For German players this is the natural stand-in for Book of Ra. It uses the same core idea - an expanding symbol that can cover a whole reel during free spins - and it is one of the most widely available slots on the German-licensed market. There are no cascading reels or ways-to-win maths, just 10 lines, the Book that does double duty, and an optional card gamble. Players who know the book genre will pick it up straight away. The summary below sets out the core numbers before we walk through how each part works.
| Feature | Details |
| Provider | Play'n GO |
| Release date | 2016 |
| RTP | 96.21% in the full version (some casinos run lower - 94.25% and below) |
| Volatility | High |
| Max win | 5,000x the stake |
| Grid | 5×3 - 10 paylines |
| Min bet | €0.10 |
| Max bet | Up to €100 (€1 cap on German-licensed sites) |
| Wild / Scatter | Book of Dead - acts as both |
| Free Spins | Yes - 10 spins with an expanding symbol |
| Gamble | Yes - card colour / suit |
| Bonus Buy | No |
| Mobile | Full support - iOS and Android (HTML5) |
How to play Book of Dead
Set your total stake with the coin value and bet level under the reels. There are 10 paylines; you can lower the number of active lines, but most players leave all 10 on. Press Spin for a single round. Wins pay left to right from reel 1, and only the highest win on each line counts, with three or more matching symbols needed for a payout.
On German-licensed sites the stake is capped at €1 per spin, autoplay is switched off and a minimum spin time applies under the current gambling treaty, so the pace is slower than on the global version. Outside that framework the bet can run up to €100. The Book symbol is the one to watch - it pays as both wild and scatter and is the key to the Free Spins.
Book of Dead rules
The paytable is led by Rich Wilde himself, followed by three Egyptian character symbols and then the card royals. Values below show the shape of the table; exact figures can vary between casino builds, so check the in-game paytable before you play.
Symbols and payouts
| Symbol | Tier | 5 of a kind |
| Rich Wilde | High (premium) | Top line payout |
| Pharaoh | High | High payout |
| Anubis / Scarab | Mid-high | Mid payouts |
| A / K | Mid | Mid royal payouts |
| Q / J / 10 | Low | Lower royal payouts |
- Book of Dead - Wild and Scatter: the Book substitutes for every other symbol to complete lines, and also pays as a scatter anywhere on the reels. Three or more trigger the Free Spins.
- No separate scatter or bonus symbol: the Book does both jobs, which is the hallmark of the book genre.
Book of Dead bonus features
Free Spins with the expanding symbol
Three or more Book symbols award 10 free spins. Before the round starts, one regular symbol is chosen at random to be the special expanding symbol for the whole feature. During the spins, if that symbol lands and can form part of a win, it expands to cover the full reel it is on, paying across all lines regardless of position - so a single expansion can pay several lines at once. The round is at its best when a high symbol such as Rich Wilde is the one selected.
The Free Spins can be retriggered: landing three or more Books during the round adds another 10 spins, keeping the same expanding symbol. This expanding-symbol round is the main route to the 5,000x maximum win, and it is the feature that makes Book of Dead the closest match to Book of Ra for German players.
Gamble feature
After any winning spin in the base game you can take an optional gamble. Guess the colour of a face-down card to double the win, or the suit to quadruple it; a wrong guess loses the amount gambled. It is a single-step, high-risk add-on that can be skipped, and on some German-licensed sites the gamble may be disabled.
Book of Dead on mobile
Book of Dead is built in HTML5 and runs in the browser on both iOS and Android, with no separate download or native app required.
- We tested on an iPhone 14 in Safari and a Samsung S23 in Chrome, on standard German 4G and home broadband.
- The 5×3 grid holds its layout in portrait, with the bet and spin controls stacked below the reels for one-handed play.
- The Free Spins and the expanding symbol play out the same on a phone as on desktop, with the expansion clearly animated across the reel.
- Load times were short on both devices - the game is a light file - and the artwork stays sharp on a phone screen.
Our take
Book of Dead suits players who want the classic book format with a proven expanding-symbol round, and it is the obvious first stop for anyone in Germany looking for a Book of Ra replacement. Its strengths are the dual wild-and-scatter Book, the simple 10-line layout, the well-known Free Spins with a random expanding symbol, and wide availability on German-licensed sites.
The limits are worth stating. High volatility means long dry spells in the base game, and the round lives or dies on which symbol is drawn to expand - a low symbol makes for a thin bonus. The RTP also varies by casino, with some running versions well below the 96.21% headline, so it pays to check. The €1 stake cap and slower spin speed on German-licensed sites change the feel from the global version, and there is no bonus buy. For players who want a dependable book slot, it holds up; anyone expecting layered modern features will find it deliberately simple.
Book of Dead FAQ
Who makes Book of Dead?
Book of Dead is developed by Play'n GO and was launched in 2016. It is part of the studio's Rich Wilde series and one of the most widely available slots on the German-licensed market.
What is the RTP of Book of Dead?
The RTP is 96.21% in the full version, but Play'n GO games can be configured with lower returns, so some casinos run versions at 94.25% or below. Check the figure in the game's paytable before you play.
How do you trigger the Free Spins in Book of Dead?
Land three or more Book of Dead symbols anywhere on the reels to start 10 free spins with a random expanding symbol. Three more Books during the round retrigger another 10 spins.
Can you buy the bonus in Book of Dead?
No. Book of Dead has no bonus buy. The Free Spins can only be triggered by landing three or more Book symbols in normal play.
What is the maximum win in Book of Dead?
The maximum win is 5,000x your stake, reached through the expanding symbol during the Free Spins.
Is Book of Dead available on mobile?
Yes. The game is HTML5-based and runs in the browser on iOS and Android, with the Free Spins and expanding symbol working the same as on desktop.
Where can you play Book of Dead?
Book of Dead is available at a wide range of casinos serving German players, including German-licensed sites.
Player reviews of Book of Dead
- Lukas, Berlin (2026): "Classic book slot. Got the free spins with the Pharaoh as the expanding symbol and it covered a full reel twice - around x120 the stake. When a high symbol is drawn, it pays."
- Anna, München (2026): "High volatility for sure. Long dry runs, then the expanding symbol lined up. On the German licence the €1 cap and slower spins change the pace, but the bonus is the same game."
- Jonas, Hamburg (2026): "The expanding symbol is luck of the draw - got a low card once and the round was thin. Other times Rich Wilde expands and it is a proper win. That variance is the whole slot."
- Sophie, Frankfurt (2026): "Played on my iPhone and it runs smoothly, light and quick to load. Average session sat around x60. Used the gamble once, doubled it, then stopped."
- Felix, Köln (2026): "The closest thing to Book of Ra I have found on a German-licensed site. Same expanding-symbol idea. No feature buy, so you wait for three books, but it is the familiar format."
- Marie, Stuttgart (2026): "Simple and honest - 10 lines, one bonus, a fair top RTP if the casino runs the full version. Watch the RTP though, I saw a lower one at one site. Retrigger saved a round for me once."
