Introduction
Developed by Play’n GO, Book of Dead is a popular online slot machine that has gained widespread recognition among gamers. Its unique blend of ancient Egyptian theme, engaging gameplay, and lucrative features makes it an attractive option for both casual players and seasoned gamblers alike.
Theme and Design
Book of Dead revolves around the legend of Richard Lionheart, who ventured into ancient Egypt in search of the treasure mentioned in the Book of Dead. The slot machine takes inspiration from this epic adventure by incorporating elements such as pyramids, pharaohs, mummies, scarabs, and golden treasures, creating an book of dead immersive experience for players.
The game features a 5×3 grid with a total of 10 paylines, providing numerous opportunities to form winning combinations. Symbols on the reels include low-paying card suits (A, K, Q, J), high-paying symbols representing characters from the Book of Dead legend (the Explorer and two Pharaohs), and five bonus symbols depicting different treasures.
Symbols
The slot machine uses a standard set of 10 symbols to create winning combinations. These can be divided into low- and high-paying symbols:
- Low-paying card suits:
- A: pays 5x for a combination
- K: pays 15x
- Q: pays 20x
- J: pays 25x
- 10: pays 30x
High-paying symbols include the Explorer, Pharaohs (male and female), Scarab, and Golden Idol. These symbols pay out more substantial rewards:
- Explorer: pays 40-500x for combinations of up to 5 consecutive symbols on adjacent reels (left-to-right)
- 3 in a row: 40x
- 4 in a row: 200x
- 5 in a row: 500x
Pharaohs pay out similar amounts:
- Male Pharaoh: pays 20-300x for combinations of up to 5 consecutive symbols on adjacent reels (left-to-right)
- 3 in a row: 20x
- 4 in a row: 200x
- 5 in a row: 300x
Female Pharaoh: pays 20-400x
Scarab: pays 10-100x for combinations of up to 5 consecutive symbols on adjacent reels (left-to-right)
- Golden Idol: pays 50-5000x for combinations of up to 5 consecutive symbols on adjacent reels (left-to-right)
Payouts
The maximum payout in Book of Dead is fixed at x1,000 for each bet. To illustrate this, if a player places a minimum bet of €/$/£0.20 and lands the maximum win combination using Golden Idol as the wild symbol, they can win up to 2,500 times their initial stake (x50 * x5).
Wilds
The Wild Symbol in Book of Dead is represented by two masks: Scarab Beetle and Anubis Mask. They appear on reels 1-3 and substitute for all regular symbols, allowing players to create winning combinations.
Scarab Beetles are scattered across the reels at random intervals during free spins. When multiple scarabs land in a single spin, they can award additional free spins or boost multiplier effects when triggered by scatters or wilds.
Anubis Masks act as standard Wilds and have no unique functionality beyond their substitute properties.
Scatters
The game features two Scatter symbols: Book of Dead (scatter bonus) and the Scroll of Anubis. Both appear on all reels and trigger a free spins feature if at least three scatters land in one spin. This unlocks up to 10 free spins, depending on the number of Scatters.
Free Spins Award:
- 3 Book scatters: awards 2-5 free spins
- Random Anubis Mask as Wild for all free spins
Bonus Features
Book of Dead’s Bonus Feature is a standard set of Free Spins triggered by at least three Scatter symbols on an activated payline. These free rounds allow players to benefit from accumulated scatters landing, potentially awarding increased multipliers or adding more wilds.
The game offers two distinct features that can enhance gameplay:
1. Random Anubis Mask as Wild: if 3+ Book Scatters trigger the free spin feature with a random mask on reel 4, it turns all reels into Wilds and triggers Free Spins. During this process, players accumulate multiplier values (2-5) by landing Anubis Masks anywhere across all reels. This allows them to award various winning combinations, from x1 multiplier for single mask appearances to multiple stacked masks.
2. Extended Multiplier in the Bonus Round: after accumulating a set of Scatters, each additional scatter added during free spins contributes an extra bonus round with its accumulated value (up to 5 free Spins).
