Book of Dead is a popular book-type pokie released by Play’n GO in 2016. The main character, Rich Wild, goes in search of ancient Egyptian artefacts. The theme is inspired by adventures in the spirit of Indiana Jones: there is a lot of mysticism and ancient mysteries. Players will have to explore tombs and find the Book of the Dead, which in ancient times served as a guide to the afterlife.
The game is regularly ranked in the top 10 popular pokies in the Australian market. There are many reasons for this: high RTP, freespins and doubling your winnings in the bonus round.
Interface And Design
The atmosphere of Ancient Egypt is created by high-quality graphics and sound accompaniment. The drums are located on the background of the entrance to the ancient tomb, on the sides of which you can see columns with hieroglyphs. The game is decorated in warm shades of yellow colour. Unobtrusive musical effects add a sense of mystery, as if the player really found himself in the tomb of the pharaoh.
The interface is simple and convenient. All controls are located on two panels: the main one has buttons to change the bet, start spins and view the pay table. The auxiliary panel shows the balance and winnings after each spin.
Book of Dead Main Features
The main theme of the game is Ancient Egypt with an emphasis on the search for lost treasures. Equipped with 5 reels and 10 paylines, the number of which is adjustable by the player. In essence, Book of Dead is a traditional book pokie, but with the addition of prize features.
| Developer | Play’n GO |
| Year of issue | 2016 |
| Theme | Ancient Egypt |
| Genre | Books |
| Playing field | 5×3 |
| Number of drums | 5 |
| Number of paylines | 10 |
| Volatility | High |
| RTP | 96.21% |
| Special options | Freespins, risk game, scatter/wild card game |
| Automated game | Got it |
| Fast spin function | Got it |
| Minimum rate | A$0.01 |
| Maximum rate | A$100 |
| Winning frequency | 7 times out of 25 |
Number of Reels and Paylines
Book of Dead offers a classic format – five reels with symbols in three rows. The player can choose from 1 to 10 active lines. Combinations are formed horizontally and vertically, which increases the chances of winning.
Features of Symbols and Their Meanings
The game features ancient Egyptian-themed symbols. High paying ones are Rich Wild, falcon, sarcophagus, gods Anubis and Osiris. The book symbol fulfils a dual role – it is a wild and a scatter. Cards from ten to ace are low-paying symbols. If three books fall on the field at once, the freespins round is launched.
Book of Dead payout table:
| Symbol | 2 characters | 3 characters | 4 characters | 5 characters |
| Cards Q, J, 10. | – | 5 | 25 | 100 |
| Cards A and K | – | 5 | 40 | 150 |
| Sarcophagus | 5 | 25 | 200 | 750 |
| Falcon | 5 | 20 | 200 | 1 000 |
| Anubis | 5 | 30 | 300 | 1 500 |
| Osiris | 5 | 30 | 300 | 1 500 |
| Book (wildcard/scatter) | 2 | 20 | 200 | 2 000 |
| Rich Wilde | 10 | 100 | 1 000 | 5 000 |
Gameplay of Book of Dead
Pokie keeps the player in suspense throughout the entire draw, which is made possible by unique options. The aim of the game is to collect a combination on the 5 reels. Book of Dead has features that increase the chances of winning.
Freespins and expanding symbols are the distinctive features of the game. When 3 books appear on the field, 10 spins are awarded. During the bonus round, one of the random symbols becomes a wild. It expands on the whole reel, which increases the probability of making a combination.
The Risk Game
After a successful spin you can activate the game to double your winnings. The user is offered a choice of several cards face up. To win, it is necessary to guess under which of them hides cards of a given colour or suit. In case of failure, the amount is cancelled. In Book of Dead you can use this feature up to five times in a row.
Volatility and RTP
Book of Dead is known for its high volatility. This means that wins are infrequent, but they are large. This is the optimal choice for players who are not afraid to take risks for big rewards.
RTP (Return to Player) is 96.21%. Theoretically, players can expect a return of 96.21% of the bets made. But keep in mind that the RTP is for a long-term game. If you spend A$150, it is not certain that A$144 will be returned anytime soon.
Strategy Games for Beginners
A lot depends on luck in Book of Dead, as the probability of combinations is determined by a random number generator. But there are a few tips that increase the chances of success in the long-term game:
- Read the rules carefully. Understand how the pokie works so that you can understand which symbols fall out most often and on which lines.
- Start with the demo mode. Test the free version of the game to develop a strategy without risking money. When you understand the peculiarities of gameplay, move on to real bets.
- Play with small amounts of money. At the initial stage it is better to bet no more than 5% of the total bankroll. This will make it easier to control your resources and prevent your bankroll from depleting quickly.
- Take trends into account. It is important to keep a balance: play at average bets, but after winning a large sum, reduce the amount to protect your winnings.
Remember that losing is part of the gameplay. Stay calm if things don’t go according to plan. If you manage to increase your bankroll by 30-40%, take a break to avoid risking your earnings. And do not try to win back the money by increasing bets. Most often such actions lead to even greater losses.
Mobile Version
According to Play’n GO reports, more than 60% of users play Book of Dead from mobile devices. The developer uses HTML5 technology to ensure that the software runs smoothly and error-free. Pokie runs equally well on Android and iOS smartphones.
All the control buttons – starting the reels, changing the bet, accessing the payout table – are located so that they are convenient to use on a small screen. For example, the start key is in the centre of the panel, and the window for entering the amount is to the left of it. This allows you to manage bets without making unnecessary movements.
The mobile version retains all the features of the main game: freespins, double win game, automatic reel launch. Graphics and sound are at a decent level. Immerse yourself in the atmosphere of Ancient Egypt, no matter where you are!