Book of Dead
Rich Wilde and the Book of Dead Slot Review
Rich Wilde and the Book of Dead is one of the most recognisable online slots ever released. Developed by Play’n GO in 2016, it quickly became one of the defining titles in the “Book-style” slot category.
The game follows explorer Rich Wilde as he searches an ancient Egyptian tomb for a powerful magical book. With its classic five reel layout, atmospheric soundtrack and simple bonus structure, Book of Dead remains a favourite with players who enjoy straightforward gameplay and high volatility.
Unlike many modern slots, the core of the game revolves around one main feature rather than multiple mechanics. That feature is the free spins round with a randomly selected expanding symbol, which is where most of the game’s big win potential comes from.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Provider | Play’n GO |
| Reels | 5 |
| Rows | 3 |
| Paylines | 10 adjustable |
| RTP | 96.21% (alternative versions may exist) |
| Volatility | High |
| Maximum Win | 5,000× total bet |
| Minimum Bet | £0.10 (varies by casino) |
| Maximum Bet | £5 for 25+, £2 for 18-24 |
| Free Spins Trigger | 3 or more Book symbols |
| Special Feature | Random expanding symbol during free spins |
| Retriggers | Yes – 10 extra spins for 3+ Books during bonus |
| Release Year | 2016 |
Book of Dead Overview
Book of Dead uses a traditional 5x3 layout with 10 adjustable paylines and a classic Egyptian theme. The game’s visual style, soundtrack and familiar “Book” mechanics helped make it one of the most influential slots in the online casino market.
What makes the game stand out is its simplicity. There are no clusters, tumbling reels, wheel bonuses or complicated layers of modifiers. Instead, everything builds toward one bonus feature that can completely change the outcome of a session.
Because of its high volatility, the base game can feel quiet for stretches. However, a single well-timed free spins round with the right expanding symbol can produce one of the biggest wins available in the game.
How Book of Dead Works
Book of Dead uses a classic five reel, three row structure with ten paylines. Wins are formed from left to right across adjacent reels, and only the highest paying combination on each active line is awarded.
The game contains several different symbol types:
Low value symbols – 10, J, Q, K and A.
Premium symbols – Egyptian themed characters including Horus, Anubis, Osiris and Rich Wilde himself.
Book symbol – acts as both the Wild and Scatter symbol.
The Book substitutes for all regular symbols to help create wins and also triggers the free spins feature when three or more land anywhere on the reels.
Five Rich Wilde symbols across a payline deliver the highest standard base game payout of 5,000× the line bet.
Gamble Feature
After any standard win, players have the option to use the gamble feature to try and increase their payout.
You can choose to guess either:
- The colour of the next card to double your win
- The exact suit of the next card to quadruple your win
If the guess is wrong, the gambled amount is lost. It is a completely optional feature and one that increases risk quickly, so many players simply collect their win instead.
Free Spins Feature
Landing three or more Book symbols anywhere on the reels triggers the free spins bonus.
No matter whether you land three, four or five Books, the game always awards 10 free spins.
Before the feature begins, one regular symbol is randomly selected to become the expanding symbol for the entire bonus round.
During free spins:
- The chosen symbol can expand to cover an entire reel
- Expanding symbols pay across all active paylines
- Expansions can create wins even when matching symbols are not adjacent in the usual way
If the selected symbol is a premium character like Rich Wilde or Anubis, the bonus can produce some of the biggest wins the slot has to offer.
Retriggers
Free spins can retrigger if three or more Book symbols appear again during the bonus round.
Each retrigger awards an additional 10 free spins. There is no fixed cap on the number of retriggers, and the chosen expanding symbol remains the same throughout the entire feature.
Extended bonus rounds with multiple retriggers are uncommon, but they are one of the main ways larger wins can build in Book of Dead.
RTP and Volatility
Book of Dead has a theoretical RTP of 96.21%. However, Play’n GO allows casinos to choose alternative RTP versions, which means not every casino will necessarily offer the same return.
Alternative RTP versions can include:
- 94.25%
- 91.25%
- 87.25%
Because of this, it is always worth checking the in-game information panel before playing.
The slot is classed as high volatility, which means:
- Wins can be infrequent in the base game
- Most of the larger payouts happen during free spins
- Longer losing streaks are possible between bonus features
That high volatility is part of what gives the bonus round its appeal. When the right symbol expands, the feature can change a session very quickly.
Hit Rate and Bonus Frequency
Book of Dead is known for a relatively low hit frequency compared with lower volatility slots. The average hit rate is roughly 26%, meaning a win lands around once every four spins on average.
The free spins feature usually appears around once every 190 to 200 spins, although this can vary significantly in shorter sessions.
Because of this, players should expect the base game to deliver mostly smaller wins while waiting for the feature to land.
Maximum Win Potential
The maximum win in Book of Dead is capped at 5,000× the total stake.
This is usually achieved when a premium symbol such as Rich Wilde becomes the expanding symbol and fills several reels during free spins.
While newer slots may advertise 10,000× or even higher maximum wins, 5,000× remains strong for a traditional five reel slot with relatively simple mechanics.
Book of Dead vs Legacy of Dead
Book of Dead is often compared with its sequel, Legacy of Dead. Both games use a similar free spins structure with expanding symbols, but there are some key differences.
Legacy of Dead introduces additional expanding symbols whenever free spins retrigger. This means the bonus can evolve over time and include several expanding symbols instead of just one.
Legacy of Dead also carries a slightly higher RTP of around 96.58%, but it is generally considered more volatile.
Book of Dead, by comparison, offers a simpler and more predictable bonus structure.
Variants and Related Slots
The success of Book of Dead led Play’n GO to expand the Rich Wilde series and inspired many other “Book-style” slots across the industry.
Related titles include:
- Scroll of Dead – introduces expanding reels during the bonus feature
- Rise of Dead – includes stacked wild reels and multipliers
- Amulet of Dead – adds multiplier wild reels and extra symbol potential
- Tome of Madness – uses cluster pays instead of paylines
- Shield of Athena – changes the theme to Greek mythology while keeping familiar mechanics
Many competing developers have also released slots that clearly draw inspiration from the same expanding symbol bonus style.
Who Should Play Book of Dead
Book of Dead is well suited to:
- Players who enjoy traditional five reel gameplay
- Fans of Egyptian themed slots
- Players comfortable with high volatility
- Those who prefer simple mechanics built around one strong bonus feature
It may not suit:
- Players who prefer frequent smaller wins
- Players looking for progressive jackpots
- Those who enjoy modern mechanics such as tumbling reels or Megaways systems
Final Verdict
Nearly a decade after its release, Rich Wilde and the Book of Dead remains one of the most influential online slots ever made.
Its simple structure, recognisable expanding symbol mechanic and high volatility profile helped define the modern “Book” slot genre.
While newer slots may offer larger maximum wins and more layered features, Book of Dead still appeals because of its clean design and the excitement of landing the right expanding symbol during free spins.
For players who enjoy classic slot gameplay with the chance of a powerful bonus round, it remains one of the strongest and most enduring titles in the market.