Book of Dead: How to Play

Core Game Rules and Grid Layout

Book of Dead is played on a standard layout of five reels and three rows. There are 10 fixed paylines. Wins are awarded for matching symbols landing on consecutive reels from the leftmost reel, on a payline. The game includes an autoplay function and a manual spin control.

The key special symbol is the Book, which acts as a Scatter. Landing three or more anywhere on the reels triggers the Free Spins feature.

Step-by-Step Guide for a First Session

1. Select a coin value. The total bet is the coin value multiplied by the number of paylines (10).
2. Review the paytable via the game menu to understand symbol values.
3. Press the spin button to begin. The reels will stop to display a random set of symbols.
4. Any win on a payline is highlighted and paid automatically. An optional gamble feature may be offered after a base game win.
5. If three or more Book symbols land, the Free Spins feature is triggered immediately.
6. During free spins, one regular symbol is randomly chosen to become an Expanding Symbol for the duration of the round.
7. Continue spinning until the session concludes. It is advisable to set a budget and time limit before playing.

Symbols and Paytable Values

The symbols are themed around Egyptian archaeology. The highest-paying regular symbol is the explorer Rich Wilde. The following table lists symbol payouts for a five-of-a-kind combination, as displayed in the game's paytable. Values are shown in multiples of the line bet.

The Book symbol does not have a standard payout value in the base game paytable, as its primary function is to trigger the bonus feature.

Bonus Features and How They Trigger

Free Spins with Expanding Symbol. This is the game's only bonus round. It is triggered by landing three or more Book symbols anywhere on the reels. The player is initially awarded 10 free spins. Before the spins begin, the game randomly selects one regular symbol (from the set excluding the Book) to become the Special Expanding Symbol for the round.

During the free spins, every time this chosen symbol lands, it expands to cover its entire reel. Expanding symbols pay for any combination across active paylines, not requiring adjacency. If three or more Book symbols land during the free spins round, an additional 10 free spins are awarded. This re-trigger can occur multiple times.

Gamble Feature. After any base game win, players may have the option to gamble their winnings. This typically involves guessing the colour or suit of a hidden card to double or quadruple the win, with the risk of losing it entirely. This feature is optional and can be disabled in the game settings.

Bet Sizing, Volatility and Bankroll Considerations

The game's betting range, as set by the developer, is from a minimum total bet of €0.01 to a maximum of €100.00. For players in Great Britain, online slot stakes are legally capped at a maximum of £5 per spin (£2 for players aged 18-24). Operators will enforce this lower limit.

Book of Dead has high volatility. This means wins can be infrequent but have the potential to be larger when they occur. The maximum potential win is 5,000x the total stake. The game's theoretical return to player (RTP) is 96.21% in its standard configuration, though operators may choose to run a lower RTP version.

Given the high volatility, a practical bankroll strategy involves setting a loss limit and choosing a stake size that allows for a sufficient number of spins to experience the game's variance. The long droughts between significant wins are a characteristic of this volatility level.

Game Design Context and Industry Influence

Since its release in 2016 by Play'n GO, Book of Dead has established itself as a definitive title within the online slot genre, particularly for games with an Egyptian archaeological theme. The game refined a template popularised by earlier titles by introducing a cleaner visual style and a more streamlined bonus mechanic centred on a single expanding symbol during free spins. This specific approach, where a randomly chosen regular symbol expands to cover entire reels, has been widely adopted by other developers.

The game's design philosophy prioritises clarity and high volatility over complex feature sets. The game operates on a standard five-reel, three-row grid with 10 paylines, and its bonus round is triggered solely by landing three or more Book scatter symbols. This singular focus on a potent, high-variance free spins feature, rather than multiple bonus games, became a hallmark of its design.

The developer's published default return to player (RTP) is 96.21%, which is considered a competitive rate for a high-volatility slot. It is important for players to note that some operators may choose to run a lower RTP version of the game in their lobbies. This potential variance in theoretical payout percentage is a standard industry consideration.

For players, it often serves as an accessible entry point into high-volatility slots, demystifying the concept through its uncomplicated rules and iconic expanding symbol mechanic.

Key Gameplay Terms Glossary

• Expanding Symbol: A symbol chosen during the free spins round that expands to cover an entire reel when it lands, creating more potential winning combinations.
• Free Spins: A bonus round where spins are awarded without deducting from the player's balance, often with enhanced features.
• High Volatility: Describes a slot game where payouts are less frequent but can be larger, leading to more pronounced swings in bankroll.
• Payline: A line across the reels on which matching symbols must land to form a winning combination. Book of Dead has 10 paylines.
• RTP (Return to Player): The theoretical percentage of all wagered money a slot machine will pay back to players over a long period. Book of Dead's standard RTP is 96.21%.
• Scatter: A symbol that pays out and/or triggers a bonus feature based on the number landed anywhere on the reels, not necessarily on a payline.