To start this Rick Wilde and the Book of Dead review, there is a need to make a stark comparison to another popular online video slot. Long time fans of Novomatic’s online slot game Book of Ra will find Play’n Go’s Book of Dead slot eerily similar to Novomatic’s popular entry. Many of the same symbols are in play with a similar format included in the mix.
With that said, this particular slot can certainly stand on its own as a relevant online slot game. Play’n Go introduced this game in January of 2016 and since then, experienced slot players have continued to play this game as part of their regular slot playing routine.
The theme centers on ancient Egyption symbols. It’s noteworthy that while there are a couple of interesting special features, it’s fair to say that the game format and graphics are somewhat ordinary. The game plays at high volatility with a Return to Player (RTP) rating of just over 96%. At 96%, that’s put the slot at about average for online slots.
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Book of Dead follows a familiar online slot format that includes 5 reels, 3 rows, and a total of 10 pay lines. The minimum wager is 1 coins at a value of .01 per coin up to a maximum wager of 5 coins at a value of 1.00 per coin. If playing all 10 pay lines, the total maximum bet would be 50.00 per spin. The maximum jackpot the game offers is 250,000 coins (5,000 coins x 50 coins).
The object of the game is to align three or more consecutive symbols along one of the designated 10 pay lines. The most interesting gameplay feature is the auto spin feature, which allows the player to play as many as 1,000 spins without pressing the game start button.
The lowest paying standard symbols are represented by playing card numbers 10 through the Ace. The highest paying standard symbol is non other than Rick Wilde himself. Five Rick Wilde symbols in a row (including wild symbols) returns the aforementioned maximum jackpot of 250,000. Other high paying symbols include the Pharoah, the Anubis, and the Horus. In an unusual twist, the game’s wild and scatter symbols are represented by the same symbol, the actual Book. As a wild symbol, it serves as a substitute for all other symbols to create pay outs. As a scatter symbol, it serves as the key to the Book of Dead bonus round, which consists of Book of Dead free spins. Multipliers are available with the scatter symbol.
The games comes with three Book of Dead Bonus features.
The first bonus feature is the aforementioned Book of Dead free spins round. Book of Dead free spins are initiated if the player is able to land three or more scatter symbols in a row. By doing so, they earn the standard pay out, plus 10 free spins. Free spins cannot be reactivated during the free spins round.
The game’s second feature is the expanding symbol feature. The feature is initiated prior to the start of the free spins round with the selection of a random symbol. Anytime that symbol appears on the gameboard during free spins, it will automatically expand across the entire matrix, creating multiple pay outs. The game’s third feature is the “gamble feature”. For players who have never seen this feature, it works as follows. After any winning spin, the player is given the opportunity to gamble or cash out. If they choose to gamble, they will have two gambling options.
The first gambling option gives the player a chance to double their winnings by choosing a red card or a black card. If they guess right, their winnings winnings double, and they get another chance to gamble again. Players can continue trying to increase their winnings until they lose the gamble or decide to cash out. The second gambling option requires the player to choose one of four playing card symbols (Diamond, Heart, Spade, or Club). If they guess right, their listed winnings are multiplied by four with the option to continue gambling or cash out.
Before attempting to play this video slot, players might want to consider Book of Dead tips before moving forward.
First tip: With a limited number of interactive bonus features, the game kind of plays itself. The gamble feature certainly stands out as the best way to hit a lucrative payout. With that in mind, true gamblers should certainly take advantage of the gambling opportunity whenever available. However, it’s worth noting the gamble option rarely pays out given the game’s high volatility rating. For that reason, conservative players might be better off to simply cash out.
Second tip: Agressive players might be tempted to play maximum coins. Given the unavailability of extra benefits from doing so and given the game’s high volatility rating, it’s a good idea to select wagering amounts somewhere in the middle of the spectrum.
Third tip: If the game is available in free play mode, it might be a good idea to take advantage of the free play opportunity to get a feel for the game before investing real cash.
To conclude this Book of Dead review, we wanted to point out that Book of Dead rates about average when compared to other video slot entries. The game’s graphics and audio features are merely ordinary.
What makes the game a viable slot playing option is the expanding symbol and gamble features. Under the right circumstances and with a little luck, players could hit a fairly lucrative jackpot.
Bottome line: This game is probable better suited for novice players.