you want to customise your setup.

Max Win

The maximum win in Book of Dead is 5,000x your total bet, and it comes from landing five Rich Wilde symbols across all active paylines. This can happen during the base game, but your best shot is in the free spins bonus with Rich as the special expanding symbol. Fill the screen, and you’ll hit the full 5,000x payout in one spin. It’s a high bar, but that’s the nature of a high volatility slot — long spells of nothing, followed by the potential for one seriously lucrative winning combination.

Book of Dead Demo Version

If you want to test the waters before wagering real money, the Book of Dead free play version is the perfect place to start. The demo version gives you access to the full game experience — including the free spins bonus feature, special expanding symbol, and base game mechanics — without needing to risk a penny. It’s exactly the same slot, just with fake coins and zero pressure.

You can play Book of Dead for free directly in your browser on mobile or desktop, and it works just as well on both. It’s a great way to get a feel for the high volatility gameplay and see how the features work — especially if you’re curious about the bonus round or just want a bit of ancient Egypt action without putting your wallet on the line.

Our Play’N Go Book of Dead Slot Review Verdict

Book of Dead is one of those rare slots that’s stood the test of time — and not just because it was one of the first to popularise the free spins bonus game with a special expanding symbol. It’s sharp, simple, and brutally volatile in all the right ways. When the bonus round lands and the reels start filling with one symbol, it still delivers a rush that few other slots manage to replicate.

The design might be a bit dated compared to today’s cinematic blockbusters, but the gameplay doesn’t need the bells and whistles. With just one core feature, a solid wild scatter symbol, and max wins of up to 5,000x your total bet, this is proof that less really can be more. Everything about it — from the soundtrack to the paytable — is built around that all-or-nothing bonus chase.

If you’re into complex reels and constant modifiers, this probably isn’t your game. But if you like a high volatility slot with pure treasure-hunting energy and the potential to win big in just a few spins, Book of Dead still hits the mark. And whether you’re joining Rich Wilde for the first time or playing for the hundredth, the moment that expanding symbol lands never gets old.

An Insight into the Egyptian ‘Book of Dead’

While Book of Dead might be best known as a popular online slot, the name is actually inspired by something far more ancient – and far more mystical. The Book of the Dead was a real part of ancient Egyptian culture, a spiritual guide intended to help souls navigate the treacherous journey into the afterlife.

Egyptians believed that the afterlife wasn’t simply a peaceful sleep – it was a complex journey full of challenges, where the soul would need protection, wisdom, and guidance to reach paradise. That’s where the spells came in.

What Is the Book of the Dead?

The original Book of the Dead wasn’t a single, fixed text. It was more like a collection of spells, instructions, and illustrations – often written on papyrus scrolls in hieroglyphics – designed to assist the deceased through the afterlife.

⭐️ The spells were meant to protect the soul from dangers

⭐️ They included rituals, passwords, and instructions for passing tests

⭐️ Some versions included beautiful, hand-drawn illustrations of the afterlife journey

Only the wealthiest or high-status individuals could afford their own version. Some bought pre-made papyrus scrolls with blank spaces left for names, while others commissioned customised editions with specific spells tailored to their journey.

This mystical legacy is what inspired Book of Dead – a slot where the journey to treasure echoes the Egyptian belief in a perilous path toward eternal reward.

Other ‘Book of…’ Slots

Book of Dead wasn’t just a hit — it kickstarted a whole subgenre of ancient tomb-themed casino games, with more explorers, more magical books, and more expanding symbols than you can shake a scarab at. If you’ve had your fill of Rich Wilde (or just want a few alternatives), here are some of the most popular ‘Book of…’ slots worth a spin:

⭐️ Legacy of Dead – Play’n GO’s spiritual follow-up to Book of Dead, this one swaps Rich Wilde for a full-blown pharaoh aesthetic. It features the same 10 free spins and expanding symbol mechanic, but with the potential to unlock multiple special symbols during the bonus. Slightly higher volatility and darker visuals give it a more ominous feel.

⭐️ Book of Ra Deluxe – Novomatic’s classic that came before Book of Dead. It’s rougher around the edges but has cult status in land-based casinos. Same free spins bonus game, same expanding symbol, and the same high-risk appeal — just with an older-school look.

⭐️ Book of Shadows – A twisted horror slot from Nolimit City, with adjustable reels, a gamble feature, and a seriously creepy forest theme. It’s one of the more unique takes on the format, with multiple levels of volatility and some genuinely big win potential.

⭐️ Book of Gold: Multichance – Playson’s take on the format, featuring three expanding symbols during free spins instead of one. More generous than most but a bit lighter on atmosphere. Still a solid pick if you like your dead slot machine mechanics with a slightly friendlier vibe.

These titles all borrow the same blueprint — but each adds its own flavour to the formula. If you enjoy the structure of Book of Dead, you’ll likely get a kick out of all of them.

Book of the Dead Slots FAQs

Becky Mosley

Founder & Editor-in-Chief at Slotfruit

Rebecca (Becky) Mosley has been at the heart of the UK online gambling industry since 2008 — making her one of the most experienced voices in the space. She founded Take Marketing Limited and built SlotFruit.co.uk into one of the longest-running independent casino comparison sites in the country.

As editor-in-chief, Becky brings a genuine player-first perspective to everything on the site. She personally oversees every casino review and slot guide, making sure readers get straight-talking, honest information rather than marketing fluff. Her approach has always been the same: transparency, fair bonus terms, and responsible gambling above all else.

Over 17 years in the industry, Becky has built deep expertise across UK Gambling Commission licensing, slot game mechanics, bonus structures, and the constantly evolving regulatory landscape. She works directly with operators and software providers to keep every listing accurate and up to date.

Becky is a Companies House registered director (Take Marketing Limited, company no. 07619813) and is based in Lincolnshire, England.

Read more

View author profile